Considering a purchase, New to Sea-Doo world

[gustavo1992]

I'm looking at two Sea-Doos here in California. A 1998 sportster recently it was to the mechanic, i attached the invoices showing the work that was performed. Only dislike is that they added the two fishing poles holders in the back corners.

Also a 1997 Challenger 1800, I have a video showing the engines fire up, but may need maintenance. Seats do need upholstery.

What should i look for, what to avoid? any advice is helpful. Thank you.

invoices for the Sportster:
Sportster:








Challenger:

 

[Steelmesh]

Expensive things to review/consider includes:

1) Engines (compression check, borescope)

2) Jet pump (borescope wear ring and impeller, in water performance) These should be serviced annually, most jet boat owners over look this

3) Seat upholstery, mostly labor cost

4) Electronics including switch operation, gauge operation and general operation of the MPEM (beeps)

5) Look for corrosion on the nozzle attachments and reverse gates, there could be mad corrosion on the bits that steer the nozzle and control the reverse gate

 

[gustavo1992]

I also Came across a 2004 SEADOO SPORTSTER 4TEK, are they any good??

 

[Steelmesh]

I also Came across a 2004 SEADOO SPORTSTER 4TEK, are they any good??

I'm not too keen on the seadoo 4-strokes. Some more info as you look for a jet boat, someone from work bought a doo jetboat with the Mercury 240 2-stroke, it has jet pump issues that he didn't catch on the test drive. He and the broker have gone to several mechanics so far and he hasn't seen his new boat in 4 weeks now. On the side he priced out all new jet pump and labor he was looking at ~$8,000. Moral of the story is stay away from that 240 unless you know with 100% certainty it was maintained by the book. Even then, I would never own that 240, even if I found a good deal no one could walk away from just because it is too expensive to service and I am the mechanic.

 

[jknightg]

I have a 2 stroke 98 speedster and two 4 stroke skis
To be honest the 4 strokes need a lot less maintenance mainly as the water (salt) in my case goes through the engines on the speedster
Any boat can be a money pit unless you are mechanically minded
I have used Seadoo for a long time and love them [emoji106]

 

[gustavo1992]

Thanks guys i needed up buying this skies instead. 97 GTX with 107 hours and XP with a little less hrs.