Neve Owned a Boat, Got me a Jet ! Advice ?

[airocraft]

Dear Hot Boat Readers and Posters :
I have never owned a boat before two days ago . :crossx:
I traded a $600 TV for this 1978 Sleekcraft Jet Boat as I allways wanted a boat but dont like props so ...... :idea:
Anyway ...Keep in mind that I am a pretty good engine/tranny builder, can work glass and cup spray. I worked in NASCAR as an Engine Builder and did fab work on the body shop so I will undertake the labor myself SLOWLY and METICULOSLY !!! :cool:
So , what do I look for to tell me if this is worth the $600 TV I traded and if its worth my time doing? Some guy who was a prop head said I should sell this stuff on ebay and use the money to get a prop ??? :argue:
This is what I know so far:
1. The Pump is a Berkley 12JC-A-H ( What does the A and H Stand for )
The Casing had H-2155 cast into it and another plate that said Hardin and another # (( Who is Hardin ))
The pump turns surprinsingly freely by hand and there seems to be no damage to the impeller, drive shaft, or housing. The Nozzle turns easily with the steering wheel. The Transom , hull and stringers supporting the engine mount thought covered in dirt seem undamaged and dry.
2.Hardin Marine Accesories ( No Motor ). Hardin Water Cooled Headers in good shape, Hardin Valve Covers, Hardin Water Pump Cover, Thermostat housing, and Hardin Bell Housing which seems to fit an Olds 455.
2.5 I have a Newly Rebuilt Olds car engine that is the same year and size. If I replace the Carb, Distributer, Water Pump, Vavles and Springs, and Heads do you think it wil mount up to the Bell Housing and Hardin Headers? and go lets say 45 around the lake ? How is that done ? A Mini Drive Shaft and U Joints?
3. The Hull looks like it was seperating at the seam and has been repaired somewhat poorly. Doeasnt look like a major fix but I still want your opinions and ides. No soft spots in the hull though floor needs to be replaced. ((( I know to use 1/2 Marine , but as far as framing do I attach it to the stringers or make new floor braces and glass them in ?
4. No Winsheild or frame :cry: ANy ideas ? Or is it still cool to be glassless.?
5. Trailer in Fair condition. Is a tilt trailer with roller wheels. Pulled 35 Miles home NP, Needs new wiring and hitch but not rusted elsewhere.
6. Of course I am going to paint this thing like MADDDDD
Was thinking Monster Rods or something nostalgic like Orange Crush . Can I use Car Paint ? Will it come off ? I have heard of clearcoating, but isnt the paint on a boat gellcoated into the hull?
If I can use car paint that would be cool ! Can do allot with that, just do not want to have to paint it every year .....
7. BIG QUESTION , can I just polish the aluminum Berkly and leave it unpainted and run it like that ? I like the look of brushed aluminum and thought it might look cool !
ANy other tips or ideas
?????
I just found this forum and find myself now spending less time staring out the window at my boat and learining about what I am quickly becoming addicted to !
THANKS
Airo

[Bigern]

Pics?

[73kona455]

you might enjoy this site also >> Banderlog forums (http://www.banderlog.com/phpbb/) its geared towards jetboats

[IMPATIENT 1]

Never Owned A Boat And Got A Jet Huh? Only Advise I Can Give You At This Point Is This::
Get A Second Job!you'll Need The Extra Cash Now!
get Out While You Can!part It Out On Ebay And Buy A Fish/ski Combo While You Still Have Money In Your Bank Account And Still Dream About Titties Instead Of A 8-71 Blower Or 100mph Hull!lol, Welcome To ***boats!

