small jet boat questions- Sea rayder/whaler rage/speedster - The Hull Truth

Classic25 · 07-07-2008, 03:46 PM

Looking to get a small jet boat. Did some research on power plant options in this size class of boats. I'm not too impressed with the track record of some of the available packages out there. It seems that 90 hp is considered 'under powered" unless you get into a reed kit and stainless inpeller. Then there's the "its just a Force motor" set... Seems 115-120 HP is the way to go. Not interested in twins.

Anyway, I'm looking to hear from people with 14' jet boats who have experience with a machine that can haul 2 adults or an adult with a couple of kids and can ski or tube..

Haven't decided on any particular boat brand, so I thought I'd approach the project from the power plant perspective first.

Stories anyone?

HIBANX · 07-07-2008, 03:49 PM

I had a Nautica RIB with the Mercury (Force) 120 sport jet. It was a 16' RIB and it pushed it at close to 40 mph. Plenty of grunt to haul 4 adults or a couple of kids on a tube. I didn't own it very long, but it was reliable while I had it.

Classic25 · 07-07-2008, 04:31 PM

thanx. anyone else?

Florida R227 · 07-07-2008, 08:25 PM

I owned a Yamaha LX2000 which is not what your asking about but I did a good bit of research on jet boats in general before buying that one. The smaller engines are all outboard powerheads attached to the pumps and are essentially no different from an equivalent horsepower outboard just without the lower unit. My boat had a jet ski motor which is quite different in design. I'll have to say the ones with jet ski motors (not the newer four strokes) are pretty hard to break because they are just so simple in design. No transmission, no gears, you just need to make sure they get gas and oil. My boat had two 135 horse jet ski engines in it but Yamaha made another smaller boat with just one of the same engines. From all I've read the big thing on those was to watch the oiling system or convert to pre-mix. They're fun boats to play with but do take some time to get used to with that whole no rudder thing. One website with good info on these boats is www.yamahajetboaters.com which is forum for the Yamaha boats but you can probably gain advice on the others your asking about. Good luck with your search.

centuarynick · 07-07-2008, 08:46 PM

my buddie has a 1998'ish sea ryder < sp its a lil 16' boat but i want to say is sports a 180 HP 2 stroke motor . i think the only problem he had with it in the last few years were the CDI modules and the oil injection pump . he put different carbs on it but the boat was GPS at 61 mph .. that thing turns on a dime . the only problem i hate about it is the oil injection pump went out so he runs a gas oil mix and it smokes "ideling" . other then that 5 people and the boat still moves pretty quickly

Classic25 · 07-08-2008, 05:58 AM

Thanks for the replies. I'm leaning towards the PWC motor rigs. Seems like the outboard power headed boats have more problems. Seems as though thats reflected in the prices as well.
Thanks.

FLScout172 · 07-08-2008, 06:35 AM

You should look at Sugar Sands boats. They are a small package like you are looking for with higher horsepower motors. I've never owned one and don't know anyone who has one, but they look cool.

Here is an article at iboats about them:
http://www.iboats.com/Sugar_Sand_Marine

I believe they are all Mercury powered.

bruce hansen · 07-08-2008, 06:56 AM

Had a 99 15 whaler rage 175, wish I had never sold it!! would run circles around sea raiders, sea doos(with twins) etc. The 175 is the way to go. My 2 cents worth.

tprice · 07-08-2008, 08:37 AM

I am sitting in a one of my clients office( and cruising THT while I wait on him to get ****** and he bought his son a Boston Whaler with the jet drive, I told him he was a NUT.

Long story short they had a few problems (purchased used) and one was a fuel pump and the other was the impeller but since then it has been a pretty good boat.

I will ask his son when I see him but it seems like he told me the boat will run upper 30's with no problem

I think I am telling you correct that it is a yamaha engine but 100% sure

bruce hansen · 07-08-2008, 08:53 AM

Quote:

tprice - 7/8/2008 10:37 AM

I am sitting in a one of my clients office( and cruising THT while I wait on him to get ****** and he bought his son a Boston Whaler with the jet drive, I told him he was a NUT.

