Frequently Asked Questions
Why use an inflatable jetboat?
- Portability – You can transport a boat and motor package in the back of a truck, van, boat, or even aircraft. In most cases the entire boat and motor have a total weight of 400-500lbs. This allows users to deploy boats into areas that may not normally be accessible or into remote locations for hunting. Even when operating on within the bounds of road systems, it can be advantageous to transport your boat without a trailer in some cases. While it’s a not a desirable situation, the ability to extract a damaged or compromised boat from the field with another boat or aircraft is also possible.
- Damage Control – Many people want to know why not just use a tunneled lightweight aluminum jonboat. There are a lot of good features with a properly tunneled johnboat and the most obvious is that they last decades and they don’t get punctured easily unless you hit a rock. And that is one of the advantages of an inflatable jetboat. They aren’t impervious to sharp rocks, but rounded river rocks are generally rounded, and inflatables have a high resistance to damage from river rocks. This characteristic has literally opened up waterways that were previously considered to be non-navigable in aluminum boats.
- Choosing a boat – With more and more models and manufacturers entering the market, the choices for users have expanded. More options is great, but it can be tough to for a new buyer to navigate the limited and often opinionated information available. Jetech offers boats from 3 different manufacturers and we picked these specifically for the qualities that make each boat different. Whether your focus is on cargo capability, portability, price, steeper gradient water, UV resistance, or multi-use applications, Jetech can assist you in choosing the boat that best suits your needs and/or budget.
Outboard options
- 2-strokes – One of the most common questions we get is what is the best outboard motor for any particular model. The follow up is a request for a 2-stroke motor, and we are often met with confusion when we tell folks that new 2-strokes aren’t readily available in the USA any longer. There are people who have managed to get some “new” oil burners into the country, but the reality is that it’s not a viable option for the vast majority of customers. The best advice we can offer is that there are still some older units out there and given the price of new motors it is not unreasonable to consider refurbishing an older 2-stroke. The weight differences are considerable enough to consider this. The drawback to any older 2-stroke motor is noise and fuel economy. The later model EFI versions are not bad options, but the weight differentials are minimal and the parts will continue to get scarcer with time.
- 4-strokes – The obvious alternative is to purchase a brand new 4-stroke outboard, and weight is a constant concern. This is the part where we get to tell people that you can’t always believe what the manufacturer cites in regards to outboard weight. We have weighed virtually every model of 4-stroke outboard that can be used on these boats from 20hp to 60hp. Just FYI we reference the power ratings as a prop to keep things less confusing. The reality is that for the 470 size boats your choices are going to weigh about 235 to 290 pounds, and only 2 of the manufacturers offer a short shaft option. Even though this makes the idea of a new 4-stroke seem less than appealing, the reality is there are some great benefits to consider. Quieter operation, excellent fuel economy, no mixing/adding oil, and solid reliability will bring a smile to your face as you simply turn the key to start your motor. If you need more information on the best outboard for your boat, or the best boat for your outboard, we are here to assist. We can also provide custom setups in some cases.
- Steering systems – A lot of people ask if they can utilize a console steering system. The short answer is yes, you can. The reality is that the cost to install these is much higher and it uses up a lot of space in a small boat where space is usually at a premium. Perhaps the biggest thing to consider when comparing a tiller and a console is steering speed. Most console racks will have a 3:1 turn ratio, and this is simply too slow for rapid maneuvers. Tillers can move the motor from side to side quickly with very little effort. While many people aren’t initially comfortable with the idea of using a tiller if they haven’t had any experience, we have found that very few people cannot adapt in a short time.
Do I need anything else besides the boat and motor?
- Urethane Intakes – Often referred to as Poly intakes, this accessory is a “must-have” item in the repertoire of any inflatable jet boat user. It offers impact dampening to protect the pump housing and the motor itself while offering massively superior durability for the intake itself. The grates are made of hardox steel and the flex provided by the urethane body of the intake lets the grates maintain proper shape through heavy impacts. Don’t leave home without one.
- Stainless Steel Impellers – Do you have to have it? Nope, but you definitely could use one. These provide superior durability to rock ingestion through the pump. You bought a boat like this to run extremely shallow water and that is likely to result in pulling small rocks through your intake and across the impeller blades. An SS impeller is heavier and affects both acceleration and top speed very slightly in most cases, but if gravel passes through your impeller even once, the results can flip in favor of the SS unit. Two times and it’s usually not a question. Sharpening an impeller in the field isn’t hard, it’s just a time-consuming task that also brings the risk of dropped parts. Save yourself the time and frustration.
- Oars – Are the oars that the manufacturer provides good enough? No… But won’t they work well enough to use for flat water? Probably not, and in our opinion this is really a shortcoming in all of the current offerings out there. Inflatable powerboats are notoriously under-equipped in this regard. In ALL cases we recommend not using the “oars” on the mounting pins and to use them only as paddles in an emergency if you have nothing else. We have seen multiple cases where a boat has capsized and the flimsy aluminum shaft gets broken because it is pinned on to the oarlock. After being broken it becomes a sharp stick that punctures the boat. Now a bad situation is made even worse and you’re likely looking at a rescue operation or worse. Even the most durable options provided are not tough enough and relying on them can literally be putting your life in danger.We recommend 2 solutions:
1. Buy durable paddles
2. Outfit your boat with an aftermarket frame and oars.
In our opinion this is a necessity to operate your boat safely.
Contact us - We try to cover the more common questions here. If you have questions about something we haven’t covered, send us your question(s) and we will do our best to get back to you quickly.