[396_WAYS_TO_SPIT]

the olds will be fine for a first timer;) Change the cam and springs, carb and get a good intake(dual plane). Make sure that the mains have .0025-.003 and rods .002-.0025 with about .0016-.0018 side clearance. Buy a set of oil restricted pushrods and a 10qt pan. you should be fine after that;) Ask all the Q's that you have. We've all been there and are here to help;)
396

[396_WAYS_TO_SPIT]

Oh and props are for P*SSIES:D Real men drive jets;)

[Ken F]

Airo-
I'd say you got your TV's worth! lol
Don't ya just love horsetrading?
Floor- yes, 1/2" Marine, you got that covered. Go ahead & rip it out, it will become clear to you how to put it back together as you see it. Just be sure to coat the bottom of the floor in Resin before you lay it, and try to leave a way for water to drain back into your bilge.
Pump is hooked to the flywheel with a PTO setup, or sometimes a short driveshaft.
Do a search on here on Olds, you will find a lot of info on boat mods which seem to help. Banderlog board mentioned above has some pretty good info on them also.
Auto paint of course works, however you need to be really careful. I'd suggest Gel if you can do that. It's much more durable, and you don't have to worry about hitting it with a ski or other things. You use a boat, and it's going to get banged up a little. Gel just seems way more durable, but paint will work.
If you like the brushed Aluminum look, great, but I'd suggest getting it clear powdercoated. Won't oxidize & turn dull that way.
Welcome to the boards, and your new addiction!
My name is Ken, and I'm an addict.
Ken F

[BigBlockBaja]

My name is Ken, and I'm an addict.
Ken F
Thats a big step is admitting your addiction. You may just recover.

[Ken F]

LOL...you have to want to first

[dmontzsta]

Oh and props are for P*SSIES:D Real men drive jets;)
LMAO.
Dont say that, noobies believe what they hear/read.
:)

[396_WAYS_TO_SPIT]

LMAO.
Dont say that, noobies believe what they hear/read.
:)
I knew that you were following me around :crossx:

[raisinL]

Welcome!!! I'm new here also addicted :)

[dmontzsta]

I knew that you were following me around :crossx:
I am hoping you will lead me to 460, he has been laying low lately. I think he is secretly recovering from his boob job. I want to see those bad boys.
:220v: :)

[396_WAYS_TO_SPIT]

I am hoping you will lead me to 460, he has been laying low lately. I think he is secretly recovering from his boob job. I want to see those bad boys.
:220v: :)
LMFAO!!! He can break the wounds :crossx: :crossx:

[El Prosecutor]

Hardin Marine Accesories ( No Motor ). Hardin Water Cooled Headers in good shape, Hardin Valve Covers, Hardin Water Pump Cover, Thermostat housing, and Hardin Bell Housing which seems to fit an Olds 455.
2.5 I have a Newly Rebuilt Olds car engine that is the same year and size. If I replace the Carb, Distributer, Water Pump, Vavles and Springs, and Heads do you think it wil mount up to the Bell Housing and Hardin Headers? and go lets say 45 around the lake ? How is that done ? A Mini Drive Shaft and U Joints?
Sounds like a great project!
If you are going with the Olds you can find lots of good engine info and commiseration here: http://www.realoldspower.com and go to "Olds Powered Boats" forum. Be sure to read about the oiling problems on the 455 before running it WOT longer than about a minute. As far as the U-Joint/driveshaft you probably need a Spicer 1310 driveline:
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/32521310driveline.jpg
Good luck - be sure to post lots of pics on the way. There are a lot of us jetboat junkies out here needing a fix. . .

[Squirtin Thunder]

This is a funny post to me, being I talked to a guy that lurks here on HB today that just got himself a Sleekcraft Reble with a Olds and a Jacuzzi.
Life will be fun and complete now for you.

[SmokinLowriderSS]

