Hydroflight Club?

[seacamper]

Hey All,
I have been monitoring this board for a bit, and I am wondering if anyone has floated an idea of a hydroflight club. I am thinking of getting 20 guys to throw in $1200, buy a PWC, trailer, dual impeller, and a hydroflight set up, get some insurance and start flying.
1. There would be 20 "shares".
2. Strict bylaws that only allow the PWC to be used as a "pump" NOT a ski.
3. Charge a yearly fee of $200 or so to cover storage and maintenance.
4. Charge $5 per session (to be escrowed in a separate maintenance fund against an engine rebuild)
5. The PWC and gear would be stored in a universally accessible storage unit on a double trailer with one half holding the PWC and the other half holding the gear.

Any thoughts? Anyone else done this??
Tom

[seacamper]

Is that too whacked out? It is kind of how airplane sharing clubs are structured.

[Takostubos]

Interesting concept, I know my experience with my two waverunners that are fully outfitted require a lot of attention and safekeeping when using and not using, I described the setup kind of like a pet, in that there is so much to learn about how to use and maintain and so much to go wrong resulting in major repairs for people not really knowing what it is about.

I blew out the exhaust on both waverunners this year, both events were secondary to clogging of intakes, and lack of recognition. The second event was very frustrating, in that there was a distant friend who had flown with me driving the controls at least 3 times, the 4th occasion, I allowed him to use the Remote, and i was on the pontoon, repeatedly warning him about checking for weeds and sensing when the power was inhibited by clogging did not register at all with him, and I could here the engine screaming and after about 5 minutes, it blew a hole in the exhaust and came so close to sinking it. it was saved by the bilge pump.

I have no experience using clubs for equipment, but my thoughts are that this would work if, there was seadoo dealer or someone who would act as a meticulous manager at the heart of this, for instance, people who do this for aircraft or boats or RV's tend to have equipment that is turn-key, and able to be serviced, which is quite the opposite for hydroflight.

Also, the cost, I think would be pretty underestimated... probably need ~25,000 for brand new setup and PWC, with dual impeller, EMK, bindings, helmets, jackets, and everything. I know people can do it cheaper, but in reality, there are a lot of hidden costs, also if you are planning to do this with inexperienced people, a two-wave runner setup with the 2nd waverunner as spotter is something to think about

[seacamper]

Thanks for the feedback on that crazy idea. I opted instead to go in as cheaply as possible on my own. I got a fresh water low hour 185hp Sea-doo for $3000 and took advantage of the $2995 deal on the Flydive. I am going to get the SC rebuilt just for peace of mind on the ceramic washer issue, and a dual impeller. Hopefully, I top out at $7500 for some recreational hydroflight!

[HDAV]

Thanks for the feedback on that crazy idea. I opted instead to go in as cheaply as possible on my own. I got a fresh water low hour 185hp Sea-doo for $3000 and took advantage of the $2995 deal on the Flydive. I am going to get the SC rebuilt just for peace of mind on the ceramic washer issue, and a dual impeller. Hopefully, I top out at $7500 for some recreational hydroflight!

If it hasn't already fit Bilge pumps! Suggest 2! Also the early seadoo had sodium filled valves which corrode and snap! loads of info on the site so check it out (mostly the exhaust valves)

[seacamper]

If it hasn't already fit Bilge pumps! Suggest 2! Also the early seadoo had sodium filled valves which corrode and snap! loads of info on the site so check it out (mostly the exhaust valves)

I will look into the bilge pumps and valves issue. The Seadoo has been sitting with a local mechanic getting the SC rebuilt to eliminate the ceramic washer issue and I had a new wear ring and dual impeller put in. I am going to start a new thread about that because the nose of the impeller ripped off.