River Use

[jp4au]

Hi all,
New to the forum. I'm in the market for a Yamaha 190 FSH Sport. This forum has been a great resource for gathering information and I have read through many of the posts about the boats and about making a purchase. I appreciate the information that everyone has been willing to share. I live in South Alabama and would mostly be using the boat on the local river as a pleasure craft with the occasional desire to wet a line and trek to the Gulf. I wanted to find out how well the boat handles on the river where there is the occasional grass bed and debris that could be sucked into the engine. I know the clean-out port makes access easy to clean out debris but, having never owned a jet boat, I wasn't sure just how easy.
Also, has anyone had any issues setting up a sea trial. I had one dealership offer me a 20-minute ride but they would have to drive the boat. I could get a longer trial if it were set up during the week, but that has not been easy to accomplish due to work. Another dealership said that they do not do sea trials. In their defense the salesman is new and he may not have a clue.

 

[Just1more]

We have bought 2 yamahas, ar190 and ar240, both without a demo ride. Actually never even crossed my mind to ask for one!

 

[jp4au]

We have bought 2 yamahas, ar190 and ar240, both without a demo ride. Actually never even crossed my mind to ask for one!

Thanks for the reply. Did you have prior experience with a jet drive boat before purchasing your first? I just have had none at all, actually never have been on one before. So I thought I would try to take advantage of a demo, if possible, to make sure it is something that I would be comfortable with. My only boat experience is with a 25-hp tiller drive outboard on a 14' aluminum jonboat and that has been over five years ago.

 

[Just1more]

We had an I/O, have had waverunner and I did drive one seadoo jet boat before. The boats are very much like a waverunner of you have ever driven one. By all means if you can get a sea trial go for it! The center console Yamaha will be like our 190 was except I believe yours will have the newer keel on it. Maybe someone else will chime in but my biggest problem with the jet boats was the spin that would happen when you come to a stop. We, and most owners, would add aftermarket fins and that solved the problem. We also boat on a river but in IL. We do not have much issue with debris getting stuck. It will usually blow right out after a few seconds. These boats are awesome. Hope I helped a bit. Good luck and just ask if you need anything! I have to get on my boat now!

 

[jp4au]

We had an I/O, have had waverunner and I did drive one seadoo jet boat before. The boats are very much like a waverunner of you have ever driven one. By all means if you can get a sea trial go for it! The center console Yamaha will be like our 190 was except I believe yours will have the newer keel on it. Maybe someone else will chime in but my biggest problem with the jet boats was the spin that would happen when you come to a stop. We, and most owners, would add aftermarket fins and that solved the problem. We also boat on a river but in IL. We do not have much issue with debris getting stuck. It will usually blow right out after a few seconds. These boats are awesome. Hope I helped a bit. Good luck and just ask if you need anything! I have to get on my boat now!

Thanks for all the help. Love this site. Not going to lie I am jealous, but I hope you have a good one out on your boat.

 

[Grover70]

Hi all,
New to the forum. I'm in the market for a Yamaha 190 FSH Sport. This forum has been a great resource for gathering information and I have read through many of the posts about the boats and about making a purchase. I appreciate the information that everyone has been willing to share. I live in South Alabama and would mostly be using the boat on the local river as a pleasure craft with the occasional desire to wet a line and trek to the Gulf. I wanted to find out how well the boat handles on the river where there is the occasional grass bed and debris that could be sucked into the engine. I know the clean-out port makes access easy to clean out debris but, having never owned a jet boat, I wasn't sure just how easy.
Also, has anyone had any issues setting up a sea trial. I had one dealership offer me a 20-minute ride but they would have to drive the boat. I could get a longer trial if it were set up during the week, but that has not been easy to accomplish due to work. Another dealership said that they do not do sea trials. In their defense the salesman is new and he may not have a clue.

Good afternoon,
I have a '17 190 FSJ and live on the St. Johns Rover and close to the Intracoastal too. We frequently take the boat into the river and have only once felt the impeller catch some weeds in about 3 feet of water. A few revs of the engine in reverse and the weeds flew out. Not once have I had to use the clean out in the river. We go into the sand bar area which is about waist high water and never have had problems. I also take it up into the creeks. I've had guys on flats boats look at me with surprise as I motor by on a 19' center console with five people on board and the water is chock full of water lilies, branches, and floating weeds. Not to say it can't happen, but so far, my confidence has increased the more I push the limits. I do, however, carry two oars in the changing room as a standby. Never can hurt to have a backup.

As far as off coast, I've only take it 1/2 mile off the beach and hit waves in the 3 foot range. We bounced around a bunch but the boat was fine. I felt what might be described as "sliding" down the waves and I would guess that's normal in a jet boat? I do have accessory fins for slow speed control and that has improved the performance noticeably.

It's a great boat!

 

[mraz72]

That boat wasn't stuck in the sand in that picture? I feel like a wimp, I don't go below 2.5 feet lol.

I purchased a 2015 19' Yamaha 192 a few years ago and I had ZERO boating experience. It's not that hard, the only issue I STILL have is backing into a slip spot with a strong cross wind UGH

I've never driven a prop boat so I have no reference for how easy or difficult a jet boat is...

