99 challenger 3 week review

[jhjesse]

I have now owned my 99 Challenger 1800 for three weeks. It is my first jet boat after many years of having jet skis.
We have been to the lake three times now and this is my synopsis:

The good:
1. Nice hole shot.
2. 50+ mph.
3. Really responsive.
4. Runs flawlessly at just about any throttle position.
5. Can carry all the grand kids.

The bad:
1. Upholstery is coming apart at the seams. (winter project)
2. Hard to dock/trailer. (need more practice) (roller trailer takes some getting use to)
3. Hard to start both engines after stopping at the dock for a break. Have to choke it to get the engines started. (new filters already)



Overall I think it was a good investment, but I still miss the skis. I have a 95XP that was given to me. I might have to see what it needs to get running again. Then I will have the best of both worlds!

Opinions anyone??

 

[Dr Honda]

..... but I still miss the skis. I have a 95XP that was given to me. I might have to see what it needs to get running again. Then I will have the best of both worlds!

Opinions anyone??

Yep... get the XP running. If you need trouble shooting advice... make a post in the PWC section.

 

[Stevego]

Regarding the hard start when engines warm I find it best too put the throttle forward 1/3 of the way and it starts up much easier. This was the procedure to follow in my previous Sportster and seems to also work on the Challenger.

 

[Dr Honda]

It could be a leaky needle and seat in the carbs... or high clearance in the rotary valve.

 

[howie099]

This is my first season with a jetboat and I get nervous trying to dock and load if there is a lot of people around since these boats don't have good reverse like standard prop boats do. They do slow down to almost a stop in neutral or reverse. I do like it when you turn the wheel all the way to either side you get that little boost to keep you going. You can get the new upholstry from Steve at Seaddo Upholstry.

 

[jhjesse]

It could be a leaky needle and seat in the carbs... or high clearance in the rotary valve.

Yeah...that's my thoughts. I think one of my winter projects will be good carb cleaning/kit with new needles and seats.

 

[jhjesse]

This is my first season with a jetboat and I get nervous trying to dock and load if there is a lot of people around since these boats don't have good reverse like standard prop boats do. They do slow down to almost a stop in neutral or reverse. I do like it when you turn the wheel all the way to either side you get that little boost to keep you going. You can get the new upholstry from Steve at Seaddo Upholstry.

LOL - my thoughts exactly. I have been going to the boat ramp at odd times just to avoid the crowd.

I have been on His web site recently...looks really good.
Installed my new bimini top today. I got it from jm camper...really looks good.

 

[dckalop]

You'll get use to loading it... just takes practice. Mine has always been little cold natured, so if I sit for a little while, its always a little chock or couple throttles to get mine going again.

 

[Fat Cat]

It takes awhile, but you'll eventually get used to docking and getting it up on the trailer. Just have to have a slower approach really. I usually switch between Forward and Neutral to keep the speeds even lower, so if I need, I can throw it in reverse and crank the throttle up. At first it felt 100% awkward trying to maneuver it, as with a jet boat you turn the wheel the way you want the bow to go even in reverse. But what I mainly did to get me going smoothly was to find a log or something of that sort in the water, and pretend it's a dock. Just dock right beside it.

 

[go_panthers]

Keep in mind also that you are not dealing with gears to switch from forward to neutral or reverse, so you can play in-between when docking. I'll idle in with the stick about 1/2 forward, and use it to adjust my speed. Throttles at idle.

Think of it as having a "spectrum" from forward to revers, not just 3 discrete positions.

 

[jhjesse]

About the third time out I was getting the hang of docking. I have trailered boats before with little or no problem, but that was with your normal run of the mill carpeted trailer bunks. The trailer that was with my challenger when I bought it has roller bunks. This was quite different that what I had experienced before.
Basically what I have learned is when you get the bow of the boat to the first set of rollers kill the engines and let it "roll" onto the trailer, otherwise in less than a second the boat will be sitting sideways on the trailer. :blush: Ask me how I know??

Got my bimini top and installed it yesterday. Now I am going for hydro turf mats.

 

[edwilk55]

Awesome thread. Didn't know there were so many active 99 Challenger owners.

I just bought mine on 6/28, but have yet to get her into the water do to parts and registration issues.

I now have the parts in the hand of my mech and the registration is complete.

Parts are wear rings (I know it's easy, but wanted to go ahead and get him to do it) and a busted ride shoe. I got a used one off Ebay that's metal where the factory is plastic. Shouldn't be an issue, but wish they were both metal so they wouldn't crush under an "ooops" moment like the previous owner had.

Just found out today that the compression is great and even in both engines.

I sooooooo can't wait to get her out next week. Bimini top will be a near future purchase.

L8r folks ... and glad I found y'all.

 

[jhjesse]

Awesome thread. Didn't know there were so many active 99 Challenger owners.

