Just Bought '98 Challenger 1800

**duramaxxed** · 06-24-2008, 11:29 AM

Well, today I just bought a '98 Challenger 1800 with twin 787's (800's). I didn't pick it up yet, it's at the Marina, but the "Mod Bug" is already hitting me.

This is my first Boat I've ever owned, but I've been around boats my whole life, whether it's a friends boat or family friends boat, but now I have MY OWN!

I did some reading on GroupK's site about the Single Engine SeaDoo's and pretty much it's not recommended to do the same stuff to the JetBoats as you do to the 'Ski's.

I def. want to get upgraded Impellers, that have nice Low End Torque, but don't want to scrub too much off the Top End (I like how the Solas 15/20 Concord performs on my GSX-L, so I was thinking something with those characteristics. I gained MASSIVE Low End and didn't notice a difference on top.) So if anyone could recommend the right Company and Pitch to go with, that'd be awesome.

I was thinking about throwing Heads on the Motors too. GroupK says it's somewhat ok, but some people might have trouble. I was thinking of getting a Head "domed" for 91 octane and running 93 octane in it, just to be safe. Rather than getting a 93 octane dome, running 93 and for the few times the engines might be under a heavier than normal load, having to worry about Detonation.

**holdmeback** · 06-24-2008, 06:57 PM

i myself have an 97 challenger. i think most of the guys on this site run newer challengers.

**RX951** · 06-24-2008, 06:58 PM

congrats on your purchaase

**duramaxxed** · 06-24-2008, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by holdmeback

i myself have an 97 challenger. i think most of the guys on this site run newer challengers.

Well I'm sure the "older" boats aren't obsolete around here. There's GOTTA be people around here that know of some good Mods. for 'em.

**spd5535** · 06-24-2008, 09:34 PM

Congrats and welcome to the forum......

**duramaxxed** · 06-25-2008, 07:46 PM

I went to pick up the boat today and it was a total DISASTER!! Here's just a small list of what is wrong with it:

The boat is nowhere near "mechanical like new" condition as it was advertised. Neither motor has any spark, so I couldn't even get them running. The internals of the Electrical Boxes have about 3-4 inches of water in them, and all the Electrical components are all rusted and corroded. There looks to be an Exhaust Leak by the Waterbox on the Port Side Motor. The throttle for the Port side motor will not stay WOT, You have to hold it, if you let go, it pulls itself back about an inch, comming off WOT. The Steering and shifter cables need to be replaced. The steering was almost seized when I tried turning it at first, but after playing with the wheel it freed up a little bit. The shifter goes into reverse fine, but getting it into drive you gotta push it a good amount and getting it out of drive, you REALLY gotta pull at it. It looked like there was fuel in the Tank, but the gauge didn't move from below E. There was no beep or anything for a "key recognition" but yet the starter buttons worked. The Port Side motor would crank from the button, but the Starboard side motor would only "click" the starter from the button, it wouldn't engage it, to get that motor to crank, I had to bridge the 2 studs on the Starter Solenoid, then it would crank over. The Port motor had 160psi Mag & PTO, Starboard had 150 Mag & PTO, and the Starboard engine was the one that was "just rebuilt".

So all-in-all, I'm glad I know what to look for on these things so I didn't get screwed over and buy a big pile of "work" on a trailer.

...So I am now back on the Quest to find a Jet Boat.

**MaxMike** · 06-25-2008, 09:23 PM

that stinks. with my dad's it looked pretty good when we bought it, but then some things came up, but now it runs better than it probably did when the guy was selling it