1999 Seadoo Challenger in Salt Water for Summer?

[JohnMetta]

I can't thank this forum, Dr. Honda, Lou enough,
What is the rule with these challengers? I have a house on a lagoon and I don't want to load it in and out of the water every day. I see the exact same boat I have in the water on my way out to the bay for years. I live in Jersey so it's only from mid June to the first week of September. I asked the Seadoo Dealer near my house and all they told me to do was paint the bottom and I would be fine. I see quite a few of these in the water around here. The manual says not to keep it in the water. I've heard horror stories where the boat sinks. I've heard that the salt water blisters the hull. What's the real deal? Oh and by the way, just realized there was a boat section on the site to post. Sorry about the other posts.

Thanks as always.

 

[LouDoo]

I will leave my PWC in the water for up to two weeks at a time, but here's what I do. I have a bilge pump in my ski, it's auto sensing so it checks for water like every 30 seconds. I leave the pump turned on and I have a battery tender jr. that I have connected to the battery and the tender plugged into shore power.

I know it doesn't make a lot of sense, but yes your boat may take on water so if you leave it in the water be sure your bilge pump is operational.

Lou

 

[Dr Honda]

The short answer from me is... Don't leave it in the water un-attended.

As you know, the carbon seals leak. (This is by design) If the seal is in great shape, and there are no issues... there is a good chance that the boat will be there next time you come to use it. BUT... they are known to sink !!! It's not a fluke thing, and the stories aren't just hear-say... but it really happens.

IF... your boat sinks in fresh water, you can salvage it. If it sinks in salt water, and it sits there for more than 20~30 minutes... that boat will be dead. Even if you get it out of the water, and cleaned... the salt crystals will form, and start to short out the electrical, and the engine internals will rot.

I would never leave a Rotax Seadoo in salt water... but if I was going to leave it in fresh water... I would add a battery, and a second auto bilge pump. And as your dealer said... if you want to leave it in Salt... then you need "Belly Paint". (Expensive, and never really dries) Also you will want to put on a few extra anodes to keep the corrosion to a minimum.

To properly prep the boat for salt water will cost you $1k... and when you go to sell it... if people know seadoo's... and they see the belly paint... they wont' touch it.


Final thoughts.....


If you want to leave it over night... I would still add a bilge pump and battery to be safe... but if you are leaving, and won't be back for a few days... just take it out of the water. It's not that big of a deal, and the safety of your boat should outweigh the possible loss. Besides... then you can wash it off with fresh water.


With all that said... I have left my old boat in the water overnight... but I will beach it. SO... the worst thing that can happen is that the ass-end will sink, but all the important parts will be safe.

If you want a seadoo you can safely leave in the water... buy a Merc powered boat.