How Much Do You Need a Supercharged Mini Jet Boat?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The thought of a supercharged mini jet boat might not be on the top of the list, but perhaps it should be. Jet boats are not a new commodity, but supercharged mini ones are. Sir William Hamilton created the first jet boat on record in 1954, and it even had a Ford engine.

What is a jet boat?

The jet boat was first created by Sir William Hamilton back in 1954. According to Hamilton Jet, Hamilton hoped to have a boat capable of taking him through the swift rivers of New Zealand. However, he attributed his waterjet invention to the teachings of Archimedes.

In 1943, Hamilton crafted hydraulic pumps, which would soon be a part of his boat. He later opened an engineering business in Christchurch, New Zealand. By 1947, he helped create and build a rope ski tow.

By the time 1951 rolled around, Hamilton was hard at work creating a boat that could navigate the shallow waters near his home. Three years later, he used a centrifugal pump driven with a bevel gear to power a 3.5-meter plywood boat. This first boat had a Ford 10 engine.

According to Wikipedia, the Ford 10 engine is also the Ford Sidevalve. Ford offered the engine in two sizes. The 933 cc engine with 8 HP and the 1,172 cc engine with 10 HP. People commonly used this engine in farm vehicles and commercial vehicles. The marine version was used for boats, much like this one.

How fast do mini jet boats go?

RELATED: Buying a Boat: What You Should Know As a First Time Buyer

There are a variety of supercharged mini jet boat brands available in the U.S. these days. MotoJet offers a mini jet boat called the 115 Pioneer. This is one of the original designs offered in America. It is crafted from aluminum alloy.

The Pioneer is 11 feet, six inches, from bow to transom and is five feet across at the beam. The bottom is four feet. Fully assembled and dry, the boat weighs 800-1000 pounds. It has a fuel capacity of 34 gallons and has a top speed of between 40 and 60 miles per hour.

Brands like Jetstream Boats offer kits for those who might want to build one. The Headwater kit is offered with a basic hull, a basic hull with delta pad stringers, and a complete kit. This has the bulkhead, engine cover, brace, and stringers.

JP Racing out of Florida helped craft the boat seen in the above video. The jetski has a similar shape and size to the mini boats and can maneuver in shallow water.

What are these boats used for?

A view of the Downtown Miami and a mini jet boat | AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

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Leisurely activities on the water make the best environment for jet boats. One of the benefits of the mini boat is that it can navigate shallow water with ease. While some boats might require more depth and width to get through certain areas, mini boats can scoot through without issue.

According to Deep Creek Marina, such boats tend to work hard and run harder at a higher rpm. This might not be great for longevity, but it certainly is fun while it lasts. The boats can be hard to maneuver as a jet propels them.

These boats do not have a rudder which can make steering harder, especially if you are towing something or someone. The jet creates a wake that might be hard to tow others behind as well.

While these supercharged mini boats sound like a lot of fun, such an adventure might be best reserved for those comfortable on the water.

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Winter Presents a Major Problem for the 2020 Toyota Supra 3.0

by Gabrielle DeSantis

“Winter is coming” isn’t something owners of the 2020 Toyota Supra 3.0 want to hear. Several vehicle reviewers who test-drove the Supra 3.0 over winter complained that it sits too low to traverse over snow-covered streets. While you don’t have to worry about outrunning the undead, there is nothing more embarrassing than having your low-sitting sports car teeter-tottering on its undercarriage.

But if you drive a Supra 3.0 in the winter during a snowstorm, there’s a chance you could be featured in someone’s “worst drivers” YouTube video — almost worse than being chased by winter-loving zombies.

The 2020 Toyota Supra 3.0 had a rough winter, according to Car and Driver

The lucky employees at Car and Driver are fortunate enough to get paid to test-drive “long term” vehicles of various kinds. By doing this, those who write the reviews are able to write vehicle reviews based on their personal experiences. This means their reviews should be a lot more in-depth than those written by critics who only drive the vehicles they review for a day or two.

With that said, the test drivers with Car and Driver were able to zero in on one particular annoyance with the 2020 Toyota Supra 3.0: winter driving can be a drag in more ways than one.

Staff editor Colin Beresford pointed out that while he still loves the car, anyone contemplating purchasing it as their sole means of conveyance should know the Toyota Supra 3.0 isn’t the best choice for those living in areas that get heavy snow during the winter.

