New SX250 owner

[ragingrhino]

So I did it. I put a deposit down on a new 24 SX250!!! First time boat owner so im a newbie here and to the jet boat community. Ive driven boats before but only friends boats and rentals and they were all outboards. I go to the dealership tomorrow to sign the paperwork and haul it off the lot. So incredibly pumped.

So what are general tips you guys can offer me? Tips on what I should check on before I leave the dealership or before launching or anything in general.

Ive watched a massive amount of youtube videos and I've already started getting all the necessities for owning a boat(life jackets, fire extinguisher, anchors, dock lines, anchor lines, fenders, etc). Ive been reading posts here and again with some experience I have with boats I have a little confidence in what Im doing.

Happy to be here and cant wait to get on the water.

 

[Acard7]

Welcome to the forum and soon jet boat life! Great resource on here as you’ve seen if you’ve visited the FAQ section!

Take your time learning how to maneuver the boat, it’s a totally different experience. Once you get the hang of it you’ll be great! I’d recommend steering enhancements like cobra jet steering or jet boat pilot thrust vectors, these or for your slow speed handling for the most part. So remember slow is smooth, smooth is fast; only go as fast as you wanna hit something.

Two batteries are better than one! Think about a second bilge in the future, or a high water alarm in the nearer future.

Trailer guide posts are a great investment!

Have a set routine putting in the water and taking out.

Have a nice pocket knife and some small pliers handy to clear anything you suck up into the pumps.

Lastly, this is probably one of the most critical pieces of advice. When running on the hose: Engine on, attach hose with running water. When turning off while running on the hose: water off, then engine off. If you have to be towed due to total engine failures: clamp off water cooling lines so water doesn’t backfill into the cylinders, and place throttles in forward detents. If you are limping back to the dock on one engine due to failure, you should safely be able to go at no wake speed and not backfill into your broken down engine, but better safe to clamp off the water cooling lines of the non-running engine. If you ever suspect water has gotten into an engine never turn it over.

 

[ragingrhino]

Welcome to the forum and soon jet boat life! Great resource on here as you’ve seen if you’ve visited the FAQ section!

Take your time learning how to maneuver the boat, it’s a totally different experience. Once you get the hang of it you’ll be great! I’d recommend steering enhancements like cobra jet steering or jet boat pilot thrust vectors, these or for your slow speed handling for the most part. So remember slow is smooth, smooth is fast; only go as fast as you wanna hit something.

Two batteries are better than one! Think about a second bilge in the future, or a high water alarm in the nearer future.

Trailer guide posts are a great investment!

Have a set routine putting in the water and taking out.

Have a nice pocket knife and some small pliers handy to clear anything you suck up into the pumps.

Lastly, this is probably one of the most critical pieces of advice. When running on the hose: Engine on, attach hose with running water. When turning off while running on the hose: water off, then engine off. If you have to be towed due to total engine failures: clamp off water cooling lines so water doesn’t backfill into the cylinders, and place throttles in forward detents. If you are limping back to the dock on one engine due to failure, you should safely be able to go at no wake speed and not backfill into your broken down engine, but better safe to clamp off the water cooling lines of the non-running engine. If you ever suspect water has gotten into an engine never turn it over.

Thank you.

A couple questions. What will the steering and thrust vectors do exactly? Are they just for docking/loading? Also my boat has two batteries already so i think im good there but do I need a second bilge pump? Great suggestion on the pliers and knife. Have a few of both laying around and now ill designate one of each for the boat.

 

[Acard7]

Thank you.

A couple questions. What will the steering and thrust vectors do exactly? Are they just for docking/loading? Also my boat has two batteries already so i think im good there but do I need a second bilge pump? Great suggestion on the pliers and knife. Have a few of both laying around and now ill designate one of each for the boat.

They help with low speed handling, 99% will say they make a major difference with less wandering at slow speeds. Search videos on YouTube, there’s plenty on there comparing the two! A second bilge is just peace of mind since our bilges are automatic and have no float, so they are sensing every 5 minutes or so. Not entirely needed though!

 

[anmut]

My suggestion on aftermarket steering Cobra or JBP products:

You don't need them if you will always be the captain. Yes there's a learning curve, but twin engine jets are nimble AF when you pilot them enough.

HOWEVER

If there's a chance that someone else will need to pilot the boat to pull you during water sports activities, or take the boat on/off the trailer, or for any other reason, they are worth their weight in gold.

I came from inboards/IOs/outboards before buying my first jet boat, and I bought the cobras because I wanted my wife to be able to steadily and confidently steer the boat at low speeds in the 1-3% time she actually drives it. For me, I don't need them - I can crab walk the boat against the wind into a parking spot - but for someone else they are REALLY effective in giving better steering reaction and, more importantly, confidence.

 

[YoDaddy292]

Welcome! We need pictures of that beast.

 

[ragingrhino]

Welcome! We need pictures of that beast.

Cant pick it up until next Tuesday but as soon as i get it i will

 

[Tanks443]

You are welcome

 

[ragingrhino]

Taking her down to the water today to get that engine broken in

 

[jcb1977]

Taking her down to the water today to get that engine broken in

congratulations. I have the exact same boat. Once you get thru the break in period, i'd be curious to know what you are seeing for RPM's at full throttle. I'm only getting to about 7200. should be another 400 or 500 rpm's to get gained. I'm going to change spark plugs, and adjust oil levels when i do my 10-hour service but would be nice to what others are finding with the new 1.9's.

 

[YoDaddy292]

Just remember it spins in the middle. Front end left means back end right. Have someone help push you away from the dock when backing out and make a game of being in control at the slowest speeds possible. Make it a point that both of you learn to dock and load it onto the trailer. Our boating lives and stress levels went way down once the wife learned those things. No more parking it on the ramp dock and sprinting back to get our boat out of the way.....now I can park the truck, maybe hit the bathroom, and walk back to the dock so the wife can come pick me up. Help each other out by catching the boat before it rubs or smacks the dock and make a point of coming in so slow it's irritating. It gives you time to think about what happens with the boat when you make corrections. Trust me you will feel ridiculous on your first load onto the trailer and/or docking.

 

[ragingrhino]

Just remember it spins in the middle. Front end left means back end right. Have someone help push you away from the dock when backing out and make a game of being in control at the slowest speeds possible. Make it a point that both of you learn to dock and load it onto the trailer. Our boating lives and stress levels went way down once the wife learned those things. No more parking it on the ramp dock and sprinting back to get our boat out of the way.....now I can park the truck, maybe hit the bathroom, and walk back to the dock so the wife can come pick me up. Help each other out by catching the boat before it rubs or smacks the dock and make a point of coming in so slow it's irritating. It gives you time to think about what happens with the boat when you make corrections. Trust me you will feel ridiculous on your first load onto the trailer and/or docking.

Yeah today was a test of the nerves for both of us. My wife did pretty good minus a few things i didnt realize she never thought of. Shes definitely going to have to learn getting the boat up on the trailer so we can avoid the exact scenario you mentioned.