Jetboat Pros And Cons

[Greasy B]

I think the HP limit would be the way to go to limit the amount of damage these boats do to the rivers. Like said above, there are a lot if lakes that have HP limits and no wake areas imposed on them for safety reasons and bank erosion control, why dont these rivers have the same?

A jet boat went flying past us at a pretty good clip yesterday on the Big River. I'm glad we weren't a hundred yards up river from where we were because there was a bend and we would have gotten smoked. He did slow down a bit when he got close to us but we were only in about 2.5' of water and it kicked up big enough waves to toss water over our bows.

A River Pro or River Pro type boat on a stream the size of Big River is just the kind absurd mismatch that's hard to put up with. Barring some horrible accident or a string of horrible accidents this type of activity won't get the attention of enough folk to make change possible.

[fishinwrench]

Riffles are the life force of any river, and constantly running a vacuum over them is gonna have a negative effect on the system.

Seth, your on-plane water displacement thoughts are a bit confused. That is true with prop powered rigs but a jet pump at over 4000 RPM displaces a lot more water.

[Greasy B]

Riffles are the life force of any river, and constantly running a vacuum over them is gonna have a negative effect on the system.

Seth, your on-plane water displacement thoughts are a bit confused. That is true with prop powered rigs but a jet pump at over 4000 RPM displaces a lot more water.

So is more water displaced by the pump than the hull?

[fishinwrench]

At planing speed.....probably so, or at least equal to it I would think. Jet pumps move alot of water.

[Seth]

Maybe you're right. I'll have to pay attention next time I run it. I could have swore that I threw less of a wake on plane than when I was half throttle. Maybe it's just a prop thing that does that.

[Greasy B]

I think the pump water displaced is less apparent because it's path is to the rear. When a hull is plowing it does push more water to the side.

[fishinwrench]

I think the pump water displaced is less apparent because it's path is to the rear. When a hull is plowing it does push more water to the side.

Good point. And as far as actual water displacement goes it would make sense that the pump would have to move more water than the hull displaces.....otherwise it couldn't push it very well.

[Mitch f]

Good point. And as far as actual water displacement goes it would make sense that the pump would have to move more water than the hull displaces.....otherwise it couldn't push it very well.

All I know is when you buzz up river you see the path where jets have gone....they are about 2 ft wide which would lead me believe it was from the pump.

[fishinwrench]

Yeah, any crawdads or nymphs that happened to be in those paths are probably chum.

[eric1978]

The bottom line is: nothing ruins a good place like a bunch of people.

Amen to that. People...they're the worst.

If I had a place to store a jet, I'd have one. And I'd use it mostly like Mitch does...colder months when floating is less convenient and more dangerous, and in lower-middle to lower stretches of river where it's safer. That said, since I'm not a jetboat owner, I hate them. They're dangerous and noisy, bad for rivers and fishing. But I agree with Dallas...keep them off the skinny water and I can live with it. Laws should be passed...or at least bumper stickers should be issued. And while they're at it, outlaw liveries. If you like floating enough you'll own something to float with.