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7 Jet-Powered Yachts That Bring Speed and Performance to the Water

From a 27-foot runabout to a 165-foot superyacht, these boats show the benefits of jet power: instant acceleration and an impressive top end, not to mention turn-on-a-dime maneuverability., kevin koenig, kevin koenig's most recent stories.

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Jet-propelled boats come in all shapes and sizes, carrying several advantages over more traditionally powered vessels. The propulsion units operate much like that of a personal watercraft, pairing an inboard engine to a jet pump that sends a powerful stream of water through the rear to propel and steer the vessel.

Enviable acceleration, instant maneuverability and strong top ends are the pros of jet drives. The prop-less design also benefits vessels navigating in waters with sand bars, rocky bottoms or crab pots that stop boats with propellers.

While not particularly fuel-efficient, the beauty of this specialized, niche propulsion is that it can be scaled to work on everything from jet skis to sportfishing machines to superyachts. Typically, jets appeal to owners who crave performance and perhaps the bragging rights of owning a jet-powered boat.

Our 7 favorites, from the Yamaha 27SDX to the 165-foot Mangusta REV, show the versatility of the jet drive.

Sanlorenzo SP110

Despite sleeping up to eight guests, the Sanlorenzo SP110 has, as its superpower, the ability to convert into a massive dayboat. As such, it has exceptional exterior space, including a long, empty cockpit and bow lounge forward. Both can be filled with guests on sunpads. With 6,000 total horsepower pushing its jet drives, the SP110 can hit a top speed of 40 knots and cruise at 32. This yacht is widely admired for its innovative interior. The 110-footer has a split-level upper and lower salon, both located at the after end of the boat, with unfettered ocean views. One of the beauties of jet drives mated with a hull design like the SP110 is that running on just one engine at low speeds results in exceptional fuel efficiency.

Mangusta 165 REV

There are very few yachts in the world that will turn heads like this beautiful, massive Mangusta. The 165-footer’s exceptionally low profile was inspired by sportscars of the 1930s, but its ridiculously powerful engines are definitely 2023. The 165 REV has four 2,600-horsepower Roll-Royce engines paired to Kongsberg-Kamewa waterjets. That propulsion package delivers a top end of 34 knots, which is extremely fast for a yacht this large. The 165’s interior includes four staterooms, large salon ahd full galley, but the exterior gives off a beachy vibe—most notably at the stern. The beach club, which is part of the opening transom, ends with a large, telescoping ladder that leads directly into the water.

Spencer Yachts ‘Wall Hanger’

The jet-powered 63-foot Wall Hanger from North Carolina-based Spencer Yachts is a true rarity in the sportfishing world. The yacht’s cockpit looks like most pelagic-centered convertibles, with a fighting chair, mezzanine seating, and plenty of fishboxes and other dry stowage. But where Wall Hanger takes a left turn is in the engine compartment. The owner wanted the boat to have an under-four-foot draft to access the dock at his vacation home, so he opted for twin 1,700-horsepower Caterpillar engines matched to waterjets. The engines offer a top speed of 51 knots and a cruise of 40 knots—which make running to distant fishing canyons to hunt billfish easy work.

Seven Seas Hermes Speedster

From Greek builder Seven Seas comes one of the prettiest little boats you’re likely to see anywhere—the Hermes Speedster. The 22-footer has retro styling inspired by the Porsche 356 roadster, a precursor to the 911. That includes eye-grabbing touches like a rearview mirror, a convertible top, stainless analog gauges at the dash, and supple leathers throughout the interior. With its 170-horsepower Bombardier Rotax engine, the Speedster can hit 45 knots. But the compact size, combined with jet propulsion, also means the boat can spin on a dime. Fully equipped, the Hermes Speedster sells for about $250,000.

