Which Outboard Jet is Best??

[otterbfishin]

I need an outboard jet to run the 16' plywood riverboat I am building which will weigh about 300 lbs. My average total running weight for the boat and occupants would be 900+ lbs minus the motor. <br /> The boat at 900 lb capacity is said to plane out great with a 35 or 40 HP motor with prop, but I can't run a prop in the shallow glacial rivers here in Alaska. One builder said that he runs a 40 HP Honda 4-stroke with prop, so the transom will float it's 190 lbs. fine.<br /> I believe a 50 or 55 HP with a jet would do the trick, as I am told that you loose about 30% of your head power with the jet lower unit. This is a guess. <br /> I need help choosing a motor. I want the lightest, most reliable motor I can get. Which is it? Is there a website that compares outboard motor specs that I can review?<br />Thanks,<br />otter

 

[manitoba1]

Re: Which Outboard Jet is Best??

I believe that www.suzukimarine.com has a comparative set of charts for their outboards and competing brands for each horsepower class. Good place to start.

 

[bossee]

Re: Which Outboard Jet is Best??

Hi,<br /><br />Prop shaft hp / Jet pump hp:<br />115 / 80 <br />90 / 65 <br />60 / 40 <br />40 /30 <br /><br />So maybe a 60 hp Jet Drive can be OK.<br /><br /> http://www.yamaha-motor.com/product...ar=2005&cat=Four+Stroke+Series&scat=Jet+Drive <br /><br />For example with Yamaha F60 Jetdrive You get 40 hp at Jet pump at 5500 rpm, weight is 268 lb (122 kg) and EFI (and 4-stroke).<br /><br /><br /> http://www.mercurymarine.com/jet_outboards <br /><br />For example with Mercury 65 Jet Drive You get a slightly heavier Jet drive, 315 lb (143 kg), but it is 2-stroke and not CARB 3-star rated (not any CARB rating at all actually) and not EFI/DFI.<br />The 40 hp Mercury Outboard Jet Drive is probably not enough regarding hp you need.<br /><br />I do not know of any (new) Jet drives in 50-55 hp range.

 

[Bigfun]

Re: Which Outboard Jet is Best??

16' 300# plywood boat does'nt sound like a boat that could take the punishment that running rivers with a jet will entail. Got a link to the plans for your boat?

 

[otterbfishin]

Re: Which Outboard Jet is Best??

Bigfun,<br />It's a modified Delvins Snowgoose; deadrise at transom dropped to 5 degrees, hull width at transom increased to 5 feet, freeboard increased by 1 inch. I've run these rivers for years in a 18' flat bottom garvey type skiff. Hull specs for the Delvin SG are quite sufficient.<br />otter