ORIGINAL: LClark

First, thanks for all the input on the jet drives!

Although I am frustrated that they will not work, I am grateful to find out now. I did a float test tonight, the water line was barely 1/8" up the transom (with motors, no battery). To achieve 70% submergance I would need to have the jet shaft centerline at or below the bottom of the hull. Hardly possible.

The bad news is I designed the boat stand low because nothing extended below the hull....oh well....I will install a lift kit somehow......

The GREAT news is that I have minimal patching to do and I am at a good point in the construction to do it.

The next great news is that I have 2 jet drives available for my next crazy project, whatever it may be. I would like to keep it to a scale-ish vessel.......or.....I have been considering a recovery vessel. Basically a pontoon boat with deep pontoons to cradle the vessle being 'rescued'. Now being an expert on jet drives (NOT), I could put one in each pontoon. They would certainly be submerged enough. I saw a navy drydock ship that I was thinking about using as a concept start. I would need to leave the center hull section as a framework so it will sit lower, thought about flooding her to to raise and lower her.....thought I had a pic of her stern, basically open...... Any thoughts or comments?

Dauntless fan....I have some concepts sketched out on paper. Some of that will change now that I can go deeper with the rear deck (the jet drives were forcing it way up). Soon I will be starting the cabin structure, will keep posting pics of it. If I get a 'clean enough' sketch I will take a pic of it and post it.

Any suggestions on engines and props for her now?