[P.Hunt]

Looking to build a jet ski powered jet drifter of some sort just seeing what others have done? Or if there are any good resources or shops in the oregon area?

Myidea is something like the Clackacraft magnum but with the jet ski engine instead of an outboard. I think the power to weight ratio is better and forward placement of the engine should give it a shallower draft at the rear.

I mainly only fish the Umpqua from River forks to yellow creek and haven't been able to find the perfect boat yet! I’ve had a North River drift boat that was an absolute pig and a rock magnet, a Pavati Guardian with the UHMW and was much better in regards to not getting hung up on rocks but we had motion sickness after an 8-10 hour drift, too much rocker maybe? Last year I used a 16’x48” Rogue Stealth jet drifter (flat bottom with a drift boat bow) with a 9.9 kicker on it for the dead areas. This has been the best option yet and I set it up to row from bow or stern and I leave my oars in the stern and just use them to steer it through the rapids and let the current do the work.

Open to ideas or if anyone wants to help build one with me (and one for you) I’m thinking of building it out of Thermolite and fiberglass with UHMW bottom similar to the Clackacraft Magnum / Rogue Stealth but tougher.

 

[P.Hunt]

 

[P.Hunt]

You can see how I added or locks to the rear and I sit on the rear hatch and just steer the boat to go straight down the rapid sections. View attachment 1004770

 

[vinnyg]

Motion Marine made mini jet boats with jet ski engines. Check their website, “Lil Mojet” is the model.


Edit: sent the op a pm.

 

[slave4chrome]

Yeah check out Torch Craft customs if you want to see some bad ass mini jet boats.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SouthCoastStu]

There are a lot of YouTube videos on using Jon boats and jet ski motors. I would be concerned that it wouldn't have enough power. You'd want to do some calculations before going through all the trouble and expense. Also, those things are noisy as heck. Why not an outboard?

 

[ccw]

I like how you think.

Are you hoping it is big enough for two to fish?

 

[LimitLess1]

P.Hunt: Your quest is similar to mine. Wanting the best of both worlds. I ended up with a Stealthcraft 16 X 60 ATB Power Drifter with an out board. It works OK but not so much for big whitewater. You might talk to Mike Batke at Stealthcraft about your ideas. He is quite the innovator.

BTW: Here is a video of a guy that claims to have the worlds fastest Drift boat:

 

[Big Game Fishing]

Andrew Larsen, owner of Further North lures, took the sportjet out of his 24 foot motion marine and swapped a yamaha ski motor into it. I believe it is a 1.8L supercharged motor that he paired to a multi-stage pump. Lots of challenges to work out, but he got it to work I believe.

 

[iWade]

I think a seadoo motor in a magnum drifter would be killer. Fish pro seadoo is 858lbs and magnum drifter is 600, likely about equal accounting for motor weight. And those 3 person ski's will still do roughly 40mph with 3 people.

 

[SouthCoastStu]

What's with the Rogue Stealth jet drifter, second pic down? It looks like the tunnel has been welded over?

 

[konaaahbend]

There are a lot of YouTube videos on using Jon boats and jet ski motors. I would be concerned that it wouldn't have enough power. You'd want to do some calculations before going through all the trouble and expense. Also, those things are noisy as heck. Why not an outboard?

I still own my original 650 two stroke from a vintage kawai. 75 hp stock. My race boats were limiteds at 180 hp out of 716cc two strokes. Full mod 800cc twos were over 300 hp and the modern fours are supercharged or turbo'ed so no worries about power even with a vintage dog. Noise is less than an old outboard due to a wet exhaust and a waterbox. They get noisy when you start to mod. My only concern is fuel consumption, 5mpg per gallon at wot is about the best you will see with an axial flow pump.

 

[HntnFsh]

Some of those jet ski motors have some serious power. Well over 100HP

 

[CRD4Liberty]

This is not the only place sleds are made and used, they have been bubba sleds together with jetskis and johnboats for decades. Check out some of the johnboat forums from the midwest. Youtube had some vids too.

 

[Seafrk]

Why limit yourself....

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[P.Hunt]

I like how you think.

Are you hoping it is big enough for two to fish?

Yah at least me and my wife fish every weekend as soon as the smallmouth start biting.
I looked at the Clackacraft Magnum yesterday and got A few ideas.

 

[P.Hunt]

P.Hunt: Your quest is similar to mine. Wanting the best of both worlds. I ended up with a Stealthcraft 16 X 60 ATB Power Drifter with an out board. It works OK but not so much for big whitewater. You might talk to Mike Batke at Stealthcraft about your ideas. He is quite the innovator.

BTW: Here is a video of a guy that claims to have the worlds fastest Drift boat:

Where are you located I would love to see the stealthcraft pm me.

 

[P.Hunt]

I think a seadoo motor in a magnum drifter would be killer. Fish pro seadoo is 858lbs and magnum drifter is 600, likely about equal accounting for motor weight. And those 3 person ski's will still do roughly 40mph with 3 people.

Id be happy if it went 20mph just need it to plane we accualy go 11-12 mph with 2people with the 9.9

 

[P.Hunt]

What's with the Rogue Stealth jet drifter, second pic down? It looks like the tunnel has been welded over?

Yah the tunnel was welded up it was originally cut out for a prop so too deep for a jet. I bought it this way and I’m glad it’s welded up it was super deep and too long would have stolen too much flotation. This boat is 48” wide but tapers down to like 36” in the transom. I’d probably be super happy with it if it didn’t taper down weighed less and had UHMW bottom

 

[P.Hunt]

I just picked up a 25hp Mercury jet outboard to try on the stealth. Also picked up a ClackaMax drift boat to try out this year to see if I like them then get a Magnum next year and break out the sawsall !