1979 SRV 240 w/jet drive???

[TerryD]

Hey ran across a really beautiful 1979 SRV 240 Cuddy Cabin thing about this is it has only 114 hours on the boat with a Berkley jet drive! Any body ever hear of one with original jet drive? It's a 390 Ford engine. The boat is immaculate. Trailer is a roller trailer. Looking to see if there is any history on these boats. According to owner only a handful of these were made with Berkley jet drive. It definitely has my interest peaked.

 

[hoosierhog]

I have never heard of such an animal, but that does not mean it did not exist. I wonder what kind of performance it would get out of a jet drive.

 

[kybishop]

I have seen a couple. Not in person, ebay and such. I do not have experience with them but was told to steer clear of the jet drives. Seems I recall it was because parts were hard to find and repairs expensive and not the best in reliability.

 

[TerryD]

Thanks for the replies. I have checked into the jet drives and Berkeley seems to be the best company out there. This boat's drive is Berkeley. Berkeley company is still in business and seems to be growing. According to my research jet drives are growing in popularity and the government is using them on some of their boats. Many of the giant yacht companies are using jet drives as well. I checked into the cost of replacing a complete jet drive and the cost runs around $2000 complete up to $3000 for high performance drive. Seems to be much lower cost than a new out drive. Rebuild kits run between $500 and $1100. Tools to perform a complete rebuild are rentable. I just don't know how the boat would respond to the jet drive performance wise. I have read that the jet drives are much quicker up on plane and supposedly cruise using around 9 gph at 2500 rpm. I do know that the boat can go into much shallower waters with jet drives since there is no foot hanging down past the bottom of the boat. Basically you can take the boat into water 12 inches deeper than the draft with no problems, 2' draft means boat can go into 3' water! Amazing to see that. Boat, supposedly, will have no cavitation at high speeds up to WOT, with jet drive. No transmissions. Boat reverses immediately due to turning water thrust 180 degrees the opposite direction. Reverse can have quick enough response to be used as a power brake. Boat is suppose, to be able to utilize the jet drive as a thruster as well allowing one to maneuver the boat sideways by the thrust having a 360 degree radius. Jet drives have very few parts compared to out drives. Mostly used on jet skis and vessels under 19' long. I am just curious to know if anyone has ever seen, ridden, or driven a 20'+ boat with jet drive. Sea Ray Seadoo's have jet drives up to 23' long, anyone know about them? Yes, I have been busy with research. Very interesting concept the jet drive.

 

[TerryD]

Here is a photo of the actual boat and jet drive.

 

[Sundancer]

I've ridden and driven quite a few jet boats. Yes, they can go in shallow water, BUT you suck up sand and rocks from the bottom and that takes it's toll on the impellar.

As far as reversing, depending on the unit, yes you can engage the deflector. Most of the time it has to be done under 1,500 or 2,000 rpm or you risk damaging the unit. They will pivot similar to a boat with twins by directing the thrust from the jet. It's pretty cool what they will do. The boats that I've driven don't necessarily plane faster, but the hump is less noticeable. In other words, when you hit the throttle it starts moving forward. The nose doesn't go up and there is no point where it comes over the hump and you know you are planing. It just stays the same attitude and just goes faster and faster.

Berkeley is a great unit and I'm guessing they still have replacement parts for the old units. I'd love to know if that was a Sea Ray original or it someone modified the bottom later on to handle the intake grate. Pictures of the bottom would be great!!