What is a 1998 Speedster?

[rblack1]

I have a 1998 Speedster and my brother just bought one... his is bigger 110hp engines mine has the 85 hp engines.. now i am confused.. i went on line to look at 1998 speedsters and there seem to be several versions of that boat... how do i tell which boat is which>>??

 

[Dennis]

A 1998 Speedster has 110 h.p. engines.
A 1998 SPORTSTER has 85 h.p. engines.

 

[RFoster130]

Are you sure both are 98's speedsters? In 98 the Speedster (16ft boat) only came in twin 787 motors (110 HP). The 18 ft Sportster had twin 85 HP motors. BUT there are actually 2 versions of the speedster in 99, they made the twin 110's and then they made a Speedster SK that came with twin 717 (85 HP) motors.

 

[rblack1]

Maybe it is a 1999? It is definatley a speedster says it on the side and the back....also have seen several just like mine on the net...all have a drivers seat and then a rear facing passenger seat....but I have seen them listed as 1997 and 1998....which seems to suggest that there have been a couple Versions for several years?

 

[RFoster130]

Both 98-99 Speedsters have the same seats as the pic in my avatar. If it has a driver seat, single rear facing passenger seat then the row of 3 rear seats, its not a 98 or 99 speedster.

 

[RFoster130]

If the seats layout is the 3 rear and then the rear facing passenger, that sounnds like a 97, which has 2 717 motors and is also a 14 ft boat.

 

[Don Memphis]

My profile pic shows my boat. 98 speedster. It seats 5 people and has two 110hp motors. When I bought it the guy said it was a "1600" and it's 16 feet long. So is it a 1600? I really need to know so I can buy the repair manuals and get parts for it. I need the "seadoo letters on the back that are black and made of neoprene. Having a hard time finding them. My brothers boat, the one that started this tread, has a speedster, but with a different seating arrangement. It seats 4 and has two 85hp motors. and thinks it's a 1998?

 

[BMANN06]

This certainly is confusing as there are two speedster models as Foster was saying.

I have seen the speedster SK up close, and there is no difference until you look under the hood. The SK has the smaller 85HP engines, the decals across the bow should say 'Speedster SK', but its not uncommon for owners to remove the "SK" as this is what ive seen. I do believe the SK came out in 99' only though, I might be mistaken. I also think the SK has the bow cover, which gives the boat a really sporty look. If your still in doubt post up the HIN, and I'll confirm the model and year.

 

[rblack1]

I am convinced that this is a 1997...most boats like it on the net are 1997...only a couple think they are 1998s....thanks for the info!

 

[RFoster130]

I clicked on your profile and saw your pic....You have a 98. That is a 16ft boat. They used the same boat from 98 to 2004. It had the rotax motors in 98-99 and then went to Mercury engines from 2000 to 2004. Here is a list of the 16 ft boats.

98 Speedster Twin 110 HP Engines
99 Speedster Twin 110 HP Engines
99 Speedster SK Twin 85 Hp Engines
2000 Speedster 240 Mercury
2000 Speedster SK 210 Mercury
2001 to 2004 all Speedsters had the 240 Mercury

Any other speedster prior to 98 was a 14 ft boat and anything 2005 and up is 20 ft or bigger. They did reintroduce it as a 15ft boat and call it a sportster again in the newer years.

 

[Don Memphis]

Thanks RFoster130! Great info! That helps out alot and exactly what we were looking for!

 

[TEDUP]

i'm sure it's a 1997. this is the only year to my knowledge that has the rear facing seat. I have both a 1996 and a 1997. the 1998 has 4 seperate seats facing forward.