Put money down the Solar 420 model, at Sportsman show, need to find a 30 HP Jet now. Great video looks like they finally hull built right to not cavitate, should allow a lot of access to skinny water. A lot of performance with a little motor from what I have seen, but well see when it gets here.
Cool video. The scenery reminds me of the Squirrel River and the Omar.
Ed
"Not in an open forum, where truth has less value than opinions, where all opinions are equally welcome regardless of their origins, rationale, inanity, or truth, where opinions are neither of equal value nor decisive." Ken Howell
James Pepper: There's no law west of Dodge and no God west of the Pecos. Right, Mr. Chisum? John Chisum: Wrong, Mr. Pepper. Because no matter where people go, sooner or later there's the law. And sooner or later they find God's already been there.
Very nicely done video, but not seeing what you found so cool about the boats.... and I assume you mean ventilation, not cavitation.
Cavitation is a term used when your jet pump sucks air. This is a real problem with most of the inflatables on the market today. I think thats what the OP was referring to when he mentioned this hull doesn't do that, and from watching the videos I would have to agree . Pretty impressive performance from a 30 HP outboard jet.
Negative, cavitation is when the propellor or impellor moves liquid so fast it creates bubbles and the bubbles collapse back on themselves. It is a term in science.
Ventilation is when the design of the boat allows water to get under the hull and into the prop or pump. They are not the same thing and yes, many people do not know the difference.
cavitation [kav-i-tey-shuh n] Spell Syllables Word Origin noun 1. the rapid formation and collapse of vapor pockets in a flowing liquid in regions of very low pressure, a frequent cause of structural damage to propellers, pumps, etc. 2. such a pocket formed in a flowing liquid. Origin of cavitation
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
Negative, cavitation is when the propellor or impellor moves liquid so fast it creates bubbles and the bubbles collapse back on themselves. It is a term in science.
Ventilation is when the design of the boat allows waterair to get under the hull and into the prop or pump. They are not the same thing and yes, many people do not know the difference.
cavitation [kav-i-tey-shuh n] Spell Syllables Word Origin noun 1. the rapid formation and collapse of vapor pockets in a flowing liquid in regions of very low pressure, a frequent cause of structural damage to propellers, pumps, etc. 2. such a pocket formed in a flowing liquid. Origin of cavitation
Negative, cavitation is when the propellor or impellor moves liquid so fast it creates bubbles and the bubbles collapse back on themselves. It is a term in science.
Ventilation is when the design of the boat allows waterair to get under the hull and into the prop or pump. They are not the same thing and yes, many people do not know the difference.
cavitation [kav-i-tey-shuh n] Spell Syllables Word Origin noun 1. the rapid formation and collapse of vapor pockets in a flowing liquid in regions of very low pressure, a frequent cause of structural damage to propellers, pumps, etc. 2. such a pocket formed in a flowing liquid. Origin of cavitation
It is worth repeating...
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
Negative, cavitation is when the propellor or impellor moves liquid so fast it creates bubbles and the bubbles collapse back on themselves. It is a term in science.
Ventilation is when the design of the boat allows water to get under the hull and into the prop or pump. They are not the same thing and yes, many people do not know the difference.
cavitation [kav-i-tey-shuh n] Spell Syllables Word Origin noun 1. the rapid formation and collapse of vapor pockets in a flowing liquid in regions of very low pressure, a frequent cause of structural damage to propellers, pumps, etc. 2. such a pocket formed in a flowing liquid. Origin of cavitation
The smartest man I ever met, ( and the wealthiest) quit college in his second year. He always said the most valuable lesson he ever learned was in his freshman year. His english teacher told him not to worry to much about proper english, the most important thing was to speak and write in such a way that you are easily understood by your audience. As a licensed EMT the first thing I think of when I hear "ventilation" is an exchange of air between the lungs and atmosphere.......or I need to get my window down to get some ventilation because the inside of the ambulance doesn't smell to good...
I dont think to many outdoorsmen worry to much about scientific terms. I've been running jet boats for 35 years and I've never heard anyone use the term "ventilation". Either way you dont want a hull that causes your pump to suck air, what you call it doesn't really matter, but if you use the term "cavitation" experienced boaters will know what you mean.
Huge difference between the two... true cavitation requires an immediate and large reduction in throttle... metal is being damaged in a cavitation event.
Hard to imagine running jets for 35 years and not hearing the proper term. But there is a big difference between 35 years of experience and one year of experience 35 times.
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
Huge difference between the two... true cavitation requires an immediate and large reduction in throttle... metal is being damaged in a cavitation event.
