Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

[Brian 26]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

The hull with the 110 hp 787 motor was not just branded as the SPX, it was first the 95 XP 800, then the 96 XP, then from 97-99 the SPX. Fewer were made in 98 and 99 and after that it was discontinued.

If you find an SPX from 96 or back it is not the 787 motor. Clean ones can still be found but there are some know weak spots that need to be address. Retail price in our area is about $2,500 for a clean one, lotsa junk out there for less. If you watch closely on craigslist you can find a good one for less.

If you want one that is turn key and ready to ride you should talk to Nick at Westside Powersports. Having him as a mechanic is the only reason I own older high performance temperamental 2 stroke skis. He knows every nut and bolt on these and has all the parts in stock, a lot of dealers don't even want to touch the older ones.
Westside Power Sports

As I said on here before I think wake jumping is the funnest part of jet skis and you could find some insane wakes on the st croix river.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

Thanks. Never heard of that place.

 

[Brian 26]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

He's operates out of his garage. I think most of his business is selling parts online but he does have a couple ski in inventory that he will "restore" and sell for buyers.

He's a real stand up guy, which unfortunately in the world of used jet skis is rare, he's always been great to me and last summer I know he had an older jet boat that he sold go bad (no fault of his) and he completely fixed it for the buyer AND let him borrow a jet ski while he was doing it. I thought that was going way above and beyond.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

BOAT SHOW UPDATE:

The S-D display was right near the front door - our first stop soon after getting there! 15 skis in a row, with 4 Sparks in the middle - all different colors.

When we got alongside them my wife proclaimed "looks like they were made with Lego blocks". My first thought was a Fisher-Price toy. I have a big wheel and a little red wagon left over from my boys in the 1980's and that's what they reminded me of. My wife's second complaint was no boarding step. (she has short legs, but our GTX works well for her). Then we saw the "foot pedal" step and she said "no way". Even the GTIs had no step. She nixed them as well.

Most of the customer inquiries seemed to be around the GTI's. They are a nice looking 'ski and have the most storage space. The GTXs were largely being ignored because of the high price.

The next vendor carried Yamis. To me they looked the classiest of all of them and under the hood they were certainly home-mechanic-friendly.

The final vendor was another S-D Dealer and the "lookers" were also favoring the GTIs.

The Yamis were offering a free trailer, PFDs, cover, etc. The Sparks were coming with nothing. With that price, it looks like the dealers are taking that to full advantage to maximize their profit.

Glad my GTX is still in mint condition. Actually, all of the S-Ds looked a bit trashy. I'm more of a Caddy type guy. If I had to buy a new one I'd go with a Yami. I also like to polish them up so they shine. My lawnmower shines more than the Spark. Finally, I DID sit on one and ergo "feel" just wasn't right.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

Ultimately, time will tell to see how the market accepts these. The lego reference is accurate I must admit, but lets not forget that lego just made a hit movie that I think has made over a 100M. People that own sparks really seem to like them. And the fact that you don't have to worry about polishing something is not a bad thing to a lot of people.

As to you comment about steps or ladders, I really never understood why anyone needs one on PWC. I have never owned one with one...perhpas I am missing something.

Anyway, I look forward to riding one at some point and checking it out for myself.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

As to you comment about steps or ladders, I really never understood why anyone needs one on PWC. I have never owned one with one...perhpas I am missing something.

My wife has short legs and limited upper body strength. In the old days if we wanted to go for a swim we had to go to the beach so she could reboard. Now we just jump off in the middle of the lake. The boarding step makes it so much easier for anyone. Even I need it these days.....LOL. I'll never own another one without it.

You'll understand better when you're on Social Security and Medicare and are still riding the 'ski.

 

[sixfigures]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

I was out yesterday, and don't you know someone showed up with one, no idea what model it was, he was enjoying it but it did look like a toy compared to my sho and my fx ho.
If I was looking for a inexpensive toy I would be more inclined to buy an old 2 stroke for 800 dollars and ride it hard untill it fell apart. The good ol days when you blew one up , tore it down ,fixed it and then went back out riding it.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

Around here, any $800 two stroke is already fallen apart. That gets you a late 90's machine with no motor But your point is valid.

 

[sixfigures]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

I am in florida where you can get running skies for that or less,it appears that everyone has a ski sitting by their house that they just don't use. I ran a craigs list ad once maybe 8 or 9 years ago, just for fun ," wanted jet skis dead or alive, must have title, cash on the spot" some people just gave them to me trailers included or sold them for a few hundred dollars just to get them out of the yard I purchased one double trailer with a good running sea doo xp in a storage garage for 500 dollars, I sold the ski for a grand the next day and I still have the trailer I use it 3 days a week or more. Used it yesterday actually.

 

[Brian 26]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

It sounds like you guys already have this figured out but I'll jump in anyway because there's 3' of ice on the lakes and I love to talk about old seadoos:

FL and MN/WI are polar opposites for mid 90s Seadoo pricing, well inside the US anyway - If you go to Canada they're even more expensive than MN.

The 97 I put a picture of earlier in this thread I could sell for $2,500 without a trailer in the summer, in FL, probably more like the $800 mentioned.

