Shuttle Craft Jet Ski Boat Converter Review [Video]

Shuttle Craft was the world’s first mass-produced jet ski boat converter. It was virtually a jet ski-powered boat hull designed to carry passengers and their gear! Shuttle Crafts made their debut around the Millennium, but they disappeared from the market after a few shaky years.

If you want to find out more about these versatile vessels, this post is for you.

We at JetDrift have compiled all you need to know into this Shuttle Craft jet ski boat review!

Shuttle Craft Jet Ski Boat Review

Shuttle Crafts were fiberglass boat shells featuring a semi- or tri-hull design depending on the model. These amazing attachments could turn a regular jet ski into a tiny jet boat in about 30 seconds! The jet ski provided the power and steering control, while the Shutter Craft provided extra seating and cargo capacities.

This is why these vessels were often referred to as Shuttle Craft jet ski boat combos or jet ski attachments.

Docking the jet ski to the hull was effortless as you could simply ride it into its u-shaped place in the stern. Keeping safety in mind, you also had to secure the jet ski to the hull with a ratchet strap.

Once the two units were properly attached, they began to operate as a single unit.

Each Shuttle Craft came with a unique rail kit designed for a specific jet ski hull. Although these kits were interchangeable, they were only compatible with one jet ski model, which was a big disadvantage.

The SC boat also required adequate engine power to get on plane. Because of this, smaller 2-stroke jet skis were not recommended for propelling these boats. Larger 4-seater jet skis like the Yamaha SUV, Polaris Genesis 1200, or the Seadoo LRV also didn’t work due to their extensive dimensions.

Thanks to their unique hull design, Shutter Craft boats were very stable and predictable. Their top speed was about 30-35 mph, depending on the performance of the jet ski.

According to this review at Boats.com, this performance was enough to pull an average person on dual skis or even a tuber.

Standard features included a self-bailing system, storage lockers, running lights, a 12V outlet, and a custom Shorelander trailer that could also hold the jet ski.

The hidden advantage of Shuttle Crafts was their running lights, which made it legal to drive them at night.

The manufacturer offered three different configurations, the Sport Deck, Jet Sport, and the Navigator.

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and talk about these models in detail!

Shuttle Craft Models

Shuttle Craft Sport Deck

The Shuttle Craft Sport Deck was the flagship model in the fleet with its 17’ 4” long and 8’ wide hull. Thanks to its trimaran design, this boat was extremely stable and easy to handle, even for beginners.

What’s more, it offered a very shallow draft that allowed it to go where other boats couldn’t.

The Sport Deck was designed to transport four passengers plus the riders of the jet ski. The total weight capacity of the vessel was an astounding 1298 pounds.

As the name suggests, the Sport Deck featured a large deck that could be used for various purposes. Although it was commonly used as a sun deck, it offered plenty of space for gearing up for watersports. With optional pedestal swivel seats, you could turn this unique vessel into a comfortable fishing boat.

Standard Features:

• Running Lights
• Bilge Pumps (2)
• Battery Recharge/Trolling Motor Plug
• Battery plate (2) (battery not included)
• Large Storage Compartments
• Sport Deck Upholstery
• Sport Deck Graphics
• Non-Skid Decking
• Stainless Steel Hardware
• Grab Handles
• Storage Net (2)
• Cup Holders
• Lockable Storage
• Ice Chests
• Marine Speakers & Wiring Harness

Optional Features

• Bimini Top
• Pedestal Swivel Seats
• Mooring Cover
• Sun Deck
• Windshields (2)
• Pedestal BBQ
• Deck Carpet
• Painted custom trailer
• Galvanized trailer

Shuttle Craft Jet Sport

The Jet Sport was the smallest model in the lineup, as it was only 14’ long and 7’ 3” wide. Its semi-v design hull could carry three passengers plus the riders of the jet ski. The weight capacity of this boat was only 750 pounds.

The Jet Sport was available in three configurations, the SC, SCL, and SCX; each came with different accessories.

Standard Features:

• Running Lights
• Bilge Pump
• Jet Sport Seamless Upholstery
• Jet Sport Graphics
• Storage Nets (2)
• Grab Handles
• Cup Holders
• Non-Skid Decking
• Battery Plate (battery not included)
• Stainless Steel Hardware
• Large Storage Compartments
• Safety Strap
• Marine Speakers & Wiring Harness
• Custom Trailer

Optional Features:

• Bimini Top
• Mooring Cover
• Removable Sun Deck
• Deck Carpet

Shuttle Craft Navigator

While the Sport Deck and the Jet Sport had been in production for about 5 years, the short-lived Navigator was revealed in 2000.

This model was built on the larger trimaran hull of the Sport Deck, but it featured a less sporty top deck. The Navigator had a bass boat-like design with a large and roomy front deck with fishermen in mind.