Hard to imagine running jets for 35 years and not hearing the proper term. But there is a big difference between 35 years of experience and one year of experience 35 times.
You seem the sort that think they know more than the actually do....Im betting you've never run an outboard jet. I've owned and operated a fly in fishing lodge for most of the last 40 years, and I can promise you I have more time on the tiller than you could dream of. The biggest concern with cavitation is the sudden increase in engine RPMs...and the loss of power that comes with it....
Huge difference between the two... true cavitation requires an immediate and large reduction in throttle... metal is being damaged in a cavitation event.
Hard to imagine running jets for 35 years and not hearing the proper term. But there is a big difference between 35 years of experience and one year of experience 35 times.
You seem the sort that think they know more than the actually do....Im betting you've never run an outboard jet. I've owned and operated a fly in fishing lodge for most of the last 40 years, and I can promise you I have more time on the tiller than you could dream of. The biggest concern with cavitation is the sudden increase in engine RPMs...and the loss of power that comes with it....
Wrong on about all counts...
There are many here at the fire that have been in my jet boat... and my son's, which he built from scratch... or the many other boats I have owned over the years. Held a USCG Masters License for a couple decades, but disabusing you of your fantasies is not really my job.
If you think the biggest problem with cavitation is the loss of speed and the increase in RPMs you were not listening and did not understand what you should have read. Cavitation leads to serious metal damage on the prop or impellor very quickly. Ventilation is very different from cavitation which seems to be the only thing you have run into with your jet. Except it probably isn't if you actually have run a jet as much as you claim.
Something for you to wrap your head around: if your prop or pump left the water while running in rough weather it did not cavitate, but the RPMs increased and resulted in lost power.
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
While those boats seem capable, I'm still not a huge fan of inflatable boats after my last incident with one, but it was an older RIB. I'd rather much have a solid boat, unless I could afford to replace it every few years. I did enjoy the videos, but I found one linked that I liked more...
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Still impressed with my boat about 8 plus hrs run time this year. Solar 420 Arrow Yamaha 30 hp 2 stroke jet. 23.8 MPH light load will run in very shallow water. Link to Solar boats with videos.
I run a 14' Achilles with 30 hp prop Everscrewed, and an 18 foot aluminum flat bottom with rated 30 hp Jet (more if it was prop), 4 stroke Yamaha. Both of them kinda new (less than 10 years and not many hours of operation with the combos, tho the flat bottom boat is a beat-to-hell '73, on it's 5th motor - the 30 prop was the 4th, now transferred to the Rubber Ducky. Some things I have found with my outfits- the hard way - that newbies need to keep in mind:
Jet units will "skitter" the boat on sharp turns. (Hey - I only hit the bank once with the flat-bottom since I bought the Yamaha 5 years ago..... 180 degree bend in nothing at all... I know how to set up for that turn now! And how to throttle for it)
Inflatables will also skitter at high speed with a prop unit - and can throw one out of the boat (almost, once!).
Jet units are less maneuverable at slow speeds than prop units.
Inflatables MUST have enough pressure inside! Overinflation is better than under-inflation, or one WILL get cavitation/ventilation (whatever!).... So far, I have not found a good way or even reference to "proper" air pressure for the Achilles. I just blow that sucker up until it looks/feels right. And if it isn't, I pump some more in! That again, I learned by experiencing too low a hull pressure.
i worry about bear action on the inflatable - not so on hard hulls. Haven't had any. Yet.
Jet units are subject to clogging from floating leaves ( and weeds in the Manley slough.- but so is the prop in the weeds) . On our latest trip to the remote cabin, I had to clear the jet intake a half dozen or more times in the lower 2 miles of slack water( no leaf line- they were over the whole surface) before hitting the Tanana. Farther up the river I was able to stay mostly out of the line of floating leaves, except to cross. Only had to clear twice on the upper 13 miles coming down, 3 times on way up (fewer leaves, just 3 days earlier.
Those guys in the video are having waaaay too much fun! No rifles/moose in sight tho.
Jetech is having a demo tommorow 9-29-18 details below. I will be there with my boat. Kurt
The Jetech demo day is still on for tomorrow. We will be launching at the parking lot on the left at the Little Su bridge just before Millers Landing. There is plenty of parking and the launch is nice. I'm going to try to load up my bbq and should have some food there but feel free to bring anything you want to throw on a grill. I'm planning on starting around noon.
Comment here to let everyone know what setup you're bringing. Hope we get a good turnout with lots of different motor setups for comparison.
