"P" wrote in message
...
Looking at a seadoo challenger 1998 twin 75 rotax, wondering what the
potential issues are.

Reason for this type of boat is;
1. Fits in my garage.
2. Has two motors - I'd like to use it on lake ontario (very very
large) so the prospect of having two separate motors is attractive
when it comes to getting home.

Apparently the hull is all fibreglass so I'm thinking the the main
issues would be the motors & drive system. Can anyone fill me in on
what to look for? I don't want to start throwing money in a hole.

Tried this once before, so will mention I'm not interested is those
the just want to slag jetboats out of some sense of moral
superiority...

No slagging jetboats here. I have an '06 Yamaha AR230HO, and love it.

Take a close look at the impellers, and the pump shaft. Just like a prop,
the impellers should have no nicks or bends, especially at the leading edge.
The pump shaft should be smooth as well. These things can easily ingest
rocks and gravel in shallow water, and the impellers are expensive to
replace. Don't ask me how I know. ;-)

Other than that, it's a boat like any other. Look at maintenance records,
check the hull throroughly for spider cracking, blisters, etc. Look for
excessive water in the bilge, and look for water where it shouldn't be.

I had a friend with the same boat, and he said it was an oversized
waverunner. Tons of fun... just small. He outgrew it, but bought another
(larger) jetboat since he loved that seadoo so much.

Good luck with the purchase!

--Mike