Are River Rippers Making a Comeback

[DanG]

It seems like the boats just keep getting bigger and bigger on Havasu, and it's been nice mixing it up this year and spending time in Parker. I just love seeing all the hot boats out and seems to me that it is gaining in popularity again. Takes me back to my younger years. So what's your favorite River Ripper?

My Son's pass in his 76' Hallett yesterday at Roadrunner courtesy of Speed Savvy

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

I miss having a jet boat to run the river without worry.

Taking the 26 with my SCX is cringy and the 30’ with the #6 no way.

If I could get a jet, I’d almost prefer the river.

 

[TrollerDave]

x All of the above.

The economy being what it is, and the price of big boats what they are, I’d say the smaller boats are filling a need to be on the water. Everyone wants a nice new boat to take pride in, but that can be stressful and a lot of work, especially the larger boats.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Always been partial to jets. Simplistic in operation, and just plain fun. Since the rise of the wake tractor, we don't get trash talked near as much either.

 

[MonkeyButt70]

Not a fan of the big boats. I like my Jets and V-Drives, I like being low to the water. I have a Water Bus (tritoon) for the weekends.

 

[Livewire Fabworks]

Jet boats win with the simplicity of suck and blow. Not the most efficient set up but pretty simple.

 

[HBCraig]

I've kicked around the idea of picking up a little jet for mid week river running. I miss my 19' Eliminator Sprint

 

[Bajastu]

Vdrives and outboards. Racing an outboard is like racing a VW bug. They’ll surprise you and more than likely beat you.

 

[ChrisV]

I don’t think small boats ever left. If anything the value of them is going up. I have a good amount of friends that boated in Parker and then got a bigger boat and can’t go to Parker anymore. I kinda saw myself going down that route.

I was planning to sell the 22 after I bought the 26. Don’t think that’s ever happening. Something about the 22 I love and it’s just easy to boat. Being able to touch the water and splash myself and kid will always be a plus.

Going 100 in a small boat is way more fun than a big boat also.

 

[monkeyswrench]

"...Being able to touch the water and splash myself and kid will always be a plus."
View attachment 1436799

Mom's last river trip was in '11. Break between chemo and radiation. Funny enough, I think that was the only time we were both wearing bandanas, mine under a straw hat, her under a huge sun hat. My 7 and 5 year olds up in the bow spashing each other, my wife splashing the three year old in her lap. Mom was sitting shotgun, right arm kind of drifting in the water, just smiling. I'd shut it off just south of Budweiser Rd, drifting at maybe 8am.

The boat's an old Commander, 21 open bow. 496 and a Berkeley. Pops bought it, but I think I'm the only one who's driven it. I'd love a big deck boat like a Magic, or even a floating living room tritoon, but I'll never get rid of the old jet. Now the kids are older, like to put a tall deck in it, and make it a bit more rowdy. Needs interior redone, and an inch of dust blown off first.

 

[Desert Whaler]

I've half-heartedly been looking for a clean 11' Whaler to restore for getting back in the REALLY shallow stuff in the winter.

Tiller steer 30-40 Yamaha 2-stroke with one of those 'On the Fly' hand crank jackplates . . .

The 15 is just a little too big sometimes . . .

 

[coolchange]

Vdrives and outboards. Racing an outboard is like racing a VW bug. They’ll surprise you and more than likely beat you.

Old street race adage, never race a kid in a bug that WANTS to race you

 

[HST4ME]

 

[pkrrvr619]

I miss having a jet boat to run the river without worry.

Taking the 26 with my SCX is cringy and the 30’ with the #6 no way.

If I could get a jet, I’d almost prefer the river.

Why’s the 26 cringey?

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Why’s the 26 cringey?

We had a 23 with a bravo before the 26. The depth is hard to tell sometimes, it looks shallow and it’s not, then it looks shallow and it is. We also weren’t paying attention to the dam releases previously.

Wiped out the skeg and nicked the prop once.

With the 26 being bigger/deeper and the SCX being more expensive I just am not comfortable with it. Some areas are worse than others.

I’m not on the river very much so not a navigation expert.

 

[81Sprint]

Both have their place, going to Mead I really liked my 25' Nordic, handled the chop with ease. But the wife hated it and said buy another little hot rod for the river, "it's more fun". Who am I to argue? Next year hope to be back on the water after the jet conversion is finished

 

[Backlash]

Our 19' Howard will be finished up someday.

 

[HST4ME]

Another one rescued from a farm field.

 

[old rigger]

View attachment 1436971 View attachment 1436972

Another one rescued from a farm field.

Every now and then there's one of these Hydro Streams in on the strip. Fast little fucker.

 

[PlumLoco]

Old street race adage, never race a kid in a bug that WANTS to race you

At one time I owned a 69 Road Runner that would run 12.10s (sometimes faster) all day long. All steel, street tires, but a solid 440-6 motor backed by a 4 speed and 4.10 Dana. One day a buddy who had a Baja bug he was pretty proud of. Both left his house in Corona. To my complete shock, it was the middle of third gear before he wasn't pulling away from me. We were on south Main St. in Corona so we couldn't run side by side and 100 mph was coming up way too fast as so was the signal light at Grand. We never ran them proper, but it was the last time I took VW's for granted.

