OMC jet drive

bmxerbrett

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Joined
Sep 21, 2008
Messages
11
Im looking at a 1976 OMC jet drive attached to a 350. Should I stay away from this or are parts still around for this?
 

Bondo

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Apr 17, 2002
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71,011
Re: OMC jet drive

Ayuh,....

It's an Old Jacuzzi pump.... Nothing about them is OMC....

Check out some Jetboat forums to see what's out there,....

I found the old Berkeley are Prefered....
 

bmxerbrett

Cadet
Joined
Sep 21, 2008
Messages
11
Re: OMC jet drive

so It's safe to buy it then? as in parts are around? The price is deff right! Can you ski behind a jet boat? Every video I see on jet boats they all have huge rooster tails.
 

JustJason

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 27, 2007
Messages
5,320
Re: OMC jet drive

unless you've owned a jetdrive before, or have piloted one, or if your buying a jetdrive for a very specific reason...... I'd stick with a conventional I/O or OB.
 

bmxerbrett

Cadet
Joined
Sep 21, 2008
Messages
11
Re: OMC jet drive

unless you've owned a jetdrive before, or have piloted one, or if your buying a jetdrive for a very specific reason...... I'd stick with a conventional I/O or OB.

I have owned waverunners before and have driven others. I have not however piloted a jet boat. What are the perks to jet drive vs I/O? Also what is the deal with the rooster tail. I would rather not have that as I would like to ski behind it also.
 

Bondo

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Re: OMC jet drive

Ayuh,...

Jetboats,+ Sking do Not go together....
 

Euro95

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 3, 2008
Messages
36
Re: OMC jet drive

Might accelerate as a champ, but the reverse is crap and the stories you hear of people that skied behind a jet...
 

turborich

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 29, 2008
Messages
132
Re: OMC jet drive

I'm not saying a jet boat is better or worse. I have always thought that they are really neat though! My friend had one & he could have a 200 ft. rooster tail or could not have one at all. I think he called the part a (jet o vator) or something like that. The boat ran 80 MPH with a BBC in it.
Not too sure about the skiing part though:p might get wet!

Do they make jet boats anymore???
 

JustJason

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 27, 2007
Messages
5,320
Re: OMC jet drive

the only real advantage to a jet boat is their ability to operate in extremely shallow water.... and that's it.
Except for some of the Hamiltons..... They are an extremely inneficient way of moving a boat along the water. You'd go faster with the same engine if it had an IO behind it.... Or if you had an IO you'd go the same speed with less power.
Jet's don't have a lot of low end torque either..... witch is what ya want for skiing.
Jet's don't really plane all that well either.
 
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