[JHA]

Just wondering... boss is looking at a 130 with jets. How difficult is the transition from props? What are the obstacles, and how long would allow for learning? All this considering a capt who manuevers with props as second nature. Thanks.

[comship]

Do not worry usually the trials period is enough to get used to jet propulsion. In fact you will find it much easier than propellers even in extremely windy situations you will find out that you totally control the Yacht (effortless). Some precautions for these systems is that you have to be carefull for floating objects, you have to de-clutch jets in low depth places, and finally even in neutral there is a tendency to move forward. Apart of these I believe that when somebody is familiar with this systems he can make ballet with the Yacht

[comship]

Do you know the maker of the jet system? (Kamewa, MJP, Hamilton...)

[Angelus]

Hi Captain. Well if the boat is going Jet then by my own experience you are lucky. It does depend a lot on the make of drives. I hope for you they are Kamewa. They are the elite in water jet design.

A couple of points here though. I'm not entirely sure what comship meant by objects floating. If the intake grid is too large then I guess small object could get sucked in. But at the average size of most of them I wouldnt worry too much. Open propellers are a lot more vulnerable to floaters. Keep out of real shallow waters. If you spend a lot of time in these waters the sand that gets sucked up acts like a sand blaster inside the shafts. So when it come to an overhaul you cant get a socket on the nut and bolt heads. I overhauld 2 massive Kamewa's some years ago and it took days to weld nuts to what was left of the original just to dismantle the unit. Of coarse there is a little more maintenace to these units.

I can only assume they will have independant overide steering. A complete novice can easily turn the boat on a sixpence with very little training. My advice there is dont think too much what you have to do, just feel your way. Hope you get that bit. Hard to explain.(use the force Luke). Getting on a birth is made easier with these drives. Take the boat in sideways.

I'm sure you will love the versitility of water jets..Good luck. just avoid sand!

[JHA]

Thanks for the input. I'm hoping he goes for this boat - just so I can play with the jet drives! Angelus - I understand feeling the boat. I can't remember the last time I had to think about what I was doing at the helm. It just kinda makes sense like second nature. I have heard of jets picking up debris in shallow water (tires, shopping carts, etc...) just have to stay away from where the birds are standing up.

[ychtcptn]

Never driven a jet, but if your boss does buy it and you need someone to spend some time with you let me know. I have a friend who is very experienced with Jets and tutors all the time.

[Mov-it!]

Is there any information about the amount of jets and the engine configuration? I'm currently doing a case study on a 120' carbon planing hull with variable geometry with 2 steerable ad a single booster kamewa jet. The naval architect came up with the jet idea and it they seem to have some interresing advantages.

Don't get to technical on the replies because i run the project's concept and budget not the bits and pieces.

[Garry Hartshorn]

Several years ago I ran a jet boat, I loved driving that boat. They are a bit different but not hard, in fact I taught the boss's daughter to drive the boat, docking ect.............. in about an hour with little previous experiance.