Hinckley Talaria 57

Few builders know more about jet boats than Hinckley. The Maine-based shipyard is world-famous for Down East vessels inspired by the working lobster boats that patrol the New England coastline—though Hinckley adds a lot more luxe and glam to its designs. Propless jet propulsion, Hinckley decided, would be the best power choice to ensure its Picnic Boats and Talaria could navigate Maine’s rocky coast. The flagship Talaria 57 above comes in both flybridge and coupe versions, boasting a top end of 40-plus knots and cruise speed of 35. With its two staterooms, the 57-footer makes for an excellent weekender.

AB 100 Superfast

Italian builder AB didn’t mince any words naming this 100-foot-long megayacht. With triple 2,600-horsepower MTUs, the AB can top out at a nearly unheard of 60 knots, or a blistering 69 mph. The boat is not just fast, but truly high performance, with excellent acceleration and a deep-V hull that slices rough seas with ease. The four-foot draft also means it can run in shallow harbors that would be inaccessible to other boats its size. This 100-footer has multiple layout options for  accommodations, while the rest of the interior is also customizable.

Yamaha 275SDX

This Yamaha flagship excels both on lakes and coastal waters. At its heart, the 275SDX is all about entertaining, which means it can be packed from the open stern to the open bow with guests. Mirroring lounges in the bow, twin lounge chairs at the transom, and more seating amidships make this a great boat for young families with friends in tow. Twin 225-horsepower engines offer not only quick acceleration but an impressive speed of 53 mph. Yamaha’s Drive Throttle control system also makes docking and maneuvering at slow speeds much easier. The system incorporates a toggle on the steering wheel that can move the boat forward or in reverse, without needing to ever let go of the wheel. This 27-footer is an example of how jet power has gone mainstream in the runabout market.

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Best jet boats: Latest models show how widespread this technology has become

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Our US correspondent Elliott Maurice takes a look at some of the best jet boats on the market, covering a broad range of styles.

Who wouldn’t want a jet boat? It is a boat powered by a jet, right? Well, not exactly, unless of course we’re talking about military boats or very rare high-performance superyachts powered by gas turbines.

The jet-powered pleasure boat is a humbler, yet still exciting, proposition powered by a conventional piston engine linked to a water jet rather than a propeller.

This uses an impeller (a fan shaped propeller inside a tunnel) to suck water in through an opening in the hull and spit it out through a narrow steerable nozzle mounted on the transom to push the boat along.

With no propeller or rudder hanging down beneath the boat it’s not only safer to use in shallow water but has less drag, meaning faster speeds and better fuel economy.

The downside is that it tends to be tricker to manoeuvre at low speed, especially when going astern (there is no reverse gear, just a bucket that drops down to redirect the thrust under the boat) and it works best at higher speeds when the boat’s motion through the water helps drive water into the impeller.

The jet boat started life in New Zealand back in 1954, where it was designed to run at speed along shallow rivers where propeller-driven boats were prone to bending their propellers on hidden rocks.

High performance jet boats still run these courses today and with their exceptional agility, flat bottomed hulls and ability to perform a crash stop by dropping the reversing bucket at full revs, nothing else can pull the kind of stunts these boats do.

With no rudder or outdrive to maintain a grip on the water, jet boats can spin 180 degrees in their own length, even when travelling at high speeds. They can also be drifted sideways through a high-speed turn like a powerful rear-wheel drive sportscar.

Combined with explosive acceleration due to the lack of propeller tip cavitation, it makes for one of the most exhilarating drives around but only if you know what you are doing. So if you are thinking about buying one, there are several things to consider to make sure you choose the right one for you.

Pros and cons of buying a jet boat

The most popular use of a jet boat is as a fun runabout for watersports and cold water swimming – the lack of an exposed propeller is a big safety feature, particularly when boarding or jumping off the bathing platform.

Secondly, the extremely shallow draft allows jet boats to be easily beached. And since there are no external propellers to snag when backing off, there is less chance of getting stuck or breaking something. However, you do need to keep an eye out for weed or debris getting sucked into the intake and blocking or damaging the impeller.

The flat-bottomed design of most jet-boat hulls, particularly those below 21ft long, can make for a pretty firm ride in any kind of chop. While the bow rider configuration and low freeboard also makes some jet boats prone to submarining in big waves – burying the bow and taking on water.

