Anybody have any input good and bad

[Eyefull]

I have a line on a 1996 Penn Yann 265 with a 5.9 cummins turbo diesel jet drive. I have never heard or seen one of these, what is the deal? The boat is in showroom condition, actually the hours on the motor is only 475. Will this thing be a slug speed wise, how about fuel economy? How about troll ability? The diesel sounds fine to me but I am spooked about the "jet" drive.

[sjk984]

I had a chance to fish on boat with a jet drive if i remember right it was a 28'

penn yann mid 90's. While talking about the boat he told me it was a good system except while trolling he always had to use a kicker. Other than that he loved the speed and shallow draft.

Steve

[spy1o1]

I also heard they are bad at trolling but that was a 17' boat. Also they suck down gas but maybe a diesel is different

[1mainiac]

Other than running up and down the river jets are miserable to fish out of. The first time you have to dock it on a windy day you will hate it.

[Eyefull]

I have never even heard of a "jet" driven big lake boat. Is this the same type of jet system that is in like say jet skis, or is it something entirely different and just called "jet"?

[Priority1]

Penn Yann made a quality boat. I know there is a couple of tunnel drive true inboards on the bay, and they can handle some pretty shallow water.

I have never seen a Penn Yann Jet so I can't help with that. That diesel isn't even broken in yet.

[1mainiac]

Penn Yann makes great boats this however is not one of them. The shallow draft is cool but you lose the ability to control it on windy days because there is next to nothing sticking in the water. The only time you will have good control is on plane. My brother has had a jet boat for 20 years his idea of docking is to not hit the dock too hard. It has sat on the trailer unused for years great shape low hours when he parked it probably all rotted out now. If you want to cruise it would be cool but if you want to troll the big lake pass it up unless they pretty much give it to you.

[Eyefull]

Thanks guys. I found through research that this boat was a one of a kind, built custom for a fire department. It is apparantly very fast, 40mph plus, but as stated, very unfriendly around docks, and won't troll. So notta. Now looking at a 1996 Sportcraft 252 Express. Any comments?