Switching to a jet boat?

[potentialjetboater]

Hey all, I know ive seen some of threads like this before but they have not been totally what i was asking about. Wondering if you all could help me out a bit.

l am in California and the main boat types here are pontoons and prop boats (Vdrive or direct). I did see a scarab at the lake the other day and it looked nice.

So this is my main question: should i trade off my Vdrive and switch over to a yamaha?

Right now, this is what i got:

2006 23 foot V drive that for the year and timeframe, is super clean and a great boat.
I surf a bit but it is about 1/4 of the time, tube and then just cruise and chill
I have three young kids (one under 2) and the Vdrive is good but not super setup for them i feel. May be a bit overkill. The interior quality, room and just overall usage seems a bit off.
I do have buddies with surf boats so if i have the itch, I can always do it there.

The reasons i am thinking a Yamaha:

They look really nice
seem to have loads of room for the size (wider bow and good seating behind where now it is taken up a bit by the engine and Vdrive)
The interior quality seems great in that it may be more hard surface, harder interior and etc... Just more water friendly
The lack of a prop just seems safer to me with my young kids
Just newer technology
Saltwater ready? Not sure if this is true but i would love to use the ocean too since i am on the west coast.

Again, I may be way off base here but i dont see many of them out, we dont have a dealer nearby and its a large jump to move on. Thanks in advance

 

[Julian]

All your reasons why to move to a jet boat have been the reasons for many of us to do just that. We have tons of members in CA....so they are out there. I know some years CA emissions controls prevented some models for being sold there.

You really need to get on one in the water. They are a different beast and not for everyone. For me they are an all purpose, do many things well, but none that they exceed at, type of boat (ok...they are fun to drive and easy to maintain)

 

[tabbibus]

no prop is what sold it for me as my first boat. I have little ones and did not want to worry about a prop.

 

[HangOutdoors]

When we were shopping, I looked at multiple Manufacturers and was preparing to do the deal on something else. Read up on Yamaha's and "No Prop" for safety and Twin Engines for being able to get back in if one dies as well as ease of maintenance and was sold right away. Closed two weeks later. Don't regret it one bit.

 

[BRosen]

Agreed, on yours, and these assessments. I just got mine last year, but like you, I really like the size and layout of what you get on these Yamahas. Pretty roomy compared to other comparable sized boats. I also really liked the way they look on the water. And I think bang for your back...you get a lot with Yamaha for the money.

 

[Robbyw]

I went with Yamaha for what I could get in a 25 foot for that price

 

[Dave burke]

Can’t comment on the salt water use because mine is fresh water only. I know there are many many members that use these boats in salt water.

I had outboards and stern drives all my life and then bought a small sea doo jet boat (2009 Speedster) mainly as a toy for my kids who were young teenagers at the time.

Really liked the idea of a jet from a safety, ease of maintenance and risk of hitting objects (our like is very shallow in spots).

When it came time to upgrade our main boat (19ft Chaparral stern drive) four years ago, I looked carefully at the Yamaha 21 ft X and the Chaparral 22 VRX. Test drove them both and decided on the Yammie although it was a tough decision because I’ve always liked the fit and finish of the Chaps. What made the difference for me is the Yamaha “everything is included” approach, the clean out ports, the swim platform (love this) as well as the fact that Yamaha makes their own engines. And like others, the safety aspect of twin engines is important as well. I would think that would be even more important if you’re using it offshore.

Totally agree with @Julian that jets are a different beast (although not as much as they used to be IMHO) and you should really try one before buying.

 

[Shady28]

The value for the money was key. We have a younger family as well and the versatility for water sports, hanging out on the swim deck and space for guests was key. Extremely happy. Would we love a bigger surf wake at times sure, but would I want to trade off space and swim deck 100% of the time no. That said, I won't fish in that boat, that's what we have the Lund for; hooks, bait and guts.

 

[2kwik4u]

I bought a Yamaha base don layout and price/value. You get a LOT of value for your money in a Yamaha boat. $30k bought me more boat in the 19ft market than I could find elsewhere. The rear layout is amazing, and the jet drive provides for more space in the cockpit, and the awesome rear swim deck area.

