Misaligned moving decks on 2009-2011 GTX iS and RXT iS or aS pwc's.

[gentletiger]

I have a brand new 2011 RXT 260 iS and noticed on my first ride last week that the moving deck is rubbing on the body of the pwc along the whole left side. The rubber trim piece that runs the length of the moving deck is what is rubbing. The right side has plenty of clearance. It is so bad near the front that I can hear the scraping sound when operating at a slower speed with the deck lowered. Only the rubber trim is rubbing, there is no fiberglass to fiberglass contact. Has anyone else with the iS or aS versions noticed this problem. As I see it, it is a factory defect, a misalignment of the moving deck on the body of the pwc and something that is not easily fixed.
Back in late 2008 just before this model of pwc was introduced a tester noticed that the pre-production model of a GTX iS he was riding had a noisy rubbing moving deck. Apparently SeaDoo paid no attention to his comments.

 

[Jameshh]

Misaligned moving decks on 2009-2011 GTX iS and RXT iS or aS pwc's.

I have the same problem with my brand new GTX LTD iS, the left side of the moving deck is rubbing (making a very load anoying sound) on the hull.

Did you find the solution?

Jamie

 

[gentletiger]

Hi Jaime: I showed this to my dealer at the 10 hour service and he called SeaDoo. Their lousy answer was it is not a problem and if the rubbing damages the fiberglass they will repair it. You have got to love a company that builds a pwc with a design defect that they knew about. A tester of a pre-production model iS pwc mentioned the rubbing deck and SeaDoo did nothing to correct the problem. What I ended up doing was raising the moving deck to its full height and filing the rigid black plastic molding down to stop it from rubbing on the body of the pwc. The more flexible rubber molding is hard to file so it still rubs a bit. If I could cut it neatly that would cure the rubbing completely. If you do any filing be sure to protect the fiberglass from the file by putting something large and long between the molding and the figerglass. Good Luck.
Mark

 

[Coastiejoe]

The fact that you BOTH are having the same issue on a new ski tells me the dealer MUST know about this...

I would contact them and I bet there is a free fix to it.

 

[gentletiger]

Unfortunately there is no fix, free or otherwise. SeaDoo just screwed up again and did not fix a known problem when it was pointed out to them during a test in 2008 or 2009, before the pwc went into regular production.

 

[Jameshh]

You have got to be freaking kidding me. This will be the last Sea Doo I buy.

I can't believe these dealers would allow defective skis to be sold? Let alone Sea Doo allowing them to leave the factory??!!

I also have a brand new Speedster that was not completely finished. There was no sealing around the Drive Plate or around the console?? Plus the speedometer wheel housing was sticking down an inch below the hull causing it to be way off (15-20 mg too slow). I had to fix it myself by adding sealant to build it up and making it smooth. Now it's accurate.

Thanks so much for your reply!!

Jamie

 

[gentletiger]

Jaime, be sure to file down the shorter hard plastic molding (it pulls up so you can file it pretty easily). Yesterday I trimmed the soft rubber molding with a razor blade. I used something to sort of pull it up and to protect the fiberglass. Now nothing touches the fiberglass. My razor trim job does not look too good right now but I am going to have a piece of thin sheet metal cut with a 1/4 inch bend that will allow me to have a hard surface for a better razor or a scissors cut. Don't let yours keep rubbing, outside of the fact that the noise will keep bothering you, it will eventually ware on the fiberglass.

Mark

 

[Jameshh]

Hi Mark, did you notice that the center line of the upper and lower decks are off on your ski? Mine is off by about a half inch. Look at it from the front. I mean this can't be good!!??

Jamie

 

[gentletiger]

Hey Jaime:
I have not noticed that but it probably is since the moving deck is obviously off center. If it is off it is not noticeable while riding. Steering is fine and I do not feel like the pwc is leaning. I will look next weekend. Sorry to hear your SeaDoo boat was assembled so poorly. SeaDoos quality control must be in the toilet.

Mark

 

[RFoster130]

Hey Jaime:
I have not noticed that but it probably is since the moving deck is obviously off center. If it is off it is not noticeable while riding. Steering is fine and I do not feel like the pwc is leaning. I will look next weekend. Sorry to hear your SeaDoo boat was assembled so poorly. SeaDoos quality control must be in the toilet.

Mark

Sadly, that is exactly true. There have been tons and tons of complaints the last few years about fit and finish issues on PWC and boats. They dont seem to care much either. Makes me real hesitant to drop big bucks on anything new.

 

[Carguy89]

Sadly, that is exactly true. There have been tons and tons of complaints the last few years about fit and finish issues on PWC and boats. They dont seem to care much either. Makes me real hesitant to drop big bucks on anything new.

This is not just a Sea Doo thing, for the record. All 3 manufacturers are having similar issues. So to Jaime, don't expect any better if you jump ship for Yamaha or Kawasaki.

 

[greggebhardt]

Just what is a dealer going to sell if they are vested in SeaDoo. I am betting if you owned a SeaDoo dealership, you would do WHATEVER to get a new ski out the door. My 2011 260 GTX iS is not centered perfectly but is not rubbing on either side enough to be a real problem.

You have got to be freaking kidding me. This will be the last Sea Doo I buy.

I can't believe these dealers would allow defective skis to be sold? Let alone Sea Doo allowing them to leave the factory??!!

I also have a brand new Speedster that was not completely finished. There was no sealing around the Drive Plate or around the console?? Plus the speedometer wheel housing was sticking down an inch below the hull causing it to be way off (15-20 mg too slow). I had to fix it myself by adding sealant to build it up and making it smooth. Now it's accurate.

Thanks so much for your reply!!

Jamie