New to Boating! Need some advice

[Ccathcart]

Hey guys!

So I think I might have found my boat...

2000 Challenger 2000: A guy on ebay is selling it. This guy has 100% feedback on over 3,000 reviews. Not sure if you can get better than that from a selling perspective. Here is the review:

"Up for sale is a nice one owner 2000 SeaDoo Challenger 2000 with EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection) Mercury 240 HP V6 M2 jetdrive engine. Boat is 20 foot long and seats eight people. Lots of storage. Very stable and very fast. Runs over 50 miles per hour. Trailer is in mint condition. Interior is very nice with no rips or tears. Includes custom cover. Freshwater use only. Runs and drives great. The boat has had the fuel filter/water seperator and spark plugs replaced each year. engine is perfect. The boat does not have many hours as we kept it at a cottage and used it every couple of weeks. there is some fadding on the seats, but no rips or tears. Its a nice boat and runs great."

What do you guys think? Issue is the drive to get there is about 4 hours, but the price cannot be beat...5,500.

Thoughts?? I know this is the Mercury 240hp engine and I see the issues above, really looking for overall guidance on my first boat. I am also looking at a 1999 yamaha LS2000 right now, but that one is 7k (please don't hang me for bringing up the "Y" word.)

 

[Dr Honda]

I was a die-hard Yamaha fan, until they F-ed their customers around 2006 with a bunch of fuel injection and TPS issues on their bikes. They also got cheap, and transmissions were giving up. (FZ6, R6, R1)

I've never been a fan of the Yamaha boats though. They just don't seem to have the "Umph" of the seadoo boats.

As I said... if the price is right... don't walk away from a Merc boat. Just check it over. The big things are....

1) Check the compression

2) Check the oil pump gear, or just go pre-mix. It seems like it's the 2000/2001 era boats that the gear is giving out on. My boat was a 2002, and the gear I just removed looks new.

Is the boat local to you?? As long as you can check it before you buy... go look at it.

 

[Dr Honda]

I don't see it. It may be gone already.

 

[Ccathcart]

I don't see it. It may be gone already.

Are you getting my PMs?

 

[Ccathcart]

So that boat didnt work out. What is everyone's opinion of the 1999 Seadoo Sportster 1800? I found one for roughly 6000.00, hoping to ask lower. it has 320 hours on it, I guess this year had hour meters?

Does this thing have enough HP to pull skiis? Looks liek that is the big delta to the challenger....

 

[ocod]

So that boat didnt work out. What is everyone's opinion of the 1999 Seadoo Sportster 1800? I found one for roughly 6000.00, hoping to ask lower. it has 320 hours on it, I guess this year had hour meters?

Does this thing have enough HP to pull skiis? Looks liek that is the big delta to the challenger....

I actually have that model.
Yes, it's underpowered.
Sking maybe if not an adult. Tried tubing and I can feel it when towing adult and extra people on boat.
My reasoning is weight distribution baised on layout.

It is a good starter boat and I actually like the smaller 717 engine vs the 787.
Its easier to work on and less thing to maintain or replace.

 

[howie099]

I have the 1800 Sporster also it's fine. This is not no speed boat. It is a good cruisng around tubing boat. Had it out for about 3 hours tubing and went through 1/2 a tank most of the time I have 5-7 people on board. I have had 5 people on boat and 2 on tube and speedo was in the 40's but I think the upper 30's for more accurate speed. Moving the weight around is the key. I never had an issue getting on the plane or pulling the tube. You do fell the wieght on the back which I am sure you do with with most boats except the high power wake editions and that since the HP and motors are huge. The boat does a have ski pole so I don't see why you couldn't pull a skier. I do have skat swirl impellers that help a lot. I got mine for $4400 w/114 hours on it.It was also the end of the season (October) and the guy needed money for taxes. He was asking $5600 I offered $4000 we setteled on $4400. I did't drive it we just started it. I took him on his word the boat was ok since it was in very good shape. No one believes me it's and 98'. It fired up pretty fast and even if a engine was bad I was still a good deal. You can only read the hours from the dealer or buy the aftermarket reader no hour counter on that panel.

 

[biffdotorg]

2001 challenger 2000. I think I can get the asking down to 7500. On this one they used Merc premium plus TCWIII two stroke oil. Is that alright. I am being told no issues with it. I am asking for a compression test. This one however has been used in salt water mostly but again I am being told by the marina guy who takes care of it for the family he hasn't had any engine issues with it.

To answer your question, yes, the Merc 240hp EFI uses Merc Premium Plus oil. The Mercs were offered for a number of years and in a number of hulls, they are not rare. The Dr has given you some very good advice above.

As I have said before in the Merc forum, if you are considering a Merc Powered Seadoo, talk to your local BRP dealer and see if they service Mercury outboards as well. My BRP dealer does and has no issues working on my 240hp Merc powered X-20. It's the best of both worlds as they service both brands and understand that this is a glorified Merc outboard. It's the craziest thing to see it standing up on end on top of that SportJet pump under the rear deck! Most are used to see a laydown engine instead.

 

[Dr Honda]

So that boat didnt work out. What is everyone's opinion of the 1999 Seadoo Sportster 1800? I found one for roughly 6000.00, hoping to ask lower. it has 320 hours on it, I guess this year had hour meters?

Does this thing have enough HP to pull skiis? Looks liek that is the big delta to the challenger....

There is nothing wrong with the 1800 at all. That one has a pair of 720 engines. When they are healthy, they put out 85hp each. So... 170hp isn't going to be a rocket... but it's going to touch 50 mph with a couple people, or in the mid 40's loaded up.

As far as the time... NO, the boat doesn't have a conventional time meter... but any seadoo with an MPEM, and a DESS lanyard logs time. The dealer can read it out with their computer.

with +300 hrs on the engines... I'm going to say, they are reaching end-of-life. BUT... the 720's are known to go past 400 hrs if they have been maintained, and the right oil is used. So... just like any other boat you look at... take a compression gauge with you. Those engines are 150psi new... and 135 psi is time for a top-end. (but will still run) If they were cared for... they should still be showing +140, and still have life in them.

Personally... $6k is a little high unless it's received new engines in the last year or two. Remember... 2 engines is twice the expense when it's time for a rebuild.

 

[ocod]

I have the 1800 Sporster also it's fine. This is not no speed boat. It is a good cruisng around tubing boat. Had it out for about 3 hours tubing and went through 1/2 a tank most of the time I have 5-7 people on board. I have had 5 people on boat and 2 on tube and speedo was in the 40's but I think the upper 30's for more accurate speed. Moving the weight around is the key. I never had an issue getting on the plane or pulling the tube. You do fell the wieght on the back which I am sure you do with with most boats except the high power wake editions and that since the HP and motors are huge. The boat does a have ski pole so I don't see why you couldn't pull a skier. I do have skat swirl impellers that help a lot. I got mine for $4400 w/114 hours on it.It was also the end of the season (October) and the guy needed money for taxes. He was asking $5600 I offered $4000 we setteled on $4400. I did't drive it we just started it. I took him on his word the boat was ok since it was in very good shape. No one believes me it's and 98'. It fired up pretty fast and even if a engine was bad I was still a good deal. You can only read the hours from the dealer or buy the aftermarket reader no hour counter on that panel.

That may be next investment.

Like Dr said water test is key and compression results in the 150.

I got mine under 4K.