My husband and I just bought a 1998 Sportster 1800 after spending a year trying to figure out the best boat to fit our limited budget and limited storage space. We just love the layout, and the boat is in good shape for something that dates back to the Clinton administration. We have ordered the shop manual, but in the meantime we have some questions that you veterans might be able to help with:
1) There are a few small gouges in the hull of the bow. They are really small -- I didn't even notice them until I started washing the boat for the first time. Do these need to be patched, or is that just typical wear and tear on a 14-year-old boat?
2) The backrest of the forward facing seat on the "starboard bow" isn't attached just right. How can I get behind it to remove it?
3) The armrest on the starboard side of the back bench seat (across from the driver) is not attached at all. How do I get to the screws that are supposed to hold it in place?
4) The ski pole doesn't stay up. Is there a trick to that?
5) The boat has a Perko brand base for a pole light at the stern. I don't know if this is OEM or not. It seems to be a 2-pin base. Will any 2-pin pole light work in it, or do I have to buy a Perko light (which seem to be two or three times more expensive)?
6) We are not really audiophiles but we like music and would like to be able to listen to our iPods in the boat. Can anyone suggest some decent stereo and speaker systems that would be loud enough for a Seadoo without costing more than the boat? (The current speakers are Roadmasters, and they sound terrible at high volume. Plus they are black, and I'd rather replace them with white that blends in better.)
Thanks for any/all help you can offer.
1) There are a few small gouges in the hull of the bow. They are really small -- I didn't even notice them until I started washing the boat for the first time. Do these need to be patched, or is that just typical wear and tear on a 14-year-old boat?
2) The backrest of the forward facing seat on the "starboard bow" isn't attached just right. How can I get behind it to remove it?
3) The armrest on the starboard side of the back bench seat (across from the driver) is not attached at all. How do I get to the screws that are supposed to hold it in place?
4) The ski pole doesn't stay up. Is there a trick to that?
5) The boat has a Perko brand base for a pole light at the stern. I don't know if this is OEM or not. It seems to be a 2-pin base. Will any 2-pin pole light work in it, or do I have to buy a Perko light (which seem to be two or three times more expensive)?
6) We are not really audiophiles but we like music and would like to be able to listen to our iPods in the boat. Can anyone suggest some decent stereo and speaker systems that would be loud enough for a Seadoo without costing more than the boat? (The current speakers are Roadmasters, and they sound terrible at high volume. Plus they are black, and I'd rather replace them with white that blends in better.)
Thanks for any/all help you can offer.