Questions......Help!

[Kimmy]

Hi there, I'm new here and to the boating world. I just bought my first boat yesterday, a 96 sea doo speedster twin engine jet boat. The guy who sold it to us was kind enough to take it out on the water and demo it.
I have a couple questions....Does any one know if this kind of boat has a manual bilge pump? I don't know a thing about these boats but I am learning very fast (but to tell you the truth, I don't know what a bilge is or where it is, still reading the manual...sorry). Ok, there is a knob to turn it on yourself, but when there is water in the bilge does it activate automatically? So, in other words, does having a knob mean it's manual or automatic. The reason why I'm asking is because when we out testing the boat for about 20 mins, going full throttle then just cruising, then full throttle again. When we started back to the docks and we were at a low speed then there was the continuous beep sound, then he said that the bilge must just be on. Of course, I didn't think much of it. I thought, ok cool the boat is operating like it should and this guy knows what he is talking about. I felt safe on this deal.
Well, after reading the handbook that came with the boat, I found out that the continuous beep means "overheating".....Ugggggg! Well, lets just say the more I read, the more I learn....it could be a number of things. Low oil (nope,oil is fine), low fuel (nope,full tank), sensors (don't know, but they were just replaced, according to him and a copy of the receipts, back in May of this year), wire loose (need to figure out which wire to look at), something got sucked up into one of the impellors (sp?) (I looked in there as best as I knew how, didn't see anything but there could be something there....who knows, I know I have a lot of learning to do...but willing to learn)
All in all the boat started out just fine, had a blast within those 20 minutes, looking forward to a lot more time with her. Man is she fast though! I love this boat, I just want to make sure nothing is wrong. I plan to take it in to Sizzle Marine within the next few days....I'm just that way, when I purchase things like cars and such, I like the A-OK to make sure everything is running right. Take care of them and they will take of you!
I didn't mean to make this story soo long, but I'm just panic-stricken and I need some advice before I lose my mind.
The other thing that I'm worried about is the bottom of the boat. I know it's fiberglass and I noticed some scrapping marks and patch work, like putty or whatever you need to do to seal bad spots. Well, yesterday right after the boat came home we washed it, mind you it was about 5 o'clock in the evening today. Well, today I decided to get underneath there and get a closer look at how things checked out. I noticed some, I don't know what you call it, but it seemed like putty work...I could be wrong. But, there was a couple of drops of water just hanging there and we haven't had any rain (need it bad here) plus I'm sure that the water would have evaporated by now even after washing it. So, it seems like to me (like I said, newbie here...could be wrong) but should I assume that there is a pin hole leak and should be looked at immediately?
I'm sorry for all the yadda, yadda, yadda. But, like I said...new to this world of boating and I didn't want to get a new boat, since I don't know much. I was on a couple of boats when I was younger, like about 14 but now I'm 39 and I'm the one who will be responsible for the vessel....not just some kid going for a ride.
If anyone out there just could please, pretty please, help me out with any info or tips I would "Greatly" appreciate it.
By the way.....I love this Forum and very happy to know it's here.
Hey, maybe one day I will be in here helping another Newbie out....LOL!
Thanks for taking the time to read this and thanks in advance for the help (I sure do need it)!
Talk to you soon,
Kimmy

 

[seadoosnipe]

Welcome to the new boating world...

First of all, welcome to the forum. Glad to have you drop in........When I opened your post and saw how long it was, I thought......oh, my God, I got to read all this?

Then, I thought about all my posts....yes, I write long ones too. So, I'll try to keep this short. I think the guy new the boat was overheating. You don't own a Seadoo and not know what the beeps are for. Just like you, you learned it in how long? So, how long did he own the boat?

You become familar with the boat pretty fast. I just hope the overheat problem is not an issue. It may be something as simple as a bad temp sensor. With it being a 96 model, I'd bank on that first. Did you notice a lot of water coming from the "pee" stream, at the back of the boat? If so, it's probably just the sensor. If you see water streaming from the "tell-tale" hole, then your fine. If you operate the boat and there is no water, none at all, goose the gas (throttle up) and see if the pump picks up enough water pressure to shoot water from the "tell-tale".........

The body patching?........is it near the ride plate? If so, I'd have a little worry about that too. If it's just along the keel, he could have made a half baked attempt at covering up a bad gouge.

I promised to keep it short.........so, for the moment, if it runs well, have fun. If you hear the continous beeping, look for water coming from the back hole..........:cheers:

 

[unclejay]

Bilge Pump

Not sure if the 96 is same as 95, but the bilge pump switch on my boat turns on the pump (pumps the water) then you turn it off again, it is not automatic. You should pump out the bilge and run the engine for 15 seconds after you put it back on the trailer. About 10 seconds of water coming out the bilge is not anything to worry about.

I would get the patches in the keel looked at. Its only about $ 300 to get them nicely gel-coated and you will run faster and not worry about a larger crack that may be under there.

Make sure to use only Sea Doo 2-stroke oil, not outboard motor oil.

 

[vilord]

On my '97, the pump is automatic, but I have a manual switch too.
The water sensor is just a little float valve under the engine, and if it gets blocked by something, the switch is a way to turn on the pump yourself without climbing into the engine bay head first to fiddle with the float.

As for the tell-tale water "peeing" out the back, since you have a speedster, you have two engines, and therefore two holes for water to "pee" from. The overheat alarm will go off for either engine, and if you only see one spout, the other engine isn't getting cooling water.

 

[vilord]

Also, the "bilge" is where the engines sit, and also where you store skis and paddles, it is any area that is underneath the deck. Thats why the air blower is a "bilge air blower" and the pump is a "bilge pump".