Tell me about running Jet boats in Montana

[Southern Elk]

I wanted to bump this to the top to see if anyone has anything else to say about using surface drive motors on the rivers here in MT. I’m familiar with guys running them in the swamps down south.

 

[D4570]

We have been in the water since 01/01/21

 

[Southern Elk]

We have been in the water since 01/01/21

What kind of motor is that?

 

[D4570]

Mud Buddy EFI 40. Surface drive.
Hull is Excel 18x54 shallow water.
Now that is broke in with two and full tank with gear
We can cruise at about 26 mph.

 

[802flyfish]

@Doublecluck did you ever end up getting a jet boat?

Im located in Montana as well and looking to get a jet boat for the same rivers. I recently came across a 1860 G3 with a 65/90 jet that I’m checking out this weekend. Apparently it has very few hours on it. Has anyone used a similar set up here in Montana ?

 

[D4570]

I do not have one. I have seen many running around.
Great set up just NOT a big water boat.

 

[Frenchy]

@Doublecluck did you ever end up getting a jet boat?

Im located in Montana as well and looking to get a jet boat for the same rivers. I recently came across a 1860 G3 with a 65/90 jet that I’m checking out this weekend. Apparently it has very few hours on it. Has anyone used a similar set up here in Montana ?

It would be a great little river boat. And "nice" weather lake boat. Just don't expect too much out of it. 3 guys and some gear would probably be a reasonable safe load.

 

[EYJONAS!]

@Doublecluck did you ever end up getting a jet boat?

Im located in Montana as well and looking to get a jet boat for the same rivers. I recently came across a 1860 G3 with a 65/90 jet that I’m checking out this weekend. Apparently it has very few hours on it. Has anyone used a similar set up here in Montana ?

I've ran them before they're a nice little boat for running the bighorn, stone, Missouri. Not a great big water boat but they definitely can do it. I'm thinking about one myself for a more simplistic boat. Good luck.

 

[802flyfish]

Those are the exact rivers I’ll be using it on. That’s reassuring to hear!

 

[EYJONAS!]

Those are the exact rivers I’ll be using it on. That’s reassuring to hear!

View attachment 191678

That's the hull and boat layout you're gonna want imo. Center forward console will help you a ton. Really nice thing about those setups is they are light incase you get in trouble. I like it!

 

[TheJason]

Center forward console will help you a ton.

Super important for getting on plane and having good visibility. It’s hard to read skinny river water seated behind a windshield.

 

[EYJONAS!]

Super important for getting on plane and having good visibility. It’s hard to read skinny river water seated behind a windshield.

Those tiller guys scare the living shit out of me on the horn in the dark.

 

[johnhuts1]

Such kinds of boats are made for extreme people. It would help if you were good at driving a boat because it is hard to operate a small boat on a river at high speed. In my opinion, this is too risky. I like yachts more. I started to love them after organizing a party on a yacht in Miami. Now my dream is to buy a yacht once. We rented a yacht from vistayachts.com, invited some girls, and had a lot of alcohol. I dream of having a similar yacht and organizing such parties more often. I would travel a lot on it.