I'm looking for a modest, used aluminum bass boat.  There's a Bass Tracker PT175 for sale locally, with a 40hp Mercury jet drive.  I've got no experience with jet drive motors - what are the pros/cons?  Also, a 40hp sounds pretty light for a BT 175?

Pros:

 

1) you can run wide open in 6 inches of water. 
2) no kidding, you can run wide open in six inches of water! 

 

cons: 

 

1) 30 % horsepower loss 

2) jet pump sucks up leaves and grass

3) loud 

Besides what @TnRiver46 mentions above, my biggest problem was having it serviced. Seems like nobody around me could make repairs to it.

If you don't need a jet drive, don't get a jet drive.

It’s great if you need to run in water like this,  otherwise I would pass.

 

 

If you're not regularly running shallow, gravel bottom rivers.... You don't want a jet. 

I’ll be running either deep water or weedy bays.  The consensus is I should pass on this one.  Thanks!