Knock on wood...

[benjilafouine]

Two years ago I thought I was having a good summer with my new used 2003 Sea-Doo. End of July, engine died (still not sure how to explain it but most likely a hole in the muffler). I was out of the water for the better part of the summer and summer vacation because of that. Broke my heart and at the time, I could not afford another one.

Today I was on my ski and it is running just fine but I am always asking myself: when will it break? So far it works flawlessly (must be 110 hours on new engine) and as for many people, weather has been lousy or cold this year so I didn't ride a lot. But hey, knock on wood! I told myself that if it was to happen again, I would go to a dealer and buy a brand new ski.

Are you having a bad summer with your 2-stroke ride? Are you thinking of buying a new one? I am curious. Share your stories.

Benji.

 

[racerxxx]

Weather here has been crap. Been out one week a few times during the week. Other than that, it's been weather related or other projects.

 

[manolocross]

65 degrees here this morning in late July.
But nyc weather is always unpredictable.

 

[benjilafouine]

It went down to 50 here yesterday morning. With north winds, it was everything but hot.

Benji.

 

[emspjay]

Well weather has been decent here in Michigan for me but busy with work and other projects around the house. The wife and her friends have been out on the GTX and GTI more than me this year.

Would I buy a new Seadoo or any other brand? NO WAY! I would not spend that much money on a jet ski. Let me try to quickly break down what I spent on my current skis and boat. 1996 Searay 300 Sundancer paid $28,000.00 last year fully loaded, twin V8, Generator, A/C/Heat, full electronics. 1997 Seadoo GTI purchased at the end of the season last year, amazing condition, fuel lines replaced and carbs rebuilt, it just needed a wear ring and seat cover, I paid $1100.00 for that and put about another $200 in it for the seat cover and wear ring. 1996 Seadoo GTX got this in a package deal with a 1996 Kawasaki ZXI 1100 and galvanized 2 place Karavan trailer for $1800.00 (everything was left outside uncovered for 2 years). Put a new battery in GTX and it fired right up! (replaced everything in the fuel system and put on new seat cover). The ZXI needed new starter so I replaced that and sold it with bad De-lamination of the gel coat due to water sitting in the foot holds for $800.00. I replaced the bunks on the trailer and sold that for $750.00. So I have very little money in my GTI and GTX and they run great! My newest ski/project is my 1996 GSX which I do have more time and money invested in it than it is worth but that is MY SKI nobody else will ride it.

I also purchased a 1996 XP blown up for the motor core and parted out the rest. My GTX and GSX both have the same 787 engine from the XP so I will be rebuilding that engine to have as a spare for the GTX and GSX. When I find another GTX to fix up I will sell my GTI so I have 3 Seadoo's with the same engine and a spare engine on the shelf just in case because the riding season is short.

Sorry for the long rant but I can not see spending $10,000.00 on a new ski that you only use a few months of the year. If you have some mechanical ability these older skis are great! And I'm 40 years old so the old skis are what I grew up on, LOL!

 

[Mickirig1]

Amen Brother. I enjoy the challenge of working on the old 2 strokes. I have 2 -2000 GTI's.

 

[Ankeneyou]

I always thought the same way but after spending countless hours rebuilding my speedster this spring (and the previous spring restoring my spx) I got sick of wrenching on skis and the boat and bought a new rxpx 300. I couldn't be happier with it and the only thing I regret is not buying one sooner.

I still have seven 2 stroke skis (4 run, 3 projects) and love them but also have a new found love of the 300. I've already put 34 hours on it this year since buying it in May.

 

[benjilafouine]

I am not really mechanically oriented and I hate just changing the oil in my snowblower and lawnmowers... Yes summer is short and this is my point: you never know when your old 2-stroke will break. And when it breaks, you may be out of your ski for most of the summer. Short of buying a new one, maybe I should get a second used one.

Benji.

 

[emspjay]

I always thought the same way but after spending countless hours rebuilding my speedster this spring (and the previous spring restoring my spx) I got sick of wrenching on skis and the boat and bought a new rxpx 300. I couldn't be happier with it and the only thing I regret is not buying one sooner.

I still have seven 2 stroke skis (4 run, 3 projects) and love them but also have a new found love of the 300. I've already put 34 hours on it this year since buying it in May.

WOW I just messed around on the Sea-doo website and the dealer website near me. $15,000.00 for the RXPX! Man it looks AMAZING!! I'm sure IT IS AMAZING but then I would want two of them so that is $30,000.00, LOL! I think I need to find another job! LOL! I know they are new but they must still require maintenance and I can't see the new 4-strokes really being that easier on maintenance with all the superchargers and bells and whistles. I think in about 10 years this site will be why is my 4-tec supercharger blowing up? why does this electrical problem happen? why does my OPS or IBR not work? I think it is a no win with boats in general no matter what you have, just plan to spend money!! So get what you can afford and enjoy it, HAHA! Have a great summer guys!!

 

[JTR]

First from all the issues with 2 strokes I have seen on this site I am so glad I have 4 strokes. Bought them used at about 150 hours each, oil and plugs and check antifreeze, that's about it. I think some things fall in the category of "if it works don't fix it" . I have Yammy SX210 262 hours, oil and plugs, replaced a battery and that is after 10 years.

 

[benjilafouine]

[MENTION=85700]emspjay[/MENTION] These are US prices in USA. Despite BRP being a Canadian company, the same RSXP ski costs here around 20,000.00$ CDN plus 15% taxes... You guys are lucky. Our entry level skis are about 12,000.00$ CDN. Of course, you can get a Spark here for 6,100.00$ but these skis are not made for older and bigger guys like me who like to bring another big friend (like me...) to show around our lake or two kids/nephews for a ride on beaches.

