Speedster vs Challenger

[Mazdarx]

I currently own a 1995 Seadoo HX, which has been a lot of fun but now I would like something I can take people out on the lake with me. I've always liked the Seadoo boats, and I see mid 90's Speedsters and Challengers in my price range. I'm not sure of which would be better for me though. I like the idea of the extra power of the 2 engines in the Speedster but I'm concerned about how much fuel that is going to use, plus twice as much maintenance. On the other hand, is the single 110 hp motor in a Challenger enough to pull 1 or 2 tubes, maybe a kneeboarder? There won't be any wakeboarding behind this boat. Also is the Speedster much heavier with 2 motors in it? If my Jeep can't even pull it then it's ruled out right away. What do these weigh anyway? I'm curious to see which boat people think is better? Here are a couple of the boats I found semi local to me. This first is easily the cheapest 96 Speedster around, but it sounds to have been run really hard.

http://skagit.craigslist.org/boa/3032584197.html

This one looks clean, I'm sure it could be fixed easily enough but I wouldn't be able to compression test it which concerns me as I don't know what I'd be getting into

http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/boa/3086810117.html

This one has been for sale for some time and I would have to get it for less than he is asking to be interested as it needs quite a bit.

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/boa/3071817611.html

 

[howie099]

Twin eninge 18' boats are around 2500lbs w/trailer and 14' should be no more than 2000Lbs. The twin eninge is not that much more wieght another 150-200lbs pump and engine. I am sure a 6cly jeep can pull it fine and 4cly I wouldn't. 2 engines always burn more fuel than 1. The single engine boats get about the mileage your HX does.

 

[Mazdarx]

Well the 18' boats are out of my price range, aside from being too heavy as it turns out. The towing limit of my Jeep is 2000 pounds so I should be fine for the smaller boats. My Jeep is a 6 cylinder so pulling power is no problem. I'm surprised on the economy of it, I thought it would be much worse. Granted I've only had my HX out a few times but it didn't burn as much gas as I thought it would. Before I got it, I was told these would cost a fortune in gas to run.

 

[maximoose]

I have a 96 challenger i pull two adults on kneeboards with two people in the boat no problem great boat.

 

[blacter]

I was ready to take a chance on the Challenger that doesn't start after the seller agreed to $2500. But when I asked him how well it ran the last time he used it, he told me that he bought it over the winter and had never put it in the water. Too weird a story and too many unknowns so I backed away. Also the seats are trashed and patched with duct tape. Fixable, I know, but I took it as a sign of how the boat's been treated.

 

[blacter]

By the way, do any of you know how easy or complicated it is to buy a boat in Canada and transport and title it in the US?

 

[howie099]

The gas mileage depends on how hard you hit the gas. The twin engines burn about 3 gallons per hour at cruising speed. The single is about 1/2 of that. More weight in the boat lower the mileage.

 

[moto17]

You might think to just buy it here! I bought mine all beat up and restored it to way better than stock! 97 challenger single 787....it flies!

 

[Mazdarx]

I actually just put down a deposit on what I'm pretty sure is a 96 challenger. The guy I got it from, it was abandoned on his property so he didn't know for sure but it looked like a 96. The matching trailer was also a 96. It needs some upholstery but it was otherwise pretty clean. He didn't have the lanyard but luckily I found it stashed in a compartment. Battery was dead so I couldnt start it, but it turned over a little before totally dieing. I offered what he was owed on it for the storage there, which was $1000 and he took it. At that price I figured it was worth a chance.

 

[zonzik]

I own a 1996 Speedster and pull it with my 2000cc Escape with no problem.

 

[Run43v3r]

You might think to just buy it here! I bought mine all beat up and restored it to way better than stock! 97 challenger single 787....it flies!

You're speedster looks awesome! Did you do all that custom?