History of Shuttle Craft

The history of Shuttle Crafts Inc. goes back to the early ‘90s when three young Canadian entrepreneurs, Dan Beaulac, Trevor Hewison, and Wayne Washington decided to revolutionize the jet ski market.

They designed and built a jet ski boat attachment, which was actually a boat without any propulsion system. Instead, the hull featured a large slot to accommodate a regular jet ski.

The main idea behind this vessel was to combine the advantages of a jet ski with a boat.

Surprisingly, the prototype was developed in a family garage! After initial successes, the founders established Shuttle Craft Inc. in the mid-’90s in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Production started in Prince Albert, but it was soon moved to Saskatoon. By 1996, production was taking place in a 34,000 square foot facility, and the company was already employing 85 people.

In the same year, to finance rising production costs, Shuttle Craft requested a loan from Saskatchewan Opportunities Corporation of over one million dollars.

Unfortunately, a couple of years later, Shuttle Craft could not meet its payment obligations, and the creditors filed a lawsuit against the company.

Eventually, in 2000 Shuttle Craft filed bankruptcy, and its assets were seized by the Saskatchewan government and other creditors.

These assets were sold, and there are rumors that no less than three different companies tried to revive these vessels under the same brand name. But unfortunately, each of them failed.

Why Shuttle Craft Failed?

There are many reasons why Shuttle Craft didn’t become successful, but the most important ones are as follows:

• Hefty price tags: Let’s face it, Shuttle Craft jet ski boats were extremely expensive, as their prices ranged from $7,500 up to $10,500 without the trailer and accessories! The parts and rail kits for Shuttle Craft boats were also pretty expensive.
• Wrong target market: Jet ski owners typically don’t want a boat, while boat owners generally don’t really like jet skis.
• Low performance: The top speed of the Shuttle Crafts was only 30-35 mph with passengers.
• Bad design: These boats were large but wasted a lot of space, especially the smaller Jet Sport.
• Low durability: If you rode it hard, the rails were prone to breaking and scratching the jet ski’s hull. Also, it’s sad to say but jet skis are far less reliable than boats.
• Trailer: Shuttle Crafts required a custom trailer that accommodated the hull and the ski simultaneously.
• Registration issues: This vessel was difficult to register in some states, as the hull wasn’t permanently attached to the jet ski.

Shuttle Craft Boat For Sale

If you want one, you probably want to know where to find a Shutter Craft boat for sale. Since they went out of production in 2000, only a few are typically available in the marketplace. Where can you locate one?

You may want to start your research on some jet ski forums and Facebook groups. Also, you may find some Shuttle Craft Boat for sale on Craigslist, eBay, PWC Trader, and other dedicated jet ski swap sites.

Best practice is to purchase it with the jet ski, as SC boats aren’t compatible with the latest jet skis. Another issue is that finding Shuttle Craft boat rails is hard to impossible.

If you already own a jet ski, you should consider a modern jet ski boat instead, as they can accommodate virtually any modern big 3-seater jet ski.

Takeaway – What is a Shuttle Craft Boat?

As a takeaway, we’ve answered the most common questions about Shuttle Craft jet ski boats!

What was a Shuttle Craft Boat?

The Shuttle Craft boats were the first jet ski boat attachments ever built. They were fiberglass boat hulls with a large cutout on their stern intended to accommodate a jet ski. Docking a ski into this slot turned the SC boat into a tiny jet boat that could transport passengers and their gear.

What Size Was the Shuttle Craft Boat?

The dimensions of Shuttle Craft boats were as follows:

• SC Jet Sport – Length: 14′, width: 7′ 3”.
• SC Sport Deck – Length: 17′ 4”, width: 8′.
• SC Navigator – Length: 17′ 4”, width: 8′.

How Much Did Shuttle Craft Boats Weigh?

The weight of the Shuttle Craft Jet Sport was 590 pounds without the jet ski and the trailer. Its bigger brothers, the Sport Deck and the Navigator weighed about 1,000 pounds.

How Many Passengers Could the Shuttle Craft Boat Carry?

The smaller Jet Sport was designed to carry three persons plus the riders of the jet ski. In contrast, the Sport Deck was rated for four passengers plus the jet ski riders.

What was the Weight Capacity of the Shuttle Craft Boats?

The weight capacities of each SC boat were as follows:

• SC Jet Sport: 750 lbs.
• SC Sport Deck: 1298 lbs.
• SC Navigator:

How fast Could Shuttle Craft Boats Go?

Under a full load, the top speed of Shuttle Craft boats was only 30-35 mph. However, the smallest Jet Sport with one rider topped out 50-60 mph with a powerful jet ski.

What Years Were Shuttle Craft Boats Manufactured?

Shuttle Craft Boats were manufactured from 1995 through 2000.

How Much is a Shuttle Craft Boat Worth?

Sold with a jet ski and the trailer, the prices of Shuttle Craft boats range from $2,500 up to a whopping $10,000. Asking prices strongly depend on the condition, accessories, and location.