- 37
- 15 479
Bill's Seadoo Mid-Life Crisis
Приєднався 29 кві 2022
After battling Cancer, I decided that now was as good a time as any to get started in the world of boating. I bought myself a 2006 Seadoo Challenger 180 with no previous boating experience and jumped in head first ... I love it and half of the fun for me is working on the boat, the other half is learning how to operate it. These videos are mainly me doing small DIY projects on the boat. Not necessarily designed to teach people. I'm not an expert but I am handy and I love the process of learning so I am keen to share the process in the hopes that others can learn from my journey. Let's face it, if you are watching my channel, you are also super keen/nerdy about these boats too. Enjoy and hopefully they will help in some way.
Seadoo XP Intro to the winter project
It's winter again in Ontario and with my regular jetski's put away for the winter, I turn to another project to keep me busy during the cold winter months. This year it is a friends 2000 Seadoo XP Limited. It's in running condition but the exterior is suffering from years of neglect. I'm up for the challenge to see how close to perfect I can get it on basically a minumum budget. The goal is to make it look as good as possible so that it can be sold in the spring.
Переглядів: 18
Відео
2014 GTX Review Part 2
Переглядів 161Місяць тому
Some on the water footage with my 2014 Seadoo GTX S suspension model. General footage of how it handles, a basic top speed test and a look at the 3 performance modes. Lastly, a quick look at how it handles around the dock.
Oakville Harbour full version
Переглядів 9054 місяці тому
We are fortunate to live so close to the Oakville Harbour (just west of Toronto) on Lake Ontario. As such, we routinely launch our jetski's here and take advantage of calm days on Lake Ontario to help enjoy the summer months here in Ontario. The shoreline on this portion of the lake is particularly nice with dozens of multi-million dollar lakefront homes to enjoy as your shoreline scenery. Look...
Oakville Harbour (short version)
Переглядів 624 місяці тому
Just some excerpts from my longer version of this video showing a typical morning ride for me in Lake Ontario from the Oakville Harbour.
My Hip Replacement at 12 weeks
Переглядів 435 місяців тому
Just a quick update on how my hip is feeling and doing after 12 weeks from the date of my complete hip replacement (lateral approach). Letting you know what hurts, what doesn't, what I can do, what I can't etc... Good for others doing the same thing to have an idea of loosely what to expect.
2014 GTX 155 S Review Part 1
Переглядів 7306 місяців тому
A very detailed look at my 2014 Seadoo GTX 155 S suspension model. I realize that this is an older model but I have never found many detailed reviews on it by actual owners. I thought that this might be helpful to people considering purchasing one on the used market. It is a great ski with only a few downfalls, mostly great. This part 1 details the features and functions shown on the trailer. P...
Gel Coat Polish & New Reg Numbers
Переглядів 1136 місяців тому
Created new registration numbers for my jetski using the Cricut vinyl cutter. Removed the old letters, sanded and polished the hull, installed the new numbers and finished it off with some wax. Step by step instructions on how I did it.
Trailer Hub Size Check
Переглядів 1017 місяців тому
I see people (myself included) wondering how to figure out the bearing size of their trailer hubs. If you can't find that info in a manual or on a website, you will need to take your hub off the trailer, disassemble it and check. This is what I do in this video. If you've never done it before, you may find it helpful.
2014 GTX Battery install FAIL!
Переглядів 1027 місяців тому
Installing my battery back into my '14 Seadoo GTX 155 S should have been a 30 minute job. Instead, I rushed a bit, got frustrated at the tight access to the battery compartment and ended up cross threading one of the bolts that secure the battery cage to the jetski. This lead to me breaking the built in corresponding bolt requiring me to remove the entire battery tray from the jetski, cut the c...
