10 replies to this topic

[mrjon53]

this weekend i went out and found a couple of things i have questions about, and do thank you guys ahead of time for the help. First problem i would start up and notice the speedometer wasn't on. weird so i kept on to the next stop, and after the next start up bothe the rpm guages were not working so i killed the engines again and fired it back up no problem. just wondering if anyone had experienced this before and had any suggestions.

the last thing was when cruising around between 5000 and 6000 rpm i would get swome serious rocking (cavatation) going on, and this had not happened on previous outings at same speed and conditions? any help, thanks again.

[cbeastwood]

this weekend i went out and found a couple of things i have questions about, and do thank you guys ahead of time for the help. First problem i would start up and notice the speedometer wasn't on. weird so i kept on to the next stop, and after the next start up bothe the rpm guages were not working so i killed the engines again and fired it back up no problem. just wondering if anyone had experienced this before and had any suggestions.

the last thing was when cruising around between 5000 and 6000 rpm i would get swome serious rocking (cavatation) going on, and this had not happened on previous outings at same speed and conditions? any help, thanks again.

The cavitation issue is common to the pumps on the new skis and boats. www.sea-doo.net has information on this if you search the board. It seems these pumps are VERY sensitive to the smallest foreign object in the pump. 1/4" pieces of debris have been known to cause cavitation and a terrible vibration.

The usual remedy is to shut off the engine and drift - the piece usually dislodges itself. Next time it happens to me, I'm going to try putting the boat in reverse and then shutting the engines off so water will drift backwards through the pump.

I've had this problem on both my 2005 Speedster 200 and my 2004 GTX SC. I've never had this problem with my '98 Speedster or my '98 GTX Ltd.

The gauge problem is weird. On my first 15 minutes with my boat, the tachs locked on 5500 rpm and wouldn't move until I shut off the engine and re-started. They've been fine ever since.

If the speedo's not working, your paddle might be stuck under the rear transom. If that thing's not spinning, your speedo won't work.

Hope this helps,

Craig

[mrjon53]

ya that helps a bunch, i will try the reverse thing for sure, thanks.

[stevenh]

this weekend i went out and found a couple of things i have questions about, and do thank you guys ahead of time for the help.  First problem i would start up and notice the speedometer wasn't on.  weird so i kept on to the next stop, and after the next start up bothe the rpm guages were not working so i killed the engines again and fired it back up no problem.  just wondering if anyone had experienced this before and had any suggestions.

the last thing was when cruising around between 5000 and 6000 rpm i would get swome serious rocking (cavatation) going on,  and this had not happened on previous outings at same speed and conditions?  any help, thanks again.

The cavitation issue is common to the pumps on the new skis and boats. www.sea-doo.net has information on this if you search the board. It seems these pumps are VERY sensitive to the smallest foreign object in the pump. 1/4" pieces of debris have been known to cause cavitation and a terrible vibration.

The usual remedy is to shut off the engine and drift - the piece usually dislodges itself. Next time it happens to me, I'm going to try putting the boat in reverse and then shutting the engines off so water will drift backwards through the pump.

I've had this problem on both my 2005 Speedster 200 and my 2004 GTX SC. I've never had this problem with my '98 Speedster or my '98 GTX Ltd.

The gauge problem is weird. On my first 15 minutes with my boat, the tachs locked on 5500 rpm and wouldn't move until I shut off the engine and re-started. They've been fine ever since.

If the speedo's not working, your paddle might be stuck under the rear transom. If that thing's not spinning, your speedo won't work.

Hope this helps,

Craig

My '05 S200's tachs lock up often. I am sure it happens and I I am sure sometimes I don't even notice. If you wait long enough (1-2 minutes) they will start working again (at least mine do). It looks like they have a computer glitch in there somewhere. Mine must have locked up 5-6 times over last week (at the lake for a week). I guess it's a minor problem to me...

Steve

[thumper]

i occasionally get some weed go thru the pump - it doesnt cause cavitation just a slight drop in revs - so i give the throttle a quick burst and it generally clears the pump - havent had to do the reverse thing yet.

[mrjon53]

Well im sure its not debris, but i was wondering does anyone else with a s200 feel on a busy day at the lake with alot of wake that the boat just takes a pounding? it'll start bouncing on me and not stop untill i slow down the throtlle or we finally have a big jolt when the bow hits the water and finnally levels out. i know i'm knew to the boating world, but i watch some of the other boats (mostly prop boats) and doent see them bouncing around at all.

also ive read up on some trim tabs and was wondering if this would solve the problem. the one i saw were like 600$ ouch.

[jpeezy]

Well im sure its not debris, but i was wondering does anyone else with a s200 feel on a busy day at the lake with alot of wake that the boat just takes a pounding? it'll start bouncing on me and not stop untill i slow down the throtlle or we finally have a big jolt when the bow hits the water and finnally levels out. i know i'm knew to the boating world, but i watch some of the other boats (mostly prop boats) and doent see them bouncing around at all.

also ive read up on some trim tabs and was wondering if this would solve the problem. the one i saw were like 600$ ouch.

I've noticed that you really have to watch for wakes and slow down before you hit em. If the trim tabs help and are available, I sure would like to know about it.

jpeezy

[thumper]

if you hit a sizable wake at anything less than 90 degrees you are gonna bounce - unless you have a deep v hull (which jet baots do not)- the worst is catching wake at a very narrow angle - this can be very uncomfortable particularly in a twin jet as one may let go as you cross the wake - i have found that my old i/o sportsbost used to slam a lot more than a jet boat particularly if i had the drive trimmed up - if you notice prop boats slicing wakes -they probably have their legs trimmed down and or have deep v hulls.

[thumper]

generally if you are crossing wakes can you move to a clear area away from other boats and thier wake - whilst you may see them - they may not see you - dont assume because you are new to boating that every body else isnt - they could be new aswell.

[mrjon53]

if you hit a sizable wake at anything less than 90 degrees you are gonna bounce - unless you have a deep v hull (which jet baots do not)- the worst is catching wake at a very narrow angle - this can be very uncomfortable particularly in a twin jet as one may let go as you cross the wake - i have found that my old i/o sportsbost used to slam a lot more than a jet boat particularly if i had the drive trimmed up - if you notice prop boats slicing wakes -they probably have their legs trimmed down and or have deep v hulls.

ya i thought there might be an advantage to the trim or deep v hulls i was unaware of. also the lake i usually go on is very crowded, not very often do you find an area that isn't waveless.

[sea_goodin]

i occasionally get some weed go thru the pump - it doesnt cause cavitation just a slight drop in revs - so i give the throttle a quick burst and it generally clears the pump - havent had to do the reverse thing yet.

Last year I was on a lake that had many sticks and stuff in the water. In one weekend I had two issues with small sticks getting wedged on the Impeller. My boat only has the one engine and I simply would not get up fast enough to push enough water through it to clear it forward or reverse. About 2000 rpm it would would just cavitate and not pick up water! Both times I had to put it on the trailor to remove the stick. Two sticks about the size of my thumb drained about 5 hours out of my weekend. I suggest that if you have a single engine like mine that you keep a Torque head (star head) socket to fit the intake grate in your boat or tow vehicle So that you can remove it if necessary. I actually switched mine to Allen heads for convience. This is one where the twin guys definatly have an advantage!