Need your Opinion

Ron Moss · 09-05-2009, 12:10 PM

I'm looding at 18 foot aluminum boats and found one with a 200 sports jet. My boating thus fare has been lakes ond the ocean, I wouldn't mind doing the rivers as well. Would a jet boat fill the job in big water? How are they if the weather turns rough and you have to make time to get into sheltered water?

fishkisser · 09-05-2009, 08:37 PM

If you have to "make time" to get to sheltered water in a typical 12 degree
jetboat hull , you will jar the fillings out of your teeth pounding your way in ...

not to mention the occasional filling of the bow by stuffing the back of a wave
by being pushed in a following sea ...

they are not designed for rough ocean waters , and even in large lakes can
become hazardous to drive at high speeds in large windchop ...

Never bring a knife to a gunfight ... If you plan to play in the big blue pond ,
get a boat that will be seaworthy enough to play out there ...

Willie Ketchum · 09-07-2009, 04:05 PM

Too small for the ocean. An 18' will be fine for all our rivers, Willamette, the Columbia if you watch for weather, Tillamook bay and other bays, maybe buoy 10 area on a nice day (but i don't). My 10 degree open 18' with 200 outboard has done all this stuff for many years. YMMV of course.