Let me start by saying 2 years ago I made the decision to switch my boat from a prop to jet in order to be able to fish more local tournaments. This turned out to be a mistake as my boat is a step hull and runs like crap as a jet. In May the motor sucked up some crap and blew the powerhead which State Farm didn't pay until mid August. I have been bank fishing since then which is a different experience. Bought a jet boat at the end of August which needs more work than I wanted to get into. Additionally I have a john boat I inherited from my grandfather that nobody can find the title to. So here I am owning 3 boats and none of them I can fish from! It hasn't been the best year of fishing for me to say the least. God willing next year I will have at least one boat to fish from.

 

Allen

🤞🏻

A step hull with a jet on it? How did it even run? You had to be cavitation like crazy. Jets need smooth flat bottoms  to get the most water to the intake. Jets are super super finicky to set up.
 

what work does the jet boat you boat now need?

 

 

sounds like a crazy bad year for sure! I hope it turns around. 

So, I now have 3 boats and may buy another next week? Currently have an X18 Xpress with a 150 Optimax that i converted to a jet that ran like crap. I have an aluminum johnboat I inherited that I cannot register. Recently I purchased a 2003 River Rave jetboat that needs more work than I want to get into? Recently I found a 2004 River Rave similar to the one I currently own with a 2021 115/80 Mercury in better shape than what I have at a good price. Plan right now is to buy the newer River Rave boat and sell off the other two boats. Worst case scenario I should be able to fish out of one of the 4 boats this spring.

 

Allen 

Yeah there is no way that xpress was going to run a jet with that hull design. 
 

I am not familiar with the river raves. Everyone around here has a G3, SeaArk, tracker, Lowe or an inboard rock proof style jet boat.  

Why not just sell everything but the X18 and buy a prop outboard for it?

 

And if you want to fish Little Seneca Lake, let me know.

On 9/27/2024 at 1:04 AM, Junger said:

Why not just sell everything but the X18 and buy a prop outboard for it?

 

And if you want to fish Little Seneca Lake, let me know.

Switching it back to a prop now. Rebuilding the River Rave over the winter and going to focus on fishing the river next year. 

 

Allen 

What river are you looking to fish the susky or Potomac?