5 replies to this topic

[jonw9]

There was no comparison shopping thread I found, so I am posting this here since it is semi-relevant and seems the most active forum.

I am shopping right now and I have 2 boats in the area I am looking at. One is a '99 Speedster SK and the other is an '05 Sportster SCIC.

Now the '99 is older, so it is about $4-6 thousand less. However the maintenance was done by the owner, so it is questionable. He says he hasn't used it much in the last couple of years. That could be good or bad. I plan on going out next week for a wet run and engine test, plus plan on a mechanic looking it over. I don't know the exact hours, other than "low".

The '05 has all maintenance documented, so that sounds good. Has about 90 hrs. on it.

Both have some usual scratches, not a big deal. The '99 has a broken fuel gauge, which seems quite common for this era. I am not aware of any other mechanical problems with either model.

Both seat exactly 4 people, so that is the same. However I do have some bigger people in the family (~250 lbs.), and I am not sure how comfortable the Sportster seating is, as opposed to the 4 separate buckets in the Speedster.

The Speedster has more storage space and twin 2-cycle engines. The Sportster has the single 4-cycle supercharged engine. Will the supercharger make the maintenance as much as the 2 engines in the '99? Will the $4000 difference cover the cost of one (or two) engine rebuilds on the older Speedster?

There is more length in the Speedster, although that is probably used up in the storage compartment. The Sportster has a stereo, which I would install in the Speedster myself if purchased.

Is there any other intangibles I am overlooking? Which one would you buy, and why?

I can provide more information if requested. Thanks.

[Mac4]

There was no comparison shopping thread I found, so I am posting this here since it is semi-relevant and seems the most active forum.

I am shopping right now and I have 2 boats in the area I am looking at. One is a '99 Speedster SK and the other is an '05 Sportster SCIC.

Now the '99 is older, so it is about $4-6 thousand less. However the maintenance was done by the owner, so it is questionable. He says he hasn't used it much in the last couple of years. That could be good or bad. I plan on going out next week for a wet run and engine test, plus plan on a mechanic looking it over. I don't know the exact hours, other than "low".

The '05 has all maintenance documented, so that sounds good. Has about 90 hrs. on it.

Both have some usual scratches, not a big deal. The '99 has a broken fuel gauge, which seems quite common for this era. I am not aware of any other mechanical problems with either model.

Both seat exactly 4 people, so that is the same. However I do have some bigger people in the family (~250 lbs.), and I am not sure how comfortable the Sportster seating is, as opposed to the 4 separate buckets in the Speedster.

The Speedster has more storage space and twin 2-cycle engines. The Sportster has the single 4-cycle supercharged engine. Will the supercharger make the maintenance as much as the 2 engines in the '99? Will the $4000 difference cover the cost of one (or two) engine rebuilds on the older Speedster?

There is more length in the Speedster, although that is probably used up in the storage compartment. The Sportster has a stereo, which I would install in the Speedster myself if purchased.

Is there any other intangibles I am overlooking? Which one would you buy, and why?

I can provide more information if requested. Thanks.

When I was originally looking for a boat I also came across your simular position. I ended up going with the 4 stroke engine. Some of the reasons why:
- You do not have to worry about oil like you would in the 2 stroke. The oil is not cheap and if you use do not use the BRP 2 stroke oil you will notice some loss of power, or so I have been told by a few people. Price the oil, I think you'll find out that it is almost as expensive as your tank full of gas.
- One more engine means that many more possibilities for mechanical failure.
- More overall maintenance and parts to replace with the two engines. (drive train bearings, filters, ect.....)
- The newer engine will have parts more available than the old.
- The new Rotax engine requires very little maintenance and with the supercharger, you'll feel like your on a rocket.
- The new Rotax engine is much quieter than the older two 2 strokers.
- Less smoke and exhaust out of the 4-stroker
- The SCIC is a well made boat and you'll love the look of the analog gages on the 2005 model. My only issue with this boat is that the rotation you get when the boat is in nuetral. This makes it a bit of a pain when your first learning to drive it and docking.

I think you need to take both out on the water but I think you'll find that the extra four grand for the SCIC is well worth it. It is a fantastic little boat.

Good Luck and enjoy either one that you purchase. I love mine.

[jonw9]

When I was originally looking for a boat I also came across your simular position.  I ended up going with the 4 stroke engine.  Some of the reasons why: 
- You do not have to worry about oil like you would in the 2 stroke.  The oil is not cheap and if you use do not use the BRP 2 stroke oil you will notice some loss of power, or so I have been told by a few people.  Price the oil, I think you'll find out that it is almost as expensive as your tank full of gas.
- One more engine means that many more possibilities for mechanical failure.
- More overall maintenance and parts to replace with the two engines. (drive train bearings, filters, ect.....)
- The newer engine will have parts more available than the old.
- The new Rotax engine requires very little maintenance and with the supercharger, you'll feel like your on a rocket.
- The new Rotax engine is much quieter than the older two 2 strokers.
- Less smoke and exhaust out of the 4-stroker
- The SCIC is a well made boat and  you'll love the look of the analog gages on the 2005 model.  My only issue with this boat is that the rotation you get when the boat is in nuetral.  This makes it a bit of a pain when your first learning to drive it and docking.

I think you need to take both out on the water but I think you'll find that the extra  four grand for the SCIC is well worth it.  It is a fantastic little boat.

Good Luck and enjoy either one that you purchase.  I love mine.

Thanks for the response.

-I was considering the cost of oil, but averaged over the tank of fuel, and compared to the cost of premium (recommended for the SCIC) it should be about a wash.
-One extra engine is double the maintenance, but 1/2 the chance of getting stranded. But where I plan on boating this isn't a terrible issue (inland lakes).
-I am not sure about parts, I mean there are people still running '95s, so it can't be too much of an issue.
-I am iffy on the supercharger, this seems like it could add maintenance issues.
-I do like the 4 stroke over the 2, and this is part of my problem.

I also think it would get kinda old having to start 2 engines everytime I pick up a skier, but maybe that is not as annoying as it seems.

I just don't know. I may get the cheaper boat, see if it works out well for me, then upgrade in a couple/few years.

[vwDavid]

I just bought an 06 SCIC. I didn't compare it to older models much- I knew that I wanted the newer.

Speaking to the engine reliability, from what I have read on greenhulk the Supercharger is the weak link- but it is more specific. There are ceramic SC clutch bushings that will wear down potentially break and cause damage (think shredded metal in your intake!)

However, it is more pronounced on PWCs, less so on boats cause we are out of the water less. When the engine cavitates at full throttle doo to lack of water the SC has to dump boost. You could alternatively install a blow off valve, but the standard practive is to upgrade to the SS bushings. This one the downside the is probably the weak link of the motor- but it doesn't mean its going to fall apart now. It it may still be more reliable that the 2strokers. On the up side there are lots of metal bushing kits that handy folks such as yourself could install.

My 06 scic is 25 hours old and I'm the second owner. I plan to replace them as preventative maintenance at the end of this season.

Get the SCIC!

[jonw9]

Well, I came across another 2005 SCIC (eBay) , it is further away, but cheaper. IT has been used in salt-water. That being said, it would not be possible to test before buying. Should I look into this more, or run away?

It is a couple thousand more than the SK, but a couple thousand less than the local SCIC.

With the SCIC being an closed system, the salt isn't as much of an issue as with the two cycles, right?

I am asking if they are the titled owner, but is there something else I should do? Go through some sort of third party? Possibly have them relist and then buy somehow?

[Braveit1]

The engine is a closed system but the intercoolers is still uses the water to cool. That's why I flush mine every time I take it out.