Small jet boat engines

[SeaHorse]

Are small jet boat engines any good? I'm looking to buy a mid 90's Searayder with Merc 100 hp or so jet, or similar craft (not SeaDoo) with "OMC" engine or Suzuki. Many ads say the engines are rebuilt or replaced. What's the deal here? My outboard is 50 years old and still going strong, yet many of these jetboat motors are being replaced? The prices of these jetboats indicate that the motors are not worth much either, that is, they are about the same price as outboard boats without a motor or with a low value, older motor. Are these jetboat inboard motors any good or should I stick with proven, major name outboards.

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: Small jet boat engines

The boat you are looking at probably has the Mercury/Force 90 hsp engine. Really not a bad little engine. The problem with little jet boats is the same as PWCs. Folks abuse them, thinking they are toys. Like your car and big boy boats, jet engines are not built to run wide open for extended peroids. I bought one of the Sea Rayders last year with the engine in several boxes for $250. This year one of my distributors had a deal on complete factory rebuilt engines for a good price and I bought one and installed it. I backed the timing down and shorted the linkage so the throttle wouldn't open quite wide open being I have grown children with no sense. I love the little boat and my wife and I use it every weekend. The OMC jet drive, from what I've heard is next to impossible to get parts for since OMC down fall and the new owners aren't building jet drives anymore. I also have a Whaler Rage with a Yamaha jet drive. Being its just a boat with a wave runner drive system, parts are easy to come by.

 

[SeaHorse]

Re: Small jet boat engines

Thanks Capt Ken. I saw a jetboat at the dock today, it had a new engine of course and it was for sale. I guess these glorified snowmobile engines just aren't going to cut it for a long time at WOT.