Any Room for Slo-Pokes?

[Maggie Joh]

Hi all,

Very interested in joining the jet boat community, mainly due to lower maintenance. Have been reading through the forums - great resource. Recently looked at a Glastron GT 187 - there is a dealer close to home. I haven't yet been on the water in one - or any jet boat for that matter, although familiar with jet skis. One question I have for others: is jet boating something that you need to do with speed? For those times we just want to 'enjoy the scenery' at a slower pace, would we be frustrated with lack of control or manoeuvrability? I have seen the info on the thrust vectors, and perhaps that's something to include with our list of add-ons. Thanks for any opinions!

 

[Chip F.]

I have 60 hrs on my boat and the last time I looked my average speed was 11 mph . I don't have any maneuverability help and been doing fine and this is my first boat. The fun part is knowing how fast you can go then doing it!

 

[McMark]

Below 6 or 7 mph is fine and above 20 mph is fine. In between is that stern squatty plowing speed.

 

[Speedling]

I think 90% of members do primarily cruising speeds majority of the time which is roughly 25 mph. This gives best mpg.

 

[Julian]

Hi all,

Very interested in joining the jet boat community, mainly due to lower maintenance. Have been reading through the forums - great resource. Recently looked at a Glastron GT 187 - there is a dealer close to home. I haven't yet been on the water in one - or any jet boat for that matter, although familiar with jet skis. One question I have for others: is jet boating something that you need to do with speed? For those times we just want to 'enjoy the scenery' at a slower pace, would we be frustrated with lack of control or manoeuvrability? I have seen the info on the thrust vectors, and perhaps that's something to include with our list of add-ons. Thanks for any opinions!

Absolutely no reason you can't drive a jet boat around slowly! People make the mistake of associating JET with SPEED boats....like they are rooster tail rockets only. The older river boats used to be (still are) like this. But the modern jet boat is a safe family runabout.

 

[swatski]

Hi all,

Very interested in joining the jet boat community, mainly due to lower maintenance. Have been reading through the forums - great resource. Recently looked at a Glastron GT 187 - there is a dealer close to home. I haven't yet been on the water in one - or any jet boat for that matter, although familiar with jet skis. One question I have for others: is jet boating something that you need to do with speed? For those times we just want to 'enjoy the scenery' at a slower pace, would we be frustrated with lack of control or manoeuvrability? I have seen the info on the thrust vectors, and perhaps that's something to include with our list of add-ons. Thanks for any opinions!

Welcome to the forum!
As @Bruce and others will atest, adding trim tabs makes these boats a lot less "squirrelly" at low speeds (and easier coming on plane, lower speed). I do a lot of slow speed cruising with family.

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[Julian]

In my opinion, because of the low to almost un-noticable bow rise on a jet boat, jet boat cruising as slower non-planing speeds is actually nicer than in a prop boat as those in the back can still see where you are going! Gas consumption by both props and jets when "plowing" is similar.

If you want to crawl along below 4mph...a jet does require more steering input.

 

[swatski]

In my opinion, because of the low to almost un-noticable bow rise on a jet boat, jet boat cruising as slower non-planing speeds is actually nicer than in a prop boat as those in the back can still see where you are going! Gas consumption by both props and jets when "plowing" is similar.

If you want to crawl along below 4mph...a jet does require more steering input.

Very true. But also true that tabs help to pop up on plane at lower speeds. (nothing to do with bow rise)
That effect is particularly noticeable when loaded (heavily).
For example, the same jet boat with the tabs deployed will go 12mgh on plane and use half the gas than another (w/o tabs deployed and not on plane - "plowing") while at the same speed.

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[Speedling]

Perhaps use the user map and find someone nearby to possibly go for a drive and see what you think!

 

[Seadeals]

I like to spend time putting around at idle or now wake mode (Yamaha). It is very pleasant up until 3000+rpm. From there, engine noise is definitely greater than typical outboards or I/Os and my 210 hull throws large rollers perpendicular to the direction of travel (around 5000 RPM -the plow). On plane small rpm changes affect speed more significantly. At 8000 (wot) I get 43 mph, 7500 = 38 mph, 7000 = 32 mph, 6500 = 26 mph, then it falls off plane 6000 = 14 mph. An I/O has a much smaller rpm range so you might consider them a quieter/smoother option than a jet. I still pick my jetboat hands down and newer boats have better sound insulation.

 

[NavyShooter]

Hi Maggie Joh,

I'm in the Halifax area (work in the Dockyard, live out near Fall River.)

I own a GT-187

Where do you live at?

The local dealer for the Glastron Line is Iron Wind Marine, up near St Margaret's Bay.

NS

 

[Maggie Joh]

Hey all, appreciate the input. Have been working away, home next week and looks like Nova Scotia boating will be over for the season. Navy Shooter - hope you are enjoying yours. Ultimate question - would you buy the same again? We are in Halifax and we were at Iron Wind to see the Glastron. Started off looking at the Scarab 165 in Ontario, but the small bump up in size to the 187 makes a difference. Thanks again everyone. Can’t beat the resources on this site.

 

[NavyShooter]

Hi Maggie,

If I was buying again, I'd be awful tempted to get the GTS instead of the GT.

The GT has 150 HP, and that's pretty good for the small lake that we're on (Third Lake, Windsor Junction area)

The GTS has 250....and would probably have just a bit more zip.

3 kids on a side-by-side towed floatie bogs down and has trouble getting over 20 MPH. 3 kids on an in-line (hotdog/banana) floatie has no problem getting up to almost 30.

When we bought, the show special at the Feb Boat show was really good....like....REALLY good, so we got what we got, and the price paid was very reasonable, in my opinion.