Center Console Jet Boat??

I went to the DFW Boat Show this weekend as I am interested in getting a center console in the next few months and I was very surprised at the Phill Dill display to find out the 19' center console I was checking out was a jet boat... I remember in the late 90's jet boats came out but they were all small boats that were basically large jet skis. This boat had everything you would look for in a center console (live wells, tons of storage, T-top, etc) but was considerably less expensive than the traditional outboard style motors. The sales rep told me that this model would equal around 140 HP and would be plenty to pull a tuber or skier as well.

Seemed like a really good deal but I did some research and read about all of the problems that kept jet boats from really taking off. Mainly 3 things... 1. They were difficult to steer when idling as they used the propulsion nozzle as the only means of steering. So, if you are trying to coast onto your trailer it is very difficult. 2. They act like a vacuum and suck up everything from dirt and grass to trash. These mess with the motor and are costly to repair and could leave you stranded on the lake. 3. They have a more significant loss of power when you add passengers. Every boat loses power but reviews said that jet boats had a significant loss of power.

All of the reviews I could find were pretty old though. I plan to go out and test drive the boat to ask the dealer about these questions but wanted to see if anyone has been on this type of boat recently or knows if they have done anything to fix these issues in the last 5+ years?

The jet pumps are highly inefficient and are gas guzzlers. It takes a lot of HP just to get the boat moving no matter the hull design. Shallow water cavitation is a problem when taking off since the pump also sucks air. Example is a 200hp jet ski only does about 60mph and it weighs far less than an equivalent 60mph bass boat that will go 60 on 150hp and weighs 5 times as much.

I had a small jet boat for a while.
1) There is no neutral. If the engine is on, the pump is churning water. You can get used to it when driving the boat up on a trailer. It gets difficult when pulling into a crowded marina with a side wind. Most other boats owners don't know its limitations.
2) They do suck up stuff. Don't run over any ski rope or braided fishing line. The offset is they can go fast over shallow water. They also don't have a prop sticking down searching for tree stumps.
3). The pump design is less efficient than an outboard propeller so they use a more powerful gas thirty engine to compensate.

Jet pumps are popular on rivers and not so much on lakes.

I have 2016 16' aluminium boat with a 60/40 mercury jet drive tiller handle and i love it. It has a better hole shot than my 21' ranger, i can get up and on plane in seconds. Yes your going to have problems sucking things up when you drive it in less than 1' of water while not on plane, on plane i can run in around 8 inches of water.As far as steering goes, it's just like a jet ski once it's turned off or in neutral then you can't steer it. When i load mine on the trailer i just leave it in FWD idling and drive up on the trailer, no problem at all. Where i live you aren't getting very far on the Colorado river without a jet drive, just about everyone around here has one and you rarely hear people having problems with them. A good buddy of my has a 16' center console with a 90hp yamaha jet drive and it preforms very well also. Feel free to ask any questions and i'll do my best to anwser them.

Tuesday I'll be test driving the Yamaha 190 FSH. If everything goes well she'll be coming home with me.

I have an alweld jet bass boat, I love it, mainly use it in creeks or when we go jug lining.

Thank you everyone for the feedback. Texashelms - that is the same boat that I was looking at. I am sure you are going to be asking many of the same questions that have been brought up in the thread. Would you mind responding after your test drive with what the dealer says?

Looking to know what the manufacturer has done to improve in the below areas:
1. Steering in neutral
2. Sucking up of debris
3. Fuel efficiency
4. Loss of power with a heavier load

That thing is like a weeble wooble thats about to fall down if you have two guys walking around in it

Top speed was 43mph with three people and 3/4 of full tank of gas on board. It does get up on plane really quick with very little bow raise. Ride was soft and smooth as glass.

Boat would troll at a slow 2mph. Which will be great for crappie fishing in the summer time.

Does have a little steering when not moving. Will out turn any outboard when moving at speed.

Loading in a cross wind wasn't easy but i think it could be fixed with trailer guides.

Used my handheld gps to confirm speed.

Fuel rating is test found here>>> http://www.boatingmag.com/yamaha-190-fsh-sport-0

Found this chart to show HP loss. This is what I was talking about on efficiency.
Almost 1/3 loss is a bunch.

So..... Did you buy the boat Tex?

I think the reason for a jet is because you can pretty much take it anywhere, through the timber, 6 inches of water, etc, would not take for mine, when the crappie are in the creeks my 21 foot bass boat stays in the garage.

Yes and hoping to pickup this Saturday. They're installing them boat show lights, trolling motor and fish finder.

Hey they don't have outboards on a spaceship...