boardman74
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Hello, I'm a new user so If I'm posting in the wrong area I apologize.
Last Fall I came across a Jet Lark mini Jet boat on crags list and ended purchasing it with a trailer for $500 knowing it was a project. It is complete so I figured I could get it going. The hull is nearly mint condition and the trailer is nice so for $500 it was a no lose situation. My research has shown that these are super rare. Apparently only 300-500 were ever made. Nice condition running boats are worth between $3500-$5000 it seems like. There is very little info to be found so I am hoping there are people on here that may know these boat or at least way more about jet boats than I do.
What I know. 1983 model Jet Lark. These were the sister ships to the Aqua Lark which had a small outboard. Boat is 8 feet long, seats 2 and is powered by a 40 hp 430 Cuyuna 2 stroke 2 cylinder engine backed up to a Berkley 6JA jet pump. I am not yet sure if the motor runs. Prior owner stated it did not have spark and thats as far as he got. Turns over freely and seems to have compression. The no spark condition is likely due to the owner not know it had a kill tether that was open. The guy had acquired the boat 25 years ago and never touched it. At some point he tried to get it running and had no spark and thats where he left it until he put it on craigslist. The motor was out on the boat sitting in his garage. My thought on that is to put it back in the boat and hook everything up and see if there is spark and then check compression. It will obviously need a carb clean and some other sorting before it runs if there is spark and compression. If the engine requires much past that I am not sure I want to invest the time and money. There are 2 glassed in wooden blocks that the motor mounted to that are rotten so first thing is to chisel them out and glass in new wood.
My biggest worry is the jet pump. I know engines and especially that vintage 2 stroke twin very well. Its basically a snowmobile motor with water cooling. The pump is a Berkley 6JA which is the little brother to the Berkley 12s all the old school big block jet boats run. Jet is complete and looks good. The worry I have is I can not turn the input shaft of the pump by hand. If I stick a short screw driver in the coupler I can turn it but its stiff. Should there be this much resistance in the pump? I have shone a light in both ends and there is nothing that appears to be stuck inside. I am really looking for some input on the pump. Again not much info about the 6JA on the net.
Its a super cool boat and I would like to get it running. The glass work is easy. The hull is in excellent shape and will look great after a coat of wax. I'm just not wanting to rebuild a motor or a jet pump. I can easily get my money back selling complete as a project or parting out. I would hate to part it out as it is complete and like I said these are super rare.
Any input is appreciated.
Last Fall I came across a Jet Lark mini Jet boat on crags list and ended purchasing it with a trailer for $500 knowing it was a project. It is complete so I figured I could get it going. The hull is nearly mint condition and the trailer is nice so for $500 it was a no lose situation. My research has shown that these are super rare. Apparently only 300-500 were ever made. Nice condition running boats are worth between $3500-$5000 it seems like. There is very little info to be found so I am hoping there are people on here that may know these boat or at least way more about jet boats than I do.
What I know. 1983 model Jet Lark. These were the sister ships to the Aqua Lark which had a small outboard. Boat is 8 feet long, seats 2 and is powered by a 40 hp 430 Cuyuna 2 stroke 2 cylinder engine backed up to a Berkley 6JA jet pump. I am not yet sure if the motor runs. Prior owner stated it did not have spark and thats as far as he got. Turns over freely and seems to have compression. The no spark condition is likely due to the owner not know it had a kill tether that was open. The guy had acquired the boat 25 years ago and never touched it. At some point he tried to get it running and had no spark and thats where he left it until he put it on craigslist. The motor was out on the boat sitting in his garage. My thought on that is to put it back in the boat and hook everything up and see if there is spark and then check compression. It will obviously need a carb clean and some other sorting before it runs if there is spark and compression. If the engine requires much past that I am not sure I want to invest the time and money. There are 2 glassed in wooden blocks that the motor mounted to that are rotten so first thing is to chisel them out and glass in new wood.
My biggest worry is the jet pump. I know engines and especially that vintage 2 stroke twin very well. Its basically a snowmobile motor with water cooling. The pump is a Berkley 6JA which is the little brother to the Berkley 12s all the old school big block jet boats run. Jet is complete and looks good. The worry I have is I can not turn the input shaft of the pump by hand. If I stick a short screw driver in the coupler I can turn it but its stiff. Should there be this much resistance in the pump? I have shone a light in both ends and there is nothing that appears to be stuck inside. I am really looking for some input on the pump. Again not much info about the 6JA on the net.
Its a super cool boat and I would like to get it running. The glass work is easy. The hull is in excellent shape and will look great after a coat of wax. I'm just not wanting to rebuild a motor or a jet pump. I can easily get my money back selling complete as a project or parting out. I would hate to part it out as it is complete and like I said these are super rare.
Any input is appreciated.