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The lack of mechanical grip from a propeller and the keel effect of an outboard or sterndrive makes them reluctant to track in a straight line and they can quickly become a handful in anything other than a light chop.

Jet boats also tend to run small capacity, high-revving engines – a 300hp supercharged Rotax only has a 1.5 litre capacity but revs to over 11,000rpm. Although reliable if well maintained (they were developed for use in small aircraft) they tend to be noisier and thirstier than larger capacity naturally aspirated engines.

The only other consideration of a jet boat is the unusual way they handle at slow speeds. A jet boat never wants to go in a straight line at slow speed and requires constant correction to keep it going where you want it to.

The Hinckley Picnic Boat 40S is a super-glamorous jet boat (with a price tag to match!)

Many of them also lack a neutral gear so the impeller is spinning even at idle. Manufacturers try to counter this by partially dropping the reversing bucket to balance forward and reverse thrust but it’s never as effective as a proper neutral gear.

This can prove a little challenging when first attempting to dock a jet boat, especially in astern when the steering works the opposite way to a conventional propeller driven craft.  It is easily mastered with practice: just don’t expect a jet boat to handle like a propeller-driven one.

So how much do they cost and how fast can they go? A quality jet boat can be bought brand new from as little as $25,000 including a trailer. At the other end of the spectrum a 40ft Hinckley Picnic Boat, will set you back the best part of $1.7million.

Most jet boats will run at nearly 50mph, but there are several off-the-shelf jet boats that can easily exceed 70mph, while the fastest ever jet boat is also the fastest boat in the world – Dave Warby’s Spirit of Australia II clocked 317mph in 1978.

So if you’re happy with all of the above, read on for our pick of the best jet boats on the market right now.

6 of the best jet boats

Best luxury jet boat – Hinckley Picnic Boat 40 S

The Hinckley Picnic Boat is every bit as iconic, luxurious and desirable as a Rolls-Royce – but at $1.7million, it has the price tag to match.

Hinckley built its first waterjet-powered boat in 1995, becoming an instant classic among wealthy owners and boat enthusiasts thanks to its elegant lines, effortless performance and ability to navigate shallow water – it draws just 2ft 2in.

Today the Hinckley Picnic Boat boasts computer-assisted joystick controls, allowing you to turn the boat in its own length and move it sideways onto a berth simply by twisting or pushing the joystick in the direction you want to go.

The hull is constructed from an inner layer of carbon fiber and an outer skin of bullet-proof Kevlar. Power comes from ultra-reliable, twin Cummins 480hp diesels and Hamilton 322 waterjets.

With a cruising speed of 40mph and top speed of 44mph, the Hinckley is one of the most desirable boats on the market today.

Best all-round jet boat – Yamaha 275SD

At around $140,000 highly specced, the Yamaha 275SD’s only real competition comes from the Scarab 285ID, which has a smaller hardtop.

With twin 250hp 1,812cc proprietary engines, the Yamaha has a wheel-mounted paddle stem for docking that immediately engages forward and reverse on both engines for precise control when docking.

A comprehensive 12.3” touchscreen MFD display gives control of all systems, including the Wet Sounds seven-speaker system and comprehensive water sports and driving modes.

A wake ballast system is also available for wake surfing . The Yamaha’s soft-riding V hull gives a top speed of just over 50mph, and with a comfortable eight-person capacity (12 at a push), along with a small heads compartment, the Yahama 275SD makes for a fantastic day boat.

Best starter jet boat – Scarab 165ID

Scarab’s smallest jet boat makes a great starter boat package with its entry-level 170hp engine and $25,000 starting price including trailer providing the perfect gateway into the sport.

The base engine gives a swift but manageable top speed of 50mph and ensures it’s an easy boat to drive, once you’ve mastered the usual jet boat characteristics.

It’s also an easy boat to own with an all up weight of 617lbs on its single axle trailer making it safe to tow behind a mid-range family car and small enough to store in a garage.

