SeaDoo RollOvers

[etemplet]

After purchasing the 1996 SPI and riding it around my pond I now understand slow speed IN-stability. Will a roll over ruin our day on the water? How should I instruct challenged individuals with regard to balance and adeptness ? For me... it's great I'm just trying to make it easy on me. I don't have a problem not letting people ride it... no one rides my motorcycles.

So if the ski rolls over half way on the left side.... what do you do ? It says to roll it counter-clockwise. Is it best for someone to jump off rather than hang on for the rollover? I need some instruction. LOL

I still don't understand why the ski needs to be rolled one way and not the other. I understand about water entering but after working on the ski... I don't see any difference one side versus the other. I just want to be properly prepared.

Also... at which model does the Older SeaDoos get more stability?

 

[Coastiejoe]

If you roll it the wrong way, it will put the water into the intake of the engine. If you roll it the correct way, it helps to take the water out of the intake.

 

[nammer]

in general the bigger the hull the more stable, so the gs/gsi/gsx hulls are more stable than the spi, and also the gtx's are more stable than the gs/gsx etc

here are some pics of the models
http://seadoosource.com/seadoomodelreference.html

and some good info for numbers

http://seadoosource.com/fueleconomy.html

 

[Spimothy Leary]

Rule #1 for newbies.

if it starts to roll over, let go of the handlebars.

Rule #2... see Rule #1.... Let go of the handbars !!!

A ship should not go down with the captain.

Water doesn't hurt at low speeds, just let go, stress that important detail to all your 'borrowers'

past that, its just a matter of getting comfortable with the ski at low speeds, they are tippy but 99% of the time its just a simple correction of weight back on the center, takes a little experience.

 

[soccerdad]

And small turns at slow speeds. Don't crank the handlebars all the way, then goose it. <splash>

 

[mikidymac]

All good points.
On these skis water is injected into the exhaust pipe and muffler to keep ot cool, known as a "wet exhaust". When the engine si shut off there is no longer exhaust gasses being produced to "blow" this water out the back of the ski/exhaust outlet so there is water sitting in the pipe and muffler. Now, when the ski is upside down if you look at the shape of the exhaust pipe it is like a funnel and if you turn it over the wrong way it will pour all this water into the cylinders and crankcase. This is very bad for two reasons.
1. The engine will be hydro-locked since you can't compress a liquid and will not turn over and can bend connecting rods.
2. IF left inside the water will rust/destroy the bearings and cylinders.

So if it is flipped the wrong way you need to pull the spark plugs and crank it for a long time till all the water stops coming out letting the starter rest to avoid getting too hot. Then once you do get it started run it hard for at least 30 minutes to burn out all the water.

 

[Coastiejoe]

Rule #1 for newbies.

if it starts to roll over, let go of the handlebars.

Rule #2... see Rule #1.... Let go of the handbars !!!

A ship should not go down with the captain.

Water doesn't hurt at low speeds, just let go, stress that important detail to all your 'borrowers'

past that, its just a matter of getting comfortable with the ski at low speeds, they are tippy but 99% of the time its just a simple correction of weight back on the center, takes a little experience.

I can NOT agree with this more... I have NEVER rolled a ski and I have owned them for just over 20 years now. LET GO,,, get wet and then get back on the ski..

 

[mikidymac]

I can NOT agree with this more... I have NEVER rolled a ski and I have owned them for just over 20 years now. LET GO,,, get wet and then get back on the ski..

All well and good until you get someone with not the greatest balance trying to deep water reboard. Typically falling isn't the problem it's the reboarding that rolls them in my experience.

 

[etemplet]

Ahhhh.... so we don't want water rolling from the exhaust to the engine. Understood. Good stuff thanks....

For me... I am a motorcycle guy... no problem bailing if necessary... at any speed. LOL don't want to get tangled up with the machinery.

Ok this question was not answered. What if the ski only rolls 90 degrees, not completely upside down. Do you roll the ski counterclockwise progressing through completely upside down ?

 

[soccerdad]

They don't really lay on their side too well. They will typically right themselves or turn turtle. I would right it quickly from its side, start it, and run it hard for while.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

agree with soccer, I can't recall ever seeing one on its side for more than a couple seconds, usually if nobody is dangling from the bars (rule #1 !!!) they just float back upright on their own.

Also about slow speed turns, the throttle will usually help more than it hurts, several times' i've been close to falling off but saved myself with a quick brap.

and like CJ said, i've done a lot of stupid stuff on ski's but i've never flipped one, not yet at least.

 

[MPower]

And small turns at slow speeds. Don't crank the handlebars all the way, then goose it. <splash>

Well that takes all the fun out of riding these things!!

 

[soccerdad]

Well that takes all the fun out of riding these things!!

OK, you can put your friends on that nice shiney XP800 and tell them to go really slow, then crank the bars and nail it! :thumbsup: Spim is right, it can save you but a newbie will likely be swimming... :willy_nilly:

 

[MPower]

OK, you can put your friends on that nice shiney XP800 and tell them to go really slow, then crank the bars and nail it!

My friends, unless they are really experienced or ride like girls (Suke ) know better than to ride my skis, haha.

 

[etemplet]

While I was messing around in the pond idling and working on shifting my weight for sharper turns I almost rolled it left and rear. It took some smooth nimble weight shifting to get it back on the beam. LOL I was figuring out if shifting weight to the outside of the turn made the ski turn quicker. It does and it doesn't take much.