@Ricky E , first of all, welcome aboard! Jetboaters.net is the best advice on these boats anywhere. As many have mentioned but no direct saltwater guys have chimed on, there is no need to fear a salt water environment if care is given to both clean and protect your boat...that is true with any boat in a salt environment. But these boats, because of close tolerance of the pump, can't be left long term in salt or brackish water because the growth will impede the efficiency of the impeller and water through the pump and diminish the performance too much. Any boat left in the water suffers if scum is allowed to build. Most that do leave boats in the water, use an anti-fouling bottom paint, and that isn't possible too much on a jet boat, again because of the pumps and performance. Those that do, pull the boats routinely to clean the bottoms. Also, leaving the boat in the water long term without protective coatings will cause blisters in the gelcoat, and that spells $$$. If you intend to leave any boat in the water, a lift is a very desired part of your world.
As mentioned, hull design is the main component of how a boat rides. Yamaha has tried to achieve a compromise between a sport boat and a deep V hull boat, and they have done a good job with that effort. But as mentioned, there are some deep V and bay boats that will have a better ride, because they are not designed for sport as much as for handling the bay conditions. Also, under 30', you don't get into a hull that can give you a good ride in most all conditions. But in a recreational boat, all things being equal, the Yamaha layout and appeal won hands down with me...and I am on my second Yamaha! And since a head is important, your looking at a 23 or 24' yamaha, and those will give you the best ride in the category.
When I hear non jet guys giving advice about jets, I kind of snicker to myself. They really don't know much about what they re advising. While you can ingest anything into your intake and jet pump, it isn't the issue that many would feel. I don't power on or off of beaches, I don't operate in water more shallow than 3'...and when I am around the beach or shallows, I don't rev my engines. So I avoid some pitfalls. Many Yamaha owners consider being shallow water capable an advantage "in case", but just don't plan to do it, any more than any boat would plan to run in shallow water. Consider that when your static state, sitting in the water, you draft about 16"...but on plane, you only draft about 8". Also consider that on plane, your not going to "suck" anything into the jets that isn't "scooped" in by the intakes directly...but when static, your intakes are like a big vacuum cleaner and suck whatever is close to them in. Sand will erode but not clog unless you literally scoop the sand into the intakes scraping it in. Vegetation, rope, cans, plastic, almost anything that is passed over can be sucked up but it is a minimal occurrence at speed. Now when your going slow and motoring around, most things are forced to the side by the hull. But vegetation and ropes tend to find their way under a boat, so those have to be considered more seriously. Even with that, a few guys have sucked up a fish or beer can!
Once again, welcome to the forum! You might want to start another thread and direct it to the salt water group if that is really much of a concern to you. Just title it with a Saltwater question.
