About to buy '08 Challenger SE

[robertm]

First time poster here. I’ve read through the last 4 pages of emails which have been very helpful. If I ask a question here that’s already been answered please just point me in the right direction.

I am about to purchase an ’08 challenger 180 se. I’m going about 950 miles to get it though so I need to have all questions answered by the dealer before I head out.

First, is there a way to know if the boat he’s selling me has the ceramic or steel washers? As in production date or something like that.

Second, it’s currently wrapped in the shipping plastic. Should I bring it back like that or have him unwrap it? If I leave it wrapped it will be safer coming home. If I have him unwrap we can start it up and take it for a quick spin. It seems like a good idea to take it out before I drive her home.

Third, what should I tell him to check on? I know the depth finder has cause some people problems. Any other known common issues?

Fourth, when I get there what should I be looking out for and check into? I’ve never owned a boat but am very mechanically inclined.

Sixth, there was a link on here somewhere of things to check out before buying or something like that. I thought I book marked it but can’t find it now.

I am going to have him take a couple pics before I go just to be sure it looks right.

Anything else anybody wants to share, tips or otherwise, are appreciated. Thanks VERY much for the help guys!

 

[seadoosnipe]

Ceramic washers.....

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that you'll have the steel washers. This problem was found a couple years ago, so I'd believe by now, the new Seadoo superchargers will be equipped with the steel washers.

The issue with the ceramic washers was due to owners using the synthertic oils. The synthetic oil would break dissolve the washers, causing failure. These slip/thrust washers design is the best in reducing heat, since ceramic is a great thermal barrier against friction, these would have been great had users not switched to the synthetic oils...........

Good luck, ask your dealer on this for a 100% sure answer to the question. I'm sure they'll know.

Congratulations on the new purchase, you should have a blast. And please, follow your break in guidelines to the "T"......you'll have a great experience.:cheers:

 

[markj602]

I have the same boat. If you are getting a tower with it, I would check how it comes together and collapses before you leave the dealership. Mine has a problem with it that is still unresolved. Other than that I haven't had any other problems with mine. Just take it easy for the first 10 hours and enjoy your new toy :hurray:

p.s. From what I've read I'm about 95% sure that these boats have the steel washers.

 

[robertm]

This is actually not correct, here is a quote from one of the largest dealers in the US...

Kevin Seeber
Kingsland Marine"

The dealer I'm getting it from told me the same thing. Jet skis getting big air and keeping the throttle mashed.

Also, not getting the tower so no worries there.

Thanks for the info guys. I pick it up Saturday!!

 

[pwirch]

I owned an '08 Challenger SE for two weeks. First time out, problems, ceramic washers in it and they were broken. Supposedly fixed, 2nd time out problems again. Took it back to the dealer and when they took it out .. BOOM .. blew the motor. The presume there were pieces that got down in to the motor. I've got a thread in here somewhere about the whole ordeal. I only had 4 hours total on the boat. The time to repair was just too long so we upgraded to an '08 Speedster 200. I thought it was a great boat with two exceptions. I spend most of the time here on Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and the water is typically a little choppy and gets rough fast. We took on lots of water over the nose because it dips down so much so the front seats were soaker seats out on the lake. The bilge more than keeps up with it though. The other issue was also due to choppy water, the boat seemed to get tossed around alot and popped out of the water nose first a lot. Night and day difference from our Speedster which we hardly notice any waves out on the lakes now.

I thought it was a really nice boat and had they been able to fix it in a more timely manner we might have kept it. Space wise I didn't really gain any with the bigger boat, just the piece of mind of dual engines.

 

[robertm]

I abs. love the speedster but I didn't want the added hassle of a second motor. I have to many other projects that keep me in the garage and I'm really hoping the boat doesn't become another one. I figure double motor is double the time for me to fix/maintain.

I hear ya on the security of a second motor but down here the lakes aren't 'that' big and you can always find somebody to help ya out. Plus its brand new so I better not be breaking down

Dam I bet that is fast though!

 

[robertm]

Picked her up this weekend. 1850 miles round trip in 46hrs -uhggg. I bought it at Smith Powersports in Hayesville NC. He gave me the best deal I could find in the entire country. ~$7400 off sticker. Its and '08 an had zero hours on it when I picked up. I highly recommend giving Charles, the owner, a call of your looking to negotiate. I get the impression he works on volume sales instead of larger margins. It’s quite an operation he has up there.

