Opinions on River Jet Boat

[ragboy]

When I moved up here, I couldn't believe how many people not only have one boat, but several. Not wealthy people either. Modest homes, but more than one boat. With the various lakes, oroville, and the sacramento and feather rivers, there is lots of places to boat. I have been toying with the idea of a cool river jet boat for a couple years, and I think I may pull the trigger this winter. I have done my research and I am pretty set on what I want, but thought some of you may know more about them, they are newer to me, and give me some opinions. With my 6 kids, I need room. This is the one I have my eye on:

Weldcraft 24 Select



Great images here:

http://www.weldcraftmarine.com/gallery_22-24-select.php

You gotta check out that rear deck, no one else does this that I have seen. It will be primarily used for fishing and day river exploring. Mostly from Fall through spring. What do you guys think? How does weldcraft stack up if you have had any experience?

[ragboy]

One more thing...

These come standard with the MP 6.0 engine, which makes me a bit nervous. Seemed like a lot of folks had issues with the 6.0 on this forum. Or I could go up to the 8.1, which I don't think I need.

[ragboy]

I swear, I wasn't thinking of this, and don't plan on doing this except behind my tige. But I think this is the same boat I am looking at. This is on the salmon river, which is the home river for weldcraft.

[dogbert]

That's awesome!

[da.bell]

Looks like a lot of fun. The MP 6.0 L engine was a problem but I don't recall the newer engines having this issue like the 2006 engines.

[ragboy]

So thats good to know. So as far as you know, the 2006 6.0s were an issue, but ok after that?

[ragboy]

Here is a video of a guy on a smaller but similar boat, running in the sac river and others and even into the SF Bay. I don't want to get this nuts, but I plan on exploring the river from shasta to the sac delta. There are only a couple of uncrossable dams, but its pretty clear from redbluff on.

[eks]

Cool, That is amazing. Even knowing that there is no prop, I still think something is going to break as he goes on shallow water.

[malarson]

Weldcraft boats are a quality boat. There are several aluminum boat manufacturers here in Lewiston. Weldcraft is one of the best. There is a new company a few years old that is making a slightly better boat the company is HCM. My friend is the foreman welder there. http://www.hellscanyonmarine.com/
Custom Weld is also a great boat manufactured here.
There are a lot of used aluminum boats in our local newspaper. http://www.moneysav.com/lcmoneysaver...ads/sports.htm
You won't be disappointed if you pick up a Weldcraft. Except for the gas mileage.

[ragboy]

Cool, That is amazing. Even knowing that there is no prop, I still think something is going to break as he goes on shallow water.

The boat I am looking at, with 12 deg at the transom, is designed to run in as little as 6-8" of water. They also use a hardcore hamilton 212 jet with stainless turbo impeller. About as rugged as they come from what I understand.

Weldcraft boats are a quality boat. There are several aluminum boat manufacturers here in Lewiston. Weldcraft is one of the best. There is a new company a few years old that is making a slightly better boat the company is HCM. My friend is the foreman welder there. http://www.hellscanyonmarine.com/
Custom Weld is also a great boat manufactured here.
There are a lot of used aluminum boats in our local newspaper. http://www.moneysav.com/lcmoneysaver...ads/sports.htm
You won't be disappointed if you pick up a Weldcraft. Except for the gas mileage.

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it, and will check out those links.

[ragboy]

Weldcraft boats are a quality boat. There are several aluminum boat manufacturers here in Lewiston. Weldcraft is one of the best. There is a new company a few years old that is making a slightly better boat the company is HCM. My friend is the foreman welder there. http://www.hellscanyonmarine.com/
Custom Weld is also a great boat manufactured here.
There are a lot of used aluminum boats in our local newspaper. http://www.moneysav.com/lcmoneysaver...ads/sports.htm
You won't be disappointed if you pick up a Weldcraft. Except for the gas mileage.

Are you saying weldcraft has bad gas mileage? Or they all have bad gas mileage? I know grew up on jets, so know about the gas on jets, but didn't know if weldcraft for some reason was worse.

[imscarlet]

Sorry don't know anything about your jetboats over there but here is some inspiration ...

http://www.rapidsjet.com/

Competition boats

Technology http://www.jetsprint.co.nz/about/technology.php

[larryueckert]

my vote is for Aluma Weld and Jet Craft

[majestic]

My neighbor has one of these.

http://www.edgemarine.com/XCaliber.htm

[Carter13]

Duckworth makes a really nice boat but they are very spendy.