help buying the right one

[backwater dawg]

OK--this is my 1st post here--it was tough to get registered---but well worth it I'm sure---HELP---I've owned boats all my life (and that's longer than I want to admit), and have owned other brand jetboats with smaller merc engines---now I want to buy a Speedster --but not the wrong one--this will be adult driven--I don't care about sharp turns and that kind of stuff--we run backwaters on the upper Mississippi from bar to bar (take your pick what kind of bar ), I want to spend under 5000, and am mech inclined--I've been looking at a 95 that has an asking price of 3000ish with bad seats, but looks mech OK without driving, but after reading a little online, it seems that thats maybe not the best year--any help would be great---Thanks Steve

 

[seadoosnipe]

To much...

OK--this is my 1st post here--it was tough to get registered---but well worth it I'm sure---HELP---I've owned boats all my life (and that's longer than I want to admit), and have owned other brand jetboats with smaller merc engines---now I want to buy a Speedster --but not the wrong one--this will be adult driven--I don't care about sharp turns and that kind of stuff--we run backwaters on the upper Mississippi from bar to bar (take your pick what kind of bar ), I want to spend under 5000, and am mech inclined--I've been looking at a 95 that has an asking price of 3000ish with bad seats, but looks mech OK without driving, but after reading a little online, it seems that thats maybe not the best year--any help would be great---Thanks Steve

That's too much money for that year boat, especially if it's got bad seats. Also, that year motor is under rated for the weight of the boat.

Look for something in the lines of a 96 or 97 Challenger, Speedster or even Sportster. I have the 97 Challenger, paid 4k for it and it was in immaculate condition. It has the 110 hp 787cc engine. I wouldn't get a boat with the 717cc unless it was in the twin engine configuration.

If you get a boat with less than great interior, it reduces the worth of the boat tremendously......:cheers:

 

[RFoster130]

Yeah with that amount of money you should be able to do much better than a 95. I agree with Snipe.

 

[Dr Honda]

a '95 with bad seats is worth $1500. If the engines have never been rebuilt, then it's only worth $1000.

That boat with fresh engine(s), and new interior is worth $3K to $4k.

I would at least look for a 96 or newer. The parts are more compatible with the PWC, and that makes finding stuff easy on eBay.

 

[backwater dawg]

OK--HOW about?????

OK--No offence---I had a freind--he was the owner of a marina that I used to slip at--a long time freind, and a good guy.

He bought a ( I think ), mid 90's Speedster and loved the boat--had nothing but shaft seal trouble, lot's of shop time (????), I think, and he finally got rid of the boat because of that-----that kind of always scared me away from Speedsters.

Ok---so years ago my 16 year old son and I (he acually paid his half), bought a 1993 Bayliner Jazz with a fresh 90 Sport- had a ball--ran it hard for 8 years--had a ball--burned the middle piston like they all do--sold it, "as is"-for $500.

Now the kid is gone--thank god--and the wife wants to buy another one.

Damm.

I want to buy one that's going to run reliably within reason and be faster.

We run calm backwaters as much as possible on the upper Mississippi--no wakes--nice calm water--nites and weekdays--not always.

Am I better off to find a 96-98 becase of the engines or the boats--or would I be happy with a older one. Maybe find one with bad engines--fix it--and have a good solid drivetrain or just look for one with good or rebuilt engines.

Would I be happy with rebuilt 717's--I'm kind of new to Seadoo hp rating--we basicly just want to run ay a nice speed-2 adults(I think I weigh more than my wife--thank god). Thanks Steve

 

[Dr Honda]

The SeaDoo boats don't have any issues with drive shaft seals, so your buddy was either trying to band-aid a problem, or the mechanic who was fixing it was using crappy parts. With SeaDoos... there are 2 parts that you CAN NOT use aftermarket parts for. One is the carb diaphragms, and the the second is the drive shaft carbon seal.

Next... if you liked a 90hp Jazz... any of the SeaDoo boats will be a step up in performance. Even the Sportster with it's single 720 (85hp) engine will out run the Merc drives. There was a post just recently about a guy that had a 120hp jazz, and a single engine sportster would easily out accelerate, and have a better top speed than his boat. It has to do with Rotax giving a true HP rating on their engines, and the direct drive system is much more efficient than the gear box in the Merc.

Anyway... if cleaned up, and rebuild correctly, the SeaDoo boats will run for 10 to 15 years without issues. My 96 Sportser was rebuilt last year for the first time. It needed a lot of love, but it ran for 13 years before any real mechanical work was performed.

If you keep good oil in the injection system, and you winterize it properly... the SeaDoo boats are reliable.