New Seadoo jetskis

[Opformark]

So I went to my local powersports dealer today to get some Threebond 1211 for my engine build and curiosity got the best of me and I wandered over to the new Seadoo jetski displays. Looked at a GTX Limited, a RXT 260 and a wake they had there. What cool looking machines and WOW lots of horsepower! I was reading the breakdown on them and they were coming in at well over 900 lbs. each!! Now I'm new to jet skis relatively but am wondering, how that weight soaks up a lot of those big H.P. Numbers? My 97 GTI I think comes in at just over 500 lbs and I'd think my 97 GSX has got to be less. Does the lighter weight make a substantial difference in the water? Has there been any significant hull design changes that overcome all that mass of the newer skis? The new ones just looked mammoth!

 

[TheChad]

The new ski's all go about 70MPH, but run more like a boat. You don't get wet, you can walk around it or stand on 1 side and it bairly leans, they don't corner/spin out like the old 2-strokes, to get the off-the-line speed out of these new super heavy/long/wide ski's they have to have super chargers, which adds a bunch more problems.

I don't know that I'll ever buy a 4-stroke jet ski.. If/when 2-strokes become completely obsolete, I'll probably get out of the sport. Unless they can change the current way of these new ski's.

-TheChad

 

[Dr Honda]

Yup... what he said.

You have gobs of HP... but because of the weight, it drags the speed back... but then again... they are speed limited to 70 mph now. (via a GPS) But, more than the weight holding your potential speed back... the size and weight will make it drink a TON of fuel.


FYI... the boat in my avatar only weighs 950# dry.

 

[Opformark]

So these new Seadoo will only do 70 unless you circumvent the speed limiter? I'm hoping my 787 GSX will be above 60, maybe 65 if all goes well. I'm with TheChad as well, and will keep my 2 2 stroke skis! The new ones do look wicked though! I just don't want to be filling up 3 times a day. :driving:

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

Yes

Rode a rental sea-doo 130HP 3 seater... was crap compared to my '98 GTX... which is also 130 HP...

it's fat, slow, lazy, boring...

It's like your pushing buttons on a laptop to 'ride'...

I love my old light weight skis... I see no reason to change...

$16K for a 260HP thats 5 MPH faster and boring to ride?! nahh...

 

[Shayner]

4 stroke all the way

:rant:i have a 2004 4 tech sc 875lbs with 185 hp. i can hit a top speed of 62mph and this thing is way far from boring.
on a calm lake doing 45 mph if your positioned right and turn you can wip this thing around 360 degrees and keep going,it turns on a dime.its great for week-end crusing cause you can have the best of both worlds-lots of fun spining around or sit back and cruise and go swimmimg with the drop ladder for easy boarding.you can pull a tube with ease with a spotter.
i perfer the 4-tech any day of the week.
as far as gas milage,i fill up and im good for the whole day.no problem getting 5 hours out of a tank of fuel,also no oil to add and wondering when the 2 stroke might lean out and blow up.
just my thoughts.

:rant:

 

[TheChad]

as far as gas milage,i fill up and im good for the whole day.no problem getting 5 hours out of a tank of fuel,also no oil to add and wondering when the 2 stroke might lean out and blow up.

How big is your fuel tank? My '96 GSX has a 15 GAL fuel tank, after 4 hours of riding (Not full speed crusing), I still have over 1/2 tank of fuel.

You don't have to add 2-stroke oil, but you have to do oil changes, which 99% of people get done at a dealership @ an ultra premium cost. Most would consider adding 2-stroke oil every now and again easier then dealing with oil changes..

Unless your a complete idiot (Not saying you are), you really don't have to worry much about running lean with the 2-strokes. The majority of people that have problems just buy their ski and run it untill it blows up doing little to no maintaince.

Those of us that properly maintain our 2-strokes and check the condition of our oil/fule lines, rebuild the carb(s), read plugs, etc don't ever have problems with running lean..

I can guarentee you that your super charged 4-stroke will have a TON more maintaince cost and problems over it's lifetime then ANY properly maintained 2-stroke.

When you can show me a 4-stroke that's 14+ years old with nothing more then standard maintaince and still running with good compression, then I'll think about considering a 4-stroke equal to or superior to the 2-strokes...

That said, I do have a 4-stroke outboard on my fishing boat, But we'll see how much maintaince/repair it'll need over the next 30-40 years... Typical 2-stroke outboards will run 30+ years with only lower unit oil changes, spark plugs and a few water pump impeller changes.

-TheChad

 

[Shayner]

thoughts

How big is your fuel tank? My '96 GSX has a 15 GAL fuel tank, after 4 hours of riding (Not full speed crusing), I still have over 1/2 tank of fuel.

