Fat guy wants to ride

[apexlocator]

I sold my couch and want to try again with an XP. I saw a nice '97 on Ebay and really want to buy it. If I can loose weight over the winter I'll be all set. But I'm 300 pounds right now!

Are the XP hulls really too tippy for my weight and not much strength (I'm old!) to balance it to board it if I'm in deep water?

Also, if I was stuck in the water, could I manage to reach the controls to haul myself to shore, while being dragged in the water?

I know I sound like a stupid old man, but I'm a 61 year old "fun junkie" who loves playing with this stuff! I also ride motorcycles but cannot do dirtbikes anymore.

 

[apexlocator]

Would this ladder help? Would it work on a '97 XP ?

http://www.overtons.com/modperl/pro...der&cname=Ladders&aID=10N&merchID=1009&r=view

 

[Coastiejoe]

The ladder would help but still not be super easy. A rigid ladder or step would be better and it would lower the center of gravity while boarding which would make it more stable.

Why don't you look at a wider ski such as the GTX or RXT? I own one if each and I KNOW they could handle your weight and allow you to board them. These newer 4-tec skis are monsters and very stable. Most have the spring loaded step on the rear already.

Even if you could reach the controls I don't think you could get yourself to the shore. It would be very challenging at the very least.

 

[LouDoo]

If you're a big guy and you want a two seater, I think you might be better off with a 96-97GSX they're a lot more stable than the 97XP. You might even want to consider 97 and up GTX.

That ladder is useless, you can get a boarding step from aquastep, they're OEM for SeaDoo.

http://www.aquaperformance.com/

BTW, have you seen the new SeaDoo Spark, it's all over this forum, check out the Spark-900Ace section.

Lou

 

[midway]

The ladder would probably help but, if it is stored under the seat how will you get it to use it, I would tie it to the handle, you could reach that. By the way will be 69 in 2 weeks, over 200 lbs and not real strong any more, I can get on from the water, had to do it 2 times so far, once for me being stupid, next due to grand son that will not sit still and tipped us at idle speed leaning back and forth. His parents says he does the same thing on the motorcycles. I do like the look of the solid step ladders over the fabric, may invest in a couple, not sure my wife could get back on board if she fell of and I think the ladder would make it a lot easier for me.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

I don't think the xp is impossible at that weight but it won't be easy, and upper body strength is a must for reboarding IMO. Its quite stable at speed, but at idle it's pretty tippy.
I'd suggest you consider a 787 or 951 GSX or GTX models and i'm a big fan of the 98-99's for those models with the 951.
however nothing wrong with the 787 versions, just about 8 mph slower.
either way, those options are more stable for the weight, and easier to reboard.

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

Not trying to be rude; but good luck on a 97 XP... I am 180 lbs and it's 'fun' but stressful at times.

GSX or GTX is a better bet; or, yes, look at the new spark which I'm sure in 3 seat form is stable and fun.

 

[Dr Honda]

As the squirrel said...... The parabolic hull is tippy, and has a tall seat.


I'm just over in Pitt, and I have a very clean 96 XP I am probably going to part with. (PM if you are interested)

 

[jammin777]

i weigh 250 and re boarding my first gsx was quite easy with the aqua step and is a very stable ski. i tried a 97 xp a couple mo ago and had a heck of a time boarding. i agree with squirrel that is pretty tippy at idle

 

[Ryan331]

I am 6'3 and weigh 230, and I sold my 95 XP because of how tippy it was at my weight.. It took a TON of effort to keep it from tipping, and I had to start it to get back on after dumping myself off.. It was a blast to ride, it just didn't fit me... I have plenty of fun with my GSX hulls

 

[dustindu4]

I'm 300 and I can cut the handlebars on my GTX going 30 and spin a 360 and not ever fall off. GTX is super stable. I'm a youngin so I don't have any problem climbing on, but after 10 times it gets old. Forget the XP, you need a GTX. Plus you need the 951 to cart your ass around.

I went through 2 of those flexible ladders this season, I kept losing them. The attachment point they say to use is flimsy plastic, it will break. I used mine on the tow hook and tied it up with a carribiner clip. One I lost because I didn't secure it right and it was gone after a long ride. The second I lost taking it off taking people tubing, wind blew it off the dock and never saw it again. Since I've already gone though $50 in ladders this season, working on 75, I'm considering the aqua step for next year. I'm concerned about the weight limit on the bow transom, I don't know how much the fiberglass can take.

 

[- BiRkS_]

When you mount the aqua-step ladder, get a flat plate of aluminum and mount it to the inside of the hull where the bolts will come through. A little square plate will go a long way by distributing the force on the fiberglass.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

When you mount the aqua-step ladder, get a flat plate of aluminum and mount it to the inside of the hull where the bolts will come through. A little square plate will go a long way by distributing the force on the fiberglass.

Correctomundo, A++++!!!! Always reinforce grab handles and such!

 

[dustindu4]

When you mount the aqua-step ladder, get a flat plate of aluminum and mount it to the inside of the hull where the bolts will come through. A little square plate will go a long way by distributing the force on the fiberglass.

yeah that was my plan as well. I wasn't sure if the ladder came with them or not. Maybe replace what they have with something more beefy

 

[Strizzo]

the aqua step uses lag bolts into the fiberglass, so you don't have to reach inside the hull to install. i guess you could swap the hardware out so you could use a plate inside to distribute the load better in the hull.

i'm about 220 and ride a 97 xp, yes its kinda tippy at idle but you learn quickly to keep your weight centered and which way to lean so you don't flop yourself off next to the dock. i think the x4 hulls are probably more stable than the parabolic ones but then again the max capacity of the x4 is around 350-375 so it might be more like a monkey humping a football. if i had it to do over again, i'd probably have looked for a 787 gsx rather than the xp, so i could actually carry two people on the ski at times. the xp is more like a 1.5 person ski.

 

[Robj]

This fat guy really likes his gsx. I had a SPI and got rid of it, the gsx is a real fun stable ski.