Man, are you sooooo screwed. A capable engine builder who bought a jetboat. I can see the "morehorsepoweritis" disease infecting now, from here. There is no known cure, only treatment, long term. Usually treatment begins with cylinder heads/porting work/a substance known as "aluminum", and often a chemical comonly called "Nitrous". From there, as the disease worsens, the treatment moves into using blowers and turbos, occasionally still using the "Nitrous".
#1, The berkley pump is a model 12JC, the "C" is, the sorta important designator everyone goes by as all berk pumps are "12J-somethings". Heres a link to Berk.
http://www.berkeleyjet.com/products/
The "C" is a standard, run of the mill pump, not that that is bad. The main difference is, as you go looking for more performance (and better driveability) you will wind up wanting a diverter to allow moving the nozzle up & down, needing a different style bowl, that will allow you to bolt such an appendage on the back, a "split-bowl" Compare yours to this "G" and you will see the difference in the "nozzle housing" being separate from the bowl.
http://www.berkeleyjet.com/products/model-12JG.htm
The "A" is the size impeller orriginally installed by the factory, meaning little by now.
I don't know what the "H" is for.
#2, Congrats on the accessory parts, those get pricey as you add them all up buying new. Often a lot of folks on here have things laying in dusty corners of their garages too if you need something, Chevy, Ford, or Olds (ok, Mopar parts too) :p
#2.5, Check arround and get a good education in the oiling mods the Olds needs to live at jet-boat RPM,s (between 4500 & 5000 usually), stock she'll empty the pan into the valve covers, then sound expensive. Lots of info here as well as the places already advised. Don't cam too high for high rpm, you may have trouble reaching it. The pump works a lot like a Dyno, knowing only that it takes a certain ammount of HP to spin it a certain RPM, that RPM being dependant on your HP, and the size of the impeller in it.
#3, 1/2" exterior ply is good floor material, but, as advised earlier, make sure the UNDER-side is sealed with resin before you install it, then the top side as you glass it in. Glue carpet atop it if you like, I am replacing mine this winter.
#4, IMO, some hulls look great glassless, others look best with a windshield, if it fits the boat lines suitably. Some look better with 1 style than with another. Here's another link from my catologue, 142 different makes of jetboats, all pictured, some better than others.
http://www.teshio.com/JetBoat/
#5, Congrats on a decent condition trailer. :)
#6, My deck was restored using candy & clear IMRON, 2 years ago (budget). Looks good, but will one day be gel again. The Polyurethane dings/scratches too easy fro a working lake-boat.
I'm re-gelling the bottom to fix a bunch of scarring/dings/chips/from rocky shores when she'd pull an anchor loose while unsupervised. I'm buying here:
http://www.fibreglast.com/
#7, As said earlier, I would cover it with a sealer of some sort to try to avoid the oxidation or you won't long have "brushed" aluminum, you'll have "greyed" aluminum. The orriginal is powder coat, which has it's problems coating cast aluminum. Berk primers them under the powder. Personally,
I like mine the white. Last winter repainted my nozzle & gimbal parts white appliance epoxy (spray can). Lasted great last year. Redid the blue lettering in model enamel, also going great. Most of my pump is covered by a swim-step tho.
Welcome. :rollside: :) :rollside:

[bergen]

my advice, stay safe, and have fun

[1975sleekcraft]

Sounds like a great project!
If you are going with the Olds you can find lots of good engine info and commiseration here: http://www.realoldspower.com and go to "Olds Powered Boats" forum. Be sure to read about the oiling problems on the 455 before running it WOT longer than about a minute. As far as the U-Joint/driveshaft you probably need a Spicer 1310 driveline:
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/32521310driveline.jpg
Good luck - be sure to post lots of pics on the way. There are a lot of us jetboat junkies out here needing a fix. . .
where can i find this driveline??
websites--etc--??
thanx for any input

[SmokinLowriderSS]

One place is here, I'll look more this afternoon.
http://www.cpperformance.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=435
$200 to $300 each.

[kp216]

I have never owned a boat before two days ago . :crossx:
I traded a $600 TV for this 1978 Sleekcraft Jet Boat as I allways wanted a boat but dont like props so ...... :idea:
ANy other tips or ideas?????
First off, congrats on the new-to-you boat!
Since this is your first boat, and it's a jet boat, here's a very important safety tip that you WILL need to remember after you get it on the water...
Jet boats steer by thrust. If there's no thrust, there is no steering. A person's natural instinct when they see trouble coming while they're driving something is to get off the gas. With a jet, you MUST to stay in it to take evasive action.
If you already knew this, kindly disregard the above advice and have fun. :D

[El Prosecutor]

where can i find this driveline??
websites--etc--??
thanx for any input
There are several good suppliers represented here - that particular picture was stolen from www.jetboatperformance.com - they also come up on eBay regularly.

[signmaster]

welcome to jets, there right it can add up but nowhere else will you get as much fun for you dollar, not to mention there much easier to work on than any car Ive ever owned, motorcycle, snowmobile,etc...

[1975sleekcraft]

hey---thanx---