You Bet You Want a Sport Boat! [Part II]
In our first article about sport boats we discussed safety, acceleration, and the advantages of a shallow draft. If you want to know more about this type of watercraft you’re in the right place! In this article, we’ll discover more advantages including handling and efficiency. However, to be fair, we’ll also discuss some minor disadvantages.
Vehicle Handling
If you’ve ever driven a stern-drive or an outboard and hop into a jet drive you’ll instantly notice a difference. A jet drive vehicle handles much differently. Jet nozzles redirect thrust in an instant. This gives the boat a quickness that can’t be beat! It also gives the vehicle nimble handling. If you are a safe and responsible driver this combination is absolutely thrilling.
However, thrills aren’t the only advantage of jet drive vehicles. Aggressive handling also makes for a safer trip. You get an added level of safety in a collision avoidance situation. You have almost instantaneous reaction when it comes to steering the vehicle. This can make all the difference in a close-call situation.
Remember, jet drives do have their tradeoffs. It is always a good idea to know what they are before purchasing a jet. Most of these tradeoffs diminish depending on the experience of the captain. Most problems occur when a captain
attempts to drive a jet drive like a stern drive. Instead of learning the unique handling traits of the sport boat they continue to drive it like their past vehicles.
No Rudder Vehicle
A driver can learn low-speed control of a jet boat with minimal practice. Recently, Sea-Doo showcased jet boat control at a press intro. Everyone at the press intro got invited to attempt close-quarters maneuvering. However, you’ll miss your skreg or rudder when it is windy because there is less drag to keep you centered. Plus, without hardware a strong wakeboarder or skier can pull the boat much more than you’d ever find using a stern drive.
No Reverse or True Neutral
A jet’s impellers go in one direction. The impellers are always in motion when the vehicle is on. You achieve neutral and reverse by dropping a bucket over the nozzle first. Then you redirect the thrust either down, to the side, or forward. The latest jet designs mimic true neutral and reverse very well.
With practice, captains can maneuver a jet boat in ways a stern drive or outboard captain could only achieve in their dreams! The key is to practice, practice, practice. Drive the boat to play its strengths. Forget about driving it like a proper boat captain.
Efficiency
So, a big question on most people’s minds is do jet boats burn more fuel? Once upon a time the answer was yes. However, it was minimal. Most manufacturers build today’s vehicles with fuel-efficient engines. This means the playing field is pretty even.
In conclusion, we believe the advantages of the sport boat are many. The manufacturers and their marketing teams accomplished what they set out to do. They have established a product that is a strong alternative to other watercraft.
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