Jet Tenders

[Joachim]

I'm just buying a new 55ft motor yacht and I'm looking to put a jet tender on it. On my list in the moment I have a Williams 285 jet tender and the Aermarine 285 jet tender. Who has operational experiences with on of those to make my decision easier.

Thanks
Joachim

 

[DougH]

I'm just buying a new 55ft motor yacht and I'm looking to put a jet tender on it. On my list in the moment I have a Williams 285 jet tender and the Aermarine 285 jet tender. Who has operational experiences with on of those to make my decision easier.

Thanks
Joachim

I have a Williams 325 on a 20 metre boat with an hydraulic bathing platform to launch it.

Reason for purchase was the tender is jet propelled and has no external propeller.

As this tender is used for towing all sorts of inflatable toys and skis by my grandchildren safety was my main consideration.

I have not been disappointed, it is a cracking and very well made boat but is very fast.

When the next boat arrives it will have another Williams (Larger model) for certain.

Being a jet it does take a bit of practise to get used to, but this is not a problem .

No experienced with the Aermarine brand so cannot comment.

 

[jfm]

There's a wider debate of jet vs outboard but let's leave that topic aside. Of the two you mention Williams is way better. Better design, much more power, better looking, much more established. The Aermarine has a somewhat unknown italian engine (spares? backup?) whereas the Williams Weber engine is now very well established with tens of thousands of units installed and is generally reliable and liked (though it is a complex beast!). So of those 2 it has to be the williams imho

DougH, have you ordered a new boat? Do tell! Sounds exciting. manhattan 73?

EDIT: I just looked at Aermarine website. The jet engine is 40hp at 7250rpm and 27mph max with 2 pax. I'm sorry but that is just rubbish. 7250rpm will drive you nuts and you won't even be going fast. The williams will perform well with 4 pax and at a lot less than7000revs

 

[admillington]

Joachim

I have a Williams 325 - it is only a little more money than the 285 and worth it for the extra space and better ride. It is a great boat, very well built and will put a smile on your face when you use it.

-Andrew

 

[oldgit]

The fitted passerelle may not be up to lifting the Williams on some boats and also will it have sufficiant "reach" to lift the Williams clear of the swim platform.
Is passerelle pivot point high enough not bash the top of the steering wheel on this tender when stowed.
Friend decided not to go down that route after taking into account the fact that existing stuff on boat would have to be seriously upgraded, plus bulkhead would have be reinforced to get 350 kilos of jetrib clear of swim platform.

 

[Joachim]

Thanks to all of you, that really helps! My new boat has a hi-lo platform capable of handling up to 400 kg, so no problem with the Williams. And - you basically confirm my gut feeling that UK made is much preferable to some Italian design wonders.
Joachim

 

[Hurricane]

I'm afraid my experience of all jet dinghies is simple.
They are great fun but a real nightmare to keep serviced.
To me the reliability issue is so bad that I would stick to a conventional outboard motor dinghy - lighter too - have a look at the Walker Bay threads on this forum.
I'll find the links for you if you like - the current search facility doesn't seem to be working properly.

 

[Joachim]

That would be great, no idea what Walker Bay is?
Joachim

 

[MRC]

I'm on my 3rd Williams tender and was about to order a new 385 with the sport engine upgrade. Price tag put me off a bit, Decided to 'refurbish' my old one instead. Current one came supplied with the boat but is even older than the boat, it's possible 6/7 years old. Wasn't particularly well looked after. Williams spares service is superb, most parts available quickly.

My refurbish includes new throttle body, new tubes (£600ish)' new rear pods, new steering wheel, new gauges etc etc.

I would have gone for a new 4M rib & Yamaha outboard but Mrs MRC overruled hence the refurb. We have young kids and they spend most of the time in the water which means climbing in and out of the Williams, skiing, driving it, computer game era kids have no problems driving a jet. Not having a prob is a big plus for our family and the use it gets but for reliability and adult use I would go for a 'proper' rib.

