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Buying first Sea doo boat 98 speedster. Testing?

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eddie.jesse

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First I want to say I have spent hours reading this stiff and am very excited. I'm set to pick up a 98 Speedster 16ft. It is supposed to be in great shape. Looks wise it is and he says compression is good and had it on the water two weeks ago and everything ran fine. The problem is I am not sure if I can manage a water test time wise as it is out of town. If the compression comes back between 130-150 within 10% of eachother, am I reasonably safe? I want to do the right thing with this boat and can't wait to get it and start playing with it. I negotiated 4800 Whig seems like a pretty good price. Please advise.
 
HECK NO! that is of course if he is asking a 'fair price' for a water ready boat. You could take him at his word and then bring it home and have $2000 worth of repairs ahead of you.

Take the time, take it on the water and test drive it.
 
HECK NO! that is of course if he is asking a 'fair price' for a water ready boat. You could take him at his word and then bring it home and have $2000 worth of repairs ahead of you.

Take the time, take it on the water and test drive it.
Aight. I will try and work it out. I'll let you know. That is a good price if engine is good though right? Nada was about 6500.
 
If I were you (or me and did this over again) here is what I would do and bring.
Tools:

1. Decent Compression Test Gauge
2. Set of allen drivers (5mm,5.5mm,6mm)
3. Feeler Gauge
4. Socket Set
5. Time (an afternoon outta do it)

First do the compression test. Do this on each jug while engines are cold with throttle wide open. Anything less than 130 and you might not get the season out of it. If they are a bit low just use this info as a bargaining chip to maybe get a better price.

Second check the rave valves, this may seem difficult but it's really easy to do. Reason why I'm saying to do this, is I didn't. When I went to clean them the first time, I discovered a huge chunk had broken off and was likely the culprit to my engine failure a few water hours later. Here is a thread on dissassebly and cleaing (ignore the cleaning part for now). http:http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?37588-How-to-service-Rave-Valve-Pictorial//

I would then inspect the wear rings and impellers, this can be done by pullin the weedless lever out at helm. This will drop the intake grates so you can see the pump intake underneath the boat. You can then reach in with your feeler gauge and measure the clearance around the wear ring and impeller. The time to replace the wear ring is when the gap is greater than 1mm, don't worry if it is this are cheap and easy to replace. Inspect the impeller too, again don't worry if the blades are a bit bent or worn out they too can be rebuilt at sbt for like 25 bucks a piece. You can use all this as a bargaining tool.

Aside from the visual stuff you can see, DO THE WATER TEST!! Hope this helps and good luck!
 
That is a good price if it all checks out. Do a compression test and water test it. I would never buy a boat based off someones word.
 
Yeah you guys convinced me. I was going to just do compression but I told him I needed to do both. He said no problem so that's a good sign. We will see Sunday. Thanks again. Cross your fingers.
 
Yeah you guys convinced me. I was going to just do compression but I told him I needed to do both. He said no problem so that's a good sign. We will see Sunday. Thanks again. Cross your fingers.

Good call and good luck man! Get back here when your done and post some PICS!!!!
 
Ok. Test complete. Very exciting. Went 62 mph on gauge. Both engined fired within 5 secs. Ran boat wide open for 15 minutes. Fun fun. Compression was 130, 130 and 125, 125. Engines are immaculate. Just minor cosmetics. I'm thinking great deal for 4800. I can't wait to start playing with it. :)
 
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Ok. Test complete. Very exciting. Went 62 mph on gauge. Both engined fired within 5 secs. Ran boat wide open for 15 minutes. Fun fun. Compression was 130, 130 and 125, 125. Engines are immaculate. Just minor cosmetics. I'm thinking great deal for 4800. I can't wait to start playing with it. :)

Those compression numbers are getting on the low side. Probably gonna need a top end before too long. But thats still a good price on that boat. Even if you swapped 2 whole new rebuilt motors in, you still have a nice boat with 2 rebuilt motors for around 6500, which about the price these boats go for in good condition.
 
Yeah that's what I was thinking. Get this season out of her with some cosmetic work. Then look at motor work in august to get it back to like new in the motor department. I want to actually work a color change too so should be interesting. I was wondering about the rebuild on my own but probably better to send off I guess.
 
Ok a little delayed but here it is. It is standard now but definitley have a lot planned for her.
83.jpg
 
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