Speedster SK four seater

[joe desrosiers]

Anyone know if the 1999 Speedster SK was only a four seater or had the option for an open bow seat vs. the fiberglass "hood." I saw a boat identical to my 4 seater, advertized as a 1999, on eBay motors with the open bow seating area. I would be VERY interested in if anyone know if this is a bolt-on conversion, or was a factory option. I may try to do the conversion if the basic hulls are the same. I may sell otherwise. Anyone?

 

[99speedster]

ok...here in my take on it...I just bought a dead-MINT yellow 17' 1999 speedster SK model...so the original documents and paperwork with the boat can help you out here...I am definately a nooooooby here on these forums, so take this info with a grain of salt.

The SK model Speedster only came with the four seat configuration, fiberglass "hood" in the bow section and the 85hp 717 engines (2). Also the other difference I seen was the seats in the SK model have this designation on them, where obviously the regular speedster does'nt.

The regular speedster model was the 5 seater with the front "tub" installed in the bow for the "fifth" seat and twin 787's at 110hp each. Both vessels have the same hulls--just different "addition" to make a new model.

There is a picture of a conversion where you could take your "hood" off your SK model and install the tub from a regular speedster to make for a "fifth" seat---but the problem is your boat is rated on the interior tag as a 4 person boat not a 5 person....Now I did not see pricing or part numbers--so my guess is you would order the front slip in tub and seats for a speedster model (or find a donor boat) to do this conversion if you choose to.

hope this helps....


Man......I really love my SK!


Yea, the boat on e-bay is a regular Speedster not the SK model....

 

[kustomkarl]

Welcome to the seadoo forum 99speedster. Nice little piece of information on the SK model.

Karl

 

[joe desrosiers]

Thanks for the info, that explains a great deal. I have had my boat for about two years and to be honest it has been in fresh water only once. The rest is in San Diego bay. The previous owner was an absolute maintenance fanatic and I am taking good care of the boat, there is a fair aboout of work to be done once I get ready to pbut the boat away after each bay trip but the routine saves a lot of money.
My only problem so far is one engine spools up slightly different from the other, comes out of idle a second or two later but not an issue right now. The other problem is my wife can't handle the performance any more, doesnt have the stomach for it. :ack:
The previous owner did say a lot about the SK motors, that they were special in some way, more desirable...?? High Output or as I read in this thread, they are the more simple and reliable of the engines. I thought I had less CC's but more power and have roughly 210 HP, but if I am only a 4 seater it would make sense that I have 185 or so. Karl do you know the SK vs. non-SK deal on engine output and why?
The kids come out less and less so I figure it would not be worth the money to convert now, actually.

 

[joe desrosiers]

I am going to check out that change anyway, thanks for thr information. The drawrings should be right on here anyway. Took the wife and Mother In Law out last weekend and only got to half throttle all day, exceot for a couple short blasts "just because" :reddevil:

 

[99speedster]

The SK model has twin 717's @ 85 hp each

The regular Speedster has twin 787ci @ 110hp each

The regular speedster has more person and # capacity hence more power would be my guess.

Personally the single carb'ed 717's have less power but have less things to go wrong--ie only 2 carbs instead of 4.....more reliable transportation in my estimation.

I am a lot more familar with Ski Doo snowmobiles and am well rounded in the Rotax department---and in the racing "world" there is not a great deal of difference between these two CC engines, both are good base units--it has a lot more to do with rave valve calibration/carb's/exhaust/port timing to get your ending HP ratings....Heck even our 340cc motors where well within the 105-115HP range in drag racing sleds if that tells you anything!

C U on the water!

 

[joe desrosiers]

we rotax is world renowned, I remeber maybe 15 years ago when rotax was ruling european road race motorcycles too. I was a litle reluctant to buy twin rotax drive trains, I was thinking about a much more traditional setup for a boat and had a tax return burning a hole in my pocket. I saw my boat on craigs list and it was right doen the street, the owned convinced me to buy, with a long conversation, test right and his enthusiasm and fanatical maintenance routine, the boat was almost perfect. Basically I got the boat as a replacement for my motorcycle street racing retirement and I had sold my 1989 Z51 ZF6 Corvette, which was an excellent street car. The performance is excellent, and two passengers or 4, I can't tell the performance difference.