I bought it this spring with the intentions of skiing all summer. Between work and issues I have had with it I have not got to use it like I hoped. The unit is in very good condition and was stored indoors more of its life.
This is a skier-controlled jet powered waterskiing toy. It has a 2 cylinder 40hp 2 cycle motor with a jet drive. The steering and throttle are controlled from the handles. It only requires one person to water ski, instead of a boat, a driver and a spotter.
I have done the following since I bought it
-repaired the broken throttle handle and linkage
-Greased driveshaft
-new battery
-new fuel
-replaced broken throttle hydraulic line
When I got it nothing worked, I now have it running great and the steering works properly. It fires right up no problem and goes. The issue I am currently having with it is that it does not quite have the thrust to pull me out of the water, it is 99% there. I have been told that it may need the carburetor cleaned or adjusted. I am not familiar with 2-cycle engines so I have not done anything to the carburetor. With a little work you will be out on the water in no time.
I am pretty sure its a fueling problem, it runs great at idle and up to 3/4 throttle but at full throttle it bucks/blackfires and doesnt run as smooth
On 9-7 I had a compression test performed and both cylinders are at 170psi cold. So this leads me to believe it is something in the carb that is causing the full throttle issue.
Considering I’ve been ticketed for skiing without a spotter in NY I don’t see how this thing could ever be legal.
EDIT:
I withdraw my concern. Apparently the company managed to get NY to grant an exception to their spotter requirements specifically for their product.
More than 20 states, including New York, have granted boating exemptions that allow use of the Ski-Free. Ski-Free Marine recommends that skiers wear safety vests.
If anyone is planning to use this in the Niagara River I would recommend printing out that article, laminating it, and carrying it tucked inside your life jacket. There are a TON of different police agencies on our waterways and unfortunately the majority of them are as dumb as they come. I had a newbie coastie try to tell me it was illegal to have people riding in the front seats of my bowrider while underway. I had to explain to him that only applies to boats without seating in the bow, as in closed bow boats.
Just mentioning it if anyone plans to use it on the Niagara River they’d need to be careful. Lots of places on the west river where the Canadian line gets really close to Grand Island.
