Conventional boats are usually designed to avoid rocks, logs and sandbars. Zilla Jet Boats builds compact aluminum watercraft intended to travel over them.
Based on Australia’s Gold Coast, the company manufactures a range of mini jet boats powered by personal-watercraft engines. Their small dimensions, lightweight construction and jet propulsion are intended to let them enter narrow creeks and extremely shallow sections of rivers that would be difficult—or potentially damaging—for a propeller-driven boat.
The range begins with a tiny single-adult model and extends to 12.8-foot boats with more room, stronger engines and family-friendly seating. Buyers can order a completed, ready-to-use boat or purchase a welded aluminum hull and build the rest themselves.
Why these boats can travel through shallow water
A conventional outboard motor places a propeller and lower drive unit beneath the boat. That hardware requires sufficient depth and can strike submerged obstacles.
Jet propulsion works differently. An intake underneath the hull draws in water, and a pump forces it through a nozzle at the rear. Because there is no exposed propeller hanging below the hull, a jet boat can cross shallower water and negotiate areas containing debris more easily.
Zilla says its lightweight boats can operate in as little as 50 mm, or approximately 2 inches, of water. That figure will naturally depend on factors including speed, load, water conditions and the particular model, so it should be viewed as a manufacturer-stated capability rather than a guaranteed operating depth in every situation.
The aluminum hulls are also fitted with plastic skid plates measuring 12 mm, or roughly 0.47 inches, thick. These plates protect the underside as the boat passes over sandbars, logs and rocks.
All the models are designed to accept engines removed from jet skis. Customers may supply a compatible powertrain for Zilla to install or select an engine package through the builder. The boats are designed and manufactured at the company’s workshop on the Gold Coast.
Super Mini: the smallest model in the range
At 2.2 m, or about 7.2 feet, the Super Mini is the entry point into the lineup. It is designed to carry one adult or two children, making it closer in scale to a sit-in personal watercraft than a conventional recreational boat.
Zilla recommends a two-cylinder, two-stroke jet-ski engine. With a Yamaha 701 engine installed, the company lists an approximate total weight of 120 kg, equivalent to around 265 lb.
That low weight and extremely short hull should make the Super Mini the most agile model in the range, but its limited seating also makes it the most specialized. It is aimed primarily at solo recreational riding rather than fishing trips or family outings.
The Super Mini can reportedly be registered throughout Australia, although the operator requires a boat licence.
Zilla also lists a 2.3-m (7.5-ft) pickle-fork-front mini. A pickle-fork bow divides the front of the hull into two forward points rather than using a conventional single-pointed bow.
Lil Sender adds room for two adults
The 2.9-m Lil Sender—approximately 9.5 feet long—sits between the tiny Super Mini and Zilla’s larger river boats.
Its key difference is seating. Zilla describes it as the smallest boat it could design while still accommodating two adults comfortably. It is intended to use the engine and jet-pump assembly from a Sea-Doo Spark or Trixx, although two- and three-cylinder two-stroke engines are also supported.
The recommended four-stroke option is a three-cylinder, 900-cc Rotax engine. With a Spark powertrain installed, the Lil Sender has a claimed approximate weight of 250 kg, or 551 lb.
This model is likely to be the most relevant for buyers attracted to the compact proportions seen in viral mini-jet-boat videos but who do not want to ride alone. It retains a short hull and minimal cockpit while giving the driver space for one passenger.
As with the Super Mini, Zilla states that the Lil Sender can be legally registered in every Australian state and requires a boat licence. Its official description lists seating for two adults, compatible Spark or Trixx power, and the approximate 250-kg completed weight.
Spicy 3.5 brings more power and family seating
The 3.5-m Spicy, measuring approximately 11.5 feet, is described by Zilla as its most popular model.
It seats two adults and two children, giving it a much broader range of uses than the Super Mini or Lil Sender. It remains compact enough for narrow creeks, but the additional length and passenger capacity make it more suitable for family recreation.
Zilla recommends a three- or four-cylinder jet-ski engine producing between 90 and 350 hp. That wide range means the finished boat’s performance will depend heavily on its donor engine, pump, setup and overall weight.
According to the manufacturer, a Spicy fitted with a stock Sea-Doo 300 powertrain has reached 123 km/h, equivalent to approximately 76 mph. That is a reported result rather than a stated speed for every Spicy, and buyers should not assume that all engine configurations will deliver comparable performance.
The hull uses a 6-mm keel with an additional 5-mm bash plate along the center. Underneath is a 12-mm HDPE skid plate. Internal reinforcement includes four tapered stringers, each made from 5-mm material and measuring 100 mm wide by 80 mm high. Zilla lists a 4-mm deck and 3-mm hull sides, while noting that other material thicknesses can be requested.
