rayliner

Okay, here's the update on our situation. To recap first on the problem, the boat would quit and it acted like there was no electrical power to the ignition switch - no starter, no gauges (radio and lights worked, though). When you turned on the key, the warning buzzer did NOT go on.
As I was stripping the boat of all things valuable for its trip to the dealer, I tried to start it up. It worked, of course. I stuck my head in the engine compartment and started fiddling with the wiring harness. To my suprrise, I was able to duplicate the problem by jiggling the wiring harness around. I did this a few times to make sure it wasn't a coincidence, and that I was actually causing the problem.
When I went to the dealer, I was able to duplicate the problem to the service writer! A few days later he called to tell us he tried to show the service techs, and he could not get it to fail. They somehow conned Mercury into paying for a lake test (the wiring was the problem, and the wiring is not part of the engine- SeaDoo should haved stepped up for that, not Mercury...the boat is still under warranty, so all I cared about was that I did not have to pay for it) But anyway, they took it out to a local lake, and it died on the techs. They were then able to bypass the wiring harness, which finally proved to them where the problem lay. So, they replaced the entire harness that comes off the control box on the engine and goes up towards the front of the boat. We have not had the boat out yet, but I tried to jiggle the wiring to get it to fail, and it never did. I feel confident that they might have fixed this problem. I'll keep my fingers crossed! Enclosed is a photo of the engine compartment. The loom to the left of the control box was what was replaced.

rayliner:

We traded in a 2004 Islandia that ran perfectly for a 2004 Challenger X because of gas usage and the fact that the Islandia was very difficult to load onto the trailer.  It was really just more boat than we needed.

We started off loving the Challenger X, but on day 2 of usage, we had a problem similar to yours.  We were going across a small bay on Brownwood lake and the boat just died.  It was as though it was starved for gas.  When we tried to start it again, it tries to turn over, but acts like it is out of gas.  It will not start.  However, after being towed in and letting  the boat sit for 1-2 hours, it starts just fine.

We took it back to the dealership where we were told the pins in the wiring harness had come loose and everything else on the computer checked out ok.

Took it back to Brownwood lake the following weekend where the enitre scenario replayed itself, except no one would give us a tow.  We swam the boat for about 1 1/2 hours until it would start again. 

Back to the dealer - this time they replaced spark plug wires and were sure that they had it fixed.

Yesterday, it died on us again.  We probably burned up the starter in frustration, but the boat would not start and stay running at all this time.  Called the dealership again this morning...

Are you still having problems?  If not, what was done to correct your problem?  What dealer do you use?

Thanks.

we've only had the boat out once since, and it ran the entire weekend without problems. Howver, our problem is different than yours for sure. We had no electrical power. The starter wouldn't turn over at all, and all elctrical running through the starter switch was dead. It was either the switch itself, or the computer was not supplying power to the switch (I would guess it was the computer, or a loose wire, but I cannot tell for sure.)
With yours, I would think that the fuel filter is partially clogged, or there is sediment in your tank. I had the same problem with a classic Mustang I had. After running for a while, sediment would get sucked up against the screen in the tank. Eventually enough sediment would block off the scrren and the car would die as though it was out of gas. After an hour or so, the suction wold finally lessen enough that the sediment would fall away from the screen, and the car would run again for a while.

Let me know when you solve your problem. I'll be sure to post any further info about my problem when my situation changes.

I'm sympathetic tio your problem. I have never suffered a break down [yet] in a jet boat - but a breakdown in a jet-boat would have to be a royal pain in the #$%@.

Unlike propeller driven boats there is absolutely NO STEERING with a broke down jet-boat. Your much like a jelly-fish drifting with the tide, wind or prevailing currents. This has been one of my biggest fears during long offshore trips out in the Gulf of Mexico. I always keep a working and fully charged cell phone with me for just such an occasion. Be sure you have [2] paddles and an anchor with a long rope.

My dealership experiences have been similar - they have a "throw money at it" philosophy and are not the greatest troubleshooters. Very few SeaDoo mechanics or technicians own jet-boats.

Keep your fuel filter changed, keep the gas tank full and put in fuel treatment every other tank full.