Jetski Corner Cap Painting
Переглядів 687 місяців тому
In this video I attempt to re-paint my plastic corner caps and rear plastic moldings on my 2014 Seadoo GTI 130SE and my GTX 155S. Both were very scratched up and quite faded. I used Dupli-Color Adhesion promoter followed by Krylon Satin Black all-in-one paint followed by Dupli-Color basic clear coat, mat finish. I ran into a bump or two but in the end they turned out pretty well.
2014 GTI Bilge Pump Install
Переглядів 7157 місяців тому
Follow along as I install a new bilge pump in my 2014 Seadoo GTI. I try to outline all the steps and show you how I do it. I am just an enthusiast so this may or may not be exactly the correct way of doing it but I've done a few like this and they all seem to work well and hold up.
2024 Season Overview
Переглядів 1107 місяців тому
Lot's of small projects, a few bigger ones that I plan to get done in the month or so before the riding season here in Ontario. This video just outlines some of my plans and takes a walk around my two machines.
My Lateral Hip Replacement 4 weeks
Переглядів 347 місяців тому
I had a total hip replacement (lateral approach) and I wanted to let people know how I was doing at 4 weeks. Just my experience so far. I found that while there were a lot of videos about the anterior approach and how people were doing, not many about lateral approach patients. I wished there were more people making videos about the lateral approach so I decided to make a few at 4 weeks, 8 week...
'02 GTX Painting Bottom Hull
Переглядів 3028 місяців тому
Part 1 of my painting journey on this project. I talk about the sanding, priming and painting process that I followed using interlux Pre-Cote primer and Interlux Brightsides Marine paint.
'02 GTX Project Wrap Up
Переглядів 2628 місяців тому
Over the 2023 winter, I took my OEM '02 Seadoo GTX and painted it, partially vinyl wrapped it and overall, restored the exterior transforming it into a more modern looking ski. It was already mechanically sound so with the hope of selling in the spring of 2024, I wanted to make it as cool as possible. I have a nice 2014 Triton Trailer to go with it so hopefully, it will end up with someone who ...
'02 Seadoo GTX Pump Maintenance Pt 1
Переглядів 4610 місяців тому
'02 Seadoo GTX Pump Maintenance Pt 1
Polishing my Seadoo Challenger 180 Gauges
Переглядів 284Рік тому
Polishing my Seadoo Challenger 180 Gauges
Thanks Bill, enjoyable, I never think to much about the Oakville Marina area downtown. Anyway, yeah cool launch, btw how much for non residents?
I don't think there is any extra fee regardless of residency. Just a parking fee if you have a trailer $25
Got links to the parts? Thx.
Jet Ski??? They in a different video? Only saw a couple of Sea Doos...
My wife is out with my kids right now on Lake Ontario with our skis. But we launch in bowmanville where we live or we will go to Newcastle and launch there. Good video exposing nice places on Lake Ontario to go jet skiing.
Great video Bill! How did you get the plastic on the dash and handle bars looking so new?
@@KevinLab010 do you mean around the gauge?
@@billsseadoomid-lifecrisis6653 no specifically on the very nose of the ski
Just basic soap cleaning and then I used the XPS Plastic treatment. It is temporary, so you have to repeat to keep it looking good.
Question I purchased a ski yesterday,and when I went to check it out I was told can’t let it run dry more than 10 seconds. It started smelling like gas inside the seats in the motor area and I drove it back home from a 3 hrs drive gen I got home I noticed it smells like gas bad so I open the seats and I see like blue liquid and the smell of gas was stronger any suggestions of where it came from or what it would be? Thank you!
I couldn't say but it sounds like you may have a fuel leak. I'm not the most mechanical guy on the internet for sure but without knowing what year and model, I definitely can not offer much help if any. Let me know and if I can offer any advice I certainly will. That said, I would definitely suggest having a certified jet ski mechanic look at it if you are not mechanically inclinded.
Hey Bill. I'm also a cancer surviving midlife Seadoo nut. LOL I started my channel after losing a finger to cancer.
