6 replies to this topic

[THRILLSEEKER]

Hi yall! I am looking into buying a Speedster between 1995 and 1997. Although I have been around performance boats all my life, theese jetboats are completely new to me. Is there any notorious problems involving the Speedsters built in theese years? Also what do I need to look for prior to buying as far as possible mechanical (egine/pump) problems?

Thanks in advance guys

[Kevin Leclair]

I will let the guys that own Speedsters for these years answer these questions for ya. We have a few owners for those years on the site here.

Kevin

[Bob86ZZ4]

I havn't checked in this section for awhile so I wonder if you bought a boat yet. I'll take a stab at this. Buy the newest boat you can afford. They made improvements every year I think. The '96 had more h/p than the '95 didn't it? The '97 I don't know what was improved but I'm sure there was something. The '98 they went to the single shifter system and single steering cable. Check my post in the "twin 85" section of this site for how I converted my '96 to the single shift cable. One of those years they also went to a single large battery instead of the twin little jetski batteries. Again, sorry I didn't see this sooner to give my .02 on it. What did you buy?

[Kevin Leclair]

I know this isn't a 95 thru 97 but this looks like a pretty sweet deal on a 99, might want to check out!
http://cgi.ebay.com/...item=2443835232

Kevin

[THRILLSEEKER]

Thanks for the info guys, I havent bought anything yet. I am looking at a 96 or 97 because I like way they look and this is just going to be a boat to travel from Ohio to South Fla in the winter time with. My main boat is a 28' Cigarette and its just not practical to tow it all that distance. I was told that in 97 they switched to independant intakes, is this true??

[Bob86ZZ4]

Independant intakes? Do you mean water intakes? They all have completely independant water intakes as far as I know. The twin engine systems are totally seperate. The only thing is that there is one big brain box that controls the electronics for both engines together. At least my '96 does. As far as that Speedster SK on ebay, they still havn't reached the reserve at $3800 as of tonight. I can't imagine that the SK is fast enough. My buddy bought a '98 (I think anyhow) regular Speedster 16 with the twin 800cc engines. I am faster out of the hole and up to near my top speed I'm still even with him. Then he keeps going faster. And his doesn't spin and fly outa the water as well as mine. I feel kind of claustrophic sitting in his with the high sides too. I guess I'm kinda partial to the 14' hulls tho. I would love to hop up my engines but that'll have to wait 'till I have a catastrophic failure that requires rebuilding them.

[THRILLSEEKER]

What kind of affec does saltwater have on 2 stoke engines?? I may consider buying a boat that came from saltwater providing that I can figure out what to look for as far as "saltwater damage" Are the exhausts water jacketed on theese boats?? if so is it possible for saltwater to eat through a jacket and hydrolock an engine?