Old seadoo challenger, scrap to shiny

smdts

New Member
Joined
30 Mar 2019
Messages
11
Visit site
I have recently picked up a project for the winter, a very cheap seadoo challenger non runner.
It has potential, it just needs a lot of TLC.
The ecu was faulty, and afterseveral attempts to find a replacement or someone to replace it for me I eventually managed to fix it myself, there was a shorted transient suppressor diode and a burnt out pcb track.
It runs on brake cleaner now, the whole fuel system needs going over, it has been neglected for a long tim
I plan to fully refresh the fuel system, electrics, mechanics, upholstery and cosmetics, and make a few improvement along the way to bring it up to date.
I have been warned by a friend who had one similar a while back to be prepared for ruinous fuel bills from the 2 inboard 2 strokes, but infinite smiles per gallon.
First 2 pics are after a bit of a quick clean to show the mrs, if she seen how it looked like when i picked it up she would have went even more mental than she did.
uSREx56.jpg

gXOjBL8.jpg

BSMmUOY.jpg

2DUFA8g.jpg

Z8dR7rc.jpg

zoK84Zl.jpg
 
cool!

looking forward to the rebuilt/refit!
curious, why only 3 morse controls? Can you only get fwd/n/rev together on both engines?

bet you're going to lift these engines to do any work on them (should be light!)

V.
 
they are light, had a jetski with the same engine and it was a 1 man lift easy to get it out to rebuild. Compression is good.
so far bought light grey eva fake teak matting, new steering wheel, new radio, new speakers, jetarmor full upholstery kit in blue and white, 4 carb rebuild kits, fuel pump rebuild kit, enough new hose to replace all the fuel, oil and coolant lines.
Good compression in all cylinders, I am going to borescope the engines to decide if I am going to rebuild now or wait until next winter and use this year as a shakedown trial. All the green handles and dash surround and glovebox lid are getting painted red and both flanks and the rear are getting vinyl wrapped in custom one off printed vinyl after the full hull is machine polished then once the vinyl is on I will ceramic coat it.
Got a standard horizon vhf radio and garmin clearview sonar/gps to go in also.
I need to investigate the reverse mech, it is frozen, also the weedless grate clearing device is inop.
Its sitting at work just now and I am struggling to do much with it, I need to do the last finishing jobs on my campervan so I can clear space on my driveway to take the boat home so I can get stuck into it.
Its never been named, Thinking of either Didyeaye, HWFG or Andiamo. Thoughts?
 
My last cheap floaty toy refurb went from this
qLTR1BR.jpg

through this
dRVwVLc.jpg

with a bit of this
hyuvtRR.jpg

and finished up like this
hXmnumc.jpg

7EmgunQ.jpg


Basically planning to do the same with the boat.
Jet ski ended up costing £500 including purchase price.
Lets see if we can squeeze the boat under £2800 all in.
 
Last edited:
ski engine looks like a yamaha, right? similar to the one on my avon jetrib.
I wonder how much did they give you to take it off their hands, else I fail to see how it ended up costing you 500quid :p
A mikuni rebuilt kit alone is around 30odd, I guess s/h liners/pistons and everything else?
I particularly like the specially engraved racing piston with the single ring, what 10psi compression or less?

looking forward to the work!
 
ski has a yamaha 701. paid 275 for the melted engined ski on a trailer with a box of spares this was december 2018 so winter pricing and pre covid tax. Previous owner stripped it, bought oversize pistons and rings and a gasket set and had the barrels rebored then lost all interest in rebuilding the engine as he hadn't done it before and needed room in his garage.
I spent £125 on well timed ebay bargains on carb diaphragms, new little end bearings, stainless fixings and hoseclamps, silicone hoses, various odds and ends an trailer wheel bearings and cheap led lights.
Its a mastercraft wetjet so quite an unloved brand in the UK.
Bought it because my 7 year old at the time daughter helped me rebuild a couple of motorbike engines and she was really keen to do more so I let her do a lot of this one with my supervision.
If we were to account for the number of hours it taken to do the work it would have made more sense just to buy a decent runner in the first place, but we had a lot of fun doing it, and I think she appreciates it more when we go out to play on it.
 
Last edited:
Top