Just got a new toy but it's not a car

[Jeff H]

After going to the somewhat local boat races most of the summer and since I was looking for a boat to play with, instead of getting some big block jet boat, I decided to get one of the Jersey Speed Skiffs. I went for a test ride the other day out on the bay and all I can say is what a different feeling of speed when it's on the water! It's a 16' Jersey Speed Skiff with a 350 Chevy putting out 450 hp. When the 4 barrel carb opens up the boat is pretty much out of the water. You can feel when it hits the water again and the prop grabs and shoots you forward. I took my first drive today and kept it to 5000 rpm's. You need to get the feel for what it's doing. The turns are interesting as it gets up on it's side at 60-90 degrees to the water and you can put your hand down in the water as you take the turn. That is if you decide to take a hand off the steering wheel! Oh, and I would recommend ear plugs as the open exhaust can get to you after 15+ minutes.

[m22mike]

I like the other one... [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] lets go fishin'

Mike

[Dave Rifkin]

Nice boat; I have a friend who races the skiffs on the APBA circuit. These boats are a hand full and need to be respected; I have seen them &quot;wing out&quot; in the turns. These violent turns can throw you from the boat if you're not strapped in.

Take your time getting used to it and, if possible, get someone who really knows these boats to give you some pointers on how to drive one safely.

[1969z280]

Cool Boat!

Dave is right however. My 17' Javelin with a 150 HP Johnson can be a hand full when it's trimmed out. You're riding on a 3 x 3 patch. I've seen people get launched from similar boats.

Your boat on open water, Yikes!

No keel is what makes these boats difficult to operate. Be careful out there and take Daves advice on the lessons too. Ed

[Fast67VelleN2O]

Pictures of engine please! Awesome boat!

[Jeff H]

Yeah, the APBA guys are unbelievable the way they drive these boats. I was down at a &quot;fun run&quot; today and a bunch of the race boats came out and were doing laps. I have no intention of racing. I'm slowly getting used to the feel of it. I don't think I've gotten the throttle pedal all the way to the floor yet, it has a ton of power and I'm not going to do anything stupid.

[x Baldwin Motion]

very cool boat

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[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

Don't you have a JL8?

[Jeff H]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Don't you have a JL8? </div></div>

Somewhere!

[Jeff H]

So I've actually had a chance to get the boat out on the river 3 times already this Spring and it's a blast. I still haven't gotten the gas pedal all the way to the floor yet, this thing has too much power so I'm just getting a feel for it while there is nobody else out on the water. I can't imagine racing one of these, I've seen some wing outs and even with a roll cage and being strapped in, guys get banged around pretty good. Here are some pictures of the motor and if you notice, it's in backwards. The distributor end is facing the front of the boat.