No props = safer is a selling feature that many people buy on. IMO, it's a misguided justification. I've bloodied my foot kicking a prop, and I've bloodied my foot kicking the keel of my jet. NOBODY should be near the rear of a boat when it's running. Period. Carbon monoxide poisoning, rotating equipment, or high pressure water are present on all boats. The fact that there is no spinning prop, IMO, leads people into a false sense of security and relaxation of the diligence that being near the stern of a vessel requires. IMO, a jet is no more safe than the stern of a V-drive/inboard. Arguably slightly safer, as your distance to the dangerous bits is larger in a V-drive than either a jet or an sterndrive......The moral of the story here is that if you are near the stern of a watercraft at any level, you need to be aware of what's happening around you, and aware of how to conduct yourself around that area; prop or not.......With all that said. If it's the reason you bought, I'm not here to say you're wrong, bought for the wrong reasons, uneducated, or otherwise worse off than before. I'm honestly speaking from a lifetime of being on/around/behind/under boats both as an owner and a passenger. I truly want any new potential owners to really understand the dangers (both real and perceived) that exist at the stern of a watercraft. Education on those dangers is key IMO.

Back to the normal thread ........Overall, The change from a V-Drive to a Jet has a ton of advantages. Driveline simplicity, layout improvements, lighter towed weight, as well as dual engine redundancy (if going offshore, or far from resources). Check out the member map, and see if you can get a ride on one. There are disadvantages as well such as noise, lightness of hull (for breaking waves/wakes and ride comfort), and a relatively difficult setup for surfing to name a few. There is no "best boat" for everyone, so knowing how you are going to use it is key IMO. Good Luck!

 

[potentialjetboater]

Wow, what a response, you guys are awesome.
I think you all hit on some real points and I am convinced I am not off a ledge now.
My wife’s Hangup has been like mine, never seen one in person or driven one. She is hung up on the amount of freeboard the boat has. I really love the looks of them and know she would too if we could see one.

so the question now may be someone locally on this board who may allow me to just shadow them at the lake one day. Maybe a big ask.

I’m located in central California so access north or south is not an issue.
Plan would be to sell my vdrive when I locate a Yamaha once I get hooked on one.

I’ll start cruising the classifieds but I know it’s a tough market right now

thanks a ton guys

 

[2kwik4u]

She is hung up on the amount of freeboard the boat has. I really love the looks of them and know she would too if we could see one.

Jet having too much or not enough freeboard? My 19ft Yamaha has more freeboard than my 19ft Rinker had.

so the question now may be someone locally on this board who may allow me to just shadow them at the lake one day. Maybe a big ask.

Not a big ask at all. Most of us on there love to talk about our boats and show them off to other people. Check the member map, you'll find someone that is willing to take you out for the day I bet. Toss in a $20 bill and a few cold ones, and you're likely to make some new friends

 

[RobbieO]

Hey all, I know ive seen some of threads like this before but they have not been totally what i was asking about. Wondering if you all could help me out a bit.

l am in California and the main boat types here are pontoons and prop boats (Vdrive or direct). I did see a scarab at the lake the other day and it looked nice.

So this is my main question: should i trade off my Vdrive and switch over to a yamaha?

Right now, this is what i got:

2006 23 foot V drive that for the year and timeframe, is super clean and a great boat.
I surf a bit but it is about 1/4 of the time, tube and then just cruise and chill
I have three young kids (one under 2) and the Vdrive is good but not super setup for them i feel. May be a bit overkill. The interior quality, room and just overall usage seems a bit off.
I do have buddies with surf boats so if i have the itch, I can always do it there.

The reasons i am thinking a Yamaha:

They look really nice
seem to have loads of room for the size (wider bow and good seating behind where now it is taken up a bit by the engine and Vdrive)
The interior quality seems great in that it may be more hard surface, harder interior and etc... Just more water friendly
The lack of a prop just seems safer to me with my young kids
Just newer technology
Saltwater ready? Not sure if this is true but i would love to use the ocean too since i am on the west coast.

Again, I may be way off base here but i dont see many of them out, we dont have a dealer nearby and its a large jump to move on. Thanks in advance

I’m in the bay area and bought a Yamaha because I couldn’t get a Chapparal or 4 Winns until 2022-2023. I almost bought a Tahoe, but Bass Pro Shop’s customer service was the worst. I ordered a 2021 212SE and love it. I made the right choice. Great for the kids and roomy. Lots of storage. You’ll love it

 

[tabbibus]

I bought a Yamaha base don layout and price/value. You get a LOT of value for your money in a Yamaha boat. $30k bought me more boat in the 19ft market than I could find elsewhere. The rear layout is amazing, and the jet drive provides for more space in the cockpit, and the awesome rear swim deck area.

