RESTO Project Speedster

[1MACGYVER]

When i was told these boats are some of the few that you can flat spin and are kinda dangerous- I just had to have one.
I picked this 96 speedster up last week, right before i bought it it just had the steering cables replaced, all of the oil lines cleaned out and the trailer got new wheels and bearings.
The engines are sweet and run really well, though it could do with new props.

As my new winter project I have a shopping list of plans for it. Im not into the purple and it needs an update.

-New graphics: The newer red and black speedster side and rear graphics: Ordered from Seadoo.
-Fusion IP700i marine stereo and 4 marine speakers: already posted from the east coast.
-Black gunnel rails: Ordered from Seadoo.
-Wake tower: I have ordered a kit from diywake.com
-Bimni roof that mounts under or over the wake tower: scored cheep last week
-Full Hydro-turf kit: That drunk me bought sober me the other night
-Re upholstery in Red and grey
-Dual battery setup with "Add a battery" switch and VSR
-Paint the yellow plastic in front of the steering wheel red.
-New solas X props
-Replacement rev gauge, cup-holders
-New sound proofing on the engine cover


So far i have re-wired the trailer with submersible LED lights and installed a new jumbo jockey wheel.

This-afternoon I hit the stickers with the heat gun and got most of it without much trouble.
Tomorrow ill hit it with fibreglass polish and the buffer

Stay tuned!

 

[Dr Honda]

Dangerous.... Not at all. They are so fat... there is NO way to roll it over. Believe me... I tried with mine. (LOL)


But... they are WAY fun.


I hope you have some good planes on the cosmetics... because the OEM graphics looked like they were in good shape.


Good luck with the project.

 

[LouDoo]

That's a nice boat. I've never owned one, but I have ridden and even piloted a few. I know it may not be the most practical boat, but with the two motors and separate throttles the fun factor is definitely there. Also in my opinion 96 was the high water mark for SeaDoo for boats and ski's.

Anyway have fun with your new boat, if I can be of any help, just yell.

Lou

 

[Clirry]

Def looking fwd to see more pics of your projects later on!

 

[1MACGYVER]

Thanks guys im looking forward to it, if it looks half as good in the end as it does in my head ill be very happy.

I finished the sticker removal and cleaned off all of the residue.
Next i started removing the gunnel rail. Let me start by saying its a considerably bigger job than i imagined but not imposible, there is a rivet about every 50mm (about 250 around the boat). Ive drilled, punched, drilled, cleaned, blown out with the air gun, old sealant trimmed and started sika-flexing every hole and the whole seam between the top and bottom hull. 10 minutes into sealing the rain hit so its on hold

Next step is to pull the seats out, handles and cleats off and then go at it with the buffer, I can see the bolts for the rear seat back which seem simple, but the bottom and front seat arnt obvious. Has anyone had them all out before? any tips?

 

[Dr Honda]

Seats:


The top rear: Yes, you can see a few bolts, BUT, there is also a bolt in each of the arm rests. They are 6mm bolts, that require a 10mm socket. You need skinny arms, and you get to them though the cup holders.

Bottom rear: The is 4 bolts holding it down. Reach in... under the body that is above the fuel tank... and you will find them. (same 10mm socket)

Front bottom: It's just held down with body spikes. Just pull up, and they will break free. Since they are plastic, and really a single use item... they will need replaced. (probably)

Front back: There are 2 body spikes... and 2 aluminum guide pins. So... pull the seat away from the body, by pulling from the bottom of the back rest. (pulling toward the rear of the boat) Once the body spikes pull away... then lift it straight up, to lift the aluminum pins out.




I do have one concern.... I see you pulled the rub rail off. When I first looked, I thought you were just cleaning it. But on the bottom pictures... I can see you put sealer in the rivet holes. So... I need to ask... Are you putting it back on????? the reason I ask is... ARE YOU AWARE THAT THOSE RIVETS ACTUALLY HOLD THE TOP HULL TO THE BOTTOM HULL???? The reason they are every inch, is because it's part of the structure.

Unlike the ski's... the top hull isn't glued to the bottom on the boats. you can actually separate the 2 halves once all those rivets are out. It's just held together with RTV.

 

[1MACGYVER]

Thanks that will be very helpful.

I am putting a new black rub rail back on. My plan is to re rivet it at the same interval as the old one but in between the old rivets to ensure good material and get a good finished structure, Ive gone crazy with the sealant to ensure no little leaks.

When i took it off at the rear and the sloped part of the rub rail there was silicon on all of the rivet heads (first photo) to prevent any water getting in, as i put them back in ill drill, squirt some sika-flex in, rivet in, then sika over the head

 

[1MACGYVER]

Im trying to decide whether to paint the engine hatch red, much like the newer models. Opinions?
The top of it will be covered in hydroturf (diamond cut black with red in the grooves) but from the rear i think the red will help break up all of the white.

Im going to paint all of the yellow in front of the steering wheel and the centre of the wheel red. Im just wondering whether red vinyl paint will work or if i should sand it back, prepsol it and then plastic primer and paint. Has anyone tried this before?

 

[1MACGYVER]

All stripped out for paint and upholstery, it got a good scrubbing right after

Im glad you guys told me where the bolts were, the one in the front right of the bottom seat pad may or may not go back in...

 

[Dr Honda]

NASTY !!



But... under the seats... it always is.

