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Jet Boat conversion... Ideas??

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You have a done a great job for your project.
you are getting a 37% increase of power from the 40 to the 55hp. I hope it's what you want and don't have to go bigger.

Its what i can afford from whats for sale at the moment:) One way to find out if i'll need/want bigger.
If i need/want bigger i guess i'll keep that one till winter hits, prices should drop a bit then:)
 
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I'm thinking that 55-60hp is going to be about right, but don't hold me to it. My reasoning is this, an outboard with a prop. if roughly twice as efficient as a jet boat with an impeller, so you'll have the equivalent of 110 to 120 hp, your explorer came with a 717cc 85hp motor.

Lou
 
Cool, I can then go on a record lab around the world:)

Well if the 55 is in good cond i think too that it should be ok. The 40 may have been a bit tired. Shame as it looked great, sounded great and started easy. Back home we used to have a 15ft fibreglass B.Whaler and it had a 94 25hp Mariner and it was definitely faster or as fast as that 40 i had, thats what confused me:S May have been out of tune???. weird.

Anyway, too late to look back now, whats done is done. Can't wait for the 55hp now. IF i get it....
 
Good news, the engine is MINE:D :p
Got to wait one -two weeks to get it tho as its getting shipped over from the eastern states:(
 
Really? I thought you'd be all over that turbine! LOL!

How much was shipping on the 55??
 
sink - A buddy mechanic of mine is one of the crew for U5,U7,U57 hydroplanes out of Detroit. He rebuilds the engines and gear boxes.
They put out 3000 HP., and bigger than a 3 seater SD.
 
Slow progress at the moment. Uni is taking most of the time and i need to update the controller and cables for the new engine. Will keep you guys posted as i go..
 
Big thx to McGuyver as he helped we wire the mariner engine with the suzuki forward control. Yes i know a bit of mix and match of everything but yeah...,

Will be testing the boat again this weekend:)
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Thx, I've tired to show and explain as much as possible what i did to the boat so that if someone wanted to do something similar this thread could help. whats the point of joining a forum to learn stuff but then keep everything to yourself..., Gotta think of others:)

But also a huge thx again to all those that have helped me, gave ideas etc to come up with the rear transom and other stuff on the boat and the local Mcgyver:) who i'll go join tomorrow on the river hopefully if the boat performs well:)
 
one thing: where in the boat is the fuel tank? just asking because having ridden one of these in its original form, they never did get up and plane really well in the first place, and originally the weight was much more centered probably than it is in your setup. i also remember the trouble my dad had with the 8' dinghy on his boat with his 240lbs sitting in the back near the motor. he ended up moving the fuel tank up in the bow and strapping it down with an additional 20lbs of dive weights.

so my suggestion would be if you still have trouble getting it planed out, have your buddy sit up in the bow seat to try go get it to break over onto plane. if that doesn't work i'd try adding trim tabs to the transom. in fact i'd recommend that anyways, given the weight of roughly another person is sitting on your swim platform all the time. how far out of the water does the platform sit? with the 657 in it, the platform was 4-6" above the water typically.
 
Hi guys,

Well the boat is now sold. Performance wise the 55 was much better but still lacked some power, Something bigger or even newer would be the way to go. Anyway it worked great for what it was, i was able to do some wake behind it and had some good fun. Sold it this summer and its time for another project:)


Some final pics

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Me doing some wake behind the boat
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My girlfreind
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And my brother in a tube
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Do you know the guy you sold it to? I need some templates made up of the front seat pad. Me and my buddy bought the mint-est 93 Explorer EVER...but its missing that front seat pad!
 
Gotta hand it to you, a lot of people said (including myself) "don't do it", you did it anyway and did a damn good job, congratulations.

Lou
 
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