Jumping in with both feet! First jet boat.

[CedarCreekGuy]

Hi guys,

I’m a long-time I/O boater (37 years and I’m 48 ?.) I’ve been reading here for a while and considering a jet boat. All you guys are really great and have made this site so informative and helpful.

We have a place at Cedar Creek lake southeast of Dallas that I’ve grown up skiing on. We just parted with our 1990 Sea Ray 190 (which was actually almost 21’.) That’s right -1990! We have a (grandfathered) enclosed boathouse and the thing looked like a 10 year old boat. But after struggling a few times to pull a couple 250-275 lb buddies back into the boat and with kids that are getting into wake boarding it was time to upgrade.

So yesterday we added this beauty to the family!

New 2019 212 Limited S. My boys are jacked! Our weekends are filled with baseball tournaments this Spring but we are looking forward to enjoying it Memorial Day weekend.

Thanks to all you guys for making this such a fun and informative site. You’ve got a great group here.

 

[malibu Dan]

Hi guys,

I’m a long-time I/O boater (37 years and I’m 48 ?.) I’ve been reading here for a while and considering a jet boat. All you guys are really great and have made this site so informative and helpful.

We have a place at Cedar Creek lake southeast of Dallas that I’ve grown up skiing on. We just parted with our 1990 Sea Ray 190 (which was actually almost 21’.) That’s right -1990! We have a (grandfathered) enclosed boathouse and the thing looked like a 10 year old boat. But after struggling a few times to pull a couple 250-275 lb buddies back into the boat and with kids that are getting into wake boarding it was time to upgrade.

So yesterday we added this beauty to the family! View attachment 91186View attachment 91187View attachment 91188

New 2019 212 Limited S. My boys are jacked! Our weekends are filled with baseball tournaments this Spring but we are looking forward to enjoying it Memorial Day weekend.

Thanks to all you guys for making this such a fun and informative site. You’ve got a great group here.

Congratulations.. that is one gorgeous boat...

 

[Weeb]

That’s a really sharp looking paint scheme congrats.

 

[giroux68]

Great choice. I went from an old Sea Ray 190 to a yamaha a few years ago too. Enjoy.

 

[CedarCreekGuy]

Thanks guys! Giroux - how was the transition for you? We are adding more padding to the slip now - worried about the first few times berthing it, especially if it’s rough. Seemed fairly maneuverable at low speed on the test drive but I wasn’t trying to dock or trailer it.

 

[giroux68]

It took a bit to get used to the jet differences, there is alway thrust come out at idle. Spend some time backing in and out of the slip, spinning around and docking to get the feel for it. Getting mine off the trailer still gives me head aches. I probably just need to put it in deeper. But the reverse doesn't have the pull of and out drive.

 

[CedarCreekGuy]

Good advice-thanks. If I struggle with it for long I’ll get the cobra fins but I’ve heard the 2019’s are supposed to be a little easier so I’ll try stock first.

 

[Scarab 215]

Congrats ?

 

[buckbuck]

Beautiful. Are you sure it will fit in the boat house?

 

[LeeFlan7]

That boat is gorgeous...congratulations!!!

 

[Rushfan67]

 

[Mike & Lilly]

Congrats perfect timing enjoy

 

[J-RAD]

It's a beautiful boat, congratulations!

My tip, just have fun messing around with it for a bit. If you try to drive it like a conventional boat it will handle like crap. Drive it like a twin engine jet boat and it will handle awesome!

It took a bit to get used to the jet differences, there is alway thrust come out at idle. Spend some time backing in and out of the slip, spinning around and docking to get the feel for it. Getting mine off the trailer still gives me head aches. I probably just need to put it in deeper. But the reverse doesn't have the pull of and out drive.

Deeper helps. I don't presume to think you need any tips. For us, we'll typically have the boat ready to launch and I'll pull up to the ramp and park so all my wife had to do is back straight down the rest of the way. I'll hop in the boat and have her back it in until the rear just starts to float, I'll start the engines. Climb up and disconnect the bow. Once re-seated, I'll signal her to back in a bit more, I'll put the boat into reverse as she backs the trailer a bit more. Once she feels she's got us deep enough, she taps the brakes and the momentum of the boat carries us off, if we're not already. Everyone has their own system and ultimately it depends on how comfortable your wife feels handling either the boat or the truck.

 

[CedarCreekGuy]

Beautiful. Are you sure it will fit in the boat house?

Yes we took measurements. It will stick out slightly in the rear but barely. May end up extending the roof a foot who knows ?

 

[captras]

Congrats and welcome! We went from a 1987 Four Winns Horizon 210 to a 2016 242 Yamaha and havnt looked back once! So many good things about it. You will enjoy!

 

[2015 SX210]

That’s awesome, we just traded our 1989 Sea Ray 180BR for a SX210. Same as you, can’t wait to try it out!

 

[Dean P]

Good Better memories await you. Congrats on the new boat and welcome to the jet boaters!

 

[PJ73]

 

[merlinjet]

Congrats and welcome aboard!!

 

[afsigma21]

Your story is similar to mine, went from a 1984 I/O that my dad bought new to a 2017 212 LS