You don't have to add 2-stroke oil, but you have to do oil changes, which 99% of people get done at a dealership @ an ultra premium cost. Most would consider adding 2-stroke oil every now and again easier then dealing with oil changes..

Unless your a complete idiot (Not saying you are), you really don't have to worry much about running lean with the 2-strokes. The majority of people that have problems just buy their ski and run it untill it blows up doing little to no maintaince.

Those of us that properly maintain our 2-strokes and check the condition of our oil/fule lines, rebuild the carb(s), read plugs, etc don't ever have problems with running lean..

I can guarentee you that your super charged 4-stroke will have a TON more maintaince cost and problems over it's lifetime then ANY properly maintained 2-stroke.

When you can show me a 4-stroke that's 14+ years old with nothing more then standard maintaince and still running with good compression, then I'll think about considering a 4-stroke equal to or superior to the 2-strokes...

That said, I do have a 4-stroke outboard on my fishing boat, But we'll see how much maintaince/repair it'll need over the next 30-40 years... Typical 2-stroke outboards will run 30+ years with only lower unit oil changes, spark plugs and a few water pump impeller changes.

-TheChad

the fuel tank on mine is no doubt larger than yours but my 5 hour ride is a constant 6500 rpm range crusing speed-taking it easy going in the direction im gioing- that said im am a fan.

i speak from experience with 2 strokes as well,being in canada i ski doo and my mxz 440/800 mod i was always rebuilding my engine every spring checking my cyliders-jugs-rods-pistons for wear.nothing worse being hours away from home and break down somewhere an the temp being -15.

that said when buying a water craft i choose a 4 stroke because of less maintenance,oil change i do as well as all other maintenance,this winter will be the rebuild of the super charger and ill be good for another 100 hrs or approx 3 yrs.the engine as long as you take care of it,i think its great so far.

you with the 2 stroke if your high on matinance your replacing rings every season plus full gasket kits and constantly cleaning the rave valves for peak ferformance...now dont get me wrong its all part of the game and being in the garage with a few beer and working on your machine is fun.

i still say...4 STROKES ARE BETTER....

 

[Opformark]

My main issue is the weight difference between the two. I would have a new RXT if I had the big money to spend, but, I just can't let myself drop that much coin on a weekend toy when I'll have 2 running this spring for well under 4k total.
Now yes there may be inherent issues with the 2 stroke motors, but I'm a maintainence freak when it comes to my toys. My car may be needing a oil change, but my skis will never want for anything. TheChad is right, 2 stroke's have got a bad name from all the owners who just ride them into disrepair then bitch because they broke. My 2 cents.

 

[Shayner]

cost

well i would not buy new in the first place.....it took several months for myself to buy my seadoo from the right seller....i mean when i got the thing it was mint....just like new, i got it summer past,so it being 6 yrs old with only 40 hrs on it for $6500 i lucked out.

i will agree with him as well,people who just ride and do no work to there toys and then complain when they break need to read the service manual. :banghead:

 

[TheChad]

you with the 2 stroke if your high on matinance your replacing rings every season plus full gasket kits and constantly cleaning the rave valves for peak ferformance...now dont get me wrong its all part of the game and being in the garage with a few beer and working on your machine is fun...

Replacing rings every season?? Why on earth would you replace rings every season? Unless you are putting 300+ hours on your ski every season..

Ask all the people with 2-stroke DI's how they liked their ski's BEFORE they had problems, 99% of them will say it was great, but once they started having problems they were money pits. Same with 4-strokes.

When they run good, they are nice. But as soon as you start having problems it'll be one expensive thing after another.. Oh and when you need a new engine, it'll cost you several thousand dollars..

When I need a new engine, it's about $700. At that price I can put a new engine in my ski every 3 years and not think twice about it (But I wont have to put a new engine in my ski for many more then 3 years).


I am glad you love your 4-stroke. I hope we are both still here to see how it's going in 10 years...

-TheChad

 

[Shayner]

in that time period im sure ill have had few newer models.

if your were take the head off why not the jugs and do the rings, there only$20 bucks each.seems logical to me.

either way dude,toys = money pits.

 

[Wire4Money]

I am probably upgrading from a GTX 951 to a GTX 185 this year. They both have their issues. I have rebuilt my fair share of 2 strokes the last couple years. I am at a point in my life when I want to ride, not wrench. I will still keep my 96 GSX, but it's time to take the next logical step forward. How many people are hanging onto their 30 year old cars because they are lightweight, carb'd, and more fun to drive. I have an 84 Celica convertible that's a blast, but it only gets driven a few hundred miles a year.

 

[kenderman3]

Have really enjoyed the forum's discussion, very interesting!