new boat owner here and already got problems with my 97 challenger

[James Berres]

Hi everyone

I just bought a 97 seadoo challenger 1800 a couple days ago. Boat looks amazing but when I put it in the water on the trailer it wouldnt reverse back. I can go forward no problem well forward enough to get on the trailer when i pushed the boat off of it to the dock lol. I didnt want to tskr it on the lake with a problem. So i pull it out of the water and check the forward and reverse position on the buckets and the buckets go up and down in the right spots from what i can tell. The reverse position maybe able to gow down a hair more. Any help would be nice.

 

[dbracela]

The reverse typically sucks on these boats.

 

[racerxxx]

Welcome to the forums!


Yep, reverse sucks. I just pretend it doesn't have it. If a ramp has a long pier next to it I will walk the boat off my trailer, spin it around while I stand on the end of the bunks, then hop on and drive out. A light breeze will over power the reverse.

 

[James Berres]

Reverse is that baf that I wont come off the trailer? Or move backwards when on the pier. Whats thebpoint in having it then

 

[racerxxx]

Reverse will work it's just uber slow and by the time you need to respond to change, it's too late. The newer boats have much better reverse with different reverse buckets(not changeable to our older boats) to better direct the water stream. These older boats were built when Seadoo had begun building boats. I think they made the Explorer in 94, so your boat is only 3 years into boat production. You can back off the trailer but you need to get the boat to basically float off the trailer. You can't expect the jets to over power the friction/suction of the bunks--ain't gonna happen. Just gotta adapt.

 

[dbracela]

How's your thrust when moving forward?

 

[KK40384]

My speedster is the same way. Can't pull itself off the trailer if the boat isn't completely in the water and just floating above the trailer. Just a design in reverse bucket that's lacking a little. To me it isn't an issue as I always push the boat off the trailer then walk off it onto the dock to tie it off.

 

[hotrodssnova]

Same here. Reverse sucks.

 

[James Berres]

How's your thrust when moving forward?

Well I didnt take it on the water but I put it in forward while it was tied to the dock and it went forward. I just didnt want to be stuck on the water with the family. Guess ill have to take it out again and pushbit off the trailer and see how it goes on the water.

 

[KK40384]

I I were you I would definitely familiarize myself with the operation of the boat and it's limitations before taking the family out. Jet boats are not like regular boats when it comes to handling characteristics.

 

[James Berres]

I I were you I would definitely familiarize myself with the operation of the boat and it's limitations before taking the family out. Jet boats are not like regular boats when it comes to handling characteristics.

Thanks for the advice im pretty familar with driving jet boats I drive them for the navy. I wasnt just not to sure about the reverse issue lol

 

[James Berres]

I I were you I would definitely familiarize myself with the operation of the boat and it's limitations before taking the family out. Jet boats are not like regular boats when it comes to handling characteristics.

Thanks for the advice im pretty familar with driving jet boats I drive them for the navy. I wasnt just not to sure about the reverse issue lol

 

[KK40384]

Yea the reverse in the earlier models is a little tricky. For mine to be responsive I need at leat 3000rpm.

 

[James Berres]

Alright I got this reverse issue taken care of it just sucks lol I was expecting more power in reverse. I took the boat out today hoping to have a nice time and it wouldnt go above 10mph or 3k rpm on both motors. Does anyone have any ideas.

 

[USAF_Pride]

Neutral Safety Switch limits reverse and neutral to 3k RPM. If you are in Neutral or Reverse, that is SOP. If you are in Drive, then the switch is the problem. The switch is in the throttle control assembly. Simple testing procedures are in the shop manual.