Long story short they had a few problems (purchased used) and one was a fuel pump and the other was the impeller but since then it has been a pretty good boat.

I will ask his son when I see him but it seems like he told me the boat will run upper 30's with no problem

I think I am telling you correct that it is a yamaha engine but 100% sure

Whaler made an earlier rage w/ 60ish hp yamaha power in a 14' version it could hit mid 30 mph with a light load but it was not a great boat. They then came out w/ the 15' rage w/ optional 175 hp mercury power head connected to the jet drive, the one I had would run in low 50's w/ 1 adult, mid to upper 40's with 4 normal size adults. I would run away from the 14' and search for a 15' w/ 175 hp

ilandTrader · 07-08-2008, 11:15 AM

I owned a 15 Rage with the 175 merc in it. They are tough to find since that motor was only a 2 year run. They are tougher to find in good shape. I bought it in early 2005, sold it in late 2006 to a guy in Jacksonville for a third of what I had into it.
I Wasted a ton of money in the process completely redoing it. It ran like a homesick angel . The biggest thing it needed were real trim tabs, not the spring pressure ones BW factory supplied. The Lenco's I used were awesome, you could stuff the bow and just go then fine tune every knot out of her.- no more porposing.

I cant speak for other boats, but the whaler felt more like a real boat and less like an oversized toy or jetski. Rough ride and terrible slow speed control made it a boat you have to drive, not just ride in
http://bimini.com/boat/ - for pictures of the transformation.

Classic25 · 07-08-2008, 05:50 PM

Thanks for the input guys..

tprice · 07-08-2008, 06:45 PM

Seems like this boat is a 115 hp but not sure, I will find out tomorrow and post some details

MONSTAWHALA · 07-08-2008, 07:25 PM

Had a 94 14' Rage.......It was a great design and a fun boat to run. I owned it for a couple of years but got rid of it for several reasons
Most of the Rages with the 90 or 115 hp had many, many problems , most of them related to overheating . It seems that the power heads weren't nearly enough power to run the jet pump end of things for starters. The thermostats and poppet valves were notorious for getting things jammed in them (like sand and other debris) . I removed the thermostats and poppet's after adding a extra fine sea strainer , in hopes that would solve some of the problems, which for the most part it did. I think when it came down to it, Whaler finally understood that unless the boat had a much larger power head, like the 175 hp, there going to be many more blown power heads.
By the time Whaler started the changeover to the 175's, the Rage was losing ground to some of the other competitors out there. The Rage for what it was, construction-wise was overbuilt, making it too expensive compared to its competition, so they smartly bowed out.
I think the early Yamaha power plants which were nice units, were way too small for the Rage, which is why Whaler moved up after one year of producing them that way. Also, these things are huge gas hogs, due to the way the power heads have to work so hard to produce thrust. They probably use almost double the amount of gas that a regular Outboard of the same HP would use on a similar style boat
One last comment..The biggest problem with buying one now , is parts availability. The older 90's/115's were OMC's and the Jet pump parts are no longer being produced .So repairs will get super expensive

Keep in mind my comments are only limited the Boston Whaler Rage....With the 90/115 hp power plants. If it were me, I would really stay away from this boat , as they are much better options out there on the market

rdollie · 07-08-2008, 08:23 PM

I'll second the recommendation to spend some time at www.yamahajetboaters.com. People there are knowledgable and open about any known issues. Many have experience with other boats and some have experience with other jets (e.g., Sugar Sand.)

The latest Yamaha jet boats seem about bullet proof in reliability. They don't have transmissions or gears and are built as 4-stroke marinized detuned Yamaha R1 motorcycle engines which are legendary in their class. The smallest Yamahas have twin 160 hp motors in them but you can find them in the 2-5 year old range with 110 hp twins as well.

Do you have a price range in mind?

Classic25 · 07-09-2008, 09:07 AM

Thats a good link. Thanks. I also found this. http://www.boats.com/news-reviews/ar...jet-boats-1995

Good stuff. Thanks guys..