Jet Tender Recommendations?

goplay · 03-09-2008, 10:17 PM

What is the latest in Jet Tenders? I will be looking to get a 4m (+or-) this summer. I had heard that there were some reliability issues with most of the generation 1 models. Any recommendations for and against?

K1W1 · 03-09-2008, 11:39 PM

Hi,

My 2c worth- Don't buy one.

Jet Boats have their uses and Tenders for a yacht are not really one of them.

goplay · 03-10-2008, 12:23 AM

Why is that? Is it price? Is it performance? Is it maintenance? Is it space taken up by the motor?

Quote:

Originally Posted by K1W1

Hi,

My 2c worth- Don't buy one.

Jet Boats have their uses and Tenders for a yacht are not really one of them.

C4ENG · 03-10-2008, 12:45 AM

I worked on a boat once that had both a jet tender and a RIB novorina. We always ended up using the RIB for the guess as it just seemed so much more functional. It sat more poeple and they were more comfortable in the RIB. The jet tender was nice but just some how never seemed to be needed. Then the maintance did seem to be needed more as well. I remeber the housing around the impellar swelled up with corrision and jammed the impellar..

comship · 03-10-2008, 02:19 AM

I have been using Jet tenders the last 5 years, the only issue I could mentioned here is that the old two stroke models were smelly and were leaving oil spills in the surface. On our new yacht we have chosen a Williams 4 stroke 104 HP(wember engine) 3.85m. It is a fact that alike jet skis the engine should be washed down with fresh water at least a week ( The crew of our yacht is doing it after each use).

Apart of the above, in my opinion they are much safer to operate especially in crowded beaches and offer a lot of fun

JAG1 · 03-10-2008, 07:09 AM

Castoldi seem to be a popular make at least in the larger ranges - can't say I was overly impressed with the engineering but they do drive well. Ribtech in the uk also make jet tenders using a small Vosper jet unit. They were pretty good as long as you didn't go all electric - having the toggle switch for the bucket control break off in neutral while you're in Nassau shipping channel is not amusing.

Neil Rooney · 03-10-2008, 09:13 AM

There are more models appearing every year. I like the safety side of no prop but you do need to flush them daily. I owed a Ribtec Camel 6.5M for 6 years and loved the boat, it wasn't a jet but it rode like an old Cadillac, nice and gentle.
Check out www.ribeye.co.uk and http://www.espritnautics.com/ for Nouveranias

comship · 03-10-2008, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG1

Castoldi seem to be a popular make at least in the larger ranges - can't say I was overly impressed with the engineering but they do drive well. Ribtech in the uk also make jet tenders using a small Vosper jet unit. They were pretty good as long as you didn't go all electric - having the toggle switch for the bucket control break off in neutral while you're in Nassau shipping channel is not amusing.

the main disadvantage of the castoldi is their weight, I was looking to install the smaller model of their range but its dry weight was 900 kg

goplay · 03-10-2008, 05:29 PM

Can a 4m jet tender, say like the Williams 385, pull a wake boarder with a driver and spotter in the boat?

comship · 03-10-2008, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goplay

Can a 4m jet tender, say like the Williams 385, pull a wake boarder with a driver and spotter in the boat?

Our old tender an AVON DL (Yamaha 85 HP) was pulling a wake boarder but on board was only the driver

orion · 03-11-2008, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goplay

Can a 4m jet tender, say like the Williams 385, pull a wake boarder with a driver and spotter in the boat?

Here its pulling a water skier:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0QY8sV6VOJI

TK-F430 · 03-14-2008, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goplay

Can a 4m jet tender, say like the Williams 385, pull a wake boarder with a driver and spotter in the boat?

Yes, I have a Williams 385 Jet Rib and pulling a wake boarder has been done often.

Capt J · 06-03-2008, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goplay

Why is that? Is it price? Is it performance? Is it maintenance? Is it space taken up by the motor?

They're junk. I have experience with a few of them. The worst was a 14' Nautica RIB jet. It smoked like crazy, was so loud at hull speed you needed ear muffs, and problematic. The 4 stroke outboards have come so far that the jets don't even come close.

The jets use a lot more fuel. Need a lot more maintanence. They are a lot louder inside of the boat because the motor is generally mounted under the console. They don't have the performance of an outboard. You really cannot go in any shallower water then a 4 stroke one. If they have a waverunner motor they vibrate and smoke. Steerage at slow speeds with them is horrible. The best thing about the jet's is if you have to jump overboard fully dressed to clear a plastic bag out of the intake with guests on board. IMO they have no advantages.