[tamal451]

The conversion is as simple as getting a lower unit for that engine and installing it, then re-routing the shift cable. The problem comes in as to the type of boat you have. Usually, going from a jet to a prop also requires a shaft extention kit/spacer since with a jet, the engine is shorter shafted than if it were a prop. Best thing is to measure the height of the transom, then from the part of the engines mounting bracket that sits on the transom to the top of the jet portion of the engine (That will give you the shaft length of the engine). Then it's just a matter of doing a little math to find out how much of a spacer you would need.

[neofutur]

Thanks Canoemang for the info. The foot is cracked on the left front corner looking at the motor from the back. The crack goe's from the outside making a cresent almost all the way around to the front again, stopping an inch of two from the front of the pickup. The strainer bars are all trashed (bent badly, but not broken) and mashed together. I bought the motor from some duck hunters that whammed a huge rock just under the surface. They made it back to the dock under power. Then they went to a dealer and bought a bigger motor (150hp Merc) with a Jet drive on it. Said they wanted more power anyway. LoL. They offered me the busted motor at a good price and gauranteed the powerhead to be good with less than 150 hours so I took them up on it because I wanted more power for my pontoon. (More power is always needed, right?) My son is a machinist and welds aluminum as part of his job, so we may try to fix the foot, assuming the impeller and the rest of the jet checks out ok. Sounds like you know jets. Anything special to look for when checking this unit out? [links]

[gilbertj0hn]

Re: Jet drive to prop drive conversion.

[true]

because of its weight. For smaller boats powered by 40 hp and less, a quarter-inch thickness is good. For larger boats powered by up to 200 hp, 3/16-inch aluminum is more appropriate. here

[Johnsmiths]

KING OF JETS
Yamaha and BRP (Evinrude) both have a company division that makes jets for personal watercraft, but it’s interesting that they, along with Mercury, Honda and Tohatsu, source their jet drives from Outboard Jets, which has been making them since 1960 and is the king of jet outboard components. They have conversion kits for Suzuki too, but Suzuki doesn’t market them directly to the public like the others. To exactly match the factory motor’s color, Outboard Jets gets paint chip samples from the manufacturer. more

[jefelex]

Most people don’t know this, but many outboards can be converted to jet propulsion for between $1,700 and $2,700, depending on their size. This conversion, along with the proper boat, can allow a boat to run in just a couple of inches of water — and potentially scoot over short sections of land (not recommended), if such an action is required.

[johnriderjr0]

Many areas of the country have waterways that are too shallow for conventional outboards. In other places, rocks, stumps and sandbars just beneath the surface conspire to “help” boat owners send their local mechanic’s kid to college. There are two options for remedying such situations: Buy a jet outboard or convert an existing motor.

[trellend]

Boaters who ply skinny or debris-strewn bodies of water on a regular basis are probably better served buying a jet outboard from Yamaha, Honda, Mercury or Evinrude. Suzuki doesn’t have one (though there is a way to convert one). Most are considerably less expensive, for the engines themselves, since they don’t have expensive stainless steel shafts, gears and props, but there’s a price to pay: usable power. Take, for example, the Yamaha F150. It uses a 2.7L in-line four-cylinder four-stroke to make 150 hp — with a prop. Equipped with a jet drive, however, Yamaha puts something else on it: a cowling with the number 105, because that’s how much power it generates due to a jet’s relative inefficiency. It goes down the line: F115 (80 hp), F90 (65 hp), F60 (40 hp) and F40 (30 hp).

[8668]

A jet drive system does have some disadvantages. here

[noles]

Jet Boat Drawbacks more

[Comatus]

Jet-powered boats use the same propulsion system used in personal watercrafts (PWCs) that mates an inboard engine to a jet pump. The pump draws water from an intake in the bottom of the boat and shoots a high-velocity stream of water from a nozzle at the back of the boat to propel it forward.

[thrashaholic]

Family runabout boats up to about 26 feet in length may be powered by a sterndrive or jet drive propulsion system. Both are great systems, and each offers advantages and disadvantages.

[ralphmcclure]

Common Features & Advantages of Jet Boats

[harley4noble]

Cables: Your forward and reverse cable goes to the nozzle gate and will need to be 18-24" longer. There is a 4' slave cable that runs from the nozzle gate up to your trottle.

[sbrendanwalkerz]

First off, there is only one maufacturer of jet unit that will bolt on to convential outboards. It is Specialty Manufacturing Comapany out of San Leandro California. Call them at (510) 562-6049‎ to be sure they make one for your out board.

[A.T.]

I think that's about it. Call me if your going to do this, I have an aluminum welded transom plate I can barter with you on. more

[ribuck]

I swap between lower units. more

[Iskender]

Mounting: Typically, you will need to re-maount your outboard 5-6" higher on your transom. This will line up the jet foot with the bottom of your boat. This can be done with a transom extension plate (permenant) or an adjustable jack plate.

[Bartke]

Real jet boaters don't use the reverse bucket on the jet (they take it off) and therefore don't have to worry about that cable. more