“I only got stuck three times, which I’m considering a win,” Beresford added.

Since getting stuck in the snow is never a win, we’re terrified to find out what constitutes a “loss.” But getting stuck in the snow shouldn’t be your only concern. Readers who reside in a state where there is heavy snow during the winter months are likely aware that mounds of snow created by snowplows can turn into a pile of hard ice.

This has the potential of damaging certain low-hanging components under the car. That would definitely be a loss, and not in the figurative sense either.

Other low-riding high-performance cars handle snow a lot better

RELATED: Toyota Has 2 of the Worst Cars for Tall Drivers, According to Consumer Reports

According to the author, Car and Driver equipped the test model Toyota Supra 3.0 with a full set of “. . . rare and expensive Pirelli Sottozero Serie II tires specifically designed for sports-car use.”

The front tires were engineered for the Lamborghini Aventador while the rear set was intended for the Aston Martin DB9. That’s nearly $2,400 worth of rubber. But what good are fancy-pants tires when the snow gets packed underneath the car, and you have to dig it out of snow?

You had better include a snow shovel as a part of your winter season travel kit.

However, though one might assume many low-sitting sports cars have similar issues in snowy weather, Car and Driver clarified that the Chevy Corvette, Porsche Boxster, Mazda MX-5 Miata, and Ford Mustang never gave the test drivers the same problems in the snow. It should be noted, nonetheless, those cars were lucky enough to be fitted with snow tires, rather than the Pirelli all-season tires.

What to expect if you’re interested in buying a 2020 Toyota Supra 3.0

We should clarify something about the type of tires Car and Driver used with the Supra 3.0. An article published by Bridgestone states that “All-season tires offer versatile performance and are designed to perform in a variety of conditions including wet roads and light winter driving…an all-season tire is not designed to handle extreme winter conditions like trekking through snow or driving on ice.”

Considering test drivers reported having to dig the car out of snow might suggest they weren’t doing light winter driving.

As for what you can expect from the 2020 Supra 3.0, we can’t mention everything. Nonetheless, the Supra has a long reputation among the street racing scene as being a beast.

Supras have been known to beat 1,000 cc sports bikes in some cases. With that said, the 2020 model is equipped with a 3.0-liter turbo I-6 with 335 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a standard eight-speed automatic transmission, it gets awesome fuel economy for a performance machine — 24 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.

The 2020 Toyota Supra 3.0 has a starting price of $49,990, according to Toyota. But for $55,250, you can test your snow driving skills in the special Launch Edition Supra 3.0. Just don’t forget your snow tires or a shovel.

The post Winter Presents a Major Problem for the 2020 Toyota Supra 3.0 appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Is the 2021 Kia Telluride Recommended by Edmunds?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Has the idea of purchasing a Kia been floating around? It seems everywhere on the roads, the 2021 Kia Telluride is nearby. While the SUV certainly is popular, what does Edmunds have to say about it? Check out the review of what the company enjoyed and where the Telluride fell short.

Is the 2021 Kia Telluride a good car?

A Kia Telluride SUV on display during the 2019 NBA Awards | Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Turner Sports

Edmunds calls the 2021 Kia Telluride a top-rated SUV. The company also gave the Telluride the best midsize 3-row SUV for 2021. With an expert rating of 8.4 out of 10, what makes this SUV so desirable to drivers?

While 2020 was the first year for this SUV, Kia came out ready to fight. It has room for eight passengers with a third row that can fit adults. Edmunds notes it “rides smoothly and is abundantly equipped with the latest technology and safety features.”

Kia has an industry-leading warranty that consists of 10-years and 1000,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage. In addition to that, there is also a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty for some vehicles.

Edmunds calls the Telluride satisfying and notes that the V6 is responsive. Compared to the acceleration of the Honda Pilot or Hyundai Palisade, it still came out on top. The stop-start feature is helpful to save fuel and keeps the engine quiet at short stops.

RELATED: Is the Kia Telluride SUV Worth the Money?

From what we can tell, the Telluride offers a lot of value for potential buyers. It has all of the latest safety features and infotainment features. It has room for plenty of passengers and cargo space but won’t break the bank.

Edmunds states that the SUV has adaptive cruise control and numerous collision avoidance systems. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standards, as do enough USB plugs to keep electronics going.

The SX trim (more on that later) has a head up display and intercom features for the back rows.

