Better reverse bucket for Challenger 1800?

[Fat Cat]

I am in need of some buckets. My old ones work, just not very well. They are stock. I was wondering if there were any kind of buckets that I could use that gave more power for reverse. IMO, reverse sucks. There isn't any power at all. And recently I snapped a rod from hitting 7000 RPM trying to keep the boat from hitting shore. To make things short, we did. On a propeller boat, you wouldn't. Any kind of bucket that offer more reverse power? New or used works.

 

[RFoster130]

Thats the nature of the beat. Learn it and get use to it. Dont put yourself at any risk of hitting stuff.

 

[Seadoobuddy]

I don't know for sure but reverse buckets are not made for speed or power.
You need to GO SLOWER towards the dock and not depend on the reverse gear. Use the f/n/r theory, the boat/ski still kinda moves forward a bit while in neutral.....go slow and easy. Practice docking around a floating swim platform and use your bumpers if needed.

On my ski this year the reverse was sticky so I removed the bucket and sanded some of the over spray paint that had gotten on it. I also used marine grease to lube the surfaces that meet.
It works much better now....no problems.
There are many threads here on how to dock a jet boat, look them up.
Good Luck

 

[Fat Cat]

I was going like 2 kn, and it took about 10 ft to stop and move in the other direction. I have docking down, it is just trying to get reverse to not be so crappy.

 

[crisso]

Just a thought.Are the buckets adjusted so you are getting full reverse.Do they come all the way down?

 

[LouDoo]

You're pretty much stuck with what you got, what you've got is thrust reverses and just not very effective. Anything larger even if it could be fabricated would prohibit proper operation, and most likely to heavy for the current system to lift. Cousin Criss makes a good point, make sure that the brackets are coming all the way down.

Lou

 

[Sink]

If you understand the casting process, you could make some new ones. Just not sure what you would change. It would take many trials and if you think about it, SeaDoo had plenty of chances and they don't look like they've changed much over the years. Might try to adapt a JATO rocket sticking out the front of the boat to slow you down??? j/k. From 2kn, it should have stopped right away. +3 on checking if the bucket is going all the way down. My boat isn't a performer in reverse but it more than makes up for it in forward!!! Just have to live with the pluses and minuses. Props have thier faults too.

 

[Fat Cat]

Ok, when I have the boat out of the water, not started, it seems that brackets come all the way down. But also it looks like it is that same position as neutral. Does that change when the boat is started?

Oh and by the way, inside the crossbar that keeps the 2 buckets even (includes moving them up and down) is missing a pin inside.