 

[jfm]

Wasn't particularly well looked after.

They're sturdy things those Williamses

 

[DougH]

DougH, have you ordered a new boat? Do tell! Sounds exciting. manhattan 73?

Still at the haggling stage John so do not want to say to much, but will need to employ a crew.

 

[jfm]

II would stick to a conventional outboard motor dinghy.

I completely agree. I was just steering away from the jet vs outboard debate becuase o/p is firm that he wants a jet

 

[MRC]

They're sturdy things those Williamses

]

Thats made me chuckle... yacht brokers volvo?

Hence new pods, the Williams wasnt strapped down at the time and the platfom was lowered slightly (so ive been told). Williams acted as a big fender - hence one of the reasons new quarter pods needed. that really has made me smile as been looking for that photo for ages

 

[MedMilo]

I'm also on my third Williams - did 120 hrs on first, 180 on second and am currently on 130 on the third! I'm a big fan but I think it does depend on where you're keeping the boat because, as JFM says, they're very complex and can (and do) go wrong occasionally. So...somewhere like Mallorca or UK South coast there's lots of service support on tap so Williams option is excellent...by contrast, in Sardinia in 2010, when my voltage regulator packed up, there was NO meaningful support and the boat was unusable for quite a few days! If you're straying far from William's service supported areas I'd go for a 'normal' rib with a 30hp outboard - won't be as much fun or as quick but will probably be more reliable! If going for a jetrib though, there's only ONE option as far as I can tell...Williams are market leaders by far.

 

[jfm]

Yes, it's Christel's car. She is a yacht broker in town. Summer 2010. The photo is more dramatic than the incident- there's hardly any weight on the rib. I have a whole folder on my PC of cars half in the water around Antibes port .

 

[SwedeSkipper]

I'm afraid my experience of all jet dinghies is simple.
They are great fun but a real nightmare to keep serviced.
To me the reliability issue is so bad that I would stick to a conventional outboard motor dinghy - lighter too - have a look at the Walker Bay threads on this forum.
I'll find the links for you if you like - the current search facility doesn't seem to be working properly.

"Nightmare to keep serviced" -- please elaborate!

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Thats made me chuckle... yacht brokers volvo?

Hence new pods, the Williams wasnt strapped down at the time and the platfom was lowered slightly (so ive been told). Williams acted as a big fender - hence one of the reasons new quarter pods needed. that really has made me smile as been looking for that photo for ages

OMG is that the boat I think it is?

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[jfm]

OMG is that the boat I think it is?

Cheers
Jimmy

I airbrushed out the boat name The boat wasn't damaged - there was no weight on it and the Williams protected the boat. The car was fine too - Christel gave me a lift in it about a week later

 

[z1ppy]

Hope i havent put 2 and 2 together to make 5!

sounds like an expensive fender but cheaper than parking a volvo on the hi lo platform!

 

[Hurricane]

"Nightmare to keep serviced" -- please elaborate!

I had an Avon 2 stroke for about 3 years - no end of problems.
Always going wrong and then fixing even the smallest thing was a nightmare.
There just isn't the space to get your hands inside and you end up having to dismantle the whole thing.
The later 4 strokes and the Williams have better access but I'm always watching/helping others in our marina with Jet boat problems.
They often "suck" up debris as well and when they do, the impeller can get damaged.
Once had one hanging on my crane after it had dragged in a plastic bag - stripped it down - couldn't see anything wrong - turned out the impeller was knackered.
The often have very small batteries so starting can be a problem - especially the older 2 strokes.
I dont know anyone who has had one for more than six months without some problem or other.

I compare my experience with Jet boats to my Walker Bay with a standard 40hp outboard motor.
OK - as I say not got anything like the performance of the Jets but I've had absolutely zilch go wrong.
Servicing is way easier - hanging on my crane, you simply lift the engine cover and everything is at eye level.

Yes - I miss the Jet performance but I don't regret switching to a conventional set up.