[shilburn]

Looking for another used jet boat, there are alot of makes and models of hulls and pumps as well. I'm sure there are some brands or models that had issues, any recommendations or comments would be appreciated.


Thanks,

Steve

[shilburn]

Wow, 65 people looked at my question, but no comments, nothing?

[19ftCheyenne]

What kind of jet boat did u have before?

How fast do u want to go with it?

Are you looking for a 19 ft?

You cant go wrong with a berkeley pump!! Try and get a " split bowl " too !!

Do u want a open bow?

[More2LifeThanMPG]

What kind of jet boat did u have before?

How fast do u want to go with it?

Are you looking for a 19 ft?

You cant go wrong with a berkeley pump!! Try and get a " split bowl " too !!

Do u want a open bow?

x2

Plus,
What are you mostly going to use it for?

How much are you looking to spend?


**and side note, most of the guys on here are in So Cal, a few are in South NV and Northern AZ...
I would also post up on performaceboats.com (if you have not done so yet)

[shilburn]

Thanks to everyone that answered my questions.

I had a 19' Taylor SJ with a 461, .30 over 454. The guy a bought it from had done alot of engine work, roller cam, rockers and lifters. I'm not sure about the model Berkeley pump that was on it but it had been rebuilt as well.

To my surprise the boat ran fast, 75 mph (gps) at about 5500 RPM. I love the Taylor design but do most stock jet boats run about the same speeds 50-60 mph, are some brands faster just due to the hull design?
Is your money best spent first on making improvements to the pump?

I would love to have an 75-80 mph boat without having to make 700-800 hp, that gets expensive.

[shilburn]

Love the Tahiti, it looks brand new, do you have any more pics

[crewchief22]

The best way to get a good response would be to post up a couple choices and we would help to get you pointed to the better deal.

If you're watching Craigslist or Ebay post up links so we can give you feed back.  If you're looking at something local post pics with some information and again we'll tell you what we think.  The problem with just asking an open ended question like "what is the best hull" is that you will get either 20 different opinions or no response because most guys don't want to spend 10 minutes putting together a post.

Good luck.   

[76NORDIC]

Perfect response Keith, that is what I wanted to say also. Too open ended of a question   And could be too many replies

[Nordie]

clearly you need a 400lb tunnel hull dragster for hauling your kids around on a wakeboard at mead...




we need more details to answer your question.

Whats wrong with mead? Ever been?

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S 4G

[GlassCutter]

My advice would be to not worry about the name on the boat.  So many names were cross bred into so many different hulls that it really is irrelevant in a lot of instances.  Worry far more about the condition of the boats you see in ads that seem to suit your needs and budget.  An Eliminator or Hallet with rot and cracking gel is not near as good buy as the Sanger or Sleekcraft that has been well cared for by only 2 or 3 owners in the past 30-40 yrs.
Stay away from the Panther pumps because Berk are so much more common as is a Jacuzzi to a slightly lesser degree.  Upholstery is cheap but building new bases because of rot isn't.  Check the stringers with a hammer for soft spots.  Check dizzy and wiring for corrosion and rust.  Check for cracks in fuel lines just for peace of mind.  Engine covered boats needs good evac fans, make sure that works if applicable.  A good cut, buff and wax is cheap, but fixing cracked gel is not.  At this point I have more money in the trailer than I do in the boat.  4 tires, hubs, bearings, bunks, wiring, paint, lights were all necessary but I got a great deal on the boat, so I would say be sure to check the trailer closely too. 
Oh, and if you find one with powered with a Pontiac or  Mopar, call me immediately.
 You don't want that kind of weirdness but I do!   

[shilburn]

Thanks for taking the time to respond, this is great advice. Will be more specific with my questions in the future.

[wizard612]

Craftsmanship is important too. If you have a choice find a hull that's hand laminated not chopper gunned. Stringers that run from the transom to the bulkhead under the deck is especially important in an old boat.  Site down the strakes from the transom and if possible take a good straightedge say 6' long and check for a hook in the bottom even great makes can develop them if not stored correctly.  Brand new floorboard carpet ( old old for that matter) can hide a bunch of problems so be forwarned.  Take a good whiff of the bilge, it can indicate poor maintenance, fuel or oil soaked wood, even too much partying on the river which can smell really bad!!!

If you want specific hull types look at the racing sections of this site and Performance Boats. Those are all proven hulls.