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When is too crazy over the line?

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BoLongo

BoLongo

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My Challenger 1800 is now running to it's potential. I hit 53 mph GPS by myself on glassy water, and I can hit 47 mph with four people in the boat.

My wife and I took a couple out to the lake last week. I scared the crap out of the husband. I launched the boat completely out of the water a couple of times on some big waves, and I was sliding and spinning the boat going 47 mph. He would not get in the boat the rest of the day until we were heading back to the launch ramp. I am beginning to treat the boat like a jet ski. The Challenger 1800 is around 2000lbs, and I am throwing it around like a 400lb jet ski.

How crazy is too crazy?

Boat-on-Lake.jpg
 
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You scared the bejeezus out of that poor man. :lols: I bet you will never get him to go cruising with you again.....
 
That's the attraction for the twin Seadoo boat. My single 951 Sportster will do 50MPH on it's best day with a slight tailwind (very calm water) but nothing like that jetski jumping stuff.

I'd expect the 18ft hull doesn't beat you up as much as the 14.5ft hull. In rough water I don't do much over 25 MPH and under 20 MPH it's coming off plane.
 
I added two hydraulic trim tabs; I can go through 2-foot chop at 40 mph like I was in calm water. This mod was worth every dollar.

Trim-Tabs.jpg

So the husband told my wife that he thought I was going to keep pushing the limit until I hurt someone. So maybe someone with a Challenger 1800 can help me understand the boat's limits.

We have all seen people on a PWC launched 10 feet in the air when they make a 90-degree turn at high speed. I assume the same thing could happen in the boat. I have not pushed it to that point, but I am getting close.

Does anyone want to share their experiences?
 
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BoLongo said:
I added two hydraulic trim tabs; I can go through 2-foot chop at 40 mph like I was in calm water. This mod was worth every dollar.

View attachment 37493

So the husband told my wife that he thought I was going to keep pushing the limit until I hurt someone. So maybe someone with a Challenger 1800 can help me understand the boat's limits.

We have all seen people on a PWC launched 10 feet in the air when they make a 90-degree turn at high speed. I assume the same thing could happen in the boat. I have not pushed it to that point, but I am getting close.

Does anyone want to share their experiences?
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I have not caused great harm to anyone yet. We certainly have taken it out in seas that were less than optimal and we have POUNDED HARD. I do not fear for the boat itself..it's just water after all. I feel the boat is more resistant than I am, and I back off the throttle in bad seasa before my threshold concern for the boat (I may have been a lucky guy so far...who knows)

We did use a flying towable once and we got it to hover about 7ft in the air at about 38-39mph, at which point it flipped 180 degrees and the rider plummeted to the water face down (My 120lbs sister in law) We thought we had hurt her pretty bad, but she was not hurt at all. We put that tube away and have never again used it.
 
No stress cracks I think the boat could go over a water fall and keep going. The boat is pretty solid. I guess my fear is flipping the the boat and it hitting someone in the head on the way over. When I really get crazy I put a lifejacket on.
 
Bo what you just decribed is spot on. It is a giant jetski, I think jumping it is the coolest shit ever, Im sure there is a point where you dont want to have it in the air because you cant lean and change angle but it would take a massive wave. It wouldn't be stupid to put on life jackets when raising hell incase you do come out of the boat and get knocked out. And when im raising hell like that i have a wrist strap on my kill switch that I wear. A faimly friend had a 14fter with twin 720s and he bought it cheap because the guy threw himself out and the boat drove its self up sombodys yard.
 
The kill switch makes a lot of sense, I only have one key/clip that I do not want to lose so I attached a lanyard to the storage copartment. I'm going to have to get a second key so I can strap it to my wrist. Do I have to go to the dealer to get a second key/clip?
 
[MENTION=77810]BoLongo[/MENTION] Where did you get that strap for your ladder. Mine is broken but it was actually rubber. Nice boat BTW.
 
I spun out somewhat unexpectedly at about 45mph and my wife went flying in the boat. Hit her head, which was OK but her foot was black and blue for a month. Didn't get ejected but we have no idea what she collided with. No more spins with passengers in my boat.
 
XP 787 said:
[MENTION=77810]BoLongo[/MENTION] Where did you get that strap for your ladder. Mine is broken, but it was actually rubber. Nice boat BTW.
Click to expand...

Thank You, way too many hours in this boat. The strap fix was going to be temporary, but it has held up well. I riveted one end of an old strap and stuck a snap on the other end, screwed the stud into the ladder. I have a black strap that I will switch out when I have time.

IMG_20160909_074254.jpgIMG_20160909_074310.jpg
 
LawnDart said:
I spun out somewhat unexpectedly at about 45mph and my wife went flying in the boat. Hit her head, which was OK but her foot was black and blue for a month. Didn't get ejected but we have no idea what she collided with. No more spins with passengers in my boat.
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I have gone out once by myself to see how far I could push the boat. I learned the hard way to only spin the boat on smooth water. I spun in some chop and got knocked out of the seat but not out of the boat.
 
When you start getting crazy....

1) Make sure you warn people in the boat.

2) Make sure to wear the lanyard !!! ( mine is always just hanging)

3) Make sure you have pleanty of room, and don't do anything where you have to jusdge the distance to someone or some thing. (that can end badly in a hurry)


Other than that... yep... it's just a 2000 lb "Jet-Ski".

Oh... FYI... I spin the Islandia. (LOL) I've actually thrown people off the back. It's kind of funny. I don't jump this one though... but it has been out of the water on a rough day. But considering that I could be well over 5000 Lbs with 6~7 people on board... I don't want to break the hull.

Nothing is crazy... just be safe. The boat parts can be replaced... people can't. :thumbsup:
 
I Just picked up a 97 and I'm running about 48 solo - but I think the rpms are a bit high 7400 - probably good for passengers though. What impellers and rpm do you run - thanks

Tim

elevation 900 feet fresh water
 
Concords that have been repitched by Impros in Corona, CA. Dave is the impeller Guru. He knows your boat just let him do his thing! :thumbsup:
 
It's good to have some fun with it but if you are endangering your passengers or boaters AROUND you that takes it to far. Making sudden turns is very confusing for other boaters as they do not know your intentions if you are screwing around like a wild bull. Too crazy is when the boat flips over :) also warn people like someone else said before doing anything crazy. I always do and have never had anyone even thrown out of a seat.
 
one question I'd like to know... is it that important to ensure that you turn off the throttle when you get "air"? I've heard the engines can over-rev in the air and its not good to be suddenly slowed down...

I see this as being the biggest issue with a supercharged 4tec... compression stroke and the charger itself, but I don't really recall if its necessary with the older 2 stroke rotax

isn't the MPEM rev-limiting the engine anyhow? (I mean will the coil fire higher than 6500/6800 rpm?)

also I don't ever recall people doing this on the older Seadoo PWCs themselves
 
You shouldn't need to let off the throttle. 2 or 4 they are designed for this application and for pumps to load/unload at full power.....and yes all are RPM limited.
 
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