pwc jet refitted to aluminum v-hull

i see many used waverunners for sale. i've been thinking of trying to fit the motor and jet into a 14' shallow-v for river running. not trying to break speed records, in fact, reverse may be a real asset.
i'm interested in all suggestions.

first off: a friend is willing to donate a '67 starcraft 14' aluminum (with trailer) if i agree to take him along. i can't find specs in any archive on this hull. am looking for any/all info pertaining to matching this hull to the appropriate cc pwc jet.

 

http://www.glen-l.com/jetski/jetjon-1.html

Step by step into a jon boat.

Steve

 

Wrecked jet-skis are a great source of good cheap motors. Not long ago I looked at doing this to a 15-footer that had blown its outboard; it would have worked surprisingly well except that I found a new OB cheaper before I could get started.

About your proposed Starcraft- This looks like an ideal boat to do something like this on. The "jet jon" link above is an interesting and probably reliable way of doing it. Or you could fabricate your own motor brackets from sheet metal, rivet/weld them into the hull and just use the motor and pump. Plan it all out in advance. You'll also need to look at building up the transom height, adding a console, etc. It'll be a bit of work but worth it.

 

PWC power aluminum

If i were to do this i would first decide on which pwc engine i wanted to use. From experience with pwc the kawasaki 750 cc is a solid engine and parts are in good supply on ebay. once you've picked the engine you can usually find motor mounts that were used in the craft that the engine came out of. I don't think it would be that difficult to bolts these mounts to the bottom of the boat you are using. Just seal them well. The next thing is the pump. you don't even need to match the pump/engine combination from the same ski. I once upgraded my '85 kaw 440 (standup) with a kaw 750. The pump was from a kaw 550. All i needed to do was have the engine coupler from my orig 440 rethreaded to fit the 750 crank shaft and I was in business. In my opinion the biggest challenge in a project like this is figuring out where to mount the electrical box, starter switch and exhaust. Sounds fun.

Hope this helps.

 

If you are going to REGULARLY run it in shallow, ( less than 6" deep ) you will have it sucking up dirt, stones, weeds, fish line, buried junk. The junk WILL find its way to the impellor and require a teardown. It will also open the clearences to the point of slower top speeds. Jets SUCK UP like a vacum cleaner. I would stay with a OB that has a easy to tilt setting and DO NOT use the, locking the drive down lever. Let the motor bump bottom and lift up over anything. Cheaper. Spare junk prop and locking prop parts. ---------------------------Comfortable oars are far quiter and easyer to use in the under 6" stuff.