looking for first SeaDoo

[steve on the water]

I am looking to buy my first jet boat. I have already found a great amount of info on the forum. I can see this is a great community and can already see how you will all add to this new adventure. I have spent a lot of time on the water, but this will be my first experience with jet boats. I am not sure where to lay out all of my questions, so please forgive me if they are in the wrong area.

I am looking at late 90's boats primarily because I am going to leave it at a family camp and don't want to worry too much about the kids banging it into the dock. The boats all seem to need a fair bit of upholstery work, but my wife can definitely handle that. A few have had the auto oil injector removed. Is this a concern or an upgrade? I have been told that they are fragile, but I would think this would make it smoke more while idling.

Will the late 90's Challenger 1800 get a skier up on a slalom ski? It seems like the horsepower is there, but I am not sure how the jets are out of the hole.

Again, thanks for helping me get into a new boat.

 

[dbracela]

Hey,

I have a 98 challenger 1800 with twin 787's. It'll pull me up on a slalom (single) ski quite easily. I did swap impellers for ones that will give a better "hole shot." But, even the stock ones were able to get me up. Getting up on two and dropping one is a snap. Best tubing boat ever, as it has the power to pull and is wicked maneuverable.
I'm not sure why people think the oil pumps are so fragile. Apparently they rarely fail. I guess mixing your own gives you peace of mind. But you burn more oil with premix. I have left mine on, but have been also adding a little to each tank of fuel.
When you say you are leaving the boat at the lake, do you mean in the water? Not the best boats to leave in the water for extended periods, especially if no one is there to check on it. I'd hate to hear you come back to a boat underwater.
Good luck with the search, check compression and water test each one you look at. Can't stress the compression test enough.

 

[steve on the water]

Thanks for your thoughts on the oiler. I guess I will not be concerned either way, but would prefer to burn less oil and lay down fewer smoke screens.

Is the concern about leaving it in the water a leak around the shaft? I gather there is no stuffing box or other "good" seal. Otherwise I am not sure why it should be much different than any other boat. I know this is a hot point for some folks, but it seems like many people have moored them for many years without issue. I think I will probably leave it in for the weekends and many haul it during the week when I am not around. My parents live there, but not sure I would want to add the concern of a sinking boat.

Is there an inexpensive tool to test the compression or should I trailer it to a shop? Anything in particular I should look for in a water test? I had one person stop calling me back when I told them I wanted a water test.

 

[Bonmotwang]

Compression tester is normally called compression test kit from any local auto store. About $30 to $60. But good ones may be $200. I bought a $39 one, reading was just a couple psi from the $200 one I borrowed from a local shop.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Guest_User]

what are you looking to spend? you can either find a boat that is nearly done, or one requires a lot of TLC and possibly engines down the road. They always have issues somewhere, and will cost a few dollars to make them more reliable.
I premix, no worries with 2 much smoke. I`d rather see a bit of smoke than next to nothing at all...
Oil type and brand is also important. Seadoo XPS oil or Amsoil is 2 top tier oils.

if you want a good insight to the challenger 1800 read through my build thread here on the forum. Then decide if this is what you want...

the main reason for not keeping the jet boat in the water is, the drive shafts and pumps and parts are not exactly salt water friendly. even if you are in brackish waters you`d still want to bottom paint the boat. I`ve seen one season in salt water destroy a newer 4Tec jet boat, killed the pumps, and control cables...
Outboards or I/O`s are better suited to harsh environments as you can lift the drives out of the water.

these boats have carbon shaft seals that ride against a floating ring, they deliberately leak a bit of water to keep them cool, not much , just a few ounces per day is normal when you pull the drain plug at the end of your ride.
as the carbon seal and floating ring begin to wear from use or misalignment it will leak more water as it loses tension and the smooth surfaces become irregular.

a well maintained boat will be less hassle...

the problem I see and read here is the unknowing new jet boat owner buy`s a boat and immediately takes it out and pounds the crap out of it without getting to know the boat, it`s workings and what to look for when buying new or used. and no matter how you`ll be prepared anything can happen with any boat, most is user error, things can go wrong fast out on the water...

good luck... these boats are fun when running right!

 

[Bonmotwang]

the problem I see and read here is the unknowing new jet boat owner buy`s a boat and immediately takes it out and pounds the crap out of it without getting to know the boat, it`s workings and what to look for when buying new or used. and no matter how you`ll be prepared anything can happen with any boat, most is user error, things can go wrong fast out on the water...

good luck... these boats are fun when running right!

I did the exactly the same thing last fall. Bought the boat after a water test. Thought I know how to drive :-D
Brought the whole family out after I got the operator's license. Didn't even know how to back up the trailer. Didn't know how was OK. I didn't even thought about I have to back the trailer into the water on the boat launch. LoL.

There is a sailing club there, so some very very nice gentlemen guided me in and also when out.

After the boat was in the water. I couldn't start the boat. I thought it should be as easy as turning the key in a car.

I didn't know what is the choke (I didn't understand when the gentlemen called from the shore, asking me to pull the choke!).
I didn't know there was such a thing called idling RPM. (The boat was on and off when idling, and I didn't know it was a simple turn on the screw in the bilge)
I didn't know if you can push to pump the gas a little to help the first start. (I was struggling a little at the boat launch to start)
I didn't know the throttle and shift have some kind of interlock logic. (I couldn't shift to F because the throttle was not in the min)
I didn't know you need to make sure the battery is in good condition before you heading out. (My son turned the fish finder and CD player the night before when they were playing in the boat in the garage. So the battery was low the next day)
I didn't know you'd better have the engine idling for a little while before you take off. (As soon as the boat got started, I started to go out, and the engine dead a couple of times in the no wake area).

The only thing I remembered well from the water test was to put on the lanyard digital key. But obviously, it was not enough.

But boating shouldn't be just technical, for me it is more about emotional, sharing and helping.
Your trip should be comfortable, happy and fun, even your boat won't start at the launch.
I did meet a couple of jerks at launch, I just ignored them and most of the fellows are wonderful and very kind. I don't know why, But it seems like the more experience they have the nicer they are.

This is a good one to conclude: when I was about leaving in the first trip. An older gentlemen came to me:"come out by yourself and you buddies, get everything figured out, then bring your family out, that will be more fun!". I had to agree LoL.