I just bought mine on 6/28, but have yet to get her into the water do to parts and registration issues.

I now have the parts in the hand of my mech and the registration is complete.

Parts are wear rings (I know it's easy, but wanted to go ahead and get him to do it) and a busted ride shoe. I got a used one off Ebay that's metal where the factory is plastic. Shouldn't be an issue, but wish they were both metal so they wouldn't crush under an "ooops" moment like the previous owner had.

Just found out today that the compression is great and even in both engines.

I sooooooo can't wait to get her out next week. Bimini top will be a near future purchase.

L8r folks ... and glad I found y'all.

Jonesboro...Where did you get your Challenger?? When I was looking to buy a Challenger after selling my jet skis, I looked at one in south Atlanta. I ended up traveling to Charlotte NC. and purchased mine from a guy there. My wife and I met the guy at the local boat ramp. He had His whole family there and we all went out on the boat for about a half hour. After that I was sold, because the main reason I went to boats from skis is so I can haul the grandkids around and still have enough power to pull 'em in a tube. This boat will do both.
I think you will enjoy your new boat.

What lake do you go to?

I bought my bimini top from JM Camper. They have them custom taylored for Challenger 1800's. I am really pleased with mine so far.

 

[edwilk55]

Jonesboro...Where did you get your Challenger?? When I was looking to buy a Challenger after selling my jet skis, I looked at one in south Atlanta. I ended up traveling to Charlotte NC. and purchased mine from a guy there. My wife and I met the guy at the local boat ramp. He had His whole family there and we all went out on the boat for about a half hour. After that I was sold, because the main reason I went to boats from skis is so I can haul the grandkids around and still have enough power to pull 'em in a tube. This boat will do both.
I think you will enjoy your new boat.

What lake do you go to?

I bought my bimini top from JM Camper. They have them custom taylored for Challenger 1800's. I am really pleased with mine so far.

I bought mine from a guy in Moultrie, GA. There was one on the way to where I eat dinner (99 Challenger) that got me looking at them. His was a pos and he wanted $6k for it. I found the one in Moultrie on Craig's List. It only had one running engine as the starter was fried on the other, but he put on the BOS that both engines ran. Of course, I was 3.5 hours away and couldn't get it out on water first, but bought it anyway. I know that's not the way to do it, but it was cheap enough to recover if I had to. I assumed it was going to need a new engine, but was hoping for the best.

Sure enough, after putting the starter on myself, it fired right up. :thumbsup:

Took it to the marina where I drop my ski in and had them check it out to be safe. Wear rings and the broken ride shoe is all he found that it needed. Compression is right on and he's already had it out and up to 40 with the parts that needed to be replaced still on the boat. So should be good to go once all is replaced. Fingers crossed.

We've currently only used Lake Jackson in Jackson, Ga. But I want to get it out on a few others if it performs well.

Where do you have yours?

I'm EJ btw...nice to meet you.

 

[jhjesse]

We usually go on the Tennesse River. I live about 8 miles from Chattanooga on the Georgia side (thank God). There is a hydro dam in Chattanooga. On one side of the dam the lake is called Chickamauga. On the other side of the dam the lake is called Nickajack, but it is all part of the Tennessee River system. It is kind of cool to make a boat run through the downtown area and dock up at the public docks grab a beverage and listen to the band playing at the dockside watering hole, then walk up to the Tennessee Aquarium.

Sometimes when I start missing my old lake, I will travel down to Allatoona and put in by Acworth, Ga.

Hope everthing goes well with your maiden voyage!!

Jesse

 

[m.colley]

I bought mine from a guy in Moultrie, GA. There was one on the way to where I eat dinner (99 Challenger) that got me looking at them. His was a pos and he wanted $6k for it. I found the one in Moultrie on Craig's List. It only had one running engine as the starter was fried on the other, but he put on the BOS that both engines ran. Of course, I was 3.5 hours away and couldn't get it out on water first, but bought it anyway. I know that's not the way to do it, but it was cheap enough to recover if I had to. I assumed it was going to need a new engine, but was hoping for the best.

Sure enough, after putting the starter on myself, it fired right up. :thumbsup:

Took it to the marina where I drop my ski in and had them check it out to be safe. Wear rings and the broken ride shoe is all he found that it needed. Compression is right on and he's already had it out and up to 40 with the parts that needed to be replaced still on the boat. So should be good to go once all is replaced. Fingers crossed.

We've currently only used Lake Jackson in Jackson, Ga. But I want to get it out on a few others if it performs well.

Where do you have yours?

I'm EJ btw...nice to meet you.

Comeon down to Lake Harding when you get yours running and we'll run the my Sportster and your Challenger. The carb is waiting for me to reinstall when I get home tommorrow, then just have to pressure check for leaks and I can get her back out on the water.

Martin