Potential purchase....

[john445]

Thinking of a Sea Doo Sportster 4-tec or the LEDI. I am concerned about the long term stability of the Rotax 497 engine. I have read that they are prone to ingest water and sieze. Any advice would be appreciated.

John

[Technical Support]

Re: Potential purchase....

There is no comparison between a 4 and 2 stroke. The 4TEC will outlast it 4:1+.

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: Potential purchase....

Neither one of those models have a 947 engine in them.

[john445]

Re: Potential purchase....

Sorry for the confusion Bill. This a link to the boat I am thinking about.



http://www.seadoo.com/en-US/SportBoa...r.DI/Specs.htm

It is a 2004 model. In light of the previous post it appears I will be leaning more to the 4-tec model. The boats are similar in size and performance specs, but if the 4-tec engine is hands down more reliable and long-lived, the extra money up front will be worth it.

John Hennessey

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: Potential purchase....

No, my mistake.

Yes, the 4Tec is a much better motor for pushing around a boat.

[1fastski.com]

Re: Potential purchase....

to anyone looking for a first{ boat } if it will be a weekend few hrs here and there boat ? then a jet boat is fine BUT if you plan on keeping it in the water or getting many hrs of use then buy a real boat . a nice outboard will give many yrs of happy use and will go places where the same size jetboat cant . and will be a lot cheeper in the long run then a jetboat . just MO on a BOAT i see many unhappy jetboaters who wish they bought a real boat and most do within 2 seasons . {engine wize the 4Tec will outlast the 2 strokes}

[john445]

Re: Potential purchase....

My boat buying situation: Live one block from public launch on Lake Pontchartrain. Have two boys, 11 and 12 who love to kneeboard, tube, and wakeboard. I would like a boat that is, in priority order:

1. Easy to hook up, trailer to launch, launch and retrieve, put back in garage.

2. Enough power to not limit our watersport arsenal.

3. Ease of maint and upkeep.

My brother in law has two Sea Doo skis, one has the 4-tec and the other has a smaller 2 stroke engine. When we go to his house it takes us about 10 minutes to have the machines in the water and ready to go. I have pulled the kids with the 4-tec easily and would welcome a little more room for people and stuff, I did say a little.

On another note, my brother in laws 4-tec ski has started pulling wildly at speed. At slow speeds it rides fine. Somewhere around 35, in calm water, all of a sudden it will turn hard on it's own. VERY DANGEROUS. The dealer cannot seem to fix it, any suggestions?

Thanks everyone for your input.

John Hennessey

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: Potential purchase....

Yes, either have the OPAS fixed or buy my OPAS block off kit and just get rid of that OPAS system alltogether.

If you are still considering a Sea Doo boat, they make them with Mercury power head/Jets too (mercury engines). Mercury is a very reliable engine.

[john445]

Re: Potential purchase....

1> What is OPAS?


2> Yes, I am still considering the boat. Are the Mercury Sportjet engines a better setup than the 4 stroke Rotax. I have looked at a Speedster with a Merc 240. Very nice vessel, sweet acceleration.

Thanks

John Hennessey

[dank]

Re: Potential purchase....

You will have a lot more pulling power with a proped boat then a jet drive. Something to think about as your kids grow.

It should't take any longer to launch a 18-19ft walk-threw winshield outboard boat. And is simple to flush out after going to salt water.

I have owned a 1991 19' Chris Craft with a 150 Johnson since new. It has provides over 500 hours of watersking, tubeing and wakeboarding for my family. It als has great fuel economy and can reach speeds of 50MPH. For your first boat I would suggest something like this.

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: Potential purchase....

OPAS is the OFF POWER ASSISTED STEERING system that Sea Doo has on most of the newer models.

At the rear sides of the watercraft hull, you see two fins that drop down into the water at low rpm. These fins help steer the watercraft with the power off, because as you know, a normal jet propulsion watercraft does not have steering unless you throttle up a bit to get directional thrust out of the steering nozzel on the jet drive unit.

If the OPAS is not operating properly, it can create a situation like what you described, where the watercraft goes off on it's own direction without steering imput from the operator. Even if it does work correctly, if the watercraft is leaned over, or a wake catches only one side fin, it can cause the watercraft to change directions unexpectantly.

[Bill O'Neal2]

Re: Potential purchase....

A mercury powered jet drive boat has the great features that the outboard motor provides while not having an exposed propellor under the boat. A jetdrive produces great thrust for pulling tubers, wakeboarders and waterskiers.

Alot of boat owners believe strongly in the advantages of not having the propellor exposed under their boats, especially if they allow others to use the boat.

Typically a jetdrive powered boat will consume more fuel than an outboard powered boat.

[john445]

Re: Potential purchase....

Bill

Thanks so much for the wealth of info you have provided. Your input will make my decision easier and finally get my brother in law back on the water. Thanks again for sharing.

John Hennessey

[DaveG]

Re: Potential purchase....

If your boys get serious about wakeboarding then none of the above boats will be adiquate. Outboards, Inboard/outboards and jet boats are all VERY dificult to mantain the speed needed for wakeboarding. That speed is almost always right where those style boats fall off plane. They are also not very good at making the wake that is needed for wakeboarding. Once you get past the learning and basic stages you are going to want to be able to adjust wake shape and amplitude and you will need to do that while mantaining a precise speed.
A proper ski or wakeboard boat will meet all of your requirments. Ease of use, maintaince and any water sport you care to try. Most of them will do 45 -50 mph, they're not speed demons but that's not what they are designed for. If you can work on an auto engine, you can easily maintain a ski boat. The prop is under the boat making it nearly as safe as a jet boat. They handle very well and most have a large rear platform designed to make putting on and removing gear easy. The are also operable in shallower water than a jet boat and if you screw up, it's easier to change a prop than an impeller. Also, there is only one engine and drive system to maintain.
The downside is cost. They are very popular right now and are holding value well, great if your selling, not so great if your trying to find a deal.
I don't normally advise a ski style boat but it sounds to me like one of those would be the best fit for you.
Dave

[Paulie]

Re: Potential purchase....

I am one of those who strongly believe in no exposed propeller,
aka " Meat Clever". I have many hours in jetboats, and for me, the only
way to go.
Easy to launch, handles like no other, can go into really really shallow
water. The jet is easier to launch because there is no drive leg to raise, lower
etc.
As far as pulling, I have a twin 14.5 and it pulls better than anything out
there. I have not pulled Giant skiers, so I have not experienced the tracking
problems mentioned here. If it were to be an issue there are aftermarket rudders to attach to pumps to fix that.
The 4-tech boat has a little sharper hull entry which should be smoother
than the 14.5. The trade off for that is it is slooooooow, did I say slow? Slow.
I have not owned the 951 Di, but I have thought of it. Will it die quicker than
the 4-tech? Most think so, but I have heard of 4-techs keeling over too soon
as well. Lots of bitchin about surging, unable to hold steady rpm with the 4-tech, bad fuel economy, etc.
For the money difference, I would take a shot on the 14.5 Di. It will
be faster, with better hole shot, no doubt. And cared for should provide many hours of reliable
service. Should it die, rebuilds will be way cheaper than the 4-tech, which
from all reports are stupid money to replace. ( No SBT 4 strokes yet, but I
would think will be way more than the 2 strokes when they come). Ah plus
the 14.5 is just plain ole better looking than the 4-tech.
Inboard Ski Boat? Nice for a single purpose, and you could buy 5 or 6
14.5s or 3 4-techs for the same money.......good luck!