The Land of Giants Jet Boat Build

Having owned many boats from poling skiffs, offshore boats and jet boats. I have learned there’s no perfect boat. It’s always a give and take when building a boat. Speed, performance and maneuverability all come into play. For my new jet boat build I decided on a 1860 Crestliner with a Mercury 90/60 jet foot. I opted for the tiller model mainly to keep the boat open and deck clean. My last Jet boat had a center console which had positives and negatives. While nice on cold morning runs across Holter Lake up to the Land of Giants, I disliked how much space the console took up once we were actively fishing. My main purpose for this Jet boat build is for guiding clients on the Land of giant section of the Missouri river. I wanted the boat to be comfortable, stable and safe.

The Boat

I chose the 1860 deluxe mainly for its stability and safety while light enough to effectively row. To access the Land of Giants we have to cross a large body of water, Holter Lake that’s known to get pretty sporty. The Crestliner 1860 deluxe has a pretty substantial beam with and a60″ bottom. The 60″ bottom is about the perfect blend for draft and stability. Especially with floatation pods off the stern. One of the biggest things I was looking for in a jet sled was lower freeboard and a low transom for ease of rowing on those windy Missouri river days. While no jet boat rows like a drift boat, having a lower freeboard really does help in the wind.  Paired with the Mercury 90/65 this boat really scoots loaded with two anglers and gear. 

Custom Work – Adipose Boatworks

For this Jet Boat Build I called on Adipose Boat works in Helena Montana to do the fab work. Adipose has done a fantastic job on my last two boats and I trust the work they do. The fit and finish and quality of their work speaks for itself. Adipose not only builds some of the finest drift boats they also specializes in Jet Boat Builds | Modifications.

Oar locks and oars

Most of my days at the Land of Giants are spent rowing so I needed something comfortable. For a rowers seat I choose a Yeti 45 quart cooler with the thick cushion. The yeti cooler is a stable and comfortable seat to work from while serving double duty for lunches and drinks. The guys at Adipose built custom oarlocks to my specs so the hight would be perfect to row of the yeti. I’m currently using the Sawyer square top x wrap oars which pair well. These oars are 9’6″ and offer plenty of power for rowing a heavy boat.

Fly Rod Tray

I love rod trays! The rod tubes that often come standard on boats don’t seem to work well for fly rods and always seem to damage the stripping guides.  The tray is lined with aqua traction foam to keep rods and reels safe from getting banged around when running open water. I had Adipose build the rod trays to run the length of the boat to accommodate the longest of fly and spey rods. Having the tray run fore to aft allows both anglers access to fly rods. The tray neatly stores 5 rods which is more than enough for a day at the Land of Giants. 

Jet Boat Anchor system

I have had negative experiences with battery operated anchor systems so I decided on a side pull anchor system on this jet boat build. The side pull anchor comes up easily with the doubler system creating some mechanical advantage. The side pull system is great on days that I’m anchoring a lot to work tangles or land a fish.

Casting braces and Seating

Some anglers prefer to sit and others to stand. From a guiding perspective I’d prefer my anglers sit. Mainly for safety. On windy days it helps to keep a lower profile. If an angler likes to stand, casting braces are a great option with added safety. Casting braces can really help alleviate some of the fatigue often associated with a full day trip. The guys at Adispose added a bracket so that I can easily remove the leg braces from my jet boat and move them to my drift boat.  Overall I’m really pleased with this build and look forward to a busy season in it.  If you have any questions about this Jet Boat Build feel free to reach out.