The EPA-estimated fuel economy comes in at 19 miles per gallon in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. When tested, Edmunds found the SUV got around 23 mpg throughout the journey. Not the best rating in its class, but not the worst, either. It does take regular gas, which helps make it more economical.

What are the trim levels for the 2021 Kia Telluride?

RELATED: Tesla Model X vs. Kia Telluride: Better Family SUV?

The 2021 Telluride has a few trim options. The LX trim starts at $32,190. It comes with automatic emergency braking and warning, blind-spot detection technology, and cruise control.

The S starts at $34,590. The S trim offers a power sunroof and 20-inch wheels. It also has a remote start and heated front seats.

The EX has all of the other features but also includes an upgraded navigation area. It has wireless phone charging, a power liftgate, and heated/ventilated front seats starting at $37,590.

Finally, the Telluride SX trim is at the top level. It has LED headlights and fogs, dual sunroofs, and second-row captain’s chairs. Starting at $42,490, the price is still lower than some competitors.

In addition to these options, each one has available upgrades to choose from. Upgraded wheels, infotainment systems, and other audio upgrades. Whatever is needed to make the SUV of your dreams.

The post Is the 2021 Kia Telluride Recommended by Edmunds? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Tesla’s Secret Battery Project in Texas Is Surprisingly Covert

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The atrocious response to the winter storm in Texas was yet another example of failing infrastructure letting the most vulnerable people down at the worst possible time. One unexpected solution to these issues may come from Tesla. The company is mostly known for electric cars, but its true ambitions are pitched at a much higher level.

One of the automaker’s subsidiaries recently set up shop in Texas and is developing a renewable energy program that could be very useful in the future. Despite Elon Musk’s love of the spotlight, the work at Gambit Energy Source has been lowkey so far. What is the reason for the silence?

Tesla’s battery project could be a safeguard against national disasters in the future 

In a year full of systemic, large-scale fiascos, the events surrounding the winter storm in Texas were particularly galling. The failure of the state’s power grid, the end result of a lack of oversight from the government, left millions of people scrambling for support in desperate times. It was the type of situation that should never happen, and plans must be put in place to make sure it never happens again. That plan may be coming from Tesla. 

According to a report from Bloomberg Green, a Tesla subsidiary, Gambit Energy Source, is building a 100-megawatt energy storage facility 40 miles south of Houston.

The batteries produced from this facility could serve as renewable energy reserves allowing the stored power to be sold back to the grid operators when demand is high or if there’s a malfunction. This system could produce enough energy to run 20,000 homes on a balmy summer day. 

During the fallout from the storm, Elon Musk took to Twitter to criticize the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), saying that were “not earning that R”: 

Tesla has already made inroads into this industry. It also has a 20-megawatt facility east of Los Angeles and a 100-megawatt unit in Australia. 

Changing the car market is the smallest of Tesla’s concerns

Tesla attempted to keep this new project a secret. On-site workers kept their equipment under cover discouraged onlookers from prying, but the jig was up once the company’s logo was seen on a hard hat and public documents confirmed presumed business connections. 

The attempt at privacy was surprising considering Tesla’s general publicity,  but it’s representative of how its most important business interests are not the ones that get discussed most often. 

Tesla’s mission statement is to “accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.” Its line of vehicles is a means to an end for its battery business. 

Tesla already sells a storage system for residential use (the Powerball) and for utility customers (the Megapack). It also sells solar energy systems both as traditional panels and more subtle solar shingles. 

Elon Musk’s other interests lie in the space race. SpaceX facilities are also being built in Texas, and the company was just awarded a contract to help send astronauts to the moon, according to NASA. 

Is Tesla a company worth trusting?

The Tesla flagship store in Shanghai, China | Costfoto/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

RELATED: Tesla Model 3 Owners Are the Happiest Car Owners, According to Consumer Reports

Any company investing in renewable energy should be lauded to some extent, but some caution should be exercised before getting too excited about Tesla’s batteries. 

Tesla’s cars have been criticized for some engineering errors and a general lack of reliability in the past. Making electric cars is a different discipline than making batteries, but those sorts of mistakes are more dangerous when you’re dealing with a power grid. 

There’s also the awkwardness of a for-profit company getting involved with a fundamental utility like energy. If Tesla does get to the point where it has a significant hand in any state’s power grid, then it would be in a position to hold those states hostage when they need electricity. We’ll see how Gambit Energy Source plans to move forward when it fully unveils its plans sometime in the future. 

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