Thinking about selling my 1997 speedster for a 2008 215HP one

[merc596]

Hi guys I have been the owner of a 1997 speedster with the 717 engines for the past 10 years with no problem except the normal repair (wear rings, shift cable replacement etc.) The boat still runs great with around 500 hours on the engines and I just had the seats recoved this year and still very much enjoy the boat.:thumbsup: I have an opportunity to get a low hour (57) 2008 with the 215 supercharged 4 stroke engine. The boat is in mint condition and I can get it for about $9000 dollars. Just trying to decide if want to go for the same boat four stroke vs 2 stroke. Also, the newer boat looks much more complicated than my 2 stroke speedster. Would appreciate any help you could give in trying to make the decision...

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[Dr Honda]

That's a tough one. I was in the same position myself at one time.

There are a couple things to think about.

1) Your engines, with 500 hr's on them... are on borrowed time. 400 hrs is the norm. So... you may be putting money into soon.

2) We are mid summer, so if you don't sell soon you wont' get much for your boat. OR... you will have to wait until spring.

3) I assume that you own your boat outright. (no payment) The newer boat I will assume will have a payment.

4) The 2008 SC seadoo's still had the ceramic washers, so you will have to check and/or replace them right away. When the original washers die, the take the engine with them.

5) Speed, power, and size are basically the same. With the exception of "Its newer"... it's a sideways move.

6) The only plus to all of this is that the 4-tec engines should be smoke free, so if you idle around a lot... it's cleaner, smoother, quieter.



When I was thinking about it... I passed on it. At the time, I just wanted "Newer"... but the fam wanted bigger. The other reason I passed is that the boating season is only 4 to 6 mo a year in Pittsburgh. So... the thought of making a payment was killing me. My current project (the Islandia in my avatar) had a blown engine, and I was able to pay cash for it. But, it's the Merc 2-stroke V6 engine. Not may favorite drive system... but I couldn't bring myself to buy a 2006 Islandia with twin 4-tec's, for $25K (first year with the 4-tec)


I know it's not an easy choice... but I hope you can figure it out.


My last thoughts are....... since your engines are getting old... if you can buy the new boat without taking out a loan... then do it.

 

[merc596]

I appreciate your response Dr. Honda and see you realize my delimma as well.

1. Yes I realize the engines may go or cause problems at any time so one of the reasons for looking eventhough
will be putting around 1600 dollars if both go at the same time.
2. Again yes, I know but if I pull the plug want to have time to check out the new boat before I let my old one go in case I don't like the new boat.
3. I do own the boat outright but will have to pull funds out to purchase and in todays economy wonder if that is a good idea.
4. Was hoping to get somewhat quieter and more efficient operation with 4 stroke vs 2 stroke. 1 engine vs 2 engines

I like your last thought as when we want something we can always convince ourselves we need it. My thoughts exactly as my boat getting old and why not upgrade as I like the 14 - 15 foot boat. Ride is pretty good, easy to handle by yourself.

Lastly, I tow behind my larger boat 40 foot silverton and do the 4 strokes need to have the water hoses pinched to keep from flooding the cylinders with water or can you tow without concern?

Thanks again for your response as I will probably be pullng the plug next week.

 

[RFoster130]

One other thought, besides just newer, it's more fuel efficient. Plus you willl be saving $50 worth of oil every time you fill the gas tank. Tough choice, but if money isn't the problem and you can still get a good price for yours, go for it.

 

[Dr Honda]

Lastly, I tow behind my larger boat 40 foot silverton and do the 4 strokes need to have the water hoses pinched to keep from flooding the cylinders with water or can you tow without concern?

Thanks again for your response as I will probably be pullng the plug next week.

I know it's a closed cooling system... but the exhaust is still "Wet". So... I'm going to assume you will need to pinch off something. But, some of the other guys may know for sure.

 

[cheappc]

I wanted to chime in since I just did almost the same thing.

Last year in the middle of August I tried selling my 95 sportster on ebay with new rebuilt engine and got no takers, not even at $2500.00. It was too late in the season. This year I posted my sportster in the beginning of July and got a lot of interest, I had the reserve set at $4000. While my boat was on eBay I decided to go look at a new speedster being advertised at a huge dealership, went to look, and i bought it and took it home, oh oh now I had 2 boats in my backyard.

Now I "needed" the money from the sale of my old boat, so I dropped the reserve to a ridiculously low price of $2999.99, I needed the money now to pay off a loan I had to make room for my new payment of my boat. Luckily my boat sold for $3450. The buyer of my boat has told me she's seen my postings on seadooforum.com, so she's probably reading this lol. She drove from Dallas Texas, I gave her some gifts like a nearly new gallon bottle of XPS Synthetic II oil, a brand new seadoo fogging oil, and other things..

