SeaDoo unstable... please help!

[CragarShinoda]

Hello,
First off, I am new to the forum, this is my first thread. Thanks in advance to anybody who can help.
Last fall I got a smokin' deal on a 1998 XPL, and I picked it up. It is my first time on an XP, and test drove the vehicle twice before buying. When test driving I noticed that this craft was waaaay wobbly, esp. at low speed. The first time I took it to the water after buying it, I was pulling it to the ramp and FLIP! The water was about 15' deep at this area, and although rolling it over was not an issue, every time I tried to get back on, from the back or side, it would roll over and dump me. I have ridden the ski twice since then, and every time it would roll over if I as much as tilted slightly. I really like the ski, and it has a ton of hop ups, but I do not enjoy riding this like I have the GPs and XL Yamahas due to the instability issue. I know these models are unstable by hull design, but this seems a little extreme. Is this normal and what can I do to correct this if anything?
On another issue, my VTS does not work, it used to go down but not up, now it will not move at all. Is it most likely the motor?
Thanks again in advance for any help!
Rob

 

[scooper77515]

Sounds like my ski...

...with all the same complaints.

The wobbly bit is what makes it so maneuverable. I wish there was a way to stabilize it while I teach my wife to ride...she is not fond of being IN the water:ack:

When I got my ski (freebie hand-me-down), the trim motor was frozen. Later, when I started to fix things, I found that the seal at the back that holds the trim shaft had been damaged, and the trim motor had been full of salt water several times. So, I just bypassed it and did a little home-made engineering...see thread http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?t=1340&highlight=trim+adjustment

This works pretty good and only cost me a few bucks. You have to get off the ski to adjust it, though, so if you are the kind that likes to adjust while moving, then this will not work for you. I just adjust it up or down one or 2 holes depending on what kind of driving I am doing.

If you trim is stuck in the up position, it will be more squirrely because that is the high-speed on-a-plane position. Maybe a fix like this would help

Mine was frozen in the full downward position, so each hole I cut in the nozzle loosened it up a little and made it plane faster.

 

[CragarShinoda]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I figured it was unstable due to the maneuverability and the fact that I am 6', 260lbs, but did not have any idea it would be as unstable as it actually is. Seems like the bubble off a fish's fart will roll the thing over. That is a good idea on the VTS, unfortunately though I like to play with the VTS while riding. Thanks for the help!

...with all the same complaints.

The wobbly bit is what makes it so maneuverable. I wish there was a way to stabilize it while I teach my wife to ride...she is not fond of being IN the water:ack:

When I got my ski (freebie hand-me-down), the trim motor was frozen. Later, when I started to fix things, I found that the seal at the back that holds the trim shaft had been damaged, and the trim motor had been full of salt water several times. So, I just bypassed it and did a little home-made engineering...see thread http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?t=1340&highlight=trim+adjustment

This works pretty good and only cost me a few bucks. You have to get off the ski to adjust it, though, so if you are the kind that likes to adjust while moving, then this will not work for you. I just adjust it up or down one or 2 holes depending on what kind of driving I am doing.

If you trim is stuck in the up position, it will be more squirrely because that is the high-speed on-a-plane position. Maybe a fix like this would help

Mine was frozen in the full downward position, so each hole I cut in the nozzle loosened it up a little and made it plane faster.