2022+ FX SMC Hulls and Drive On Roller Floating Lifts - Any Worries?

[skeeterzx225]

Looking for some advice/feedback:

I purchased a leftover a 2022 FX last fall and have yet to put it in the water. I have a 2017 Wave Armor SLX6 floating drive on lift I've used for previous FX models. I know the older Nano hull FX models could be susceptible to indentations in the hull surface from repeated driving on/off and the weight of the FX only being supported by the rollers. All that being said, could my 2022 SMC FX Hull have similar issues or will the SMC hull be just fine and not have any issues? The newer WaveArmor lifts now have much wider and cushioned wheels likely due to the older design damaging hulls, it would cost me over $600 just to upgrade the wheels on my existing lift, so at that point I would be better off just selling my old WaveArmor lift and buying a new one with the better wheels, or would I just be wasting my money upgrading to the new lift because the SMC hull will do just fine with the older Wave Armor model?

Here's the current WaveArmor model I have -

Here's the new Wave Armor model with the better wheels I could upgrade to -

[steve45]

I don't know if the new hulls have the same issues as the Nano hulls, but why take the chance? I'm sure that new Waverunner wasn't cheap.

[thegreatescape]

Our 2019 EX is SMC our 2022 FX SVHO Cruiser is SMC zero issues. We have 2 WaveArmor SLX6 and did the wheel upgrade. YOU DO NOT have to buy the wheel kit. They WILL sell you the wheels only for $8 a piece directly from WaveArmor.

[skeeterzx225]

YOU DO NOT have to buy the wheel kit. They WILL sell you the wheels only for $8 a piece directly from WaveArmor.

Really? from their website or dealer network?

[thegreatescape]

Really? from their website or dealer network?

Call them directly. We did and so did my neighbor.

[skeeterzx225]

Call them directly. We did and so did my neighbor.

THANK YOU! you saved me $400+ (They actually raised the price to $10.50 per wheel now) I assume you just use the same axle and washers/spacers the original white wheels used, just swap out the White for Blue wheel?

[thegreatescape]

THANK YOU! you saved me $400+ (They actually raised the price to $10.50 per wheel now) I assume you just use the same axle and washers/spacers the original white wheels used, just swap out the White for Blue wheel?

Yes same axles and spacers. The blue wheel was out of stock. We got the red ones

[skeeterzx225]

Yes same axels and spacers. The blue wheel was out of stock. We got the red ones

Do you still have the SKU# for the wheels you got? It looks like the red wheels (SKU: 301929) are for SLX ports manufactured 2021 or newer? https://www.wavearmor.com/product/ap...slx-wheel-kit/

[thegreatescape]

Do you still have the SKU# for the wheels you got? It looks like the red wheels (SKU: 301929) are for SLX ports manufactured 2021 or newer? https://www.wavearmor.com/product/ap...slx-wheel-kit/

no I don’t, just tell them you want the red wheel

[skeeterzx225]

i now have them ordered! thanks again!

Can to share your Port wheel layout for your FX? Same slots as the image in my first post?

[thegreatescape]

[skeeterzx225]

much appreciated! That 4th set of wheels placement is interesting...

[thegreatescape]

much appreciated! That 4th set of wheels placement is interesting...

Yep, what I noticed is that they were not touching the hull so I made and adjustment. Let me know if yours is the same or you did something different.

[skeeterzx225]

Yep, what I noticed is that they were not touching the hull so I made and adjustment. Let me know if yours is the same or you did something different.

I've been using the inner most wheel pockets and noticed my first 4 pairs of wheels sit perfectly flat on the hull of my 2022 FX HO Cruiser (they fit perfectly between the hull strakes) I'm now ordering an extra pair of wheels to add down at the end like you did to help with launching and loading, I noticed it's needed to hopefully avoid the "clunk" when it rolls off at the end... What have you found that made you choose the middle wheel pockets?

[Orly]

THANK YOU! you saved me $400+ (They actually raised the price to $10.50 per wheel now) I assume you just use the same axle and washers/spacers the original white wheels used, just swap out the White for Blue wheel?

Glad to have been pointed to this thread. My SLX6 with the white rollers gouged into my hull caused a major water ingress into the hull. Now I need to have it repaired and upgrade those white wheels to the new ones, red or blue.

I called WaveArmor yesterday and was told I could not buy the wheels only without the axle kit, had to order kit at $33 a piece. Now I find out others have bought the wheels only for much less $.

As if I wasn't already pissed off with the damage that lift caused to my Waverunner FX, now Wavearmor plays dumb. Going to contact them again today and push for the wheels only.