Deere mpany : Tour Lake Powell With Jet Power | Customer Stories | John Deere US

Picking the pros

After researching boat builders and evaluating reviews, Knowlton selected Bentz Boats in Lewiston, Idaho, to build Lady Emma. Family-owned and -operated, Bentz Boats has been crafting rugged aluminum-hull vessels since 1972. The company builds custom, high-end commercial and recreational aluminum boats that have a proven track record for safely operating in a variety of water conditions throughout the world. A vast majority of these vessels are powered by jet propulsion.

When selecting a power source for the jet propulsion system, Knowlton leaned on the advice of Bentz Boats, who recommended John Deere engines supplied by Cascade Engine Center. This John Deere engine distributor has years of experience and expertise pairing John Deere engines with HamiltonJet propulsion systems in tour boats, water taxis, and commercial fishing vessels throughout the Pacific Northwest.

'Cascade Engine Center has been a long-term supplier of engines for us, offering solutions and support from initial sales to aftersales service, regardless of vessel location,' relates Bryan Bentz, owner of Bentz Boats. 'My trust in their recommendation is high - they have a proven track record of quality and support. The depth of knowledge that Tim Sandeman and his team at Cascade Engine possess of the products they represent is impressive. I often use them as a sounding board. We are very fortunate to have them as a resource.'

Cascade Engine Center recommended John Deere PowerTech™ 6090SFM85 engines for Lady Emma. 'Cascade Engine preassembles the components to ensure they are compatible and operational before they even ship,' says Bentz. 'Receiving everything preassembled prior to delivery reduces the initial startup time. If there are startup issues, they can often be easily resolved over the phone while at the water.'

Bentz Boats paired the John Deere 9.0L engines with HamiltonJet 322 waterjets through a ZF transmission with a 1:1 gear ratio. 'Most of our clientele is looking for higher speeds. We have learned that oftentimes smaller triple applications provide better performance at a lesser cost both initially and long term than twin engines,' says Bentz. 'As a result, we have a history of installing a lot of triple propulsion packages.'

In fact, Bentz Boats is building another triple-engine vessel for Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas. The new jet-propulsion tourism vessel measures 21 meters (68 feet) in length and will be powered by three John Deere PowerTech 6135SFM85 marine engines.

'Bentz Boats is approaching 50 years in this business, and you learn what works and what doesn't,' says Bentz. 'The John Deere engines were the perfect fit for durability and performance.'