Ya, I have seen your videos, they're great. Glad you are beating cancer so far and happy to have another person making jet ski content for fun :) Thanks
Great Review! I bought a pair of basket case 2014 GTX 260 IS Limited last spring and have been rehabbing them. They are very similar to yours save for the engine and the color scheme. One was a quick fix, the other required an engine rebuild which I recently completed.
Thanks .. I'd love a project like that. I'm definitely still learning, especially when it comes to the motors but I am getting there. Good luck and thanks for the comment. The on water part 2 will be out in a few weeks once it warms up a bit more here in Ontario.
great video! thanks for going through the polish process
My pleasure! thanks ..
How did you get the metal clips off the original lines? I’m about to do mine but the clips seem difficult.
this was a few years ago now for me but if I remember, I used side cutters, got the tip of them in the part of the clip that you would have squeezed to tighten them and just twisted it a bit. They came off way easier than I imagined that they would. I remember being stressed about it but in the end, they came off really easily. I'd say side cutters or small needle nose pliers and you'll be surprised how easy it is. Good luck
Thank you for sharing this! I go in to get an overview tomorrow and will have a left hip replacement the 1st week of May. Hope you have a speedy recovery! I thought I heard you mention Oakville. If it's in Ontario, I used to live there in the 70s.
My pleasure, I hope that your surgery goes as smoothly as mine. It's no fun for sure but it's not too bad really. I am at 6 weeks now and doing well. Walking a lot of the time without a cane. A lot less discomfort and more strength each day. the progress is very consistent and very evident. Let me know how it goes once you have it done. All the best ..
If anyone is going to do this - Make sure you pump that oil (with the drill) to the very end of the hose. He had it part way filled. By the time the oil gets to the cylinders, when it's running, it will have been a while... maybe to long. The cylinders blow quick without the oil. Great video!
100% true but I did go back and pump it all the way through before running the motor. I was paranoid about this exact thing since it was my first time doing it. Good advice though!
How many hours does it have ?
Right around 300. I've had it for the past 25 and done the proper maintenance and before that, the previous owner had a fair bit of maintenance documentation so I think the motor is in good shape and the pump is just one year old so over all, its in good shape.
Those two cylinder oil lines are going to be a SOB. Thanks for the video
my pleasure, happy to share the experience.
Nice. I gotta replace the two 3/32 oil lines. Wish me luck
Good luck! probably done long ago at this point but I'm sure you got it done.
Awesome job Bill. Came up with your video as I am looking to pick a 2000 Challenger for my family. I had a question, I have two options of boats one that has there twin rotax and theres another one for sale nearby with a merc 240. Do you recommend one over the other in terms of maintenance and availability of spare parts? cheers
Hi David, thank you very much. A 2000 challenger would have the Rotax two-stroke motors 717 or 787 both great motors . I have limited experience with them, but I do own a jetski with a 787 two-stroke motor. They are extremely easy to work on if you are moderately mechanical. They also have many parts available for them. From everything that I read on these forms, the Mercury engines are very problematic to get parts for. I understand they are good engines but hard to get parts for and even harder to find people to work on. If you need somebody to do the work. That said, depending on where you are, you may find it difficult to find a mechanic to work on a two-stroke Rotax motor as well. Furthermore, I would suggest that having a boat with two motors would be superior to a single motor boat for a number of reasons. If it were me, I would be steering clear of the mercury motors, and now that I own a 2stroke Rotax motor. I am very comfortable recommending them. All that said :-) if you could afford it, I would recommend moving up to a 2005 or newer challenger 180 with the four stroke motor. Much more dependable, more powerful and mechanics everywhere available to work on them. Hope that helps, if you have any more questions feel free and good luck.
Hello, I m a 53 years old french man .I beat you !! 2 cancers and I have 2 seadoo jet boats. One 1997 speedster and one challenger 2000. I you need some advice let me know. Best Regards Hervé
Well done Herve.. I hope that you are okay. I have since sold this boat but I now have 2 jetski's and have had 7 all together. I love them even more and they are a lot easier to move around and store and work on. Take care