Hey folks.<br /><br />Looking at selling the little runabout and getting a ski. <br />Reason is that the kids are nuts for tubing (and likely watersking and wake boarding later) and the family car just won't pull the type of boat we'll need by next year.<br /><br />I'm looking at something in the 3k-4k range (Canadian). <br /><br />I'm leaning towards a sea-doo, either a GTX or a GTI. Something between 94 and 97.<br /><br />Here's a couple questions:<br /><br />What's the difference between a GTX and a GTI?<br /><br />And are the engines as disposible as it seems? Every doo I see for sale has either got a "fresh engine this season" or just had $3000-$3500 worth of work! <br /><br /><br />With the boat we have, we don't make any long trips..just short spins out to a local island and spend the day there swimming, sunning, etc..<br />We have 2 kids, so even if I had to make 2 trips (5 mins one way) to get the whole family on the island, no biggie...the fun factor far outweighs the little underpowered runabout we have now.<br /><br />I looked at buying 2 older ski's (2 seaters) and we could all go at once, and tour around..but...twice as many things to break, twice as much gas, and the main problem - you can't tube or board with a older 2-seater if there's already a driver AND a spotter sitting on it...can you? Likely be overloaded and underpowered....*poof* there goes the fun factor.<br /><br />Does anyone have any links that show nice detailed pics and such for older models? (94-97)<br />Each one I see for sale, I try to find details on the net, but can't find much....I'm looking for details on gages, fuel capacity, stuff like that. Also, pics from all angles, and pics of the instruments..<br /><br />Where I live, there's next to nothing for sale (funny, since I'm only 35 minutes from the ocean)...most of them are 2-3 hours drive from here. And that's a long drive to just collect info.<br /><br />Most of the skis I've looked at (94-97 GTX's and GTI's) are going for between 3 and 4 thousand(Canadian))<br /><br />Lastly *whew*... <br />Throw me your opinions...Me, the wife, and 2 kids. (make it one kid, since son is 14 and has found more interesting things than hanging with his parents...)<br />Is a 3-seater really the plan? <br />Can you put 2 adults and a child on a 2-seater?<br />NO, I will not give up safety just to save a few bucks, but will a 2-seater safely carry 2 adults and a child? Just asking....<br /><br />Will a 110hp doo burn WAY more fuel than an 85hp doo?<br /><br />Will there be any problems pulling a tube or skier with a GTX or GTI and around 450lbs (driver and spotter)on the ski?<br /><br />I see a lot of ads quoting the amount of hours on the ski. Do the hours really mean anything, or does it mainly depend on how it's cared for? (like cars, the mileage is not the only way to measure if it's a sound, reliable car or not...)<br />What's a high amount of hours? 100? 200?<br /><br />Do the engines nornally spit their guts out the back end at a fairly pre-defined interval?<br />Meaning, once a GTI gets to 150 hours, can you expect something to go kaboom very soon? (Sorry, I just see soooo many with fresh engines, or a boatload of money just spent on them.)<br /><br /><br />And, the main thing, how reliable are they? (All things considered, of course...) If it's serviced properly, stored properly, and not abused while in use...<br /><br />Thanks in advance folks!!!!
I'll ask...<br /><br /><br />So....the GTI is a slob, but has the more fuel efficient engine? (the 720cc)<br />The GTX has a good hull, but a not-so-hot 787?<br /><br />When you say a 'newer gti', would that include the 97 below? (Meaning, would the 97 have the good hull and the 720 engine?)<br /><br />I'm pretty much down to 2....<br />a 96 GTX, 110 hp with 103 hours on it ($3800)<br />and a 97 GTI, 85 hp with a 'fresh engine this season' ($3995) <br />(all other things about them are equal..trailer, cover, etc)<br /><br />Type of use - <br />Alone, to get to a few fishing spots.<br />With wife, just cruising on the local lake, or on a protected ocean bay.<br />With wife and daughter, cruising like above or pulling daughter on the tube.<br />My need to set speed records left me when I hit 30, so by 'cruising' I mean 1/2 throttle or less, taking in the sights. lol<br /><br />So, what's my best bet. I've done lots of digging and reading, but don't have the qualifications to say which is better one way or the other.<br /><br />Help.<br /><br />And thanks for the help too, Seaboo. I'm used to running the outboard in a tub of fresh water, and giving it a rinse off, so I'll make sure to do the same with whatever I end up getting.<br />Just about every 3-seater that I can find is between 3500 and 4000. I could go newer, but it's just not in the budget. It looks like 97 is about the newest that I'll go. <br /><br />And you don't have to tell anyone that lives on the east coast that salt is hard on gear. ;-) Just kiddin'.