 

[Tooms22]

Small boats are still in... I want a 10-12' mini cat

 

[HST4ME]

Small boats are still in... I want a 10-12' mini cat

 

[SJP]

I wish I held onto my 21. Wife was not crazy about it. It was a ripper.

 

[gqchris]

I wish I held onto my 21. Wife was not crazy about it. It was a ripper.

View attachment 1437218

I wanted this boat so bad. But I was so poor at the time.

 

[rrrr]

There was a period between, let's say, 1975-1988, one could buy a pretty nice 18' jet for $5K, have a blast with it for two or three years, and sell it for that same $5K.

It was a great way to convert money into gas into noise and have fun.

 

[brgrcru]

Some of us old assholes ,

never left the scene
Delta flat
Parker cp
My two

 

[Racey]

Nothing beats rudder boats

 

[Gelcoater]

I hope River Rippers are coming back!
The only thing better than leaning against the 19 Daytona mold is getting paid to do it
Saw video of the latest hitting the water this last weekend.
Aluminum GM BBC and 70s retro graphics.
As much as I like the big v8 jet boat...
I want to see someone do a 250r outboard 19 and go break some hearts

 

[Dog]

I hope River Rippers are coming back!
The only thing better than leaning against the 19 Daytona mold is getting paid to do it
Saw video of the latest hitting the water this last weekend.
Aluminum GM BBC and 70s retro graphics.
As much as I like the big v8 jet boat...
I want to see someone do a 250r outboard 19 and go break some hearts

I hate to disagree BUT "leaning against a 19 Daytona on a beach," is better, "in my opinion".

 

[Eliminator21vdrive]

There was a period between, let's say, 1975-1988, one could buy a pretty nice 18' jet for $5K, have a blast with it for two or three years, and sell it for that same $5K.

It was a great way to convert money into gas into noise and have fun.

Did it three times lol.

 

[eand28]

I hope River Rippers are coming back!
The only thing better than leaning against the 19 Daytona mold is getting paid to do it
Saw video of the latest hitting the water this last weekend.
Aluminum GM BBC and 70s retro graphics.
As much as I like the big v8 jet boat...
I want to see someone do a 250r outboard 19 and go break some hearts

Need some pictures of it posted

 

[jesco]

This should answer your question.....

 

[Tamalewagon]

Sure do miss mine. I regret selling this boat every day...

 

[fat rat]

I miss my 21 Daytona.

 

[rightytighty]

My son and his buddy on July 4 this year. His preference to take out instead of the wakeboard boat.

 

[MonkeyButt70]

Here is my Kindsvater V-drive and Hallett 210 Jet. These boats are time machines when Im on the water, take me back to the simple days.

 

[Livewire Fabworks]

Here is my Kindsvater V-drive and Hallett 210 Jet. These boats are time machines when Im on the water, take me back to the simple days.

View attachment 1437444
View attachment 1437443

I miss that 210!

 

[MonkeyButt70]

I miss that 210!

Well Im glad you sold it, because I would have never known how great this boat is. Brings a smile to face every time I take it out.

 

[gqchris]

Well Im glad you sold it, because I would have never known how great this boat is. Brings a smile to face every time I take it out.

Hallett 210 Jet? YES PLEASE!!!!

 

[tx-19]

Some hot roads at big river a few years ago

 

[Livewire Fabworks]

Well Im glad you sold it, because I would have never known how great this boat is. Brings a smile to face every time I take it out.

Glad it went to a good home!

 

[Gelcoater]

Need some pictures of it posted

I don’t have any finished
Tried to do a search of the thread I posted on the hull build.
Came up with this

Still....

 

[Dog]

I don’t have any finished
Tried to do a search of the thread I posted on the hull build.
Came up with this
View attachment 1437487
Still....

It worked yesterday, looks like they broke it again.

Is this what you were looking for?

19 Daytona

Some teaser shots In the photos I was given. That’s 19 Daytona #oo1 And I just duplicated it.

www.riverdavesplace.com

 

[hallett21]

It’s ok

 

[Gelcoater]

Yes, thank you



The engine site is eye catching.

I noticed it immediately walking in one Monday, as you don’t often see a BBC with shiny heads and..block?

 

[jetboatperformance]

It seems like the boats just keep getting bigger and bigger on Havasu, and it's been nice mixing it up this year and spending time in Parker. I just love seeing all the hot boats out and seems to me that it is gaining in popularity again. Takes me back to my younger years. So what's your favorite River Ripper?

My Son's pass in his 76' Hallett yesterday at Roadrunner courtesy of Speed Savvy

View attachment 1436740

Our Market is and always has been Jets (and a few v drives) When folks call me and are excited about thier "new Jet boats" and how "they are really making a comeback" I laugh and tell them "They've been making a comback for 30 years" Weve been riding that wave since the late eighties

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Our Market is and always has been Jets (and a few v drives) When folks call me and are excited about thier "new Jet boats" and how "they are really making a comeback" I laugh and tell them "They've been making a comback for 30 years" Weve been riding that wave since the late eighties

A Jet question for you, what’s the best modern jet pump to mate to your home made bowl? Berkeley? Agressor? dominator?

 

[HBCraig]

I was at Lake Mead a few years ago and a guy pulled up in an Ultra 21 stealth jet. Had 900 HP. It was so sick

 

[500bbc]

Little boats?

 

[Howardflat]

Nothing beats rudder boats

Coming from a guy that owns an outboard boat and a stern drive boat. hahahahaha