The 20-gallon fuel capacity is enough for a few hours’ use and the Scarab packs a lot of quality detailing into such a small package.

The ultra-leather upholstery is beautifully detailed and there’s more than enough stowage for a day on the water. Perfect for a small family to go tubing or pull up on a sandbar.

Best fishing jet boat – Rogue Fastwater 22 Jet

This aluminum-hulled jet boat is very much a specialist machine and as extreme as they come.

Much like the rapid-shooting boats of New Zealand, versions of these ultra-tough jet boats are used in almost un-navigable conditions by law enforcement, military and search and rescue alike, hence the rugged design.

Made to order, the Fastwater 22 can be specified as a fisherman’s dream with a trolling motor , live bait wells and massive storage all available.

With a rugged 212hp Hamilton Jet for power, these super tough boats can easily exceed 40mph fully loaded, and can run through the kind of conditions almost no other boat could tackle.

At around $100,000 in fishing trim, a made-to-order Rogue may be the ultimate fisherman’s tool.

Best water sports jet boat – Scarab 215ID

When it comes to watersports, you want to pick a size that can incorporate a twin-engine configuration. Again, Yamaha and Scarab are so close that it comes down to personal choice.

At 21ft, the Scarab 215ID is still a manageable size and easy to tow. It can accommodate up to 10 people if necessary thanks to ample seating in the cockpit and bow.

The largest twin 300hp Rotax power option offers enormous performance. Options include a high power JL Audio system complete with subwoofer and tower pods, RGB lighting and multiple striking color schemes, making the Scarab as stylish as they come.

The business end includes a gas-assisted folding wake tower, for low air draft when trailering and storing, a comprehensive multi-function ballast system for creating your perfect surfing wake and wedge-induced profiles for wakeboarding.

With a deeper V hull design and twin power, the Scarab tracks with enough precision to tow an experienced monoskier too.

Although not quite as adept as a purpose-built wake or ski boat, jet propulsion makes this a far more versatile option than any shaft-driven alternative.

With a fully loaded price of around $70,000, the Scarab 215ID is around 50% cheaper than an equivalent Ski Nautique G21.

Most exotic jet boat – Seven Seas Hermes Speedster

Hand built by Seven Seas Yachts in Greece, the 22ft Speedster is made to order. Available in any color combination, the boat is primarily aimed at the superyacht tender market.

Powered by a 170hp Rotax, the Speedster is capable of a 45mph top speed. Modelled and detailed around the legendary Porsche 365 Speedster, details include a Mota-Lita steering wheel and throttle/shifter modelled on the original Porsche’s, along with fluted leather Porsche-styles bucket seats and rear bench.

Exquisite attention to detail and finish throughout justify the $249,000 price tag, making the Seven Seas Hermes Speedster arguably one of the most exotic 22ft runabouts around.

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Jet Boat Basics – What Is a Jet Boat?

Table of Contents

In the last decade, the marine industry has incurred a lot of great technology, especially in marine propulsion systems (the machinery pushing the boat forward ).

Jet boats carrying jet-drive propulsion systems, have been around for a while but were recently readapted to befit in ski boats and smaller cruisers. What does this mean? More fun on the water for you.

Let’s take a closer look at this revolutionary marine machinery.

How Do Jet Boats Work?

Similar to the jet ski, jet boats take in water, then use an impeller driven by the inboard engine to force a high-pressure jet of water out through a “nozzle” at the back of the boat. The nozzle swivels from side to side, providing the ability to direct the high-pressure flow of water and turn the boat.

Benefits of Jet Boats

Jet boats have some major advantages over traditional propeller-driven vessels. Check out the benefits of cruising on a jet boat below:

• The impeller is housed in a tube, making it well-protected from rocks and other obstructions.
• Jet boats need much less water to operate in, making them great for shallow areas.
• The biggest problem owners often face is an impeller clogged with weeds.
• Jet boats work well in cold weather. You can boat without worry throughout winter.

