Madien voyage - I need goggles :)

[RobertV]

Keep in mind this is my first jetboat.
So, I went to the gas station to fill my 97 Speedster up, gas gauge works NICE. I then went to Lake Mahopac in NY. Air temp was 60 and the water was COLD 42. I was alone and launched with out any issues. Both motors fired up and then died - I didn't turn the petcocks on - I was PO BUT I did remember the drain plug and straps. So I tried with the petcocks on main - ran for seconds and then died - switched to reserve and all was well.
We not really - I couldn't get the boat to move very well. The speedo did not work, but I bet I was doing no more than 5 mph and the boat was not happy. Sounded like the bottom ends or the pumps were coming apart. I was asking myself how the heck both pump could be cavitating so badly when the impellers looked so clean with tight clearance. I go back to the dock and tie off. I pop the engine hatch fire the sb motor and everything looks fine. I go to check the water flow from the pump - great flow but man that water is COLD. Rev up the motor the boat is pushed forward with authority. I do the same on the port motor and the flow is fantastic.
I took her out and HOLY COW - this thing pulls like a raped ape. I must have been air bound and the rocking of the boat with me getting on and off to check the flow helped fill the pumps with water.
I did some full rpm runs and my eyes were watering big time. Next time I'm bringing some goggles, they will help with the tears and keep my glasses on my head - LOL. I then started to play - now I know what all the fuss is about - these things are a blast. I was not sure if I was going to keep her or flip her now that spring is here. Well I can proudly say that this beast is staying in our fleet! I went for one last blast and the speedo started to work another NICE. Well that last run turned to be five more
I have some great wind burn on my smiling face and many thanks to all that have helped with my questions over the last seven months.
:cheers:
Now it is time for some cosmetics: new HydroTurf, new cooler cover, rub rail insert, good buff, etc.

 

[seadoosnipe]

Heroin or Seadoo....?

It sure is easy to get hooked. One hit, that's all it takes. It sounds like now, your addiction is going to be a bad one!.....:rofl:

I'll never go back to a prop job. Learning to back the thing from the ramp was the hardest thing to do.....but I"m used to it now!...

I'd recommend that you go with the solid sheet on the hydro turf. I bought mine for $30 bucks a sheet. I was only covering my rear swim platform but when I did one, I ended up doing the entire boat, ordering one more sheet. Had I bought the pre-cut stuff, it was upwards of $300 bucks...........I got mine for less than $100!...........

Here's a link, take a look at my pix. There are several pix scattered through the thread!..........good luck and welcome to our addiction we call Seadoo fever!............http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?t=11010

 

[Sikiguya]

Your boat pulled like a what?!!

I hope that reference is just a comment and not from something you witnessed.....uke:

 

[Craigmri]

Robert,

Welcome to the addiction. I totally agree with Snipe....I'll never go back to a prop-job. The more I run my new Utopia the more I love it!

Sika-Jim, Hows your trip going bro?

Craig

 

[RobertV]

Snipe - Hello my name is Robert and I am a SeaDoo Jet Boat addict. Hello Robert Welcome. LOL
I had found the Hydro Turf seconds and overstock website when I was surfing one day and didn't want to spend much $ on the boat. I was going to just reattach the corners of the black Hydro Turf that is on the boat now and even got a can of adhesive from HD last year to do just that. Then you did exactly what I wanted to do in your thread. Thank you for posting your job - looks fantastic. Now I am order two sheets of the Grey diamond.

Sika - Good one - no Thank god I have never seen an ape that has be violated :ack: This is just the "expression".

Craig - I was only out 2 hours on the boat, but I am hooked big time. I can total see us buying a new larger one in the near future with four strokes - yeah just like you did. :cheers:

 

[RobertV]

Easy fix on the petcocks - some yahoo put the return line on the "on" and the main on the "return" pipe on the tank - I only ran it on reserve since I only had five gals of fresh super in it for testing.
I ordered the Hydro Turf today - dark gray with the diamond cut - should look nice.

 

[kustomkarl]

Easy fix on the petcocks - some yahoo put the return line on the "on" and the main on the "return" pipe on the tank - I only ran it on reserve since I only had five gals of fresh super in it for testing.
I ordered the Hydro Turf today - dark gray with the diamond cut - should look nice.

Robert, you only need 87 octane for fuel...The high octane just goes out the exhaust. it can't burn it with only 150 psi in the cylinders. Higher octane works better in high compression engines or hi-performance engines designed for it.
save your money use regular.
Karl

 

[RobertV]

Robert, you only need 87 octane for fuel...The high octane just goes out the exhaust. it can't burn it with only 150 psi in the cylinders. Higher octane works better in high compression engines or hi-performance engines designed for it.
save your money use regular.
Karl

I was told that the hi test/super 91+ didn't have the ethanol fuel additive in it and that these two strokes didn't like ethanol. Am I misinformed?

 

[kustomkarl]

I heard the same rumor....but it's just that. Stick with the 87 it will save you some money too. The worst thing about the Ethanol is it will over time if left stagnant in a fuel tank, it will absorb moisture.

So run the fuel out and don't let it set with a full tank for too long. (months)

Karl

 

[RobertV]

Forgive me Seadoo Gods I have sinned

So the "Sounded like the bottom ends or the pumps were coming apart." that I posted about before were small rocks in the pumps. That is why the boat wouldn't move and why it was fine after I stopped both motors to check everything out at the dock. I must have sucked up the rocks when I first fired the boat up or after I figured out why it stalled and started it again in a different slip with the petcocks on reserve. When I stopped the motors the rocks fell out of the pumps.
I feel bad because the impellers were cherry before this. I feel like I violated my boat. :stupid:
There are some nicks in the gel coat, one of the shaft protectors is cracked and both impellers are nicked. I didn't feel any vibration after the initial rocks in the pumps, so I don't think I trashed the impellers. I plan to leave it this way this season because you know I or someone in my family will make more mistakes with it this year - more rocks, dock line, tow line, etc. :ack:
I'll replace the wear rings, shaft protectors, impellers this winter and repair the gel coat. I look at it this way: the impellers and wear rings are wear items and are the first to be damaged/replaced when you make a mistake.
By this time next year who knows, maybe I'll be jumping up to a newer larger Seadoo - well I can dream right? :hurray: