Sea Doo SAR (Search and Rescue)

[Policeman]

I have had two Sea Doo Search & Rescue PWC's donated from DOD to our department. The hulls are in excellent shape but are missing the engines and jets. Everything else is included... even the trailers. We pick them up next week.

Can anyone tell me what I can expect on prices for engines and jets? Never have I owned a Sea Doo and have stuck to the old Polaris's. I have no idea what type of engine they had or what to expect on replacing the jets/engine. Is this something that is even viable for my department to take on?

Greatly appreciate any feedback on this if you seen or worked on one.
Thanks in advance!

[K447]

Do you know what model year each of those SAR units is?

What remains inside, behind and under each hull?

Depending on what is left, the easiest path forward might be to locate previously running but recently crashed and hull damaged (but not engine damaged) watercraft of compatible model and year, then swap over all the needed parts.

My limited recollection regarding the SAR models is the hull has some specific upgrades (coating, floatation ribs) as did the jet pump intake and I think the cooling system. Additional navigation lighting, possibly bilge pump.

Otherwise the actual engine and driveline I think was fairly standard Seadoo for the model era.
Maybe the SAR wear ring was non-plastic?

Non-supercharged engines.

[Policeman]

I sadly do not know the model year. They seem to have started making them in 2015 and I believe were still making them as recent as 2020. So its like a five year span that they may be. I have tried and tried to contact the Airforce base they are on and only received one call back. They are more interested in us picking them up than they are with information. But our cost to pick them up promises us two good trailers and two good hulls. So I can always sell them should they not be doable and return the county's expense for the trip.

When we DID speak to the guy at the Airforce base, he said that the hulls were in excellent shape. He walked out to them while on the phone with us and said the fuel tanks, batteries, wiring, etc was all there. Only missing the motor and the jets.

So my thought is if I can find a cheap Spark around those years and just use the engine and jet out of them? Not sure if that is doable or not but that is just a brainstorm.

Thanks in advance.

[K447]

The Seadoo Spark shares very little with the broader Seadoo PWC model range, in terms of swappable parts. Different jet pump configuration, different physical engine size.

The Spark engine is about 900cc (with 60 and 90hp ratings) while the SAR would be a three cylinder 1500cc engine with about 130-150hp.

Once you have the hulls you can use the HIN number to determine the model year. Last two digits of the HIN number.

Post some clear photos of the hull exterior, bottom around the jet pump area, rear and of course inside the hull. And the dash and handlebar controls. That should reveal what is missing, what is needed, and condition of the stuff that is there.

Tip: Before you tow them, make sure nothing heavy is loose inside the hulls that can bounce around and cause damage. Remove the batteries. Also make sure nothing on the outside can work loose or fall off during tow.

And of course check the trailer for potential problems, old tires, etc.

[Policeman]

Thanks Keith! That was kind of information I was needing to hear.

From what I described to you; do you think I can get an engine and jet for around 5k or less? Just looking for an guesstimate is all. I am not sure what the ski will be valued at if its running but I don't know if I am doing the financially responsible thing by getting it going. Would like to use it on the local rivers and lake her in Missouri to help boaters and do rescue and recovery. There are just many areas that a boat does not do well at getting to.

Definitely will heed your advice on the internal parts. Honestly - I hadn't even thought that far ahead. So thank you for that. I will be sure to put up pictures once I get them here. Probably a week from now.

Appreciate your expert advice!!

[K447]

- responsible thing by getting it going.

Would like to use it on the local rivers and lake here in Missouri to help boaters and do rescue and recovery. There are just many areas that a boat does not do well at getting to. -

Well, Seadoo designed and sold these SAR models specifically for marine tasks that other boats are unsuitable for.

For the rescue and patrol services that purchased and used them new, presumably they 'made sense' as a purchase and as an operational asset.

Being a specialized watercraft with useful capabilities, whatever costs it might involve to get them operational (plus maintenance) would be balanced against the benefits to your local population. The value of having them seems quite separate from any 'market price' calculation.

SAR Seadoo are no longer sold new, I presume. Whatever the going used market price is for a fully operational, ready to go Seadoo SAR, that is probably your initial reference for spending money on these two empty SAR hulls.

Buying 'just an engine' and 'jet pump' may involve a bunch of 'small stuff' that is missing, damaged, or just worn.

It is not unusual for an owner with unrepairable hull damage to buy an intact 'good' hull, then transfer the entire 'still good' engine and whatever else into the undamaged hull. Members that have done such projects often remark at how often they went back to the old hull to scavenge some bracket, bolt or other useful item that the good hull did not include.

Which is why I suggested looking for a functionally complete but impact damaged Seadoo model, from which you can transfer everything you need into the SAR hull. Having an entire donor watercraft sitting right beside the SAR hull would make it much easier to tell what might be missing from the SAR. And provide a reference for what a fully assembled (albeit non-SAR) Seadoo looks like, inside and out.

[K447]

- thought that far ahead. -

If you do decide to take on the project and resurrect these SAR, I will suggest finding/buying a PWC 'shop cart' rather than working while the hull is on the trailer.

PWC are somewhat difficult to work on because everything that you need to do is done by reaching down into the hull through the seat opening. With the PWC sitting on a trailer the trailer frame, tongue and wheel fenders are often in the way, banging shins and generally being annoying. Moved onto a PWC cart makes it much, much easier to walk up and reach in. The trailer can be moved elsewhere, out of the way.

Several companies make PWC carts. I currently use the Triton Trailers PWC cart (welded aluminum). Previously had several Aquacart AQ-19 (powder coated steel) which were just fine overall.

[SplishSplash]

Sadly, the dump is where they should go. Not worth it if missing engines and pumps and who knows what else. If the electronics are gone, then its just not worth it.
Cost to get them back togeather probably prohibative. If they are sparks parts will exceed the cost of new ones.

[K447]

- the dump is where they should go.

- the cost of new ones.

The SAR models are rather unusual and have a bunch of features that no other PWC from any brand has.

There may be no new option.

https://watercraftjournal.com/videos-sea-doo-introduces-seach-rescue-sar-edition-pwc-2014/

https://youtu.be/CsNRYG1PIl0

The OP is specifically interested in using them for SAR type work.
Whether a non-SAR 'basic PWC' could do enough of the job without being SAR specialized, the OP would have to evaluate.

[Policeman]

I think I am going to go for it! The description and videos of their use are features I would like to take advantage of. I watched two grown men stand on the one side of the hull and it stayed upright. The ability to use them for night rescues with the lighting is yet another feature you don't typically find in a ski. Worst case scenario - I find another one that is complete and use these as parts. I would guess that if they made these today and with the current prices of ski's... I would probably be near the 30 grand mark for one. If I could find a wrecked ski, and have this running for less than 6 grand; I will be very happy.

Thanks for the advice and I will look for a stand like you mentioned, Keith.

[Policeman]

HIN is YDV73919I616. Makes the manufacturing date September of 2016. Any way to find what engine was original in it. Or maybe could that help find what donor ski I need to look for?

[Water4fire]

For the reliability aspect seadoo used a NA motor. 1503 or 1630. Both would work. The pump is easy, just get a 159 mm pump. Gti driveshafts. If it is truly just engine and pump gone. I would fix them. But I am sure your gonna need ECU's, keys, dash amd probably controls as most people pull all that stuff off to re allocate or sell.
They have a special heat exchanger and not the ride plate. Send us some pictures so we can hep better.

[Policeman]

Seems to have ECU's, Dash, all the controls, but no keys. (I believe I spotted the ECU directly under the dash in a black watertight box)
One was missing the navigation mast but the other ski had one. The muffler is missing from one as well. There are no gates with the pump so I will need to get that too. I would be very happy to send you photo's of the skis if you have a minute to look. I really need the professional eye to help me with this. I have never owned or worked on a 4 stroke sea doo engine. Had an older 2 stroke sea doo years ago. Every sense then I've owned two strokes.

I put out a community bulletin in my social media. Maybe someone in my county can gift us a wrecked ski or get me in touch with someone that can help. Really don't want to wais my budget funds on something and not get it going. However, they are in excellent shape and think if I can get them going for less than 5k then it is worth it!

Thanks for the help!!

[K447]

You can upload photos directly with your post. Click the photo icon while composing your post to add pictures one at a time. Or click 'Go Advanced' when replying/posting. Advanced Mode has a Manage Attachments button (scroll down) and you can add photos several at a time.

If you have many photos just make another post and upload some more.

[Policeman]

You can upload photos directly with your post. Click the photo icon while composing your post to add pictures one at a time. Or click 'Go Advanced' when replying/posting. Advanced Mode has a Manage Attachments button (scroll down) and you can add photos several at a time.

If you have many photos just make another post and upload some more.

Here are some photos. Hopefully they come through.