 

[jp4au]

Good afternoon,
I have a '17 190 FSJ and live on the St. Johns Rover and close to the Intracoastal too. We frequently take the boat into the river and have only once felt the impeller catch some weeds in about 3 feet of water. A few revs of the engine in reverse and the weeds flew out. Not once have I had to use the clean out in the river. We go into the sand bar area which is about waist high water and never have had problems. I also take it up into the creeks. I've had guys on flats boats look at me with surprise as I motor by on a 19' center console with five people on board and the water is chock full of water lilies, branches, and floating weeds. Not to say it can't happen, but so far, my confidence has increased the more I push the limits. I do, however, carry two oars in the changing room as a standby. Never can hurt to have a backup.

As far as off coast, I've only take it 1/2 mile off the beach and hit waves in the 3 foot range. We bounced around a bunch but the boat was fine. I felt what might be described as "sliding" down the waves and I would guess that's normal in a jet boat? I do have accessory fins for slow speed control and that has improved the performance noticeably.

It's a great boat!

View attachment 58264 View attachment 58265

Thank you for the response @Grover70. I have read many of your posts and appreciate the information and knowledge that you share. We have been toying with the idea of buying a boat for a little over a year, but have been able to talk ourselves out of buying one. We went to a boat show in Mobile, AL this spring and saw the FSH 190 and fell in love instantly. It seems to be the perfect combination of what we both want to do. I have been talking to a couple of dealerships and have them both at the same out the door price. We are ready to pounce, but would still like to drive/ride in one before we do.

 

[Grover70]

That boat wasn't stuck in the sand in that picture? I feel like a wimp, I don't go below 2.5 feet lol.

I purchased a 2015 19' Yamaha 192 a few years ago and I had ZERO boating experience. It's not that hard, the only issue I STILL have is backing into a slip spot with a strong cross wind UGH

I've never driven a prop boat so I have no reference for how easy or difficult a jet boat is...

Not even touching the sand! It's amazing the draft. The only part that brushed the sand were the aftermarket rudders. I occasionally place an anchor pole on the other side to lessen the wake of passing boats that can push me on to the sand. Less work than two anchors.
Safe boating!

 

[Grover70]

Thank you for the response @Grover70. I have read many of your posts and appreciate the information and knowledge that you share. We have been toying with the idea of buying a boat for a little over a year, but have been able to talk ourselves out of buying one. We went to a boat show in Mobile, AL this spring and saw the FSH 190 and fell in love instantly. It seems to be the perfect combination of what we both want to do. I have been talking to a couple of dealerships and have them both at the same out the door price. We are ready to pounce, but would still like to drive/ride in one before we do.

Thanks for the compliment. It's a learning process as you know and the FSH forgives mistakes. I do hope you like the boat as much as my family and I do. It's a little rough around the edges QC-wise, but as you've seen, it can be cleaned up. I just mounted a small handhold just behind the anchor locker lid for my little girl to hold on to. It fits snugly under the coaming cushion so no one trips on it. Point is, you can customize it to your desires on many fronts.
If you do get an FSH, post some pics!

Have a great weekend.

 

[Kahuna Khris]

Thanks for the compliment. It's a learning process as you know and the FSH forgives mistakes. I do hope you like the boat as much as my family and I do. It's a little rough around the edges QC-wise, but as you've seen, it can be cleaned up. I just mounted a small handhold just behind the anchor locker lid for my little girl to hold on to. It fits snugly under the coaming cushion so no one trips on it. Point is, you can customize it to your desires on many fronts.
If you do get an FSH, post some pics!

Have a great weekend.

Hmmmmm....putting the boat in reverse clears the weeds? Maybe in a normal boat but a jet boat has no true reverse and there is no transmission to stop or change the direction of the drivetrain. Anyway....I have had the boat for two years with lots of weed time and have never had a weed issue that bothered the boat. Now line being sucked up is a different story.

 

[fireflymedic]

Hmmmmm....putting the boat in reverse clears the weeds? Maybe in a normal boat but a jet boat has no true reverse and there is no transmission to stop or change the direction of the drivetrain. Anyway....I have had the boat for two years with lots of weed time and have never had a weed issue that bothered the boat. Now line being sucked up is a different story.

More to it than just backing up. You have to get moving fast as you can in reverse shut off the engine than put throttle in forward to open jet and cross fingers you get enough water flowing through backwards to push object out. Im sure it works best if object is stuck in the intake grate.

 

[Kahuna Khris]

More to it than just backing up. You have to get moving fast as you can in reverse shut off the engine than put throttle in forward to open jet and cross fingers you get enough water flowing through backwards to push object out. Im sure it works best if object is stuck in the intake grate.

Makes more sense

 

[Grover70]

You're right and I chose poor wording. I learned it on this post and you can better see it on the link. Thanks for correcting me!
https://jetboaters.net/threads/reverse-move.13049/#post-227073

 

[Kahuna Khris]

You're right and I chose poor wording in the process I use. I learned it on this post and you can better see it on the link. Thanks for correcting me!
https://jetboaters.net/threads/reverse-move.13049/#post-227073

Learning myself Grover. The dialogue helps all of us and I have learned more from this forum than from my mechanic. Cheers.