First-time boaters have the benefit of peace of mind while learning to cruise, with jet boats.

Read more: Top 5 Boats for Beginners

Things to Keep in Mind

Before cruising on a jet boat , you should know the following:

• Jet boat engines may take up more space, reducing seating capacity.
• Jet boats often operate at higher RPMs, which means they consume more fuel.
• Jet boats are noisier than other boat types.

Here’s a quick Pro Tip before you go: For the best water skiing or wakeboarding experience, use a jet boat!

Read more: Top 5 Jetboat Picks 2022

Own a Jet Boat?

Who doesn’t love a safe and exhilarating thrill ride? Jet boats are speedy yet easy to operate; they are also the gateway for many popular water sports, which makes this boat type a fan favorite on Boatsetter. What are you waiting for? Rent out your jetboat today and earn an average of $20K annually.

Dive deep into the boating community and discover boat types, destinations, and on-the-water events at Boating Guides & Resources !

Boatsetter is a unique boat-sharing platform that gives everyone — whether you own a boat or you’re just renting — the chance to experience life on the water. You can list a boat , book a boat , or make money as a captain .

List your boat. Our waters are teeming with renters!

Chuck Warren fell in love with boats at 9 years old while helping to restore his grandfather’s 1939 44-foot Elco cruiser. A lifelong boater, Chuck has experience operating large and small vessels on the waters of the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and the Great Lakes.

During his 35-year marine industry career, Chuck has been the driver for several offshore powerboat racing teams, the chief engineer aboard a Caribbean research and salvage vessel, captain of a Florida Keys sunset cruise, and more.

Today, Chuck is a boating industry writer, copywriter, and captain who lives on his 40-foot boat in the summer when he isn’t delivering vessels around the Great Lakes or teaching new boaters to drive. Winters are split between the West Michigan lakeshore and wherever his travels take him.

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A Complete Guide to Jet Boats: All You Need to Know!

Are you looking for a high-performance boat that can take you into the flats for some shallow water fishing? The jet boat is the design patented by Sir William Hamilton in 1954. The kiwi national developed the propulsion system for boating up fast-flowing shallow rivers throughout New Zealand.

The jet propulsion system allowed for easy movement through shallows without the risk of propellers striking sunken logs or rocks. The propulsion system for the jet boat is very different from traditional outboard and inboard motors. These engines have more in common with jet skis, sucking water up through the hull, pushing it through a jet flow system providing prolusion to the watercraft.

Jet propulsion systems were inefficient and unreliable in boats until around 2003 when the industry saw rapid advancements in the technology. Today, jet boat propulsion systems are some of the most sought-after high-performance motors in boating.

Yamaha introduced a hull design with its Yamaha 4-Stroke motor in 2003, changing the game for the industry. These motors are quiet and efficient, and they are more affordable than traditional outboard motors. You have several options for manufacturing brands and models at various price points to suit any budget.

This article unpacks everything you need to know about jet boats.

What Is a Jet Boat?

Most jet boats are mid-sized to smaller models reaching between 16 to 22-feet. The jet motor produces the same thrust concept as a jet ski, using water exiting from the jet at high velocity to push the vessel forward.

It’s a similar concept to holding a high-power fire hose; the hose wants to push you away from the direction of the water flow. If you were standing on a skateboard, the propulsion would drive the board forward, and it’s the same principle for the jet motor.

The jet pump pulls water into a chamber where it’s pressurized and leaves the pump at high velocity. The jet pushes the boat forward at a weight/thrust ratio determined by the weight of the vessel and the amount of thrust generated by the engine.

The hydrodynamic design of the hull and the boat’s weight determine the efficiency of the motor and the amount of thrust required to power the vessel forward. The size of the propeller in the motor determines the engine’s power capacity and the boat’s speed.

Benefits of Jet Boats

Jet boats are versatile for use in a variety of freshwater and saltwater applications. These boats offer you several advantages.

