site said I had to do this! haha

[norgrow]

First off, thank you for all the great info!

I got my first Seadoo in in 2003. A new off the lot 4 tech supercharged 3 seat. WOW. I was only 19, had a house on a lake, and would have some big parties. That first year I put 181 hours on the ski. Some weekends I could spend $600+ on gas. It was fun. My wife and I started dating that summer.

Well the money ran out and I could no longer us my seadoo. I sold it to a good friend and got to use it a few more times the next year. And that was it for riding any PWC since.

Now I have 2 kids, a dog, a steday job with a school district, and 10 week off every summer! I had to buy a new water toy. In came a non running 1996 speedster! I can get that same feeling and bring the whole family.

I have my work cut out for me.

 

[Coastiejoe]

181 hours in one season is impressive... I have my Polaris skis for 14 years and had on 65 hours..
My Seadoos are now in there 4th season and I think I am around 60 hrs now. Just moved to Florida from Ohio, so I will be able to use it more often.

I am sure you and your family will enjoy the boat. LOTS of knowledge here, ask away if you ave any questions..

 

[norgrow]

It is nice having the ski siting it the water ready to go for 7 months of the year. I also live on the biggest lake in California, 29 miles long by 9 wide. Over 100 miles of shore. One tank of gas at full throttle would not get me to the other side and back. My room mates would also us it. Our dock was full of boats and skis every day. It was fun.

 

[Minnetonka4me]

Yes you have your work cut out for you. The Jetboats are much tougher and usually cost more to restore? What is the status on it? Seats in good shape?


Welcome to the best Seadoo site on the planet!! If I can be of help just let me know.

 

[norgrow]

Well......

The gelcoat and fiberglass are in very good shape. That's all.

3 of the 4 cylinders look to have rust in them. All the push/pull cables are stuck. The shifter/throttle levers are all broke off. Seat vinyl is hard and cracked. And to top it off, all the cup holders are gone!

I am sending the motors to Full Bore for a good rebuild. I will fab a new shifter, do all the seats, and get the cup holder's.

I have a background in repairing and restoring fiberglass and wooden boat's. So far I only have $170 into this with all the Regestration and trailer in my name. I figure if I put $5000 into it I will have a completely new jet boat that I can drive like a rental.

 

[Minnetonka4me]

Ouch. The cupholders are easy. If you got it for free at least you wont lose money, but youll have a gazillion hours and likely 4g into it when your done.

first...you need to do all the seats before you reinstall the motors; pulling the gas tank, then getting the seats out will be doable. Still a sucky job but doable. Sounds like the seat foam is good still...that is a big plus.

My buddy Keith at seadooupholstery.com can hook you up with the Vinyl, tell him Nick with Westside sent you.

Get a buddy or two, 5 packs of stainless staples, 1 or 2 t-50 air staplers, and a case of beer. You will hate vinyl forever after that job.

Now...moving onto mechanicals... I have a complete shifter assembly for that machine. Forget making one you want this thing proper when you get done.

I would recommend buying new control and shifter cables; SBT started selling them a few years ago. Id save a few $$ and go used on the throttle and choke cables.

You didnt mention the carbs. Make sure they get rebuilt. 4 carbs= ~$300 just in rebuild parts. Also check and repair the fuel baffle well things are apart.

My brother has a ton of jetboat specific parts.

 

[norgrow]

Thanks for the heads up on the seats. I was going to do them after I had it up and running but after seeing were the bolts were in my manual I will do it when I shoot new gelcoat in the motor well.

Making new shifters will not be hard. Havery you seen anybody separate the reverse cables so they can easily controlled one at a time. I think it would be fun it a tight slip to just spin around.

 

[Minnetonka4me]

If you plan to sell it at any point...you want to get it as close to original as possible. No one is going to give you top dollar with a homemade shifter....plus, those control cables are gonna cost you 300ish, I wouldnt want to have to buy those twice.