Exploring creeks in our home-built Sitka 8ft mini jet boats

Just got my boat all buttoned up and tested this week. Had some leaks to fix a few times, loose bolts I forgot to put lock nuts on, and general mistakes from being excited to get going.

This was the first trip with both of us in our own boats…and wow was that a blast! Insane what these little boats will glide over. We’ll be back for sure.

Shortly after we turned around to head back, a branch snagged my camera and instead of falling back into my lap (as one would hope) it fell onto the hood and into the water 😬

I was so bummed. When I got home I didn’t feel like waiting a few days for the water to potentially clear up. I figured I had nothing else to do in the evening and couldn’t hurt to look (lights work under water at night, right? lol) I grabbed my snorkel and some headlamps and headed back to where I had pinned the drop. After 15-20 min I found it! Couldn’t believe it. Was NOT confident I’d find it, but since I had JUST bought it (literally the day before), figured it was worth looking.

Here’s to more trips in the future!

For those curious, I’m running a Yamaha 701 62T engine from a 1994 Wave Raider. Boat designed, cut, and bent by Sitka Engineering. Built by me in my tiny shop over about 8 weeks off and on.