How Much are These Worth?

[Jimmy_Cleaver]

A client has offered to sell me a 1997 GSX and a 1997 SPX with dual-trailer for $1,000. He thinks it's a "steal", but I'm not so sure. I've seen 1997's sold online for $450 and $650, and a friend of mine says that there are a lot of people trying to get rid of old SeaDoo's, even if they work. And if they don't, there's a lot of money that can get spent on them.

I don't know how many hours they have on them yet. I looked for some kind of meter and couldn't find any. From what I've read, that's the most important factor.

They've been exposed to South Texas sun, uncovered for years, haven't been licences since 2009. The client says they work, but in order for me to test them out they are going to need to be licensed and I've read that models that that time period had fuel lines that deteriorated due to the ethyl in the gasoline so I assume I'll have to replace the fuel lines. AND the trailer has to be licensed also.

Seems like a lot of trouble for a couple of luxury items that might be worth less than what I've paid for them when the smoke clears, and the primary reason for wanting to buy them is so that I can clean them up, get some video to prove that they run and then sell them online for a good price.

Based on the information thus far, what do other people think? I'd have photos, but I can't find my camera's dongle thing. Tomorrow I'll post photos and answer any questions about information that I might have missed.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

There will be quite a bit of work involved at a minimum if they haven't been running for 5 years. First, the fuel systems need major service, rebuilding the carburetors is quite likely.

Grab a compression gauge and a starting battery (don't jump start these from another vehicle) and see how much compression each cylinder is capable of, a perfect Seadoo rotary valve engine should be 150psi and a still serviceable engine can be as low as 140psi

 

[rhonus]

Hi

This might be away for you to test them in water. Not great but it works £30 for pool and an hour to fill. It will save you all the registration fees. You might even be able to make the guy buy it as it's him that wants to offload the doos.

regards
Rhonus

[video=youtube_share;bSQPPDtZa5U]http://youtu.be/bSQPPDtZa5U[/video]

 

[68ragtop]

The older skis are always a gamble at any price IMO. But, like sportster said. If compression is 150 each side, the risk starts to go down. If the compression is good, look past the grime & focus on the big stuff that you can't fix easily like hull damage, cracked hoods, ripped seats. Not saying that should be a deal breaker but The problem is most of these skis are with $1200-$2000 in good running condition, so its really easy to be upside down in them if they involve major engine work.

That being said, if they turn out to be duds, they can always be parted out & possibly make some money. I have only parted out one ski & it broke my heart because I enjoy resurrecting them from distress.

 

[Krispy]

Wait, 1000$ includes a double trailer and 2 seadoos that were put up running? I think that is a fair deal.

Lets see the pics and the compression numbers.

One thing is certain, if you aren't interested in working on your own machines, these probably aren't for you. But if you have some space to work and don't mind learning about them it is quite rewarding!

 

[68ragtop]

Wait, 1000$ includes a double trailer and 2 seadoos that were put up running? I think that is a fair deal.

Lets see the pics and the compression numbers.

One thing is certain, if you aren't interested in working on your own machines, these probably aren't for you. But if you have some space to work and don't mind learning about them it is quite rewarding!

Thats True, I wasn't thinking about the trailer. But, trailers can be pretty nasty too. But even rough ones are worth a couple hundred unless its home built & made of wood. I guess a picture or two would mean an awful lot right now

 

[Strizzo]

in texas double trailers pull a bit more of a premium than some others since there don't seem to be very many of them around. i paid 550 for my roadmaster that needed new carpet on the bunks and new tires. i've seen doubles in decent condition go for 700 or more. i just missed an aluminum one for like 500 when i was looking for them.

so say the trailer is worth 500 if its in decent condition, standard offer here for a ski on a single trailer not running for whatever reason is $500 max. so you have $1500 in "standard offer" there being offered to you for a grand.

now, if you want to put these back in the water, keep in mind you'll be into them for another 3-500 bucks in fuel line, wear ring, gear oil, pump rebuild, carb rebuild, oil lines, oil filters, fuel filters, gauges, speed sensors, fuel selectors, and other miscellaneous stuff along the way. that assumes that they both have good compression and were at least somewhat properly prepared to be stored as long as they have.

if you wanted to part them out, you could probably sell off the various parts for around $1500-2000 per ski if you're patient and don't have too much trouble getting things moved. if they're working, the MPEMs are worth $300ish a peice alone. also though keep in mind that you'll probably have to pay to dispose of the hulls when you're done.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Especially if the trailer is galvanized, I've gotten to the point I won't buy a trailer that's not galvanized.

 

[68ragtop]

I have a powder coated Karavan that is 8 years old, still looks like new. Are you in Salt water? Personally I don't like the look of the galvanized trailers, even though I know they hold up fantastically.

 

[scrisp]

Man, trailers here in Michigan can go for big $$. I had an old crappy, converted boat trailer, under my XP. It looked horrible and the tires were dry rotted, but I pulled it home from Ohio with no issues, and sold it on Craigslist for $350.

When I got my XP (In Oct 2012), I diagnosed it with expired (by 4 years) registration, by running it on the lake, but there were no marine patrols around. I just finally got the new decals last week. lol You might want to run them on the trailer, with it far enough in the water to get plenty of cooling, I've done that a few times.

The fuel line replacement isn't a big deal. it looks way harder then it really ends up being. It cost about $35 for me to do my XP. The carb rebuild was $80 + shipping, but I know it was done right. Drain the gas and replace it with fresh fuel though, before trying to start them. Old gas has a tendency to not burn well and causes all kinds of hard starting issues. MY XP would smoke and the smell would just about knock you out, when i tried starting with old gas in it. It was dark orange colored, but when I put new fuel in, it spit and sputtered, but then the new fuel made it to the carbs and she ran a lot better, and was much easier to start.

I'd really have to say, for $1000, you wouldn't go wrong with this deal, unless both engines were seized and the trailer had cracks in the frame. lol I just searched a 400 mile radius from my house, and the GSX is going for $1800-2400 and the SPX is $1500-2300, so you might be able to turn a nice profit for a little $$ and some work.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

I have a powder coated Karavan that is 8 years old, still looks like new. Are you in Salt water? Personally I don't like the look of the galvanized trailers, even though I know they hold up fantastically.

As a general rule I don't put into saltwater but I may in the future depending on the circumstances.

If you dunk the mild steel trailer in salt it'll begin rotting right away, it's easy to tell when they've been dipped in salt.

My galvanized trailers all still look brand new and the mild steel ones show their age. Some of the galvanized ones came from salt, I have one mild steel trailer that was in salt (I think just once or twice) and it looks like hell, even has welded patches on the frame rails, LOL.

Of course aluminum is nice too!