Help me decide If a jet boat will work for me

[Alan Pruett]

I live on the crystal coast of N.C. I think I want an AR 190 or 195. I will using it in the Bogue sound, and local rivers. Bogue is quite shallow. There is no seaweed but there is some plant life and mucky bottom and some areas of sand. Can I expect a jet boat to function here? I want to do pleasure boating, tubing and some wake boarding. I am new to this area and have no jet experience. Any info you can provide us helpful. Thanks , Akan

 

[bronze_10]

Check out the member map.. There may be a member close to u that can chime in.

 

[Scottintexas]

as long as you don't have lilly pads or floating stuff you should probably be ok,

check out this video

 

[Shiver]

I am also in the same situation. I have been looking but not set on what I want to get. Where are you located?

 

[Rickey498]

We run on a really shallow river, and while have seen other types of boats on our river, jet boats were are best option for running all year round. I don’t think you can go wrong with a jet boat.

 

[Ilmmct]

@Alan Pruett the video that @Scottintexas provided gives you an idea what is going on with the jets when they are in shallow/sandy water. I boat the NC ICW and inlets around Wilmington. My 24 footer floats in 18” and the manufacturer recommends 3’ minimum running depths. In depths under 4’, I never go above no-wake speeds to minimize sand ingestion. I’ve had two 24’ Yamaha jetboats (2008 and current 2013) used exclusively in our coastal NC waters and would buy a 3rd newer model, if my wife would let me. Rinse the engine per the manufacturers instructions and include saltaway as you flush ... these are great, low maintenance salt life boats.

 

[ThatJeepGuy]

@Alan Pruett the video that @Scottintexas . I boat the NC ICW and inlets around Wilmington. My 24 footer floats in 18” and the manufacturer recommends 3’ minimum running depths. In depths under 4’, I never go above no-wake speeds to minimize sand ingestion.

While this is Yamaha's recommendations I routinely scream through water 12" or less. Every weekend.... something about a 24' bow rider going by airboats in minimal water and getting the crazy look that makes me smile....

 

[Alan Pruett]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Anyone know the factory depth recommendations for a Yamaha 19 ft (195)? What happen when you suck up sand or muck?

 

[DBamaC]

3', but I certainly operate in less occassionally at no wake speeds. Sand or much goes straight through. Rocks, not so much.

 

[Scottintexas]

If you do vacuum some mud up most of it goes directly out the jet nozzle, some of it is diverted for cooling water purposes,

I usually boat in TX lakes that in shallow water is red mud, there are times when my pee holes are squirting red water out of them, yes all that red water is going through my engine and exhaust cooling systems but it's silty/micro material (there is a screen that keeps anything more than silt out), when I do notice this I make sure to run my boat in clean water until the pee holes are clear, you certainly wouldn't want to run in mud and then turn the engines off for the day, just as you wouldn't let a salt water boat sit without flushing it (because of the salt sediment it will build up), we have many muddy Mississippi (I spelled that correctly without the use of spell checker, thank you) that experience this same thing,

 

[Alan Pruett]

Thx Scott. So when I’m back on the lift st home my flushing should take care of any silt residue in the cooling system too?

 

[haknslash]

Thx Scott. So when I’m back on the lift st home my flushing should take care of any silt residue in the cooling system too?

Yes. Just make sure you can climb in your boat to turn on the engine and then the water. Don't run water to flush without having the engines on.

 

[Scottintexas]

yes, is your lift in that shallow of water? I would think if you're out fishing/playing and get into some muddy water that the run back to the lift in open water is going clean it out, I would still tell you to flush it if you're in brackish water for the salt aspect but I wouldn't be worried about the silt/sediment issue,

 

[Scottintexas]

watch this video by our very esteemed member bucketybuck from our FAQ tab, it's a different engine than you will have but the same process,

 

[Rickey498]

I have been told by some that you can run as little as 18” of water, but when you take off you want to be in 3’.

 

[KyleP]

Shallow water alarm goes off on my 195 at 3’ but I have been in much shallower with out a problem

 

[Rickey498]

I don’t think we have that kind of warning on the Sx190

 

[Scottintexas]

I know for a fact an AR230 will run on plane in 6" of water for over 1/2 mile and will only get stuck if you come off plane, thanks TX DJ where ever you are,

 

[KyleP]

I don’t think we have that kind of warning on the Sx190

Yea if I’m not mistaken the 190 doesn’t have a depth meter

 

[zipper]

I know for a fact an AR230 will run on plane in 6" of water for over 1/2 mile and will only get stuck if you come off plane, thanks TX DJ where ever you are,

We can definetly go on plane where lower units cant. One of my marina neighbors with a SeaRay and myself were going under a bridge in about 10' of water approaching a 100yd stretch of 12" water. I punched it in the deep water and planed over the shallows, where he had to raise his lower unit and walk it thru. I arrived back at the marina 20 mins before him. When he finally got back, he came over and asked "how did you do that?" I replied "its a Yamaha jet boat". His only reply was "nice".