Tunnel hull, Inflatable floor has I beams in it very rigid that does not flex and introduce air under hull, have tried all sorts of inflatable boats with a jet outboard with dismal results, this is the first to really impress me.
Tunnels water to the jet intake like a hard bottom jet boat, and it bottom has a hi tech poly that just slides over rocks .
Have ran it in under 3" of water on step, with a load. The transom sits on top of floor, on most Zodiak style boats the transom is at the bottom of the boat and you hit at front of transom.
kk alaska
Alaska 7 months of winter then 5 months of tourists
Yes the jet lower unit replaces lower prop unit. You lose about 30% compared to a prop unit.
From the video I think the Suzuki 20 HP 4 stroke which is about 13 HP net would be ok with a light load in 420 Vega model, will let you know when the ice melts.
We ran several motors on the Standard 420 model from 30 HP 2 stroke, 40 hp 2 stroke and 25 HP 4 stroke 25 HP at the Jet and all performed great.
About any place I can put the boat in the water, I can run which opens up a lot of country.
Depends on what kind of water you are running, bought a new 25 HP Merc jet power late last fall and it had a factory SS impeller . I have always ran aluminum props on my outboards, my thoughts were wanted them to break if I hit something rather than take out the lower unit. So don,t know yet.
Running shallow water with a jet pump can get expensive!
kk alaska
Alaska 7 months of winter then 5 months of tourists
I may pick one up in the next year or so. My tohatsu 50/35 jet would be perfect on a 470. Watching the videos and seeing the loads they carry, compared to my jon boat, is pretty impressive.
I've been thinking about an inflatable style like this for the last couple of seasons. Have you used this for duck hunting and salmon fishing at all? I live near Rabbit Slough and would love to get out to salmon fish and duck hunt. With my oldest in college and the Army Guard now and the youngest not wanting to hunt, I think something like this would be great for near the house.
If I had 50 Jet I would buy the 470 will carry around 1700# . Kind of wishing I had that setup much more useful. I have fished out mine on the Kenai and Little Sue. Last day of the show come and look at them. Kurt
Here is what Jim has in stock.
Sunday is the last day of the show. We had a couple people change their minds on what model they wanted so we now have a couple extra 470 Super Arrows, 1 green 1 orange. Get a free electric 2 stage air pump with any boat purchase.
470 boats and bigger most are using a Tohatsu TLDI 50 HP 35 HP jet power, around 196 #. due to weight and ability to transport. Tohatsu has discontinued it. Cant buy Light weight 2 stokes in the US anymore, EPA rules. And latest is they are probably going to regulate the hi pressure 2 stroke fuel inject models.
On my 420 Strella went with the 25 HP Merc 4 stroke Jet Power about 186#, at Bass Pro no one can touch there price here. Heavy, but quiet, and you have to keep power head higher than foot for transport. Uses just under 1 gallon a hr versus 3 plus on a older 30 hp 2 stroke Yamaha I have.
kk: Is there a jet drive for the new Yamaha 25 HP 4 stroke motor? I used that motor for the season last year. Very lightweight. Is a 25 HP with jet drive enough power for the 420 inflatable? Thanks for the help.
Saw pictures of a Yamaha 25 4 stroke with a Jet last year that was used on a 420, did not get to run it though. The Jet drive unit from Outboard Specialties have been slow in coming heard owner passed on ?
They have been promised from late fall and only build to order,normal delivery is 16 weeks plus but have been slower as of late. Think it would be ideal on power output. Wonder if you would get a jet unit in time for use in 19 ? Which is why I bought the 25 HP Merc 4 Stroke Jet Power last October it was available, great price but heavy 186 #.
Bought the 420 Vega for fly out use here , have a 20 HP 2 Stroke Merc Jet, to use till we buy a new 20 HP, 4 Stroke Suzuki Jet, if the jet unit comes in, been on order since late fall 18.
Jim the owner of Jetech has a 420 Vega with the New 20 HP Suzuki jet on display at the Jetech booth this WE at the Sportsman show in Anchorage just set up the booth last night.
kk alaska
Alaska 7 months of winter then 5 months of tourists
The Merc 25 Jet Power weighs 186# Met someone yesterday who has a prototype Yamaha 25 Jet , here in Alaska, weighs right over 140#. Both are 4 Strokes .
Again the problem is getting a jet unit from Outboard specialties, Tohatsu is coming out with a LW 50 HP 4 Stroke, but av-ability of the jet unit is the issue. Was talking to the Tohatsu factory rep at the outdoor show.
Last edited by kk alaska; 04/06/19.
kk alaska
Alaska 7 months of winter then 5 months of tourists
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