 

[sixfigures]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

Mn. interesting I have a granddaughter there who calls it minnacolda. or minnasnowda. She loves coming to florida, she goes tubing here in January.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

It sounds like you guys already have this figured out but I'll jump in anyway because there's 3' of ice on the lakes and I love to talk about old seadoos:

FL and MN/WI are polar opposites for mid 90s Seadoo pricing, well inside the US anyway - If you go to Canada they're even more expensive than MN.

The 97 I put a picture of earlier in this thread I could sell for $2,500 without a trailer in the summer, in FL, probably more like the $800 mentioned.

Part of the reason is people take care of stuff up here and they don't see salt. I have a 2002 with 130 hours on it...in Florida it would already be dead I suspect.

I travel for work quite a bit. It's astonishing how many more motorcycles you see in the upper MW and convertibles than you do in the South. WI and MN I think have the largest number of boats than any other state on a per capita basis. They are ranked 1 and 2. Florida is 20th. HI is last. Strange.

We may have short summers but we enjoy them.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

Mn. interesting I have a granddaughter there who calls it minnacolda. or minnasnowda. She loves coming to florida, she goes tubing here in January.

But we don't have to worry about getting eaten by snakes or alligators.

 

[sixfigures]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

I may set the record straight about florida, my 2010 yamaha has only saltwater use with 525 hours on it I love it and my new 2013 fxho was purchased in july and it is pushing 200 hours of salt water use with no issues so don't believe salt water will destroy a ski or that we don't take care of out toys, actually letting them sit for long periods of time is bad for 4 stroke engines in many ways. as for aligators or snakes I actually spend a lot of time climbing through mangrove swamps and islands, I have seen maybe 3 snakes in 10 years, none were poisonous, and only 2 aligators in the 41 years here in this state. the first was 14 feet long and he was right at my feet, if he wanted to kill and eat me he would have done it. the other was trying to steal my bait while I was fishing and I had to throw rocks at him to get him to leave.
NOW mosquitos is a totally different story, you better have some off with you in the spring , summer and fall or they will carry you off and devour you.
However I also lived 20 years in massachusetts, same problem there humidity, mosquitoes and a hell of a shorter summer. My local water temp is already low 70's. I love it here but I am a serious boater more than most people and I have always been, I purchased my first boat by delivering news papers on my bicycle when I was around 13 years old, my parents kept it on the lake in a wet slip and I would ride my bike there every morning spend the day on webster lake and ride my bike home in the evening, all summer.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

There is no way in hell I would ever talk my daughters or wife into or on the water if there were any chance of an alligator or nasty snake in it

 

[JimS123]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

I travel for my job and often stay over a day or 2 to take in the sights, rent a 'ski, check out the local spots, etc. Sometimes the wife comes along as well.

I grew up on the Erie Canal and we boat in all of the fresh water lakes and rivers in NY. Get a little hot, or feeling frisky? We just jump out of the boat no matter where we are.

On my last trip to Tampa we rented a new Yami and toured the area. It was red tide that week. To heck with the wife, you wouldn't ever get ME to jump in that water or even GO ON it again.

 

[sixfigures]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

We haven't had a red tide outbreak in many years so that had to be quite a while ago, I remember when we did have one 6 or 7 years ago for a short time and I agree the fish were floating in big groups everywhere,But I still went out and drove around them. I love jumping the hurricane surf also but it isn't for the average guy if you wipe out you die because no one could get to you even if they could find you.

 

[SparkyMcSpark]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

Why am I hearing people saying not to take these out on the ocean? I've seen a few videos of such and they do just fine. Even in choppy conditions they jump around and seem to be a blast. In smoother conditions why would it be a problem...? Also, I hear the 2 up has a weight limit of 350 pounds... I'm about 240 and my girlfriend is 120, we would be a little bit over... I wonder if that would have much effect? Some one told me it's just a liability thing and it wouldn't really be noticed.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

I would look at like this....

The 2 UP is for one person, but will suffice in an emergency for a second person or for a child....or two smaller people.

The 3UP is for 1 or 2 people or for 3 in a pinch.

This sort of no different than the the older Seadoo models.

if you sit on one, you will see how tiny the 2up seat really is. Its small.

 

[sixfigures]

Re: Anyone out there with Seadoo Spark experience?

The real test on ANY ski is sitting dead in the water first with one person then with 2 people etc.
To see how stable or unstable the ski is.
The next thing everyone needs to learn or to check for is reboarding a ski in deep water, many a person was towed in by me with a sunk ski from tipping it over trying unsuccessfully to get back on in deep water.
So I firmly believe if you ride a ski of any type you need to master this trick especially with 2 or more people on.
I recently had to rescue a family of 2 adults and one child who had tipped over an older 3 seat Yamaha in deep water , try as they might they could not get all 3 back on the ski without tipping it over.
I felt so bad for their son who was probably 10 years old as he kept blaming himself since every time he tried to get back on it would turn over.
I picked him up and told the parents to follow me to the flats as they were only 50 feet away from shallow water, apparently they didn't know how to read the water either.
Once in shallow water they all boarded the ski , I thought they would abandon heading out to bunces pass and into the gulf since this should have given them a wake up call, NOPE !
Off they went out in the gulf of Mexico ironically the wife was terrified of the water so being in it all that time when they tipped over placed her in a state of terror.
I wondered just what a moron the husband was and how on earth did he think this was going to be fun for the family? Being out on the water all the time I see more of this foolishness than I care to .