No props = safer is a selling feature that many people buy on. IMO, it's a misguided justification. I've bloodied my foot kicking a prop, and I've bloodied my foot kicking the keel of my jet. NOBODY should be near the rear of a boat when it's running. Period. Carbon monoxide poisoning, rotating equipment, or high pressure water are present on all boats. The fact that there is no spinning prop, IMO, leads people into a false sense of security and relaxation of the diligence that being near the stern of a vessel requires. IMO, a jet is no more safe than the stern of a V-drive/inboard. Arguably slightly safer, as your distance to the dangerous bits is larger in a V-drive than either a jet or an sterndrive......The moral of the story here is that if you are near the stern of a watercraft at any level, you need to be aware of what's happening around you, and aware of how to conduct yourself around that area; prop or not.......With all that said. If it's the reason you bought, I'm not here to say you're wrong, bought for the wrong reasons, uneducated, or otherwise worse off than before. I'm honestly speaking from a lifetime of being on/around/behind/under boats both as an owner and a passenger. I truly want any new potential owners to really understand the dangers (both real and perceived) that exist at the stern of a watercraft. Education on those dangers is key IMO.

Back to the normal thread ........Overall, The change from a V-Drive to a Jet has a ton of advantages. Driveline simplicity, layout improvements, lighter towed weight, as well as dual engine redundancy (if going offshore, or far from resources). Check out the member map, and see if you can get a ride on one. There are disadvantages as well such as noise, lightness of hull (for breaking waves/wakes and ride comfort), and a relatively difficult setup for surfing to name a few. There is no "best boat" for everyone, so knowing how you are going to use it is key IMO. Good Luck!

It only is dangerous if you remove the vagina sticker. Otherwise you are safe

 

[potentialjetboater]

All good info. Thanks a ton:

now this is the rub: which one to get! There are so many

I am leaning towards the 240,242 or looks like 252 just due to the size and coming off of a 23 foot boat. All be these seem to maximize size pretty good so a 212 may feel larger than my 23.

I see a 242 limited s that looks nice but is that more of a pleasure boat vs a family water sport boat?

and beyond size, the trim levels for these boats is hard to grasp upon first glance.
Thanks in advance

 

[haknslash]

A vdrive prop is a non-issue since it’s not near the stern where people have their feet swimming plus there is a huge rudder between anyone and the prop. It’s not an outboard or stern drive lol.

If you‘re wanting tubing n cruising plus salt water trips a jet boat is good compromise in family boating. It’s a Jack of trades master of none kind of boat.

 

[Ray F]

In CA also, own a Yamaha SX190. So far, only bummer is I should have researched the altitude issue. As mentioned in the searches, losing 3% per 1000 feet of altitude. Making my boat max at 30 instead of 40. CA outlaws the 195.. Any advice would be welcome.

 

[Mesa50]

In CA also, own a Yamaha SX190. So far, only bummer is I should have researched the altitude issue. As mentioned in the searches, losing 3% per 1000 feet of altitude. Making my boat max at 30 instead of 40. CA outlaws the 195.. Any advice would be welcome.

I’d suggest leaving California, but that’s probably not an option with jobs and family. America, and freedom is just a few miles East from you. Unless you go to far to the East, and then slightly north. Then you’re basically in a cold version of California.

 

[potentialjetboater]

Mesa 50,

I totally agree. This state sucks to a degree which is tough to comprehend. If it were not for being raised here and a family business, I’d be gone long ago.
I joke but it’s true that I may have a front row seat as this state contnues it decent into the abyss.

 

[rad1026]

No disrespect. I grew up in Huntington Beach. Best place and time to be a kid. Left there years ago and would not go back. Didn't want to spend my life on the freeway. I am seeing the effects of people leaving CA and moving to states like AZ and NM. The sheer amount of money people bring out of the state from selling a home basically makes them rich in NM. Then they get here and demand the same things they had in CA, like why did you leave there? Stop trying to change my state to become another CA. If that's what you want, just stay there. Sorry.

 

[portlandbucfan]

100% agree. Californians changing my region.