Jet Bote..... BBC vs BBF

[Tooned Up]

So I have been on the hunt for a second boat as nothing more than an early morning/late afternoon toy. I have narrowed my search down to 3 different boats...

Boat 1 Eliminator jet all new motor, pump, interior, rear bench seat (what I want) cables, carb, intake, gauges, trailer completely redone... bunks, leds, wiring, paint etc, basically the exact boat I want BUT... a 460

Boat 2 Southwind jet all new motor, pump, nice interior, rear bench seat, but the gel has some cracking on the deck, and a few other gel blemishes... has a BBC

Boat 3 Hallett jet all new interior, nice gel, nice stereo, trailer is in good condition, does not have the seating layout that I really want, no clue on hours of motor or pump... has BBC

Of the 3 everything about boat 1 is exactly want I want minus the BBF. Now keep in mind everything vehicle I have owned ,but my Jeeps in the last 18 years has been a Ford... All that being said, every performance motor I have ever had has been a Chevy to of which I am prone to.

So I guess my biggest question is...
If I get bored with the thing in a year or 2 will I have a hard time dumping a super clean boat with a Ford?

Thoughts???

 

[King295]

Either a BBF or BBC paired to a Berkeley will have a solid resale value considering the large number of Olds power plants. It really comes down to buyer preference. I have a BBC jet that I wouldn't have bought if it had a Ford power plant but I've been a Chevy guy my whole life and with the number of boats out there it was just a waiting game to find the right one for me. If you really want a Chevy powered boat take your time, you can easily find the setup you are looking for.

 

[Rajobigguy]

400 hp doesn't care whose name is on the valve cover.

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

Ford's do have a tendency of fetching a bit less, but I would say buy what you want. If it's a cruiser, then it really doesn't matter because it's gonna be a 50-55mph pig anyways. If your looking for a smaller go fast boat, there will be lots of aftermarket for the BBF anyways, but it will cost more to build, buy parts for.

Lost of the younger guys that are into jets really like Ford's too. 20 years ago, it was a different story, but now a days it seems like half the guys with flat billed hats and black socks all have Ford oval tattoos haha.

 

[PlumLoco]

It really is just a prejudice that follows people into boats from their cars and trucks. Simple brand loyalty and no hard facts for simple cruising type programs. Some of the engines that need the least work for the most HP are Mopars and Pontiacs, and yet you rarely see either in a jet boat.
Assuming you aren't a masochist you won't want to spend money on an Olds to go fast, but for a price it can be done.
BBF and BBC will bring about the same money resale these days, but if you really want to find a winner between the two, then here is one experts opinion.
http://www.highflowdynamics.com/ Click the link at the lower right.

 

[Quicksilver]

I'm a Mopar and Chevy guy but the boat I liked and ended up buying had the 460 in it. No biggie. I've built a couple 460's and a 351 so I know my way around Fords. The 460 is a great motor with the right heads and stroker kits can be picked up pretty cheap. When I get around to it my 460 is getting aluminum heads. If that boat does not already have a 10 quart pan I would highly recommend getting one if you plan to run high rpm's.

 

[braindead]

It's probly cheaper to put a Chevy in the 1st one than to bring the other 2 up to par with repairs and upgrades.

As long as it runs go have fun

 

[Hye Power]

What pumps does each boat have, should also consider that if not a split bowl also harder to sell.

 

[SBMech]

It really is just a prejudice that follows people into boats from their cars and trucks. Simple brand loyalty and no hard facts for simple cruising type programs. Some of the engines that need the least work for the most HP are Mopars and Pontiacs, and yet you rarely see either in a jet boat.
Assuming you aren't a masochist you won't want to spend money on an Olds to go fast, but for a price it can be done.
BBF and BBC will bring about the same money resale these days, but if you really want to find a winner between the two, then here is one experts opinion.
http://www.highflowdynamics.com/ Click the link at the lower right.

ROFL. Talk about prejudice. Why use the best Ford casting and compare it to one of the worst Chevrolet castings? Bias is everywhere. Pound for pound Chevrolet parts are cheaper and more plentiful with far more options.

That being said, They all run the same at 1000hp, your drive be it a jet, v-drive or out drive will not know the difference.

 

[Lunatic Fringe]

My opinion only.
Number one importance is which boat has a verifiably strong mechanical condition? If it's broke down, it's going to either cost you more than you expected or you're not going to be able to use it at all.
Number two. Which boat has the cockpit size and seating layout that best suits your use? The more comfortable you are and the better it suits your family or friends you take with you, the more likely you are to use it.
Number three, Cosmetics, which boat looks the best? The better the boat looks to you, the happier you will be and the more likely you are to enjoy being out on the water on it.
I would be more concerned about buying something I am happy with and likely to use. More so than worrying about resale value. In all likelihood, the difference in resale between big block Ford and big block Chevy is going to be negligible.

 

[fishing fool]

I like ford because not everyone has one.
With Chevy I believe you can get performance parts cheaper and in more places.

 

[rivrrts429]

There is nothing wrong with a 460. They’re awesome motors and make plenty of power.

