Sportjet owners

[foxer]

Going back and forth on this one. Wife wants a bayliner type boat for cruising and goofing around. I want a sled/aluminum fishing boat. Question about the sportjet, specifically the 175. If you are just cruising at idle with say 4-5 people in the boat, is the exhaust noticeable or annoying? I think she is finally cracking. Also, would you buy another sj?

[glowball]

Yes the sportjet is loud and annoying. No I will not buy another sj. I've had mine for just over a year and I'm already working the wife for another boat. Get an outboard or a big motor. Or you can buy my boat.

Kris

[Blazerboy]

Foxer, we have a north river sportster that has a 175 sportjet, the engine does puff out blue smoke during startup, once warmed up however you don't really notice it. great engine, easy to run and really goes when you hit the throttle, would buy another one for sure

[barnettm]

I have a Bayliner and a jet boat. If I had to get rid of one,...well.....goodbye jet boat!!!! The jet boat is a noisy piece of aluminum but the Bayliner has personality!!! It smooshes through the waves with ease, women folk rave about the enclosed porta-potty. We sleep overnight in it at Neah Bay.

It weighs 4500 pounds but can navigate in 24-30 inches of water with the outdrive tilted up.

It was also a helluva lot cheaper to buy.

[Salmonator]

Ditto the bayliner over the jetboat. Depends on where you use it. I found myself needing a shallow running boat about 2% of the time so I went to fiberglass and outboard and will never go back.

[TheRogue]

Sportjets are great motors, the 175 is a great engine block which has been around for ever!

Yes, it smokes, and it's loud. Really, it's a different loud compared to a big V-8...decibles aren't that far apart on some of them, but the high-pitched whine can really make it seem a lot louder!!

I've heard Chevy V-6 inboards a lot louder than my 240 SJ...and heard big V-8's cruise along a lot quieter. I won't say anything about outboards because there isn't anyway you can compare ANY outboard pump motor to a SJ.

If you're "negotiating" with your wife, I'd suggest test riding either with the top up and backdrop all zipped tight...or a nice day with no top on at all. The worst is when you have the top up with the backdrop off....you trap all the noise inside with you!!

My. 02

TR

[Mark Vickers]

Sportjet 175... Smokey at startup, and pretty noisy. That said, it's light and powerful. If you are wanting a powerplant that'll push you up river without spending a heap of dollars on gas (V8) its the best choice.

Your wife will hate it. I really like mine.

The suggestion to go for a test ride is a good one...

[foxer]

Unfortunately my rig cannot pull a 20 ft trophy...she's thinking of something like a 18-20 ft open bow type with i/o..I like those, but only have room for one boat..are the sj's really that loud? louder than say a 200hp 2stroke merc?

[ 03-13-2004, 08:37 PM: Message edited by: foxer ]

[Mark Vickers]

Its a 175 (or 240) HP 2 stroke Mercury. Same engine as on the head of the outboards... Its a touch quieter because its in an enclosed doghouse, but not much quieter.

[StinkyH]

North River offers the option to insulate the doghouse to quiet the SJ a bit. I'm having that done on the Sportster I have on order with the 175 SJ.

barnettem - "The jet boat is a noisy piece of aluminum but the Bayliner has personality!!! "

Sounds like denial to me... mad about your wife's decision? :grin:

StinkyH

[Pickles]

The 175 sportjet runs the exhaust out through the water quieting it down a bit. The 240 sportjet is much louder at idle,it vents the exhaust out into the open. The sportjet is loud, but no louder then my friends 200 outboard. If you want quiet buy a honda outboard! Also you could insulate the doghouse of your sportjet! Personally though, I love my sportjet, and will never go back to a prop.

[foxer]

I was down at willamette park today and checked out the various boats. Saw several of the newer big mercs etc..they didnt seem very loud. I guess I need to go take a test drive. I know there is no do it all boat, but i cannot see myself fishing in the fall on a open bow i/o.

[ 03-13-2004, 11:58 PM: Message edited by: foxer ]

[AuntyM]

Is the SJ 175 Loud? Yes!

Would I ever want to exchange it for a Bayliner?

AAAAHa ha ha ha ha. Not a chance. The fishing opportunities that the Alumaweld with SJ offers far outweighs the noise issues. We fish rivers 50% of the time where a glass/prop boat can not go. We can still fish all of Puget Sound and the Straights.

I have fished out of lots of other sleds with outboards. They're just as loud IMO. I'll stay with the SJ.

[hookumhi]

I would never own a Bayliner for one.I have a V8 with a kodiak jet and I love the flexibility of going anywhere I want,yeah they are expensive to buy but very low maintenance compared.

[Salmonator]

That's the key Hookumhi, the flexibility of going where ever YOU want. You won't see me trying to navigate the clack in my Trophy and I doubt I'll see you 40 miles offshore chasing tuna

[Lured In]

foxer...you really need to go for a test drive before you decide. I have had my SJ for 4 years and it runs like a top. :grin:

Your camparison of boats is really somewhat difficult because the two share so little in terms of fishability and fucntionality.

