ADVICE PLEASE! I have decided to start a business buying and selling seadoos..

[georgelathemjr]

I stumbled onto a great seadoo mechanic who works from a shop in his home, and together we are buying up all the Seadoos we can find that have blown motors(at the right price). and we hope to sell them and make some extra money this way. If I could get a few questions answered from some of you Seadoo experts I would really appreciate it.
1. What are the most desirable models/years that hold their value the best?
2. What are the best classified ad sites to find dead seadoos besides Craigslist and Ebay?
3. Is it generally expected for a buyer to need to drive a used seadoo before buying, or is it enough to just start them up for the buyer, with the guarantee that it runs fine?
4. What year models are required to have titles, or what year model is only a bill of sale necessary?
5. Is there not money in doing this with the right mechanic? I am being assured there is, and he is very good, but I am the backer/investor and would like another opinion if I can get it.
6. Is it true that if the Seadoo has a good hull and all parts intact, that the only major expense in repairing the ski is the motor?
Any other thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
I have a dream to have the only used seadoo shop that actually sells used seadoos without problems, and also the fastest ones. My mechanic partner actually got one 97 model with the 800 motor (for free) that had been submerged underwater for months, and made it look like brand new and it had a top speed of 91 mph when he was finished with it.
Thanks for any advice to help me with my new business! Pretty soon I will give a great deal on a reliable and fast seadoo if anyone needs one! I am even thinking about being the only shop to guarantee used seadoos to run right!
I have 5 dead ones so far, and will start selling soon. Oh yeah, one more thing, is it true that people dont buy seadoos in the cold months, or if they do they dont pay much for them? This will be a seasonal business I presume.

 

[robin savell lloyd]

Good luck I have thought about it before but I do not think I would be able to find enough of them to make a buisness at it. The best idea that I could come up with is to buy every make and model Yams, kaws seadoo and so forth. I believe you would have to travel up to at least a couple hundred miles picking them up to find enough to make any thing out of it. Most may have to be parted out [good money in some of the parts] and some you may be able to repair and sale but I would expect some unhapy customers as these things can break down even after they apear to be runing fine when they leave the door.:cheers:

 

[robin savell lloyd]

If your mechanic got that ski to 91 mph then you do not need to sell them just start racing them for money because you are going to have the fastest skis on the water. :rofl

 

[jbholcom]

Why not take a quick drive to up Chattanooga and check out Chattanooga Powersports. They mostly do what you are describing. Go and ask a bunch of questions from a buyers perspective and you might get some of the answers you’re seeking. I'll bet they sell more PWC's than anyone else in Chattanooga area and they don't even formally advertize. I noticed their website is down, however I found they have an ebay store at http://myworld.ebay.com/chattanoogapowersports. This is where I bought my Doo's from. I've been very happy with them. I hope this helps.

 

[slvr bulit]

I have a old 1990 sp with a bad motor that i will sell very cheap if you want one that old

 

[scary]

Good time to buy bad time to sell. I got a 96 challenger paid 1900.00 got 4900 into it got it up for sale for 5k only 1 call.

just got a 2002 speedster 1500.00 will have 5k min into it when it's finished prob 6k.

Deals are out there i find mine on craigs list i search all the cities in florida but good luck on selling.

 

[cbjrumble]

Not trying to pimp a site or anything but the best way to search multiple craigs list is http://www.crazedlist.org I find mainy mainy deals that way.

 

[derek]

one question i can answer. you're in georgia. i sold a 27 foot Carver to a person in georgia. didn't need a title, just a bill of sale. so, you can buy all the NO TITLE skis nobody else can re-sell. course, you hafta leave georgia to get them.

 

[seadoosnipe]

Speed.........

First off, if your mechanic got a 90's model ski over 90 mph, I'd have to see it on GPS and video before you could sell me on that one. The hulls of the 90 model skis were'nt designed for that kind of speed. If you got 70, I'd be surprised at that too.........One ripple and you'd be airborne. Then, you'd be tumbling end over end.......you ever fall off one of these things at 40 or 50 mph.....it hurts like hitting a brick wall!

Buying and selling used skis..........I have 3 in my yard now, one 88, one 89 and one 91. I just got rid of a 98. The 98 was a 650 Artic Cat. The others are Yamaha's......

What I"ve learned in dealing in these older skis is......no one will pay for the amount I put in it. I can't get $1000 for the WaveRunner LT and that's about what I got in it. New impeller, wearing ring, upper end kit and a "used" electronic module.

Older people seem to be more inquisitive about them than the younger ones. Kids want to go the 70 mph that the new skis go, as topped out by a mandate of the U.S. Coast Guard. Then, they all want a Riva III kit to go faster. Even with a RIVA 3 kit, they aren't any faster than about 75 or 80 and that's on a 2006,7 or 8 hull.

I wish you well with your business, but believe me, in dealing with these older skis now for almost 2 years...........there isn't a butt load of money to be made on them.........................:cheers:

 

[scary]

Yah i seen i sled that did 90 was modified to the hilt even the looks may have been a link from here. Frankly hitting the water at 60 hurts to bad would want more.