Boat Jet Drive Retrofit Suggestions
 

Hi Guys,
The images below are of an old boat that I recently started working on originally built for me by my father back in the 1970s. I am looking to restore it and give it to my son. This is the fifth of my family’s boats that I am bringing back to life, so I might get a little creative with this one. I’m posting here because I am considering a jet drive installation. Based on sizing of boats that I have researched online, it seems like a 40mm jet drive might be an appropriate fit. The boat would be driven in lakes/ponds, not rapids or anything that turbulent. My questions are:

1) I am not sure if the dimensions/shape of the hull lend themselves to this type of propulsion, so does this type of conversion seem reasonable?
2) If this drive seems reasonable, is the 40mm drive appropriate in size? I would like some zip to the boat to make it fun to drive but it doesn’t need to be a rocket
3) Where is an appropriate place to put the COG when converting to a jet drive?
4) OSE did a good job of recommending ESC/motor/battery combinations on their site for their 40mm drive, so if another jet drive is recommended it would be great if this info was also included.

Boat info:
Length - 27”
Max hull width - 9"
Width of stern - 7.25”
Height of stern - 3.25”
Weight of empty hull - 1.8lbs

Thank you . . . Paul

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...f5de918ca7.jpg
To make a jet drive work in your hull which looks similar to a Chris Craft ski type of hull,
you would have to modify the bottom which may be more work than you anticipated and
may also weaken the keel of the boat. But if that is what you want to do, you will first have
to remove the deck of the boat to install some reinforcements and cut a section of the bottom
out for the installation of the jet drive, as it needs a "Flat Surface" for the water intake to mount
to. See the attached picture of a jet boat bottom to see what I am referring to.

Thank you Bill, that is more keel removal than I anticipated. I will have to take a closer look at my boat and see if this still makes sense to do.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...5642b68625.jpg

Jet boats are real nice but it is better starting with a new hull and modify it to
suit the desired jet drive. I have been looking at the same jet drive and was
contemplating installing it in a Dumas Ski Daddle which is 36" long and
would be ideal for conversion to jet drive as the bottom is almost flat at the
stern / transom of the boat and the internal mods could be made while building
the boat and a nice cockpit could be made to hide the batteries and radio gear.
Assuming that the scale would be 1/6th or 2 " = 1' that would equate to a
real world boat length of 18' which is what most full size jet boats are in the
area of ( 17' to 21'). They are a blast to run and play with on the open water
and are not necessarily just for running in small streams with fast moving water
and obstacles. But what ever you decide have fun doing it!!!!!!!!!

You might also try looking over on the other modeling site as they have a section
just for jet boats. https://www.rcgroups.com/jet-drive-boats-1004/