Now I know I wrote a lot but I want to be very honest with you guys, I'm not sure how it is in your part of town, but in California, Arizona, & Nevada they are extremely picky on letting you go on lakes. Once I travelled 1 hour and half to silverwood lake, I hadnt used my boat for like 7 months, to be told by the officer at the entrance that I had a drop of water and she quarantined my boat for 7 days, so we had no choice but to drive back.

They comb over my boat all the time. Ive been sent back home like 3 times, once for not having rectangular PFD, another for not having proper registration... Wow now I love Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, I can't imagine how they are going to act with the new regulations coming forth in December. Some officers think a "seadoo" boat is not a boat, but a "seadoo".

So ultimately, in my case, I had no choice but to sell my boat and buy a new one...

Also
quoting Dr. Honda above

"5) Speed, power, and size are basically the same. With the exception of "Its newer"... it's a sideways move."

^^^^^^
this statement is very true..

 

[merc596]

OK guys decided not to buy as the guy went up in price from 9K to 11.5K said he saw some on ebay priced higher. Anyway didn't need to spend the 9K anyway and have decided to wait till winter and look over the winter to see if I can find a deal. Then sell my 1997 next year as it is still running great. I appreciate all who responded and gave their ideas as was most helpful. I was ready to buy the 2008 boat but guy was not willing to honor his original quote.

 

[cheappc]

OK guys decided not to buy as the guy went up in price from 9K to 11.5K said he saw some on ebay priced higher. Anyway didn't need to spend the 9K anyway and have decided to wait till winter and look over the winter to see if I can find a deal. Then sell my 1997 next year as it is still running great. I appreciate all who responded and gave their ideas as was most helpful. I was ready to buy the 2008 boat but guy was not willing to honor his original quote.

Good Luck with what ever you do, theres up sides to either situtation, 1 is that your 97 would still hold its value (amazingly), 2, if you wait to buy a 4 stroke, and get a good deal, the resale for them are awesome as well!

Plus, believe me, my new boat feels exactly the same as my old boat, as a matter of fact I feel my old sportster was faster?, and roomier?, and I get wetter on my new boat, the front bow is lower...

Though my kids and my girlfriend really like my new boat more than my old one. I think Im going to have this one for 3 years, hopefully sell it and buy a little bigger one...God willing.

 

[Scooby newby]

yea, I thought $9000 for a 2008 was too good to be true. I paid that much for a 2005 a month ago, but mine is a POS. This is the first and last boat I will ever own.

 

[RFoster130]

yea, I thought $9000 for a 2008 was too good to be true. I paid that much for a 2005 a month ago, but mine is a POS. This is the first and last boat I will ever own.

Sounds like you should have done more research here before you bought it. We try to help people avoid getting scammed on POS's.

 

[Scooby newby]

Yea, I know that now. It's a hard lession and a bitter pill to swallow, when you realize you've been scammed, and by a real nice fellow who drove up with this nice looking Sportster towed behind a Caddy escalade. Now I know how he makes his money; by screwing greenhorns like me.

 

[RFoster130]

Yea, I know that now. It's a hard lession and a bitter pill to swallow, when you realize you've been scammed, and by a real nice fellow who drove up with this nice looking Sportster towed behind a Caddy escalade. Now I know how he makes his money; by screwing greenhorns like me.

What makes you think you got ripped off? I saw your other thread and replied. You never answered me in it. Not to be mean, but to me it sounds like you are a new owner who didnt inform yourself about how to operate these boats before you bought one and took it out. That almost always ends up with new members coming here to help fix the boat they got "scammed" on, when in reality, they are just kinda clueless.

 

[merc596]

Good Luck with what ever you do, theres up sides to either situtation, 1 is that your 97 would still hold its value (amazingly), 2, if you wait to buy a 4 stroke, and get a good deal, the resale for them are awesome as well!

Plus, believe me, my new boat feels exactly the same as my old boat, as a matter of fact I feel my old sportster was faster?, and roomier?, and I get wetter on my new boat, the front bow is lower...

Though my kids and my girlfriend really like my new boat more than my old one. I think Im going to have this one for 3 years, hopefully sell it and buy a little bigger one...God willing.