You are comparing an aluminum jet vs a glass I/O. Two very different boats. Might I encourage you to look at some of the aluminum boats with outboards? It doesn't sound like you are planning on running any of the tributaries, so a jet may not be a requirement. If that true, you can get the size boat you want in aluminum, while keeping the weight down.

Honestly though, the I/O takes up space and really doesn't provide you any advantage in a small boat. At least with the SJ, you gain something by giving up space. IMHO, you would be better off looking at a straight outboard.

I love my SJ and I would buy another one in a heartbeat.

Good luck whichever way you go.

[Tyeebuster]

Foxer,

I had a 20' Bayliner Trophy and currently have a 20 Weldcraft sled with an inboard pump. I am selling the Welddcraft and am having a 26'Coastal craft built. If you are not going to fish the rivers, I would NOT recommend the seld type boat with any power option that uses a pump. They are difficult to manuver compared to a prop, burn way more fuel, and due to the flatter bottom they have a poor ride.

The Trophy and the Weldcraft are both very close in weight. I was able to tow both of them with a 1/2 ton Tahoe. Although, my 2500 HD tows them alot better. I am not wild about a fiberglass boat due to maintenance and durability issues.

My recommendation would be an aluminum hulled boat with an outboard on an "offshore" bracket and a deeper "v" hull.

[corkyking]

18' Intruder 175SJ with it's 14deg. hull will ride better than the sleds and still runs in shallow water. I've added rigid foam insulation against the transom and two inches around the box which helps quite a bit with noise and doesn't lose noticable space. There is a muffler addition that I am exploring as well.
The 18' SJ tows easily and with the addition of a 3/4 swim platform effectively produces a 20 footer.
The thing is a hotrod but does not handle wind chop at all well. The bow is not high enough so you have to go slow or somehow get the bow up. It works OK in the swells of the ocean but that wind chop.........

If you're going in bigger water and want to take the wife, you should get a used 26' glass boat with diesel engine so you can anchor up an spend the night, buy fuel and your towing problem is easily handled with the savings. With vigilance you can find a really nice boat in someones backyard, have it professionally detailed and the engine made reliable.

For almost all of the other boating you might do the Intruder SJ is hard to beat.

[Fast Water]

Though I can't speak for the 175, we have the SPJ 200 package on a 19 foot NR and you can easily carry on a conversation while up on plane.

Good power plant.

:smile:

[foxer]

Corkyking/fastwater..how is the exhaust when idling down/upriver??

[glowball]

Go down to the launch and ask a sj owner to take you for a quick spin. If I was there I'd do it for ya. Where are you located?

[ampersat]

I had my first opportunity to ride in a North River 175 Sportjet today. I can see how they would be loud, but my host had done a good job of insulating the doghouse. To me, it was no noisier than your average outboard. Also, because of the sportjet's design, I was told that it is 95% efficient compared to a similar prop (versus 65% or so efficient for an outboard pump). You can't compare the outboard jet to a sportjet in terms of power and economy. The path from the intake grate to the jet output is vastly different between the two.

Definitely ride in both and think hard about the fishing and family activities you want to do with your boat. As for me, I'll be dreaming of a SportJet in my distance future.

[Mark Vickers]

Good call llabwolg.

Here I am giving all this advice and it never occured to me to offer you a tour Foxer.

I live on the water at Jantzen Beach in North Portland. My boat is in the water 100% of the time. I don't know where you are at, but drop me a message if you're in this area and I'll give you a demonstration.

I have a pretty close to new 19' Thunderjet Luxor 175 SJ.

[Silver Hilton]

If the wife's approval is important, then the SJ is not the answer. I love mine, but it's unpleasantly loud. The Sportjet is a tool - high horsepower jetpower in a lightweight, cheap package. I insulated the inside of the doghouse with some foam, and it's better, but you ain't gonna be holding intimate conversations when one is running at 4000 rpm.

The exhaust is unnoticable if you have any boat speed at all (3-5 mph). You'll see/smell some when it's cold, and not much after that. The engine noise idling around is not obnoxious.

But, go take a ride in one.

I would absolutely buy another one. It's a great power package for a 18-21 ft jet.

[KalamaSpark]

when it comes to a sport jet I say hell ya! I have 2001 Hewes craft Sea Runner/ 175 sj it is light weight yet V hulled full stand up canvas. It will travel 43 mph all day. it burns about eight gal. hour running wide open. yet i can shoot into the mouth of the Kalama River in August at low tide. Well when you see the old timers walking there smoker crafts threw the shallows with thre ankles wet i know i can make it.It smokes a little on stat up yet i don't notice it the rest of the time.in the summer we go out on the islands and barberque tow tubs and swim off the jet plat form. it is a safe and reliable family boat. If you wan't togo for a test ride, drop me a line my boat is morred i kalama most of the time. :grin:

[Fast Water]

Originally posted by foxer:
Corkyking/fastwater..how is the exhaust when idling down/upriver??

