2001 Seadoo Sportster LE. Just got it!

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

One more thing I noticed a couple of times is the trim around the boat popped out.

a segment of the blue trim opened a couple times. I just pushed it back and it snapped back in nicely.
Is it something I need to be concerned? Is the top hull and bottom hull going to split if the trim is damaged?

Mine tries to pop off sometimes too, at the location on the gunwale where it takes a sharp turn downward. The rub rail is just covering the seam of the deck and hull where the two were cemented together to hide the joint, there is no structural function of the rub rail.

I inserted a piece of plastic spaghetti to tighten up around where the sharp bend is.

 

[Bonmotwang]

Mine tries to pop off sometimes too, at the location on the gunwale where it takes a sharp turn downward. The rub rail is just covering the seam of the deck and hull where the two were cemented together to hide the joint, there is no structural function of the rub rail.

I inserted a piece of plastic spaghetti to tighten up around where the sharp bend is.

Good. I thought the boat jumped on the wave too hard.


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[Bonmotwang]

Need some tips for pulling the boat on to the trailer

I have been working on two things:

1) I need to back the trailer very deep into the water to have the big black rubber roller low enough to pull the bow onto it.
2) When the trailer is so deep in the water, when I pull the boat onto the rubber roller, the whole boat is still floating. It is very hard to get the boat lined up straight above the trailer when I start to pull the trailer out of the water. Sometimes I need to back the boat into the water again to push it side ways to have the boat sit straight.

Am I doing anything wrong, or this is normal?

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

This is quite normal in the case of a steep ramp, you can install guides onto the rear of the trailer (see photo) or have someone stand in the water away from the trailer wheels to keep the boat centered over the trailer. The other option is to not back the trailer in deep and drive the boat up onto the trailer bunks (I don't particularly like this idea for our small boat).

My exhaust bracket arrived!

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Blonde-headed joke,
Last summer, down on Lake Isabella, located in the high desert, an hour east of Bakersfield, California, a blonde (of course!!), new to boating was having a problem. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't get her brand new 22-ft. Bayliner to perform. It wouldn't get on a plane at all, and it was very sluggish in almost every maneuver, no matter how much power she applied.

After about an hour of trying to make it go, she putted over to a nearby marina. Maybe they could tell her what was wrong. A thorough topside check revealed everything was in perfect working order. The engine ran fine, the outdrive went up and down, the prop was the correct size and pitch. So, one of the marina guys jumped in the water to check underneath. He came up choking on water, he was laughing so hard.

Under the boat, still strapped securely in place was the trailer.

 

[Bonmotwang]

I like the guide idea. The trailer is narrower than the boat. I should be able to at least install a guild on one side, so that I can just tie the back to the guild to held it in center.


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[Bonmotwang]

Blonde-headed joke,
Last summer, down on Lake Isabella, located in the high desert, an hour east of Bakersfield, California, a blonde (of course!!), new to boating was having a problem. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't get her brand new 22-ft. Bayliner to perform. It wouldn't get on a plane at all, and it was very sluggish in almost every maneuver, no matter how much power she applied.

After about an hour of trying to make it go, she putted over to a nearby marina. Maybe they could tell her what was wrong. A thorough topside check revealed everything was in perfect working order. The engine ran fine, the outdrive went up and down, the prop was the correct size and pitch. So, one of the marina guys jumped in the water to check underneath. He came up choking on water, he was laughing so hard.

Under the boat, still strapped securely in place was the trailer.

LOL, where is the truck then??


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[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

I like the guide idea. The trailer is narrower than the boat. I should be able to at least install a guild on one side, so that I can just tie the back to the guild to held it in center.


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I think one option to install this is to run a bar or rectangular/square tubing horizontally under the trailer frame from right to left and attach this bar to the bottom of trailer frame left and right sides. Cut the bar to whatever width you need to fit the width of the boat then to this horizontal bar, attach the vertical guides.

 

[Bonmotwang]

I think one option to install this is to run a bar or rectangular/square tubing horizontally under the trailer frame from right to left and attach this bar to the bottom of trailer frame left and right sides. Cut the bar to whatever width you need to fit the width of the boat then to this horizontal bar, attach the vertical guides.

Yes. I just checked the trailer and the boat. L shape tube should work. Somehow I just need a clamping mechanism to hold the L on the frame. The L is going to be beside the rear cleat, so that a short bungee cable can keep the boat against the bar.


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[Bonmotwang]

Yes. I just checked the trailer and the boat. L shape tube should work. Somehow I just need a clamping mechanism to hold the L on the frame. The L is going to be beside the rear cleat, so that a short bungee cable can keep the boat against the bar.


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Found a perfect material for this job. 1" square steel tube with holes.