We took the boat out while I was there. It was my first time on a jet boat. Wow, what a different beast than a propped boat. It will take some getting used to at idle speed :ack:

It was incredible how quickly it gets up on plane though and the maneuverability is remarkable. I still need to get all my documentation together here before I take her out. Hopefully later this week we will get to drop her in the water here in Dallas.

Thanks for the tips/advice etc from everyone here. Really looking forward to enjoying this boat!!

 

[pwirch]

Have fun on your new boat. I thought it was a great boat when we had it just our local dealer is a bone head and I didn't want to deal with them trying to fix it again and again and again. lol. Shouldn't have ever had a problem in the first place but we did. That was a quick boat and I loved the room.

 

[robertm]

Congrats on the new doo! :hurray:

Thanks man. Are you in Dallas TX? If so, what lakes do you frequent? I live about 10 min from Lewisville and by chance store the boat about 2 miles from the sneaky petes area public launch. Will want to venture out and try some different lakes eventualy though. If you have any recommendations of lakes, places etc please share. Will use the boat to party, tube, ski, fish. All adults.

 

[texasmojo]

Robertm i just realized your from dallas. I live in denton behind Bill Utter Ford. I go to lake lewisville. I was at sneaky petes saturday. I got some new scratches on my challenger decals from docking there. Have you found the party cove yet?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFyl9mPKXWE

 

[robertm]

Robertm i just realized your from dallas. I live in denton behind Bill Utter Ford. I go to lake lewisville. I was at sneaky petes saturday. I got some new scratches on my challenger decals from docking there. Have you found the party cove yet?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFyl9mPKXWE

Hey man, I know exactly where you are. I used to work up in Gainesville and drove by Bill Utters everyday. I work down at love field now but live close to 35 and 121.

We haven't taken the boat out yet but I've heard all about party cove. Looking forward to checking it out

I drove down to the public launch just past sneaky petes on Sunday to see how things are done. I'm shocked just how many people are boating here. I live less than 10 miles from the lake and had no idea so much was going on!

Can't see utube at work. Will check out tonight though.

 

[texasmojo]

Hey man, I know exactly where you are. I used to work up in Gainesville and drove by Bill Utters everyday. I work down at love field now but live close to 35 and 121.

We haven't taken the boat out yet but I've heard all about party cove. Looking forward to checking it out

I drove down to the public launch just past sneaky petes on Sunday to see how things are done. I'm shocked just how many people are boating here. I live less than 10 miles from the lake and had no idea so much was going on!

Can't see utube at work. Will check out tonight though.

Thats funny!! I work at the Coca Cola plant across from love feild airport. Its a far drive but worth the pay. By sneaky petes is where i unload. Its kind of busy but not too bad. If anything you just gotta wait about 5 mns. There are alot of ramps at lake lewisville. Sneaky petes has got to be the most busy. About 50 yards further away is another ramp with much less people. Lewisville lake is suppost to be the busiest lake in all texas from what i hear and lake grapevine coming in at 2nd. If you wanna party and meet people then party cove is for you. Its crazy out there. Anyways, Why did you have to go 950 miles to get your challenger?? They sell them at jerry whittle in lewisville.

 

[robertm]

Thats funny!! I work at the Coca Cola plant across from love feild airport. Its a far drive but worth the pay. By sneaky petes is where i unload. Its kind of busy but not too bad. If anything you just gotta wait about 5 mns. There are alot of ramps at lake lewisville. Sneaky petes has got to be the most busy. About 50 yards further away is another ramp with much less people. Lewisville lake is suppost to be the busiest lake in all texas from what i hear and lake grapevine coming in at 2nd. If you wanna party and meet people then party cove is for you. Its crazy out there. Anyways, Why did you have to go 950 miles to get your challenger?? They sell them at jerry whittle in lewisville.

Yup, I know exactly were you work. Drive by there everytime I go to Mia's for lunch!

I drove out to NC instead of getting it from Jerry because I got it for almost 4k less than Jerry would sell it to me. It was just too good a deal to pass up.

Looking forward to checking out party cove. Probably a little crazier than we're looking for now but nothing wrong with giving it a shot!