New owner of a 2008 Speedster 150 (215HP)

[Wing42]

Good afternoon,

I am picking up a brand new 2008 150 in a couple weeks. This is my first boat of any kind (as far as owning is concerned) and I was wondering if some of the veterans could give me some advice or point me to a thread that would do the same thing.

Thanks in advance. :thumbsup:

 

[speedster32940]

Congrat's, you are in for some fun!!! I would suggest that you read up on the replacement of Supercharger washers ASAP (glad mine is non-supercharged), and look into installing some Hydroturf (a great and easy modificaton). Check out the search feature on the site & plug in your model and that will give you lots of leads to learn more about your boat. I just bought my 2008 speedster 200 last year & this site has been very helpful. Best of luck, and try to stay away from sucking up ski ropes and debris into the jet!

 

[Wing42]

Congrat's, you are in for some fun!!! I would suggest that you read up on the replacement of Supercharger washers ASAP (glad mine is non-supercharged), and look into installing some Hydroturf (a great and easy modificaton). Check out the search feature on the site & plug in your model and that will give you lots of leads to learn more about your boat. I just bought my 2008 speedster 200 last year & this site has been very helpful. Best of luck, and try to stay away from sucking up ski ropes and debris into the jet!

Thanks for the info... I have read a couple of things referencing the washers... guess I better start doing my homework. I will be very careful and try not to suck anything into the jet.

 

[Wing42]

So... what you (or whoever is reading this...) are saying is this. The boat is brand new in the shrink wrap. Before the dealer does his check-out of the boat and the on water test, the washers on the supercharger should be changed?? As I researched the Hull ID, I see that this boat was built in February of 2008 and should have the ceramic washers.

 

[speedster32940]

I don't have the supercharged engines, so I don't have first-hand knowledge, but I have repeatedly read that the ceramic washers can come apart and trash your engine. They recommend rebuilds at 100 hours, but that has not always saved people. If I were buying one that had ceramic washers, I would spend the $$$ at the outset and just replace them so I would not have to think about it at all. You might be fine on the ceramic ones for a couple seasons & then need to replace them. At the end of the day they will need to be replaced anyway, so why not just do it at the outset and never have to worry about an unexpected disaster from a ceramic washer failure... Just my way of thinking....

 

[thor7000]

2008 will still have the ceramic washers, get them replaced before even taking it out on the water!! I just took out my 2007 speedster150 215HP and man it is a blast!! I had a sportster150 155HP and there is no comparison, and my speedster200 is allot bigger and handles like a boat where as the 150 handles like a PWC!!

Enjoy!!

 

[Wing42]

Thanks for the info guys... I talked to the head technician/mechanic at the dealership that I am buying the boat from (Champion Cycles in western Virginia) and he said he has not had one of the Seadoo boats back in his shop for supercharger washers (Jet Skis were a different story)... he also said that if they were to fail, the 3 year warranty that is coming with this brand new boat would cover it 100% as long as I have it serviced at the recommended intervals.

 

[RFoster130]

Since it is your first boat, take lots of time to practice doing everything and dont be in any hurry. Get lots of practice before it ever goes in the water. Make sure you are confident in trailering it and backing into the water. Lots of people are very impatient at the boat ramp and you dont want them pressuring you and make you back your new boat into something. Then once you got that down. Practice lots of slow speed stuff. Anyone can handle these boats once they get moving. The tricky part is slow speed. Docking and reverse maneuvers are the hardest. Practice all that and you will be in good shape.

 

[thor7000]

Since it is your first boat, take lots of time to practice doing everything and dont be in any hurry. Get lots of practice before it ever goes in the water. Make sure you are confident in trailering it and backing into the water. Lots of people are very impatient at the boat ramp and you dont want them pressuring you and make you back your new boat into something. Then once you got that down. Practice lots of slow speed stuff. Anyone can handle these boats once they get moving. The tricky part is slow speed. Docking and reverse maneuvers are the hardest. Practice all that and you will be in good shape.

Good points....another point is that once you start the engine even in neutral the boat will spin in place, and when in reverse the steering is backwards...to control the boat in low speeds use the F/N/R lever!! Try it out on a slow day at the launch ramps with minimum baots around just so that you can figure it out.

Good luck and enjoy!!

 

[Wing42]

I am not worried about the trailer at all. I have been backing up trailers since age 16 (now 42). I worked on a horse farm and had to run the manure spreader out to fields all the time. Joined the Signal Corps of the U.S. Army in 1986 (now retired after 20+ years) and everywhere we went we had generator sets in tow behind our Hummers, 2 1/2 ton, and 5 ton trucks. I've put trailers in places you wouldn't think a trailer would fit.

As for the boat... that is what is new. I've driven them but nothing like this one. I know I need practice with it.

Thanks again for all of the tips.... keep them coming.

 

[timeman]

Looks like the best advice has already been given (lots of practice at slow speed, especially in reverse), the only other thing required might be to carry the front page of your news paper..some bad news might be needed to help remove that GIGANTIC SMILE your going to be wearing! Congrats on your purchase

 

[Wing42]

:lol:

We can't wait to get it!!!!

 

[phroadrick]

Welcome to the madness Wing42! You don't say where you'll be running the boat (salt or freshwater) but since you're in Augusta, I'm guessing freshwater. I grew up about 60 miles east of you in the booming metropolis of Batesburg-Leesville. The best advice I can give you is to read your owners manual several times, especially the parts about pre-operation checklists. You are going to want to have a preset routine you perform every time before you put the boat in the water and after. Don't be in a rush, ALWAYS consider the safety of you and your passengers first and have fun!

 

[Wing42]

Welcome to the madness Wing42! You don't say where you'll be running the boat (salt or freshwater) but since you're in Augusta, I'm guessing freshwater. I grew up about 60 miles east of you in the booming metropolis of Batesburg-Leesville. The best advice I can give you is to read your owners manual several times, especially the parts about pre-operation checklists. You are going to want to have a preset routine you perform every time before you put the boat in the water and after. Don't be in a rush, ALWAYS consider the safety of you and your passengers first and have fun!

You are correct... fresh water. Strom Thurmond Lake here on the Georgia/South Carolina border. I have some O.C.D tendencies when it comes to reading the manuals on my vehicles so that will be done. Thanks for the tip on the routine. I will try to get into one. I've been past the exit on I-20 for Batesburg-Leesville but haven't visited it yet. I might have to ride the Goldwing out there and see how "booming" it really is.

 

[Wing42]

Put 8 hours on the boat since we got it home last Thursday. Coming up on the 10 hour service and talked to the only authorized Sea-Doo dealer here in Augusta... looking at around $110 for the service (does that sound right for just an oil change and look over?). I have to take it to the dealer so that the warranty stays valid. When I picked up the boat it qualified for the extended 4 year warranty. 1 year from Sea-Doo and 3 from B.E.S.T.

Thanks for all the help and advice... made it through the busy weekend without any issues.