Lured In
03-15-2005, 12:49 PM
I currently own a 19' NR Sportster(forward helm) with the 175 Sportjet. It will run between 42 and 45 mph (not kph :wink:) at WOT. Fully loaded I can't complain about the hole shot or handling, even with 35 gallons of gas on board.
Like many I suffer from 2 footitis (or more). As I daydream about a bigger boat, I can't separate myself from the ingenius design and function of the SJ. It is lighter and smaller (compared to small block inboards) and has less HP loss at the pump when compared to outboard jets (OJ).
What I fail to understand is why the boat manufacturers seem to be overlooking what could be the ideal Columbia river and smaller river boat. We see lots of 21-24'+ open boats with 200hp OJ's on them. Keep in mind these pumps are only running between 140 and 150hp at the pump. That aside, the have up to six people in them, at least 30+ gallons of gas and are much heavier than my 19'.
So this leads me to the question why doesn't somebody make a 21-24' forward helm, 7' bottom, 11/12* deadrise boat with either the 200hp optimax SJ or 250 optimax SJ in it?
Going from the 175 SJ to the 200 SJ is a 12.5% increase in power. My boat is rated at roughly 2000#. So if power to weight ratio were equal (in general), I could go up to a boat that weighs another 250# and still maintain 'similar' performance. (Yes I know there are other factors, but let's keep it simple. :wink:)
Going from the 175 SJ to the 250 SJ is roughly a 28% increase in power. Again that would equate to a boat that was another 560#. (Keep in mind that the 250SJ only weighs another 130#'s over the 175SJ)
So, if you look at the rated weight of the larger open boats, they are approaching 3000#+. And they are running in the mid 30mph range with those 200hp pumps and lots of bodies. :wink:
So maybe I am missing something here, but I would LOVE :hearton: to see a 24' x 7' forward helm boat with a 250hp optimax SJ on it. It would probably float like a cork, have enough room for 5 people to dance and still pull 40mph. :cool:
Am I off in the broccoli patch here or what? :eek: :crazy: :wink: Any thoughts? Would you buy one if they made it?
Like many I suffer from 2 footitis (or more). As I daydream about a bigger boat, I can't separate myself from the ingenius design and function of the SJ. It is lighter and smaller (compared to small block inboards) and has less HP loss at the pump when compared to outboard jets (OJ).
What I fail to understand is why the boat manufacturers seem to be overlooking what could be the ideal Columbia river and smaller river boat. We see lots of 21-24'+ open boats with 200hp OJ's on them. Keep in mind these pumps are only running between 140 and 150hp at the pump. That aside, the have up to six people in them, at least 30+ gallons of gas and are much heavier than my 19'.
So this leads me to the question why doesn't somebody make a 21-24' forward helm, 7' bottom, 11/12* deadrise boat with either the 200hp optimax SJ or 250 optimax SJ in it?
Going from the 175 SJ to the 200 SJ is a 12.5% increase in power. My boat is rated at roughly 2000#. So if power to weight ratio were equal (in general), I could go up to a boat that weighs another 250# and still maintain 'similar' performance. (Yes I know there are other factors, but let's keep it simple. :wink:)
Going from the 175 SJ to the 250 SJ is roughly a 28% increase in power. Again that would equate to a boat that was another 560#. (Keep in mind that the 250SJ only weighs another 130#'s over the 175SJ)
So, if you look at the rated weight of the larger open boats, they are approaching 3000#+. And they are running in the mid 30mph range with those 200hp pumps and lots of bodies. :wink:
So maybe I am missing something here, but I would LOVE :hearton: to see a 24' x 7' forward helm boat with a 250hp optimax SJ on it. It would probably float like a cork, have enough room for 5 people to dance and still pull 40mph. :cool:
Am I off in the broccoli patch here or what? :eek: :crazy: :wink: Any thoughts? Would you buy one if they made it?