I'm curious did your being towed in flood or otherwise damage your engine? How long was the tow? How fast? {mph?}

JEFF L : )

We didn't need a tow. The Colorado River is only about 400-600 feet wide at its widest. We swam it to shore and some of the kind folks who had houses right there let us use their ramp to put the boat up. We had to get a ride to pick up our rig and trailer.

It is (or was, hopefully) an electrical problem - it had nothing to do with fuel. No electricity to the switch. So it was probably either a loose connection somewhere or a computer problem; I'm not sure what the control box/computer that is mounted on the engine does. I was looking for some online manuals, but they have apparently been removed for legal reasons.


Oh well. Thanks for the response. Happy boating.

rayliner:

We traded in a 2004 Islandia that ran perfectly for a 2004 Challenger X because of gas usage and the fact that the Islandia was very difficult to load onto the trailer. It was really just more boat than we needed.

We started off loving the Challenger X, but on day 2 of usage, we had a problem similar to yours. We were going across a small bay on Brownwood lake and the boat just died. It was as though it was starved for gas. When we tried to start it again, it tries to turn over, but acts like it is out of gas. It will not start. However, after being towed in and letting the boat sit for 1-2 hours, it starts just fine.

We took it back to the dealership where we were told the pins in the wiring harness had come loose and everything else on the computer checked out ok.

Took it back to Brownwood lake the following weekend where the enitre scenario replayed itself, except no one would give us a tow. We swam the boat for about 1 1/2 hours until it would start again.

Back to the dealer - this time they replaced spark plug wires and were sure that they had it fixed.

Yesterday, it died on us again. We probably burned up the starter in frustration, but the boat would not start and stay running at all this time. Called the dealership again this morning...

Are you still having problems? If not, what was done to correct your problem? What dealer do you use?

Thanks.

we've only had the boat out once since, and it ran the entire weekend without problems. Howver, our problem is different than yours for sure. We had no electrical power. The starter wouldn't turn over at all, and all elctrical running through the starter switch was dead. It was either the switch itself, or the computer was not supplying power to the switch (I would guess it was the computer, or a loose wire, but I cannot tell for sure.)
With yours, I would think that the fuel filter is partially clogged, or there is sediment in your tank. I had the same problem with a classic Mustang I had. After running for a while, sediment would get sucked up against the screen in the tank. Eventually enough sediment would block off the scrren and the car would die as though it was out of gas. After an hour or so, the suction wold finally lessen enough that the sediment would fall away from the screen, and the car would run again for a while.

Let me know when you solve your problem. I'll be sure to post any further info about my problem when my situation changes.

I have a 2002 Islandia with the 240 EFI Mercury.  I have been having a problem where after about 15-20 minutes on the water from a cold start and going 30-40 mph/5,000 rpm, the engine will then suddenly shut off.  I have suspected an electrical problem but it does not shut off if I wiggle the key or lanyard and if I do pull the lanyard out or turn the key it will shut off instantly but start right back up.  When I have the mystery stop it takes 2 cranks usually to start it again and a few seconds for the engine then to reach idle speed.  Then it works fine again until it shuts off again.  Each time they then get shorter and shorter until it can not exceed 2,000 rpm without shutting off.  The shut-offs are instant though and do not sputter.

I have had 2 mechanics look at it and they can not seem to pinpoint the problem.  Has anyone had this same problem.  Canb anyone offer any thoughts?

I have a very similar problem. Mine seems to happen primarily when I am under load and taking off ie..pulling a skier up or just WOT from a dead stop. It shuts off but starts back up immediately. I have not even bothered asking a mechanic to take a look because I knew they would not find right away. I just keep going over my electrical connections and will eventually find it there or its a fuel problem.

Our ChallengerX cut out on us, and never came back. There was no power to the ignition switch at all - evidenced by the fact that the gas gauge was not working when we turned the key on, among other things. All other elctircal worked - lights, horn, blower; none of these go through the ignition. We towed it 250 miles home, and when the dealer got it, they said it started right up. THis sounds like a problem with the entire line of boats... If anyone is able to locate the exact problem, please let us all know.