I said a few years ago on this forum that one day, these old 2-strokes will be extinct. There is a limit stretching old technology. This is why I see a 4-stroke in my radar in a few years from now.

Benji.

 

[MPower]

I've been beating my skis every weekend since early May. Other than dropping a long overdue new motor in my resto I haven't had any real issues. It is a 22 year old ski, so the parts have seen 22 years of heating/cooling, humidity, etc so things just tend to fail at any given time.

Old wear rings that just kind of crumble
Bolt head randomly breaks on the rideplate
Head pipe to manifold randomly starts leaking
Random electrical issues

Just keep the right tools and spare parts laying around and usually back up and running in an hour, but it certainly gets frustrating sometimes with these and you just want to light them on fire.

 

[emspjay]

Yes I agree with Mpower I have never had any real issues with the 2 stroke skis. I have just have done regular/preventative maintenance or wear items on all the skis I have owned except for replacing the rectifier on my 1996 GTX last year. I have owned 1993 Kawasaki TS 650 (never did anything to that), 1992 Seadoo GT (never did anything to that), 1994 Seadoo XP (previous owner did carbs and fuel lines so I never did anything to that either), my current 1997 GTI had the carbs and fuel lines done by previous owner but it needed a wear ring and I replaced the seat cover due to a tear, the 1996 GTX I did the fuel lines and carbs and seat cover but I consider that stuff maintenance, hope to get my GSX project done this weekend I have not had that in the water yet. So maybe I have been lucky?? Knock on wood!

 

[soccerdad]

I still have seven 2 stroke skis (4 run, 3 projects) and love them but also have a new found love of the 300. I've already put 34 hours on it this year since buying it in May.

I was lucky enough to put about 30 minutes on that 300. All I can say is wow. It was quite the ride. I also put several hours on my GSX and GTX on that SML vacation. I beat the tar out of the GSX chasing those rxpx's. But it just kept on digging. They are just totally different types of vehicles. Kind of like a 400 CC sport bike and a big fast touring bike. I had some very minor issues at the lake, but nothing I could not fix. The non-oem backup starter that is in Shamu was a little edgy along with a slowly leaking carbon seal. But they never let me down and I had an amazing time on them. And I took them on longer rides then I have ever had them out. They have been worth every penny. Shoot, just try to rent ANY jetski for a week! Low end waverunners for $250 a day! So basically, I could have thrown my skis away at the end of the week and still have been ahead! So bottom line, smiles per dollar the two stroke skis are about the best investment I could ever had made. Solid prep, good wrenching and attention to details will keep you having a great summer. I do like to go out with two skis at a time, but that is just a safety thing anyway. But that rxpx was nice........ :drool5: And my cheap Bayliner is way fun for the family too. When you get into boats, the world really changes. There were a fleet of $200k wakeboats on the lake for a charity event one day.:drool5:

 

[JJinSC]

First from all the issues with 2 strokes I have seen on this site I am so glad I have 4 strokes. Bought them used at about 150 hours each, oil and plugs and check antifreeze, that's about it. I think some things fall in the category of "if it works don't fix it" . I have Yammy SX210 262 hours, oil and plugs, replaced a battery and that is after 10 years.

Well, to put this in perspective. This is a two stroke forum where people come seeking assistance for problems. There are many success stories like yours with two strokes as well. Take mine for instance. 15 years without a problem. Over 400 hours on it before rebuild. Then I found this site and picked up information to keep it going for another 15 hopefully!

 

[JTR]

Oh ok but when you are using the mobile app you get messages for all forums. I didn't pick 2 stroke. I just thought it was an interesting topic. Nice to hear 2 strokes are just as reliable. On 4 so much less maintenance to do, just a fact.

 

[Mickirig1]

I love my two stroke 2000 GTI's! I got both with minor problems and a Shorlander trailer for $800, 3 years ago. We stole them! I love to keep them maintained and running strong. Our family and friends come out all summer to jet ski. Some even bring 5 gallons of gas with them! I have an away tool box with extra bolts, metric tools and stuff. I have helped our fellow jet ski owners many times. I have towed 2 boats back to their launching point. They did not think my ski could do it !

 

[benjilafouine]

At 50 degrees F here tonight, summer is definitely winding down. I am not sure if it is me getting bored with the same ski or our weather being not so warm this summer but I am still on the same 1 gallon jug of 2-stroke oil this summer and it doesn't seem I will break that limit.

My new dock behaved well and the ski was there all summer but I do have one question: how do you guys remove sticky pine sap from your skis? My dock is unfortunately located under a huge pine tree (like close to 100 years old) so inevitably, some sticky gum is getting on it and I am a bit lazy putting the cover (and anyways, the cover would get stained also). I tried gasoline and it is working just fine but my original mattes just kind of discolored a bit so gasoline is now out of the picture.

Any suggestions?

P.S.: seems like warm weather is coming our way soon!

Benji.

 

[mikidymac]

I feel your pain Benji. We finally have water in our lakes here for the first time in years due to the drought but of the three one has swimmers itch and another has the Blue Algae so the health advisory recommended staying out of them this year.

 

[JTR]

Goo gone, use in small amounts on a rag. Thing is it removes so well that the spot may be left brighter than the area around it.

 

[benjilafouine]

Should have thought of that (Goo gone). I use that to remove stickers on appliances. Will try it carefully.

Benji.