New guy, some background, and a few questions.

[K5Mitch]

Good afternoon everyone!
The name here is Mitch, I'm currently in Kansas (but from Vigrinia) courtesy of the USAF. I'm an avionics technician on the KC-135R stratotanker, and love working on cars/trucks in my spare time. I've got an 89 K5 Jimmy, 78 K5 Jimmy, and a 99 Cavalier Z24. I'm also a computer and ham radio junkie (KE5BVC).
I came across this site when I was trying to do some research about an old jet boat I was thinking about buying. A friend of mine in CA, his father-in-law is selling an old, 1980-ish Avenger daycruiser (23' 460 w/ cabin). His father-in-law is the original owner, but due to medical reasons hasn't been able to use the boat in three years. It's been stored at my friend's auto shop, and until that point had been kept in good shape; blueprinted berkely, electronics reworked professionally, hull is in great shape. I've just been trying to find out some info about this boat and motor.
I'm not completely new to boats, grew up boating in the York River, Chesapeake Bay, and Atlantic. Most boats I've driven range from 16' outboards to 33' dual I/O's. I was originally looking for a 19-21 foot I/O bowrider for fish/ski, but then my friend told me he was selling this boat, and it looks like it has some potential for being a fun boat (especially for his asking price).
Is the motor raw-water cooled, or does it have a closed loop?
Is the hull-design mainly for flat lakes, or will it handle some chop and/or saltwater?
Fuel tank size, and if possible range estimates?
Any resources or reading material that you could point me in would be greatly appreciated. I've attached a photo of the boat I'm looking at.

[SmokinLowriderSS]

Hi Mitch.
I live 40 miles N of ya, near Newton and am part time in the ANG unit across McConnell from ya (18 years), Security.
If ya like working on vehicles in your spare time, you don't want a jet boat, because you'll want to work on IT all the time (not that you'll have to, mine has been very low maint in her lifetime except for the refurbishment she is going thu).
The boat looks nice, although sunburned, could be the pic tho.
Probably capable of running somewhere arround 50 in it's current state and easilly pull a skier or 2, tubes, etc. The only thing it would need IMO to run harder is more HP (the disease, morehorsepoweritis). Lots of capability to enjoy the boat as is. No telling gas cap. unless some folks here know of others like it. Probably at least 20 gal, maybe 40 or more for a cruiser like that.
My 18' Taylor runs about 3.5 hrs of constant tubing/skiing on 20 gal of gas, far less if I get in a hurry and open the 454 up wide.
The motor is most likely raw water cooled, tapped directly from the pressure side of the pump (why do anything more complicated unless running in salt-water). That size and hull type should do a capable job on anything the midwest can throw at it IMO.
Jets are a bit different to steer (mainly when slow), not hard or bad, just unique, and the maneuverability is incredible once you get the knack of it.

[K5Mitch]

Heh heh... morehorsepoweritis. I blew up a transmission in my old 87 K5 blazer because of moretorqueitis. Something about low-range, first gear, and a hot cam didn't mix well with a 700R4. My main concern wasn't about midwest waters, but more along the lines of coastal waters.
Once my enlistment is up (two years from now), I'm heading back to VA.

[K5Mitch]

Okay, now I have a really dumb question. Where would you tie off a rode to on a boat like that? Hell, of all the other photos I have I haven't even seen any cleats to tie a line off to :confused:
Edit:
Here's some more photos. I'm about 50-50 on picking up this boat. I was going to Utah in October/November for a small vacation. Running out to california to pick the boat up wouldn't be too far of a stretch :)
http://ke5bvc.info/avenger/avenger%201.JPG
http://ke5bvc.info/avenger/avenger%202.JPG
http://ke5bvc.info/avenger/avenger%203.JPG
http://ke5bvc.info/avenger/avenger%20BB%20460.JPG
http://ke5bvc.info/avenger/avenger%20logo.JPG

[hbrown]

I have been running mine with a line from the bow eye pulled across the top
of the deck and tied off inside the cockpit- for lack of a better way-
Mine has no cleats or ties anywhere on it except for the bow eye for the trailer hook to attach to- so far that's what I have done.
That looks like a nice boat- wouldn't be a really fast boat, but it sounds pretty good for what you want to use it for. If the price is right to you, I'd say get it.

