RedBarron55
Jet Boat Addict
- Messages
- 280
- Reaction score
- 100
- Points
- 122
- Location
- Navarre, FL
- Boat Make
- Jetcraft
- Year
- 1995
- Boat Model
- Other
- Boat Length
- 16
The other day we were fishing a shallow creek feeding Santa Rosa sound when we ran aground and upon extricating the boat (low speed grounding) we noticed cavitation and unable to get up on a plane.
After a few miles of 5 mph cruising at 2500 rpm we pulled the Hobie Jet Fisherman on the trailer expecting to find a lot of grass in the inlet.
To my surprise there was little there!
When we got back to the house I pulled off the jet nozzle and wear ring and inspected the impeller and it still looks like new. The wear ring was a little sanded but also very good condition and the clearance good.
When I ran the flush water through the engine I noticed that water was running out of the front of the ride plate!
The 23 year old gasket has finally given up the ghost and is leaking around the front letting exhaust gas get into the pump and is most likely the reason for the cavitation.
Now for the problem...
The 23 year old screws! They are very very very seized by that 23 years of corrosion and will most likely have to be drilled out.
I tried the inlet grate screws earlier and gave up after popping one head off.
Any suggestions?
I have tried the Dewalt impact driver and have broken one phillips bit off in the head making to even more difficult to drill that screw out!
The joys of a 23 year old Sport Jet!
I might as well bite the bullet and fix the thing since the Hobie Jet Fisherman is a great boat!
After a few miles of 5 mph cruising at 2500 rpm we pulled the Hobie Jet Fisherman on the trailer expecting to find a lot of grass in the inlet.
To my surprise there was little there!
When we got back to the house I pulled off the jet nozzle and wear ring and inspected the impeller and it still looks like new. The wear ring was a little sanded but also very good condition and the clearance good.
When I ran the flush water through the engine I noticed that water was running out of the front of the ride plate!
The 23 year old gasket has finally given up the ghost and is leaking around the front letting exhaust gas get into the pump and is most likely the reason for the cavitation.
Now for the problem...
The 23 year old screws! They are very very very seized by that 23 years of corrosion and will most likely have to be drilled out.
I tried the inlet grate screws earlier and gave up after popping one head off.
Any suggestions?
I have tried the Dewalt impact driver and have broken one phillips bit off in the head making to even more difficult to drill that screw out!
The joys of a 23 year old Sport Jet!
I might as well bite the bullet and fix the thing since the Hobie Jet Fisherman is a great boat!