Needed honest advice on Jacuzzi YJ in 23 ft boat

[DUECE'SDAD]

I have mentioned on here i was thinking of changing the jaccuzzi yj in this sleekcraft exec 23 to a berk splitbowl b/c i already have the berk and intake.
I have talked to a few locals that have mixed opinions on the switch, the boat will be my personal family boat and i will prolly use it for 10 or so years so i am lookin at the long run of parts availibility and such.
The pump is YJ is totally apart rightnow and the previous owner bought a good used shaft but i will need another impeller, and rebuild kit. The people that couple guys that say switch main reasoning is "dont spend any money on that" and "that is a high volume low pressure pump" one guy even said that pump would be great for a tug boat. This thing is pretty much a tug boat !!!
The guys that reccommend leaving it the same say that jacuzzis are the best for the 21-23ft heavy boats, and that high volume is what you need, pressure doesnt matter at long as lots of water is always moving thru the pump. They also say that they can rebuild and get what parts we need.
All im wanting is a good family boat that planes well and quick and that i can teach my kids and wife to ski behind, top speed 45-50. I will be installing a very mild stock crank/rod 454 BBC.
Im not sure what to do, Please give me your honest advice based on fact and experience !!! Thanks in advance.

[DUECE'SDAD]

here is link to pics http://www.***boat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131791

[malcolm]

I'd stick with the YJ. Axial pumps are good for big boats like that. And because no one likes them you should be able to find plenty of parts for cheap. Why blow a bunch of money to maybe gain 2-3 mph?

[BrendellaJet]

I'd stick with the YJ. Axial pumps are good for big boats like that. And because no one likes them you should be able to find plenty of parts for cheap. Why blow a bunch of money to maybe gain 2-3 mph?
Ditto what malcolm said. Now quick, delete the thread before all the mixed flow gurus get on here and tell you to put a berk in it.

[HotRod Sprint]

Look at what you are wanting the boat for, a family cruiser and to teach the kids how to ski. The YJ pump will not be a good choice for the skiing part because you won't have a diverter to help get on plane or a very good hole shot. A former friend has a 25ft hawaiian day cruiser with a berk pump that easily runs 50mph and has a decent hole shot. With an inducer in front of the impeller on a berk pump and a place diverter behind you would have the ideal setup for what you are wanting to do. My choice would be change to the berk.
Rod

[lilrick]

Look at what you are wanting the boat for, a family cruiser and to teach the kids how to ski. The YJ pump will not be a good choice for the skiing part because you won't have a diverter to help get on plane or a very good hole shot. A former friend has a 25ft hawaiian day cruiser with a berk pump that easily runs 50mph and has a decent hole shot. With an inducer in front of the impeller on a berk pump and a place diverter behind you would have the ideal setup for what you are wanting to do. My choice would be change to the berk.
Rod
I agree with Rod.

[malcolm]

That's not much of an arguement for going berk if you ask me. The YJ should have an adjustable trim on the back that you can just screw all the way down to help out the holeshot and keep the kids from drinking the lake. ;)

[BrendellaJet]

my understanding of the axial flow pumps in general is that they holeshot well, they just run out of steam before the mixed flow pumps on the top end.

[hallettman]

yes the hawaiian did have a great hole shot. but was not fast enough for my liking soooo. its gone now

[DUECE'SDAD]

Im not looking for speed by any means, i already have a v-drive !!!! But planing out the quickest possible is what im wanting, i had a friend that had a I/O and that thing took half the lake to plane, i want a good set and cruising speeds. I dont see any type of triming device on the YJ nor have i found any type of aftermarket one to go on there. I can do the intake switch and have a guy that can assist me on the angle to set and i have fiberglass/ bodyshop experirence ( see our shop www.legendscollision.com ) so im not worried about that, but i dont want to change if i dont have to.
See what i mean. 4 people reply, two for and two against !!! Any one running a similar boat with the YJ right now that i can talk to ?? ?? If i switch, im ready to cut the two intakes out over thanksgiving. I already have all the hardware and engines out. But dont want to waste the effort if it will not show any difference.
Thanks in advance, guys for the information and dont take offense to the v-drive statement ! ! ! !

[DUECE'SDAD]

Found pics of this boat at the image center, and seems no expense was spared and its a very nice boat with a 454, what pump does it have, i cant tell by this pic and its the only rear shot. The poster name is GAZZA
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/2211rear_shot.JPG

[sleekcrafter]

I had a 77 sleek executive, BBC and Berkeley, I ran a legend AAA impeller and spun 4700 rpm's, This was good for 58-60 mph on a 10.5-1 BBC. planing was decent, untill you loaded it down, with six adults and three large coolers. When loaded down it would take a few hundred yards to plane. I later changed to the American Turbine SD-309 pump with an AA impeller, and a 540BBC. I could still over power the pump, untill I sent it to MPD for the front and back sides reworked. This combo netted 70mph, and never a planing issue reguardless of the load.
I have a friend that has the same boat, but has the jacuzzi pump, He elected to convert using the American Turbine Energizer kit, he now is in the mid to upper fifty's and using the AMT trim system. He is happy as hell, with his results.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/7363100_0060-med.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/7363000_0032-med.JPG

[malcolm]

There is an allen screw facing the back on top of the steering pivot. loosen the small bolts on top then you can adjust the big screw to change the trim angle. It not a Place, but it lets you try different settings.
Everyone that has a Berk, thinks everyone else should have one I guess. :argue:

[sleekcrafter]

DD that picture is a Berkeley 12JC pump

[DUECE'SDAD]

[QUOTE=sleekcrafter]
I have a friend that has the same boat, but has the jacuzzi pump, He elected to convert using the American Turbine Energizer kit, he now is in the mid to upper fifty's and using the AMT trim system. He is happy as hell, with his results.
[QUOTE]
I can switch pumps for about 500 that is the rebuilding of the pump, and can get a little trade in for the jaccuzzi against this money, however if it takes the energizer to make it run decent, thats like 2000 isnt it ? ? Im looking at best money spent and its looking like the berk, they seem kinda universal and easy to get any parts for.. . . Did you switch yours to a berk or was it rigged berk ? ? ?
Any more pics of those two boats ? ? ? Especially the yellow one. The white one is super nice and too fancy for my budget, maybe i can get some interior seating arangements ideas off of the yellow one.

[sleekcrafter]

DD the best way to get pic's of the yellow one is contact Brad460 on banderlog forum's, he has a whole photo album of his boat. I have just a few pictures of his boat, I will post a couple more of the boat I had.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/7363100_0048-med.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/7363000_0030-med.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/7363000_0026-med.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/7363000_0020-med.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/7363000_0016-med.JPG

[sleekcrafter]

DD, A few more can be found on this link of Criag U's Baja site http://ats-inc.net/bajajet/BajaRJB2.htm

[sleekcrafter]

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/brad460/July2006JetsOnTheMiss/119-1904_IMG.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/brad460/Sept%20on%20Upper%20Miss/120-2036_2_IMG.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/brad460/Sept%20on%20Upper%20Miss/120-2011_IMG.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/brad460/Sept%20on%20Upper%20Miss/120-2022_IMG.jpg