New to me 1996 Sportster Engines

[Hicruise55]

Not new to mechanics but very new to Seadoo’s. Got the boat for $650 work/trade. I’ve always wanted one, cool little boats!
I live on Moses Lake Wa. It’s a big lake over 20miles long with many fingers and houses all around, in short; its easier to get around by boat!
I got a ton of extra parts and the guy I got it from didn’t know much to anything about it other than the engine in it “leaks around the spark plug” and had no power..
I would like it to get along pretty quickly, researching impellers I like the 14.5/22.5 skat trac, really only rowing a tube with my five year old.
I was thinking a bigger newer engine but a friend that reached jetskis (20+ years ago) says to stay with the 800? I got a extra engine in the deal but one has twin carbs on it..? Assuming that one produces more power and probably the original? Thoughts? Can anybody tell me what I have just so I get proper rebuild parts lol

Thank You all in advance for the info!
Aaron

 

[Hicruise55]

Sorry about all the typos, I was excited about the boat haha, also couldn’t figure out how to edit.

The boat is a single engine, just came with a spare engine and a bunch of other parts!
I learned a ton yesterday searching, both engines are 717’s. The one installed currently is a single carb but wasn’t winterized... and “leaks around the spark plug” the other engine (extra) has dual carbs... I am told the single carb is factory.. digging a little deeper this week.. hoping to get it going! Gong to check if cylinders filled up with oil, seems like a common problem with these after sitting!
Cheers everybody

 

[mikidymac]

Yes, you have the 717 engine and you can't easily install a bigger engine.
There is no reason to go dual carb as they are both rated at 85HP and the only thing the dual carbs do is use more fuel. It was basically a marketing thing as dual carbs sound faster.

I suggest checking the compression before doing anything, 150 is perfect and at 120 it will need a rebuild and be very hard to start in the water.

The head a spark plugs are sealed by o-rings so you can pull the head and replace all of them pretty cheap.

Also your oil lines look dark. If the oil is blue or green it is wrong and has to be flushed and replaced along with the oil filter. You have to run API-TC oil, not outboard or TCW-3 in these.

 

[Hicruise55]

Awesome! Thank You! So much for the reply!! Especially on the dual carb engine! (Any idea what it’s out of?)
Going to pull the plugs tonight I hope, and go from there!
I will look into the oil, I did read that somewhere that they are sensitive to the correct oil..

 

[jts32]

The dual carb motor is probably out of an XP or SPX. All the 720 motors are essentially the same, no matter what color or what they came out of. As Miki said, do a compression test first before putting any time or money into the motor. I would also check to verify spark, as the boat mpems are pricey to replace.