New boat??

[glowball]

Well my boating needs are changing. Like the wind. I currently own a 19' alumaweld stryker sportjet. Been a good boat for me. The kids are getting bigger and more room is going to be required. I was seriously thinking about going to a boat with an off shore bracket and giving up on the shallow water boat. My grandpa has this boat and I recently found out that it will probably be mine sooner than I thought due to illness.

So I'm back into the shallow water boat. What I'm thinking is. A windshield boat in the 22-23' range with an outboard jet. Because over 90% of my time is in on the columbia. I'm leaning towards a boat with a 10-12 degree vee. I definetly want the 7' floor.

Anybody have any recommedations of a boat to check out. Also what kind of powerplant would you go with? Right now at the top of my list is the boulton river master. I'm going to check out the wooldridge factory next week. I guess they have a new model that fits what I'm looking for. Should be almost done next week.

I was told that you can't run a jet on an off-shore bracket. Is that true?

Thanks

[Snowwolfe]

Wooldridge Sport Drifter, 21 foot go with a 200 hp motor
Same boat in 23 feet, go with a 225 motor. You are looking at spending from low to high 40's for a new one on a trailer.
You can easily set it up so later on you can readd the prop drive with a Bay shaft extension kit if you are so inclined without having to remount the motor.

[foxer]

Jets wont work correctly on an offshore bracket.

[ForeverFishing]

Sounds to me like you might want to start thinking about an ocean capable boat...You'll catch a LOT more fish out there than in fresh water!

[pugetplunker]

21 to 23 windshield boat will get kinda heavy for a outboard jet imho ,in that size maybe a inboard jet would be the ticket. get a ride in what you are looking at with the whole family onboard to see how it performs no matter what or whos boat it is. tubing,skiing and wakeboarding in the plans?

[Flatfish]

Outboard with both a jet and a prop. I can swap out the Merc in a little over an hour. The Yamaha took me maybe 90 minutes for the same.

How much power depends on the hull. Some light hulls get along alright(If you want extreme shallow water capabilities, and it sounds like you don't, you need to make some sacrifices) with a 200 hp engine. Heavier hulls, or hulls with less lift will need more power.

Our last boat had a 250 hp engine. Our present boat has a 200. Yet the new ride definately will outrun the old one with a jet. Hull design IS the difference.

MATD

[bluebackbil]

check out the new TJ luxor offshore. they have all of the specs on their web site. it looks like a pretty big boat

[glowball]

Took a tour of the wooldridge factory today. They've got a 23' super sport drifter (new model) that really made me think. They had both an inboard model and an outboard model there to look at. There's a ton of room in that outboard. Not too bad on the inboard either. I know that inboard will be more power efficient, but I'm not sure I want to have a motor box in the way again. The motor was moved forward which made it pretty nice.

Lots of options out there.

[Snowwolfe]

Whats the difference between the Sport Drifter and the Super Sport Drifter?

[glowball]

The super sport drifter has a full 7' floor and the 28" sides.

[OB1]

Does anybody out there have the sport drifter with the ourboard tunnel?
This sounds like a great all around boat.
Had a 21' Duckworth with the V8, it sucked for back trolling the rivers.
I'm either going with this model or a Willie Foward Helm Predator with an outboard.

[Snowwolfe]

I know someone who does. He has the 23 with a Honda 200 hp jet/prop on the back. He loves it and uses it for rivers and light duty salt. He did mention to me he wished he purchased the 225 instead.

[glowball]

What do you guys think as far as 2-stroke vs 4-stroke? Will I be pretty dunhappy with the peformance of the 4-stroke when the jet is on? I'll probably use the prop more often, but that may change.

If you were buying a new 2-stroke today. What would it be?

[OB1]

I'm in the process of defining a boat to have built and I was dead set on getting a 4 stroke. What I've gathered from other posts is that the 2 stroke is the way to go because of weight and their power for getting you on plane right away. Very important when in shallow water.
From my reseach I'm leaning towards the Yamaha 200 HPDI, not the Vmax one. I will get the T8 as the kicker.

[Snowwolfe]

After giving about 4 months of consideration to the motor for my up and coming Wooldridge I finally decided on the Optimax 200. Reasonably lightweight for such a large block (200 and 225 weigh the same), 3 year warranty, good dealer network and from the information I could gather probably the most fuel efficent outboard in the 3,500-4,000 rpm range on the market. But they due consume more fuel while trolling. This is a non issue to me as I will never be trolling with a jet.
They are priced only $400 more than the Yamaha HPDI's which were my second choice. HPDI's are good but the fuel economy of the Opti is supposed to be vastly better. HPDI's are a good motor but are slowly beginning to be "dated" technology.
Some dealers push the Etec's (Wooldridge being one) but when you compare the 200 hp versions of the Opti and the Etec the Etec is on a smaller block which gives way less torque. Plus there prices are wayyy up there! The only fair comparison to the 200 Opti is the 200 HO Etec and then the block sizes are similar and then the Etec weighs more and costs about $2,000 more.
So at this stage of the game I am going Optimax. My boat will not be ready for another couple of months so I can still change my mind, lol.

[OB1]

Yamaha is still showing them on their website.
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outboard...e/14/home.aspx

Let us all know when you get your boat, I'd be willing to pay for gas for a ride. I start my boat dealing this winter.

[Snowwolfe]

I never said they were no longer being made.

[River Bum]

Take a serious look at Thunder Jet, if you haven't already made up your mind. Very nice, well built, and equipped with very reasonable prices. They have the best craftsmanship in the business in my opinion. I recommend the four stroke OB. I went with the 115 4 stroke Suzuki, outstanding motor, but works a little to plane with 4 guys in the boat. If I had it to do again I would have a larger motor like a 175hp. The only drawback is the size of building it takes to get the OB boat under cover. Break away tongue helps. when I bought mine three years ago my top three choices were: Thunder jet, North river, or Hewes. No buyer remorse at all, great boat!

[OB1]

I couldn't agree more on a Suzuki, my brother has a 200 hp on his 21' Seahawk and it is an excellent motor. I wish it wasn't so heavy as I would like to have it on a sled with the pump.

[Snowwolfe]

I am sure Suzuki's are great motors but my local dealer told me nobody makes a jet unit for any of there motors larger than 140 hp

[glowball]

I've heard that as well about the suzuki and the jets. I'm leaning towards a 4-stroke right now, but I'm also open to change. Mike at willie made some good points about the 2-stroke. Easier to change from a jet to a prop and more torque when using the jet.

Lots of decisions. Glad I'm giving myself plenty of time.

[Mo Outdoors]

Motion Marine Mo Jet!! And take a look out their outback system.

[gamoshot]

2 str 4str boy this glowball guy sure cant make up his mind now can he krissy. lolo

[glowball]

I knew I should of thrown you overboard the last time we went fishing.:smile:

[snit]

Kris, if you're gonna runa jet the majority of the time, go 2-stroke!