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">With the new California emisions standards package (computer controled oil injection and so forth) the amount of exhaust is hardly noticeable.
Optimax 200

:smile:

[finclipped]

When I bought my SJ it was about cost and performance. Regardles of whether you have a V-8 or SJ, a jet boat opens up a lot of water that you can't fish in a prop boat. And I can fish the same water all the $50,000 dollar boats can. A SJ also gives you more space, but you need to put up with the smoke, rougher ride and slow starts. Everything has trade off's.

To me, I need access to as many fisheries as possible and the jet gave me more access than any other boat.

[Pete]

I'm on my second 20' Intruder with 175 SJ. The first had a 10º hull and the ride was rough as can be. My newer one has a 14º "ridemaster" hull and the difference in ride is night and day. I give up some of the hole-shot speed and top end with the deeper V, but in chop, I can go nearly 3 times faster without slamming the waves. Sure there are times I'd like a different boat. I'm not going to chase tuna in my 20 foot boat, but in near shore ocean, bays and rivers it's fine. As for noise, there are at least 2 companies that make exhaust vent clamshells which significantly quiet the boat, but they are pricey.

[Bonneville Dan]

I "need" 8 different boats, but had to settle on one. After running a deep V glass boat for years and dinging the prop numerous times in water I shouldn't have been in, I decided to upgrade to an inboard jet. Test drove both big blocks and SJ's. It was winter, and I appreciated the windshield defroster & heater of the big engine, probably never to be available with a 2 cycle. The other things not already mentioned above was the fact that the SJ reverse was backwards compared to most boats. It's tough enough to maneuver a jet boat into a dock without that wacky backwards reverse, especially if somebody other than the owner is ever needed to run the boat. If you want economy, smooth ride and lower noise, ANY jet drive machine is probably wrong for you. Want a tool to bang up, get a sled.

P.S. I chose a Duckworth 351 inboard. Three years and no complaints except for the slower rough ride on the Columbia on windy days. I'm going to get going on that 8 bay shop anytime now.


Dan

[night stocker]

What about a sterndrive Alumaweld?With a v6?Probably not your best bet.Just thinking though.I can't imagine having a sled that wasn't a jet.But I have seen a few that had the sterndrive and I could imagine they would be nice for the right person.

[Half fast Toyn]

175 SJ owner here..... sound is comparable to buddies V8... but different tone. fuel consuption is fairly comparable IF you stay off full throttle. Make sure you test drive a boat WITH the top up.... The harmonics of the motor are magnified into the cab with the top up.
Ive owned both boats you are lookin at, and if you are a salt water person, buy the bayliner. If you are a freshwater person, buy the sled. There is always a margin of overlap... but thats a general rule.

Mike

[barnettm]

I have a jet boat with a Kodiak 3 stage pump that turns the opposite way (to normal) in reverse. In calm situations I am fine with that, but if a sudden turn is needed, I will turn the wrong way every time.

[corkyking]

Foxer:
The exhaust hasn't been a noticeable problem. I think Motion Marine or one of those advertises a muffler addition which they say cuts down on the noise. I'm going to look into it.

barnettm:
The SJ turns that way also-don't know about all jets but wouldn't be surprised. Also can't really get a neutral state - always going forward in neutral. Takes a little time and practice.

Ampersat:
The 175 SJ has a 200hp V6 which means it's about 87% efficient which is really good. As I understand it the water changes direction about 30deg. as opposed to an outboard jet in which the water has to change direction about 90deg.

[ 03-15-2004, 11:28 PM: Message edited by: corkyking ]

[metalhead madness]

Why not the 240. EFI starts cold easily and no problem with altitude changes. Had the Bayliner after 3 props and numerous damage to the gel coat went aluminum. 3 yrs and love it. A little loud but I can do anything with it that I did with the Bayliner and more. I used to worry about fish blood, Powerbait, pop, and anything else that could stain not now. Just turn on the washdown and away it goes. I have a tower and the kids can wakeboard and tube just fine(did have to install a trim plate to replace the fat sacs). If you want to fuss about maintainence go glass. I may not look as comfortable but I can get where I'm going plenty fast and nose up on any beach, gravel bar, ect.. I want without hesitation. Do I love my 240 SportJet and my tin boat. YES I DO :grin: :grin: . Would not own another glass boat.

disclaimer: These opinions are of the authors only and should in no way be construde as scienctific evidence to the subject at hand.

p.s.s. But I do love my boat

[ 03-16-2004, 07:46 AM: Message edited by: metalhead madness ]

[Swim Shady]

I purchased a sled this last fall. Went with the V8, it's my mussel car on water. When I turn the starter and it fires it sounds really goooood. Looking forward to tubing this summer but having a great time running skinny water on Oregon’s rivers. Can't do that with a glass boat. And like I said it sounds gooood. The SJ are nice but can’t beat the V8! Also, my wife loves our new boat. She is the one that pushed me toward this model and the V8, I was going with the V6 she said no way go with the 8. Can’t argue with that.

[Bobberologist]

Love my SJ