[K5Mitch]

I have been running mine with a line from the bow eye pulled across the top
of the deck and tied off inside the cockpit- for lack of a better way-
Mine has no cleats or ties anywhere on it except for the bow eye for the trailer hook to attach to- so far that's what I have done.
That looks like a nice boat- wouldn't be a really fast boat, but it sounds pretty good for what you want to use it for. If the price is right to you, I'd say get it.
Yeah that's one solution, I guess it might be possible to find a way to install some cleats at some point in the future; two cleats near the bow and two near the transom, for attaching a rode or some lines for docking. Obviously it would have to be done by someone other than I, who knows a bit more about maintaining hull strength (can't have a holey boat!).
As far as the right price, I think it's pretty good considering the condition. I can get the boat and trailer for 2500, maybe a little less.

[DaveA]

Hey Mitch,
CQ DX!
de KA4YKC
Since you're in Wichita, take a ride out 54 West to Goddard and see Duane at HiTech Performance- the Midwest's premier hiperf jet boat specialist. Take the photos with you. Talk to him about that thang and see what he thinks. Listen intently. Learn. Would be a cheap jet-boat edumacation. Who knows? Maybe he knows somebody that has one not too far away you can look at...
AND he hangs out on this forum when he has time.
I'm sure SmokinLowriderSS would agree.
I don't know how it would handle the rollers in the Chesapeake Bay, but I'm sure it would be a hoot...There's alot of jetters up there that hang out both here and on HotSpots East. The big blow out is this weekend at Lake Anna,VA- lots-o-***boats will be there....I, unfortunately won't be...
:cry:
DaveA

[SmokinLowriderSS]

I won't be on a lake either this weekend. :cry: Lowrider is still upside down being sanded (re-gelled hull).
For tieing off, you have what I have, the bow eye, the transom tie-downs and the towing mount on the center of the rear "deck". Cleats aren't hard to add, and I have been thinking of adding a few flush-stowing ones at a couple spots, maybe next winter while my heads are being ported.

[K5Mitch]

Hey Mitch,
CQ DX!
de KA4YKC
Since you're in Wichita, take a ride out 54 West to Goddard and see Duane at HiTech Performance- the Midwest's premier hiperf jet boat specialist. Take the photos with you. Talk to him about that thang and see what he thinks. Listen intently. Learn. Would be a cheap jet-boat edumacation. Who knows? Maybe he knows somebody that has one not too far away you can look at...
DaveA
I may do that this weekend. I'm heading out to Cheney for a little bit this weekend; some boating and a lot of target practice with the small arsenal my friends and I have accumulated ;)
The only thing that has me going back and forth on this boat is the distance I need to travel to get it, I don't know if my 89 fullsize Jimmy can handle towing that through the mountains.

[SmokinLowriderSS]

As far as the tow weight, it ought to be fine IMO. My 18-footer should weigh on the trailer at right at 2300 pounds (supposed to weigh 1800 alone). we have towed this plenty behind half-ton pickups (and larger) and even my wife's Dakota V-6 stick has no dificulty with it. If you have an OD auto, make sure you lock it out of OD in the mountains.

[K5Mitch]

NADA shows the boat weighing in at 3200, my friend is still working of finding the registration paperwork for the boat and trailer to see what's on there. I've towed 5000 lbs with my Jimmy before (Wichita to Ellsworth), and that wasn't bad once I got up to speed and kept it around 55-60 MPH.

[Schi-502]

Mitch,
Cleats are cheap and easy to install (with a backing plate). I almost bought one of these in the early eighties. They were a nice 'family' boat. I just wanted to go faster! 45-52 might be do'able. I'm in Northern CA, Vacaville. I've boated on Chesepeak bay in the '70s. (Navy)
Good chouce of a boat to cruise and party.

[BUSBY]

CF numbers on the side means it was a California boat ...
$2500 ... cand beat the price ... you'll have fun with it ... prolly spend at least another grand getting it going, but you'll be floating and having fun ...
I say go for it ... you only live once ... and you might as well have a boat while you're here!
Good Luck,
Brian

[K5Mitch]

Well, I'm pretty much gonna be getting the boat. I just won't have my grubby hands on it until the end of October. It's all good, though. I'm turning the road trip to CA and back into a three week vacation. I'm a bit leery of the Ford 460 motor, but nothing I can't handle. I'd be much more comfortable with a Chevy (that's mainly what I know), but a motor is a motor ya know; suck, squeeze, bang, blow... they all work the same. The only Ford motor I've taken apart before was a 351C out of a 69 Mustang (car originally had the 351W but P.O. swapped a 351C into it).
I was thinking once I get a hold of it, pop off the heads and intake to give it a quick look-over, clean it up a bit, and let it be. I've had visions of some bad-*** engine builds running through my head, but that happens any time I get something with an engine in it ;)
This boat won't be as fast as y'alls jets, but I think it'll be a fun cruiser.