Sea Doo sportster Planeing

[stevg]

Recently purchased 1997 sportster in great condition as a first boat for buckeye lake. Boat runs great although can't get three people and sometimes two in rear seats (within weight range of boat) as boat will not plane and just pushs water. We have to have someone stay upfront in spotters seat. Once up boat runs great. Has anyone installed smart tabs on a sportster or speedster Any other suggestions.and I know ( buy bigger boat ) John d from Nauticus suggested that right off today lol but he is checking to see if tabs will fit. Boat has 85 hp Rotax engine 14' seems to fly once up no speedometer but geussing 40 maybe

 

[ziggy]

Re: Sea Doo sportster Planeing

i'd think some tabs couldn't hurt. but think maybe yer asing an awful lot of a 85hp jet. on a boat too. i had a 80 hp jet ski at one time. me, the x, and the 10year old. and it struggled. you got more boat than that ski. and not much more hp. yer onto moveing the weight fwd. so that's good. only other thing, would be to check yer impeller cleaance. make sure ya aint to wide. ie impeller sleeve wear, or for that matter that yer impeller is pristine. any dings will hamper it's performance.....

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Sea Doo sportster Planeing

planing is all in weight distribution, the tabs will probably help get the stern up, contact smart tabs directly, their guys know their business.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Sea Doo sportster Planeing

planing is all in weight distribution

and having enough hp vs. weight to get you there............

 

[stevg]

Re: Sea Doo sportster Planeing

Thank you all for the info! Actually there are a few nicks in impeller. I know this because spent couple hrs saturday pulling boat out of water and laying under it cutting tow rope off shaft. Heck I dont have a prop dont need to worry about rope. Wrong! Its first boat kinda wish reasearched little more but actually speed wise more than enough hp for my wife and ive lost three hats.
Thanks again.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Sea Doo sportster Planeing

and ive lost three hats

don't go back and get them......you think cuttin the rope off yer impeller is a drag, suck up a ball hat and you'll wish you hadn't.....the bill is plasitc that melts and stretches......then hardens back up.......suppose ya can guess how i know that.......

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: Sea Doo sportster Planeing

and having enough hp vs. weight to get you there............

I would suggest a bigger power plant. I think standard for the personal watercraft now are 130hp, and that is for a bottom line jet-ski type craft. They go up to 215hp on some models, and you are running a boat frame off of a 85hp power plant!

 

[stevg]

Re: Sea Doo sportster Planeing

Had this boat two weeks and all I get is need bigger boat more hp lol
Had heck of a time talking the wife into this one . Actually as far as hp i cant see why you would need more for my purpose this thing really flys and I'm at buckeye Lake .For you that arent familiar there is a protected bog right in the middle big no wake zone Just want it to plane better lol Thanks for the help sorry about your hat guy lol

 

[ziggy]

Re: Sea Doo sportster Planeing

Just want it to plane better

Actually there are a few nicks in impeller.

send yer impeller off to a impeller shop. impros i think is who was onto mine. came back just dandy. make sure yer pump shoe, and impeller duck are sealed up so ya ain't suckin air...

i had me an impeller with dings in it. within 25 hrs it had cavitation burns on it. i think from the imperfections in the impeller.....yer choice, do it now or later......it will effect performance........