First Post - Need Advice

[brett2634]

Hey guys,
First, I want to say thanks for having me here and hopefully I will be here more often. I have spent a couple of hours now looking through old threads and this looks like a great place to be if you own a Seadoo.

Second, my wife has agreed to let me spend some (not much) money and purchase a new toy. I'm looking to spend $2500-3000 for a used ski (or possibly older sportster or speedster if I can find one). I am not that mechanically inclined, so I figure I can buy a nicer ski than boat for the money. I am looking for a 3-seater so my wife and I can ride comfortably. I had a 94 XP about ten years ago when I was in high school and it was a blast, but now I am looking for something to just cruise around on.

Anyway, I found a 98 GTI for $2600 - would this be a good deal. Details are here:http://littlerock.craigslist.org/boa/1893523732.html

Should I be scared of the rebuild?

There is also a 95 Sportster close to me for $3500 that has recently been rebuilt. What about this price?

Hope this thread is in the right place. Thanks again for having me here.
+Brett

 

[scooper77515]

My 97 Challenger isn't up for sale, but I have been tossing the idea around.

It has new engine (not rebuilt, but new, with approx 15 hours on it), all new hydroturf, pretty clean and decent shape. I have just finished replacing all the cooling and oiling hoses.

If I was to sell it, I would be asking more like $4500 or so. I paid $5500 3 summers ago, and since replaced engine, turf, etc.

If someone showed up with the cash, I would sell it and head off to buy a bigger and newer boat.

That one in the craigslist sounds decent. I would try to talk them down a couple hundred. It is always good when they are willing to let you drive it before you buy it.

 

[aklim]

I made $1000 buying a Jetski and selling it a year and some change later. How? I bought it in Nov. That means I am telling you "I don't need to buy, you might need to sell.". Sold it not the next season but just before the season after that began.

 

[brett2634]

Well, I'm not that patient and really want to enjoy the water for the remainder of this season. I should have at least two months left to ride here in southeast Arkansas.

So does anyone ride the 98 GTI? Any reason not to buy one? I believe this ski has the 720??? Is this a reliable engine?

Thanks for the help.

 

[SurfBeat]

Before you buy, log onto Kelly Blue Book to get a price.

Next, hit your browser and log onto NADA, again, get the price. (NADA is more regional, so you will get a more accurate picture of what PWC's are selling for, however, the KBB is also a good source of info)

Then, and most important, take the seat off the PWC, look at the engine to see if the owner took care of it, (clean inside, hoses in good condition, no oil residue in the hull or on engine) then pull out your compression tester and check the compression on each cylinder. (should read 135-150 in each cylinder and not more than a 10 degree variance)

Then, take it for a ride. Don't rely on simply taking the owners word that the PWC is in great mechanical condition.

If the owner won't let you take it for a ride, go shopping for another.

If you follow that advice, in addition to the advice that will likely follow this post, you will save money and heartache and maybe, enjoy the rest of the summer on the lake.

 

[brett2634]

Should I be scared of buying a ski that has been left in the water this summer? - not dry-docked, on a lift, etc., just tied up behind a houseboat.

 

[SurfBeat]

In my opinion, that of a Shade Tree mechanic, if the Doo was parked on a River, then that should be no problem. In fact, if it was, you will see first hand whether there are any leaks in the hull.

The next good thing is that you can take it for a ride and ride it hard fo a half hour.

Before you take it for a ride, check the compression as I pointed out earlier.

I am a River Rat, so, I have no real experience with Doo's that have been exposed to salt water. That said, there are several metal parts that would be exposed to the Doo if kept docked in salt water and that, in my opinion, could cause some corrosion to metal parts.

It seems like the Forum is full ofSalt Water Rats, so, I am sure one of them will be logging on sooner or later and giving you a dose of advice.

 

[brett2634]

In my opinion, that of a Shade Tree mechanic, if the Doo was parked on a River, then that should be no problem. In fact, if it was, you will see first hand whether there are any leaks in the hull.

The next good thing is that you can take it for a ride and ride it hard fo a half hour.

Before you take it for a ride, check the compression as I pointed out earlier.

I am a River Rat, so, I have no real experience with Doo's that have been exposed to salt water. That said, there are several metal parts that would be exposed to the Doo if kept docked in salt water and that, in my opinion, could cause some corrosion to metal parts.

It seems like the Forum is full ofSalt Water Rats, so, I am sure one of them will be logging on sooner or later and giving you a dose of advice.

Thanks for the advice. I forgot to mention that it has been sitting in fresh water. Also, the guy says this is where he keeps them during the summer. Tied up to his houseboat.

My thought is that 5-8 summers of sitting in water is probably not good for the hull. However, the 787 only has 2 and a half hours on it.

I'm starting to think I should sink my $2500 into a down payment and buy a ski that I know its history. However, me being poor and the economic downturn makes me think this is an unwise choice. Help!!! I just want something reliable and know that these ski's don't have the reputation the new 4 strokes do for being reliable.

Any help/comments welcomed.

 

[seadooya]

way too much, for that ski. 2k tops, and thats with trailer.

 

[SurfBeat]

In my opinion, sitting idle in water is not a bad thing.

Listen to SeaDooYa about pricing, the boy knows his way around Doo's.

 

[mike2]

I bought my first set of PWC's a couple months ago. 1 is a 98 GSX limited and the other is a 98 spx. Got them both for $1500 with a trailer. Neither of them ran when I bought them. Had to replace vts and coil in the spx and pulled the motor on the gsx, tore down the topend put new gaskets on, rebuilt the starter and BAM I have to running skies now. :hurray: