Sea-Doo Project: Volume I

Recently my husband and I decided to purchase a couple of Sea-Doo jet skis. I owned a little 1997 Kawasaki 750 ZXI several years ago, and have kicked myself every summer since selling it. The move to southern Florida has resulted in a lot of kicking.

Fortunately, since we're not picky and my husband is a boat mechanic (as are many of his friends) always looking for a project, we decided to buy used for an excellent price. We found 2 skis on a 4-ski trailer (which we'll sell and replace with a double trailer) that need minimal work mechanically, and the hulls are in great shape. Between my husband and his friends, the plan is to have them registered and in the water before the end of summer. Well...before the end of everybody else's summer. If not for the work schedule and the boys being underway the entire month of July, it would be much sooner.

While the boys are in charge of mechanical improvements, I'm in charge of cosmetics - and boy, do I have some awesome ideas!

I decided to blog the progress - and in doing so, I'm providing pictures from beginning to end!



This little yellow GTI will likely be mine because it's the smaller of the two. I can't even attempt to tell you what it needs mechanically, though Trever has listed a few things over and over to me. It goes right over my head; all I know is that the engine itself is in good shape, and whatever it needs won't dent the pocketbook. Cosmetically I plan to either replace the deflector or sand it down and gel-coat it. I'll also either replace the handlebar pad or Trev said there's some stuff you can use to scrub the weather and water-wear off of it. I already have a seat cover custom designed and ready to order. I'm also planning to remove all of the graphics/decals and go crazy with others of colors of my choosing. When I'm through with this ski it will be unrecognizable and most likely a royal blue and black accenting the yellow (if I decide to keep the yellow, that is...the entire ski is white so there's still a possibility that might not happen). I've also picked out some sweet diamond plated royal blue traction mats. Gorgeous!

This one is a GTX and is actually pretty much ready for the water. Trever still has a few things he wants to do with it (and I definitely want to get my hands on it and make it look better) but it's basically mechanically ready to go. It needs a seat cover ASAP, which we've already designed and it's ready to order as well. I'd also like to either replace the handlebar pad or remove it altogether. Trever would rather simply remove it so it looks "simple & badass", but I'm not sure if we'll do that or not. Obviously the deflector is in excellent shape, so I won't be touching that. I will, however, be replacing the traction mat and I also would like to go carbon fiber blacks and dark greys with the decals. Maybe something with dragons...

OK, folks...here we go!!