Reach Shallow Water

Since there is no external propeller on a jet boat like you find on an outboard motor, the jet boat can reach very shallow water.

While models with deep v-hulls may run aground, using a Flats boat or center console jet system helps you get to shallow waters to enjoy some fishing without scaring off the fish.

There are no props hanging off the engine that can strike rocks or submerged logs. As a result, jet boats are ideal for fishing in lakes and estuaries where waters are shallow.

Speed and Handling

The jet boat offers you excellent maneuverability since there is no drag from the hull while it skims across the water. The motors are easy to reverse, allowing you to turn it back on full power to bring the boat to an abrupt stop, also known as a “crash stop.”

The jet boat can do maneuvers that prop boats can’t imagine possible. Apart from the crash stop, “the Hamilton turn” is when the driver initiates a “jet spin” by cutting the throttle and turning the wheel hard, opening the throttle in the midpoint of the turn to power out in a sharp radius.

Trailerable

Jet boats are typically between 16-feet and 22-feet in length, making them ideal for hauling on a trailer. Most dealers will include a trailer with your purchase. The boats are easy to launch and pull from the water without any hassle.

Plenty of Accessories for Watersports and Fishing

Jet boats usually come with electronics like fish finders, GPS, and mp3 entertainment systems with waterproof speakers. You get rod holders, gear storage facilities, and dedicated captain’s chairs, and fishing chairs. You also get T-towers for skiing, and the center console design makes it easy for the captain to spot the fallen skier on either side of the boat.

Decent Passenger Capacity

Jet boats usually feature plenty of seating in the bow and aft of the boat, with a center console design for the driver setup. You can carry anywhere from eight to twelve passengers, depending on the length of the boat and the seating configuration.

Fishing and Watersports Capabilities

The jet boat is the ideal crossover boat for fishing and watersports. You get the advantage of sailing into shallow waters for fishing and plenty of power and maneuverability for watersports like wakeboarding. The jets also produce a big wake that’s ideal for wakeboarding and skiing.

Jet boats often come with features like fish boxes, live wells, washdowns, and fishing rod holders for all your gear. There is usually some under-seat storage, and some models feature a center console design with a cuddy for added storage or ahead.

The transom design of the boat provides a built-in swim platform and seating, and you don’t have to worry about your fishing line tangling in the props like with outboard and inboard motors. The swim platform is great for getting in and out of the water, and it doubles as a casting deck for anglers.

Good for Offshore Use

The jet boat comes in several designs, with models available for inshore and offshore fishing. The motors are typically a smaller capacity than outboard motors but offer the same level of performance.

Efficient Engines

Jet boats are efficient, and you’ll find you don’t use anywhere near the same fuel. Then run quieter than outboards, and they don’t produce as much smell.

Comfortable Seating

Most jet boats feature a lounge-style setup in the bow of the boat. These lounges come with couch-style seating or dedicated seats, with enough space for two to six people, depending on the model. They offer plush seating, and some models also include captain’s chairs.

Disadvantages of Jet Boats

While the jet boat is ideal for fishing and watersports, with powerful performance and excellent efficiency, it does come with a few drawbacks.

Limited Standing Room

The Jetboat doesn’t have much standing room on the deck, even with a center console design. Most models have seating running the length of the boat or dedicated cockpits with seats. The only real standing room is in the rear of the boat and on the swim platform casting deck at the boat’s aft. Unless you’re looking at a dedicated fishing model, casting from the swim platform is your only option.

Limited Seating

Most jet boats don’t feature much deck space, and they are more akin to speed boats focusing on seating rather than flooring. However, most models have plush, comfortable seats, and some come with dedicated fishing chairs or fishing chair ports.

Limited Storage Space

While most jet boats have sufficient storage for a day on the water, they don’t offer as much storage capacity as other options like pontoon boats , cuddy cabins, or cabin boats. Most models focus on under-seat storage facilities for your gear.

