reedjj
Well-known member
Hey guys I have been reading through a lot of the threads on here and this place is great. I am looking to put together a crazy little jet project but need some guidance.
I have owned aluminum boats in the past and love them and the tough durablility they provide. All the ones I have had were always propeller driven. I live in North Fl and will be fishing/hunting/running in the St Johns river and marshland around North Fl and southern coastal Ga. I very rarely ever see a Jet Outboard here, and to be honest I don't think I really need one. But I love the idea of being able to operate in really shallow skinny water, over sand bars and such. I am also really looking fwd to exploring the Suwanee river and other places in the south.
The little boat I am thinking about getting is an Alumacraft 1448. It's just a regular flat bottom Jon with 2 bench seats and a small deck up front. I plan on adding a plywood floor and and extending the deck up front to add a little weight for stability and help on planning. I would be installing a small aluminum side console just fwd of the rear bench and was planning on getting the sponsons added to the back of the boat to help with flotation in the rear.
The boat is rated for a 25hp, (mercury makes a nice jet 25) but I was thinking of putting a 35hp tohatsu jet on on it. I know that there is about a 30% loss in HP with a jet. But the added weight of the larger motor might be too much. Do you think this sounds safe or is this just too much for the boat.
I figure if I add the plywood decking up front and decking in the middle with foam under the flooring, the side console and the floatation sponsons in the rear it should be stable and insanely fast with the 35hp Tohatsu Jet.
Help me guys!
I have owned aluminum boats in the past and love them and the tough durablility they provide. All the ones I have had were always propeller driven. I live in North Fl and will be fishing/hunting/running in the St Johns river and marshland around North Fl and southern coastal Ga. I very rarely ever see a Jet Outboard here, and to be honest I don't think I really need one. But I love the idea of being able to operate in really shallow skinny water, over sand bars and such. I am also really looking fwd to exploring the Suwanee river and other places in the south.
The little boat I am thinking about getting is an Alumacraft 1448. It's just a regular flat bottom Jon with 2 bench seats and a small deck up front. I plan on adding a plywood floor and and extending the deck up front to add a little weight for stability and help on planning. I would be installing a small aluminum side console just fwd of the rear bench and was planning on getting the sponsons added to the back of the boat to help with flotation in the rear.
The boat is rated for a 25hp, (mercury makes a nice jet 25) but I was thinking of putting a 35hp tohatsu jet on on it. I know that there is about a 30% loss in HP with a jet. But the added weight of the larger motor might be too much. Do you think this sounds safe or is this just too much for the boat.
I figure if I add the plywood decking up front and decking in the middle with foam under the flooring, the side console and the floatation sponsons in the rear it should be stable and insanely fast with the 35hp Tohatsu Jet.
Help me guys!