Just bought a 190 Jet drive. Everything in life is a compromise as we are all aware. The jet will have some advantage over the stern dive in our local prop eating river. I suspect the fuel consumption will be a quite bit greater than the 4.3 Bayliner we had a few years ago. Also, I suspect the wake won't be "ideal" for wakeboarding and certainly not for wake surfing. A tower is a small possibility if I can ballast the boat down and get it to run at 18 mph smooth and straight. But the lack of a big ole drive hanging down like a rudder will probably make the jet drive an impractical "great" ski/boarding boat.
What I do like about the jet, other than no prop, is, no shifting! No lower unit with all that.... gears and stuff inside. No hoping the wife trailered up the unit as I'm pulling it out of the water and hearing that dreaded skeg drag sound. Also, it's really rather cool.
I didn't notice at the dealer when I bought it, that the steering has a bit of slop. Way too much really. 1/4 turn of real free play. Everything seem to be in order and functioning properly. The play seems to be coming from the steering box just behind the wheel. I'll pull the cover off today and take a look inside. I'm sure a new steering box in in order before next season gets going.
The guy that owned the boat, appears to have chosen not to connect the ski rope to the center hook on the back. He made some sort of rope thing that made a "V" and connected to the cleats on either side. So the rope comes from the handle toward the boat, then at about 6' off, connects to another rope that connects to both the cleats. Can anyone imagine why anyone would do this? I can only guess that he felt the one single center hook wasn't strong enough for a tube with a couple people on it. Or....to keep the rope further away from the jet drive?
Over all, the boat shows normal wear for it's age. The upholstery it about 98% perfect.
The boat wasn't abused.
Our family is looking forward to getting on the water again after a few dry years.
I did notice, and like, that the Four WInns trailer tows darn nice, and the surge brakes are wayyyy better than the Bayliner rig we had.
-Darin
(Harrisburg, PA. We'll be primarily near 3 Mile Island)
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