No Head or Amenities

Some jet boats may feature ahead in the center console, but most models focus on storage rather than heads in the console. While you get entertainment features like mp3 players and waterproof speakers, there are no sleeping accommodations, galley, or refrigeration. Some models may come with a dedicated cooler space or a built-in cooler under one of the seats.

Top Jet Boat Brands and Models

There are dozens of manufacturing brands producing jet boats. Here are our choices for the best models available.

Scarab HO 215 Impulse

The Scarab HO 215 Impulse comes with visually striking white upholstery on the seats and a pearlescent orange interior, providing a contrasting color design that looks appealing. The overall look of the boat is classy, with clean lines and a deep cockpit for added safety.

The boat features a twin captain chair setup with stainless steel bolsters. There is also a lounger with large cutouts for plenty of legroom on board for your passengers. The boat’s bow comes with enough seating to accommodate four passengers, and you get a boarding ladder and an anchor locker.

The Scarab HO 215 Impulse comes with a ten-seater capacity., allowing you to take the family and friends out for a day on the water. This boat has a great crossover design, and it’s ideal for cruising, fishing, and watersports like wakeboarding.

The boat comes with an overhead wakeboard tower featuring a lightweight aluminum design, and you have the option of lowering it to get out of the sun with the integrated Bimini shade . The swim platform at the aft of the boat contains wet storage for your dive gear.

This model features a wakeboard rack for storing your boards and a towrope attachment. Stay entertained out on the water with the boat’s built-in mp3 player and waterproof speaker system.

Yamaha 210 FSH Sport

Fishing-specific jet boats are somewhat harder to find than dedicated watersports boats. However, the Yamaha 210 FSH Sport brings you a specialized fishing package ideal for getting into shallow waters and flats on lakes and estuaries.

This model features dedicated casting platforms in the bow and aft of the boat, with plenty of storage for rods and rod holders positioned strategically around the boat’s perimeter for fishing from all sides. The center console design gives anglers full access to the boat’s length, with the center console making it easy for the driver to control the boat and get a 360-degree of the water.

While this model has a sports-specific design for fishing, it also works as a cruiser. You get comfortable seating and a Bimini sunshade for getting out of the sun. You have options for additional wakeboard towers, and there’s plenty of performance and mobility in the boat for skiing and wakeboarding.

The dual-engine on this model features mounting under the leaning post, adding more deck space to the boat and a clean look. It’s the ideal crossover vessel, with a focus o fishing. The shallow v-hull and draft make it easy to float this boat in the flats for some shallow water fishing.

Chaparral Vortex 2430 VRX

Chaparral is a premium boating brand making some of the best crossover boats for fishing and watersports or just cruising down the river. The Chaparral Vortex 2430 VRX. This model comes with everything your need for a fun day out on the water .

The Chaparral Vortex 2430 VRX is the flagship jet boat in the range, featuring a Bimini sunshade and top, with attachments for wakeboard ropes, offering a high tow point. You get a wide variety of colors, including options in aqua, yellow, lime, green, grey, red, and blue.

This boat comes packed with electronics, including a medallion touchscreen featuring speed-control and Rotax functions for precise control over your fuel efficiency and speed. You also get a handy power setting for easier docking of the boat at the marina.

The 2430 Vortex VRX features Intelligent Shift and Throttle (iST), provided by Bombardier. You get fly-by-wire technology for superior throttle control and smooth power curves when accelerating.

The Chaparral  2430 Vortex VRX features dual 4 TEC 200 ECT 200hp Rotax  or 4 TEC 250 ECT 250hp Rotax jet engines. You can control both motors through a single throttle lever for easy driving.

Wrapping Up

Jet boats offer you a great crossover model for fishing and watersports. You get the shallow water capabilities of the bass boat or flats boat, with the maneuverability and stability of the bowrider.

The jet boat model is a top choice if you’re looking for a boat that produces next to no emissions and quiet operation that won’t scare away the fish in the flats. They are remarkably affordable and easy to maintain.

John is an experienced journalist and veteran boater. He heads up the content team at BoatingBeast and aims to share his many years experience of the marine world with our readers.

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