Edit: Another option is 8020 extrusion, which give you better looking and finish.

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[Bonmotwang]

What is this epoxied puck underneath the steering mechanism?

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[Bonmotwang]

Found a good solution from the 750mA charger I bought. It has the eye terminal for mounting on the battery and the inline fuse protecting from short conditions.

I will get a rocker switch and mount it somewhere beside the main switch.


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Installed the accessory power switch.
The cut hole is 12mm. It is pretty thick in that area. MOST of this size toggle switch won't work because the the thickness. But I am lucky enough to find one with 13mm height of thread, which worked out well.

It will control the power to the CD player and fish finder.
The switch is rated for 6A.
I have a 7.5A fuse close at battery side to avoid fire if anything got shorted after.

Edit: use duct tape to remove the Fiberglass on your skin!!!

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[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

What is this epoxied puck underneath the steering mechanism?

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I think you are asking about the buzzer/beeper!

I prefer square tubing that isn't perforated every 1/32mm with one hundred thousand holes per side b/c it looks better, drill holes only where you need them.

 

[Bonmotwang]

I think you are asking about the buzzer/beeper!

I prefer square tubing that isn't perforated every 1/32mm with one hundred thousand holes per side b/c it looks better, drill holes only where you need them.

I will order some 8020 stuff to do a nice looking set.


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[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

I think you should try driving the boat up onto the trailer(at least one time), I believe every captain should have this experience at least one once. You may decide you like this method of trailering the boat.

However, I would not try this if there is a large amount of debris in the water that might be sucked through and possibly damage your jet pump.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

I will order some 8020 stuff to do a nice looking set.


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Or you may find a kit already designed for this purpose. My suggestion was to attach a tubing under the trailer frame, to both left and right frame rails, to make it very strong. The tubing may need to be bent in the center to a "V" to make room for the keel of the boat. Then you can attach just one guide if you prefer, or perhaps two if you decide it's better.

Just some ideas.....

 

[Bonmotwang]

Or you may find a kit already designed for this purpose. My suggestion was to attach a tubing under the trailer frame, to both left and right frame rails, to make it very strong. The tubing may need to be bent in the center to a "V" to make room for the keel of the boat. Then you can attach just one guide if you prefer, or perhaps two if you decide it's better.

Just some ideas.....

Yes. You are right. "Trailer boat guide" is the key word. I found some on eBay. Will do more research and buy one. Learned to pick my fights over the years



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[Bonmotwang]

Got the wakeboard today.

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[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

I predict there soon will be a serious lack of garage space issue at your residence.

And if you intend on installing some type of guide then at least you can study from those kits available. AND, improve on it for your implementation or settle for the canned solution if it seems robust enough.

I have a trailer with these on it from the 70's, these are very heavy-duty but they were attached using square U bolts like those used for attaching leaf springs.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Or a better solution to the dilemma of trailering the boat and cluttering the garage would be to purchase a lakefront property and construct a boathouse with an electric boat lift.

 

[Bonmotwang]

I predict there soon will be a serious lack of garage space issue at your residence.

You should see my 3D shelving in the garage. I even have shelves above the garage door!

Found a few guides on amazon.ca (Tired going across the border now)

http://www.amazon.ca/Engineering-He...F8&qid=1404443118&sr=8-14&keywords=boat+guide

http://www.amazon.ca/Seasense-Trail...TF8&qid=1404443118&sr=8-3&keywords=boat+guide

http://www.amazon.ca/Extreme-Max-Pr...F8&qid=1404443780&sr=8-46&keywords=boat+guide

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

I see you're getting some good ideas for the guides, there are many types you should study.

My favorite type is a vertical steel tubing with a PVC pipe slidden over the vertical piece like coaxial to make a type of roller instead of a separately mounted roller they should have a coaxial center.

Thus, of the three you found the second one seems to be my preference.

http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/B003F3D16E/ref=nosim/homeenteguys-20

 

[Bonmotwang]

I see you're getting some good ideas for the guides, there are many types you should study.

My favorite type is a vertical steel tubing with a PVC pipe slidden over the vertical piece like coaxial to make a type of roller instead of a separately mounted roller they should have a coaxial center.

Thus, of the three you found the second one seems to be my preference.

http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/B003F3D16E/ref=nosim/homeenteguys-20

I just ordered it. The 48" version.


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[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

I think you'll like that one, it's very popular. Here's an idea if you need to add another bracket for extra support:

 

[Bonmotwang]

I think you'll like that one, it's very popular. Here's an idea if you need to add another bracket for extra support:

You tricked me :-D
I think the kit is strong enough to guide the boat into +/- 1inch, which is all I need to sit the boat in center of the trailer.

Many reviews indicator a full inside and outside priming for rust. I will paint it white to match the trailer too.