They tend to cost a bit more for rebuilds because the market is dominated in Chevy aftermarket but that has evened out in the last ten years.

I would have zero issues buying the Ford and this is a guy who has a Chevy in his jet bote.

 

[milkmoney]

I had a 460 in my sled. Turn key and ran great. No problems [emoji106] [emoji202]

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[Bigbore500r]

There are tons of inexpensive aftermarket parts now days to build up the 460. Cranks with smaller BBC sized journals. Heads with BBC exhaust ports and flanges. Chevy HEI distributors that drop right in. You can see where im going with this

 

[Wheeler]

I had a 460 in my sled. Turn key and ran great. No problems [emoji106] [emoji202] View attachment 658676

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You should have kept it.

 

[Tooned Up]

That’s a great looking boat. I’m really leaning toward the Eliminator. I absolutely love everything about it. I guess everything else I own is Ford (with the exception of my toon) so this might as well be also...

 

[milkmoney]

You should have kept it.
View attachment 658679 View attachment 658680

I know. I loved that boat. [emoji202]

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[milkmoney]

That’s a great looking boat. I’m really leaning toward the Eliminator. I absolutely love everything about it. I guess everything else I own is Ford (with the exception of my toon) so this might as well be also...

Thanks. 1976 eliminator bubble deck boat. All original except the motor

I regret selling this boat . I wish I could find another one in this condition again ...[emoji106] [emoji202]

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[rivrrts429]

Thanks. 1976 eliminator bubble deck boat. All original except the motor

I regret selling this boat . I wish I could find another one in this condition again ...[emoji106] [emoji202]

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Sell that Bravo donkey dick hang’n off the back of that Schiada and put a Dominator ditch pump in its place [emoji106]

 

[Slats]

I have had a few jet boats. Ford ,olds ,and chevy. The ford was always dependable. Always started. Bone stock. Never left me stranded. It was in a 74 eliminator. Olds was in a off brand hull. Fast as hell when it ran. Chevy was in a ultra. Can't complain about it. It also always ran. Few problems here and there. But nothing big. I would get the hull/interior set up you like. Ford or chevy isn't that big of a deal. I prefer a ford. I'm a ford guy. But won't buy a chevy if it was in the boat I wanted. Good luck.

 

[guest hs]

I can tell you a little story about the two engines. Back in 77 my Dad and his best friend bought brand new 21 foot Centurian day cruisers they both had Panther jets. My Dad bought the Chevy his friend bought the Ford. They were both entry level engine packages around 330 h.p. The boat with the Chevy just flat out whipped the boat with the Ford ass every time. Exact same hull exact same jet pump. 5-6 mph difference. Few years latter my Dads friend put a cam and carb aftermarket on the Ford and it still would not bet the bone stock Chevy. A few years ago I bought the same hull but it had a Berkeley jet and a good running 460 Ford the Boat topped out at 49 MPH. The day a FourWinns passed us my wife said get rid of the Ford or get a different boat. I ended up putting 502 Chevy I built in it and that put a smile on my wife’s face.

 

[Dalton]

"new" motors scare me, mine had new or "fresh" one when I bought it, lasted 1.5 summers, looked great on the outside, thrown together on the inside.

 

[rivrrts429]

both had Panther jets.

Lol

 

[rrrr]

I wouldn't have a problem with the Ford. They can make good horsepower. Maybe not as easily as a BBC, but if overall the boat is what you want, don't let it keep you from buying something that will run without a hassle.

One thing I've seen with BBC jets is the tendency for someone to bolt on a bunch of parts that don't work together and just cause issues. Parts for Fords aren't as plentiful and cheap, and it seems the owners use a little more thought in upgrading them.

You should be checking out the engine and jet installation of any jet boat you might buy, because that's what's gonna keep you from ending your day at the end of a tow rope.

Look at the wiring. Is it all properly routed, color coded, and terminated in a workmanlike manner? We've all seen jet boats with a wad of spliced together bullshit using seven different types of connectors mashed onto the wire with a pair of channellocks. Is the wiring under the dash neat, and do the gauges work? The running lights? Bilge pump?

Does the starter operate smoothly without dragging and clunks? Is the wiring the correct size, with good connectors? Is the battery securely mounted?

Are the hoses in good shape, with stainless steel clamps? Are all of the bolts on the engine the same type, or does it look like someone dug through a five gallon bucket to bolt on the manifold and headers?

Is the carburetor clean with linkage that doesn't bind and a smoothly operating cable? How about the bucket cable and its operator?

Looking over all this stuff is going to tell you a lot about the owner and how he treated the boat.

 

[milkmoney]

Sell that Bravo donkey dick hang’n off the back of that Schiada and put a Dominator ditch pump in its place [emoji106]

Already in the progress. Be done in 2 weeks [emoji106] [emoji202]

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[77charger]

Both great engines. But hipo parts are easier and cheaper to buy for a chevy vs a ford. I'm
A chevy guy but first boat had a bbf and it worked great.

And don't bother with an olds

 

[Constant840]

In a jet bote, Fords suck and Chevys blow...