Those construction details illustrate how these boats differ from lightweight pleasure craft intended only for open, obstacle-free water. The reinforced keel and replaceable wear surface are intended for environments where contact with the riverbed or debris is part of the expected use.
Zilla Tiller targets shallow-water fishing
The 3.6-m Zilla Tiller, approximately 11.8 feet long, takes a different approach. Instead of using a conventional steering wheel and cockpit layout, it employs tiller steering to preserve more usable space inside the boat.
Zilla positions it as an estuary fishing model for reaching shallow areas that are inaccessible to conventional fishing boats.
The specified power range is 90 to 110 hp. Despite its tiller configuration, it includes electric throttle control along with electric trim, braking and reverse. Its hull has a 5-mm keel with an additional 5-mm bash plate through the keel and a 12-mm plastic skid plate underneath.
Available equipment includes headlights, underwater lighting, a remotely operated electric winch, fish finder, Bluetooth audio system, integrated cooler and tackle storage, navigation lights, front splash deflectors, foam-filled flooring, soft foot straps and an aluminum trailer.
The list of equipment suggests the Tiller is intended to be more practical than the smaller recreational models, balancing shallow-water performance with fishing and utility features.
Larger 3.9-m boats broaden the range
Zilla’s price list also includes several 3.9-m, or approximately 12.8-ft, configurations.
These comprise a longer Spicy, a pickle-fork-front Jet Tinnie and a pickle-fork-front Spicy. Details such as seating, weight, hull thickness and recommended power should be confirmed directly with the builder.
Their higher prices suggest more substantial hulls, drivetrains and interior fit-outs than the smaller models. The 3.9-m range may appeal to buyers who want the shallow-water benefits of jet propulsion without the extremely compact packaging of the Super Mini or Lil Sender.
Bare hull or completed boat
Zilla offers two purchasing routes.
A bare hull is supplied fully welded, file-finished and sealed, allowing the owner to complete the engine installation, controls, interior and accessories. However, the company notes that bolt-in components are not included, and neither the ride plate nor transom box is supplied with the basic hull.
This approach may suit experienced builders with access to a donor jet ski and the fabrication, electrical and mechanical skills required to finish a safe, registerable watercraft.
Turnkey boats are custom-built with the buyer’s chosen drivetrain, interior and accessories. Zilla says these completed boats include an Australian Builders Plate to simplify registration and insurance.
For buyers without prior boat-building experience, the completed option is likely to be the more practical route. Converting a personal-watercraft engine for use in a custom hull involves much more than simply mounting the motor. The intake, pump alignment, cooling, exhaust, fuel, steering, controls, electrical system, buoyancy and weight distribution all need to function as an integrated package.
Pricing and availability
All prices listed by Zilla are in Australian dollars and vary according to the engine, fit-out and optional equipment.
Bare hull pricing begins at AUD 3,300 for the 2.2-m Super Mini. The 2.3-m pickle-fork mini costs AUD 5,500, while the 2.9-m Lil Sender starts at AUD 7,800. Both the 3.6-m Zilla Tiller and 3.5-m Spicy are listed at AUD 11,300 as bare hulls.
The 3.9-m Spicy costs AUD 13,000 in bare-hull form. The 3.9-m pickle-fork Jet Tinnie and pickle-fork Spicy are each listed at AUD 15,500.
Completed Super Mini packages range from AUD 22,000 to AUD 30,000, while the 2.3-m pickle-fork mini is listed at AUD 25,000 to AUD 35,000. The Lil Sender ranges from AUD 38,000 to AUD 47,000.
The Zilla Tiller costs between AUD 49,900 and AUD 67,000, and the 3.5-m Spicy ranges from AUD 52,000 to AUD 75,000. The 3.9-m Spicy and Jet Tinnie are listed at AUD 70,000 to AUD 95,000, while the 3.9-m pickle-fork Spicy ranges from AUD 75,000 to AUD 99,000.
Because the boats are built to order and their specifications vary considerably, prospective buyers should confirm current pricing, build times, included equipment and registration requirements directly with Zilla Jet Boats.
These are not substitutes for conventional offshore or cruising boats. They are compact, specialized machines designed around maneuverability, shallow-water access and the performance of jet-ski drivetrains. Within that niche, Zilla’s lineup offers a progression from a 265-lb solo boat to larger fishing and family configurations—each intended to reach waterways where a hanging propeller would quickly become a liability.
Source: Zilla Jet Boats