Yes I was amazed that the 97 would continue to hold its value. I see ones in good shape go for 4500 - 5000 all the time. I like the little boat as it has been a great entertainment for me and I have used it more than my big boat. Gas and easy to unhook and just go. It pulls skiers or tubes with ease and gets 3 - 5 mpg not bad for a boat. Engines have been trouble free as only thing on new boat is depth finder hour meter and stereo............oh well hope you continue to enjoy the new one and the good lord blesses you with a bigger one down the line.........

 

[merc596]

Ok I finally found a 2008 Speedster with the 215 SC engine for $8500 dollars on Craig's List. Looking at NADA and sales on Ebay the boats show somewhere around 10K Boat is in great shape with the exception of the jump seat has a hole punched in it. The owner bought it for his kids who didn't know how to drive as it has some amazing dock rash. However, I have a friend who is a professional at repairing gelcoat. The good thing is the owner was a stickler at maintaining the boat as engine and engine compartment is super clean. The boat also has the bimini top that looks like it had never been used. All gauges/radio/switches/blowers/bilge pump/lights work :lol: Took the boat out for a sea trial and ran great 7900 RPM about 55 MPH GPS. Since that time I have put another 3 hrs on the boat with no issues. The owner gave me his maint records which show routine oil changes and yearly about 30 -35 hrs of use. He had the sc rebuilt by the local sea doo dealer at 100 hours so I am assuming that I don't need to do another rebuild till 200 hrs. I still have my 1997 Speedster but think the 4 Tec 215 is not as noisy as the 717's on the 1997 and gas consumption on the 2008 is better. Like this forum and all of the great advice here. Hope I get as good a service as I have out of my old speedster and keep up the great work.

 

[cheappc]

Ok I finally found a 2008 Speedster with the 215 SC engine for $8500 dollars on Craig's List. Looking at NADA and sales on Ebay the boats show somewhere around 10K Boat is in great shape with the exception of the jump seat has a hole punched in it. The owner bought it for his kids who didn't know how to drive as it has some amazing dock rash. However, I have a friend who is a professional at repairing gelcoat. The good thing is the owner was a stickler at maintaining the boat as engine and engine compartment is super clean. The boat also has the bimini top that looks like it had never been used. All gauges/radio/switches/blowers/bilge pump/lights work :lol: Took the boat out for a sea trial and ran great 7900 RPM about 55 MPH GPS. Since that time I have put another 3 hrs on the boat with no issues. The owner gave me his maint records which show routine oil changes and yearly about 30 -35 hrs of use. He had the sc rebuilt by the local sea doo dealer at 100 hours so I am assuming that I don't need to do another rebuild till 200 hrs. I still have my 1997 Speedster but think the 4 Tec 215 is not as noisy as the 717's on the 1997 and gas consumption on the 2008 is better. Like this forum and all of the great advice here. Hope I get as good a service as I have out of my old speedster and keep up the great work.

Wow dude, you made out like a bandit.. $8500 for a supercharged, wow. Awesome... Congrats, now if you sell your 97 for close to $5,000.. You got your new baby for like $3500 now that's awesome!

I'm a little jealous.. Just kidding.. Have fun

 

[timeman]

Welcome to the new millennium...There is a big move afoot,(not one I completely agree with) to disparage and get rid of any and all two stroke engines. Your four-stroke, in addition to reliability and fuel economy, will buy you lots of political correctness!
Seriously, I think you made a wise decision.

 

[merc596]

Thanks for the welcome not one for the PC stuff but definitely one to jump on an excellent buy. I actually started a new thread "Bought new to me 2008 215 SC Sea Doo Speedster to give my impression between the 2008 and 1997. There are probably some sentimental feelings for the 1997 as I am going to be sad to see it go. However, nothing stays the same and the 2008 has been a nice boat for the 3 hrs I have been able to use it. Wondering if summer is ever going to come. Anyway, biggest surprise is how quiet the 4 stroke Rotax vs the 2 stroke. Night and day you can actually hear the radio at idle and no smoke.:thumbsup: Thanks again and a great boating summer to everyone!

 

[cheappc]

Thanks for the welcome not one for the PC stuff but definitely one to jump on an excellent buy. I actually started a new thread "Bought new to me 2008 215 SC Sea Doo Speedster to give my impression between the 2008 and 1997. There are probably some sentimental feelings for the 1997 as I am going to be sad to see it go. However, nothing stays the same and the 2008 has been a nice boat for the 3 hrs I have been able to use it. Wondering if summer is ever going to come. Anyway, biggest surprise is how quiet the 4 stroke Rotax vs the 2 stroke. Night and day you can actually hear the radio at idle and no smoke.:thumbsup: Thanks again and a great boating summer to everyone!

Congrats! And enjoy