You must have nice weather. I spent a few hours just cleaning my boat and putting the cover back on it... and I was dehydrated, and needed a shower.

What colors are you doing??

Good work so far.

 

[1MACGYVER]

Its winter here and 21degrees C, mostly sunny. Great weather for working on skis/boats.
Before i worked on the boat i pulled the engine out of my RXX and dropped it off to get bored out and egts welded in.

Im going red, black, grey, white.

Red on the engine hatch, red in front of the steering wheel, red and grey seats, black rub rail, black over red diamond hydroturf, red exhausts, black bimni and polished ali wake tower.

Side graphic and 'seadoo' as below, and the same 'seadoo' on the back.


In general very similar to the picture

 

[1MACGYVER]

Big day today, the gunnel rails, cup holders and most of the stickers arrived at Seadoo

I got one 'Seadoo', one is in stock in Canada and one is yet to be printed

My stereo also arrived in the post, really nice looking system. Im really looking forward to the install.

I also dropped off the seats for re-upolstry, heres a sneak peak at the vinyl samples, red where it was yellow and the carbon silver to replace the white.

 

[Clirry]

^^^^ Pure sexy! Sure cant wait to see the finalized project!

 

[1MACGYVER]

Had a very productive hungover day working on the boat, gave it a polish and got the new gunnel rail installed.
Do not attempt this without and air rivet gun and put the gunnel in the sun for a while first to soften up- i even used the heat gun a bit to help when bits cooled down in the shade.

Replaced the disintegrating heat/sound foam, I soaked the old stuff in mentholated spirits and a minute later it scraped off with ease

Painted out all of the purple handles and last bit of trim.

Got all of the speaker holes and stereo cutout and wired.

 

[Dr Honda]

Very nice !!


Where did you get the new rub rail? Is it a seadoo rail, or was it just a generic boat part??


I think it's going to look great with the more modern colors. When I did the restoration on my Sportster... it was a budget build, so my colors were dictated by what I could find. I did change the colors around... but it still had that 90's feel.


Oh... and as long as you cleaned the handles well... that VHT paint works great !! My handles were teal, and spotted with mildew. After scrubbing like mad... I could get the spots off. SO... I painted them. It's held up great.

 

[Dr Honda]

Hummmmm.....


To bad you are way down in OZ. I have a set of SWEET kleats. I made a few sets for myself, and I still had a set of red ones on the shelf. I wasn't sure what color I wanted, but I stuck with polished. Shipping would be a killer down there.

CNC billet aluminum, and anodized red !!

 

[1MACGYVER]

i got the rail and graphics from Seadoo, those kleats are awesome, pm me how much you want for them and ill check out the postage.

your sporty looks great, im hanging out to get the hydroturf- it will transform the rear deck and interior floor

I gave the handles a good rub with prepsol before painting but worst case i have a big can of it to re-do them if it flakes

 

[Dr Honda]

It looks like the cheapest on my end is about $24 for the shipping. I think I can fit them all in a small postal box. If you are interested... just PM me an offer. I made them about 5 years ago. I did 3 sets. One set was polished (I used them) one set was blue (for a buddy) and this set is just sitting. I thought I may have wanted them in red, since I had a few red stickers.


Thanks for the complement on my Sporty. It was a junker when I got it. In may case... the hydro turf was used to cover up a BUNCH of stains on the floor and the swim deck. I tried everything to get them out... but the turf took care of it. (lol) Besides... it makes a boat look much better. That's why I spent the $450 for the Islandia kit when I was bringing that boat back from the dead.

 

[trexbob]

That black rail looks so much better than purple. I need to do that to my Challenger sometime in the future. Great work!

 

[Seadoobuddy]

That project looks great so far.
I hope you got a good deal on the boat though since you are spending some bucks to change it over.

 

[1MACGYVER]

Thanks guys

That project looks great so far.
I hope you got a good deal on the boat though since you are spending some bucks to change it over.

I paid a good price for Australia, the value here is a bit higher, luckily im getting Seadoo parts at cost, getting mates rates, trading work for some parts and scoring good deals on others.

It should be worth almost the cost of the boat and mods once im done but for me its more about the adventure doing the job and being able to say i did it at the end. Once a project is over i tend to find another one to keep me busy

I didnt have much time spare but i did more polishing and got the stereo mounted today

 

[1MACGYVER]

Im getting to the point in the project where everything I do just makes parts look new (but not oem), extremely rewarding

 

[Dr Honda]

Gettin' a lot done !!


So... I know your winter is just starting... but are you going to have it done, and take it out for a ride, before it gets too cold? (does it snow down in Oz?)

 

[1MACGYVER]

It does snow in a couple of places but only in the mountains and no where near me.
Temperatures in winter here are around 12-20C during the day, its cold in the mornings by our standards but only about 4C.

I should have the majority finished in another week or 2. Im still waiting on 2 "Seadoo" stickers due here on 12th July.
Im also waiting on the wake tower mounting and joint parts from the USA then a mate and I can fabricate it and mount the bimni roof.
Id like to think by the end of July it will be complete.

Come September here it will start warming up and i can get some real use out of it

 

[1MACGYVER]

My wake tower kit showed up, a little sooner than expected but without any instruction and sadly the guy I bought it from isnt being very helpful at all. Ive asked for a few photos or diagrams to explain why there are certain parts in the kit and the answers are coming back essentially saying 'f off i dont care'