Tracker Seadoo Jet Jon Build

PSG-1 · Post by **PSG-1** » 29 Apr 2015, 08:59

bdeemo wrote:
PSG-1 wrote:It's a labor of love, for sure. But in the end, it's well worth the effort!

While you're at this point, you might want to go ahead and route the exhaust into the jet tunnel, then put rubber skirting around it. You'll be amazed at how much this will reduce your sound signature.
Ah I already routed that to the side, pointing at the water using the jetski's original exhaust port. Honestly it's not that loud! Way quieter than my outboard, I love the sound.

I thought the same thing when I built mine. It sounded pretty wicked. But, trust me, after a while, you won't like it so much. You'll be wanting to make it quieter.

Good news is that it's still not too late to do a little modifying to make it quieter. Where the exhaust exits the boat, you could fabricate a small box/tunnel to fit around the exhaust hole. Basically 4 sides, with the front side attaching to the boat, (create a flange, and rivet it to the boat) and the back end open. Make it about 4-6" longer than the transom, but don't have it sticking out any farther than the steering nozzle of your jet pump.

Make a flange around the rear opening of the box, using some aluminum angle, and rivet it in place. Then, take some thick rubber, and make some skirting to fit the opening of that box. Since it's a little different that routing it through the jet unit tunnel, I would make it where the bottom edge of the skirting is the flexible part. Attach the rubber skirting using SS bolts with washers.

This will work almost as effectively as routing it into the jet tunnel.

bnt5 · Post by **bnt5** » 29 Apr 2015, 19:36

So how does she run? Inquiring minds want to know...

Did you get a chance to test the boat without pods first to see what difference they made?

Looking good!

https://www.youtube.com/user/ranchero50 · Post by **Ranchero50** » 03 May 2015, 15:10

Looks good. Just remember to not bury the motor under covers. Doing a starter replacement on these motors sucks on a good day and the armatures corrode fast.

bdeemo · Post by **bdeemo** » 04 May 2015, 01:59

bnt5 wrote:So how does she run? Inquiring minds want to know...

Did you get a chance to test the boat without pods first to see what difference they made?

Looking good!

Did not get a chance to test the pods before the jet conversion!
Ok.. I'll just tell ya guys. I need to take more pictures but heres how the test run went:
My brother and I took it down to the local lake, after some trouble starting it(hadn't ran in a year) I finally got it started with some starter fluid to the air box. Then it was really purring, running great. We took it to the buoys at idle, and tried to hammer the throttle from there. With just me, my bro, and his 120 lb wife, we couldn't plane it. It was really lugging. I'm gonna totally blame the impeller. It really is a heavy boat with all the batteries and stuff. I could tell it couldn't get into high rpms(I took off all my gauges including the tach) Anyway after about a minute of lugging it, the motor finally died, and seized. (wouldnt even turn over with plugs out)I was able to get it unseized with some marvel mystery oil in the cylinders overnight... I then flushed out that oil and checked compression: 120 and 125. I figured I might as well just hone the cylinders and put in new rings. I took the engine apart and the cylinders look pretty good! It's the stock cylinders which is good. I'll do a quick hone and rings, new gaskets and just mostly a top end clean up. One of the pistons has two pretty noticeable gouges in one side, but I think they'll be alright. Engine work is waiting on parts. I had a small leak on the fiberglass portion of my hull that I need to seal up now while I have the engine out. I also ordered a skat-trak 15-20 swirl impeller to replace my stock 17-25

pics coming soon!

bdeemo · Post by **bdeemo** » 04 May 2015, 02:00

Ranchero50 wrote:Looks good. Just remember to not bury the motor under covers. Doing a starter replacement on these motors sucks on a good day and the armatures corrode fast.

Yep just burnt one up! Haha, I was able to replace it fine with the engine in there(blindly ill admit for the bottom bolt)

bdeemo · Post by **bdeemo** » 12 May 2015, 13:44

Here is the back deck/engine cowling I made. Broke the front and sides to fit over with a lip and welded a piece of 3/16" angle aluminum on the back. for the hinges to weld to.

.100 aluminum.

IMG_2027.JPG

IMG_2028.JPG

For the hinges, took aluminum pipe 1/8" and cut into three pieces. one welded to boat in middle, and other two to deck on sides. then put stainless rod though the three pieces. made two hinges.

IMG_2029.JPG

Fuel selector, choke, throttle, kill switch, vts

IMG_2030.JPG

bdeemo · Post by **bdeemo** » 12 May 2015, 13:47

Also made this hasp latch. The swivel piece I just bought at the hardware store, but just took some extra 1.00 plate I had and bent it and cut a hole in it and riveted on for the latch. worked great!!

IMG_2031.JPG

bdeemo · Post by **bdeemo** » 12 May 2015, 14:22

Top end is finished. I took it apart, everything looked great. honed cylinders and put new rings in. Sorry I forgot to take pictures. It looked almost brand NEW in there. I think the reason it seized was because the back end was too far out of the water to pump the coolant. Anyway, STILL waiting on impeller from Skat-trak. Called Glenn and apparently it got lost on the assembly line. He quickly straightened it out and got it shipped that day, friday. Should be here today, tuesday. While I was waiting over the weekend I decided to paint the boat while the motor was out.

IMG_2032.JPG

IMG_2034.JPG

IMG_2036.JPG

IMG_2037.JPG

IMG_2038.JPG

bdeemo · Post by **bdeemo** » 12 May 2015, 14:27

IMG_2040.JPG

IMG_2041.JPG

IMG_2045.JPG

IMG_2046.JPG

IMG_2047.JPG

CedarRiverScooter · Post by **CedarRiverScooter** » 12 May 2015, 21:54

Looking good! What kind of paint are you going to use?

bdeemo · Post by **bdeemo** » 14 May 2015, 19:04

CedarRiverScooter wrote:Looking good! What kind of paint are you going to use?

Used automotive paint. Urethane primer / dry base silver / multi panel clear coat

Question: Do I need to vent my engine compartment for fuel fumes? How should I do that if so? A Blower?

PSG-1 · Post by **PSG-1** » 14 May 2015, 19:12

bdeemo wrote:
Question: Do I need to vent my engine compartment for fuel fumes? How should I do that if so? A Blower?

Inboard engines are required to have a blower and compartment ventilation as per USCG regs. I installed mine by cutting a hole with a hole saw just small enough that the blower fits very tight from underneath. Also, I welded an aluminum angle bracket to the underside of the deck for an attachment point of the blower bracket.

Then I fabricated a cowl to fit over it, with a small slot for the opening, elevated off the deck about 2 inches to keep water from running in there. The slot faces forward, so that air is forced in there as the boat is underway.

For the vent that lets air escape, I have a small ramp-shaped duct about 2 inches high, that faces rearward. Because of the height of the fuel tank and fuel pump, and the wire hookup, I didn't have enough clearance to set it under the deck. Hence, the dual-purpose vent/clearance modification.

Here's a picture, for visual reference. Vents are to the port side (right side of the photo) The larger one at the rear is the blower, and the smaller ramped one at the front is the vent. Pay no attention to the faked-down coil of black dock line, LOL

100_4237.JPG

bdeemo · Post by **bdeemo** » 26 May 2015, 17:06

Thanks PSG. I might do a blower soon. Do you think I run the risk of overheating with my engine compartment? or overpressurizing?

More pix of paint:

IMG_2051.JPG

IMG_2053.JPG

bdeemo · Post by **bdeemo** » 26 May 2015, 17:13

New impeller finally came from Skat-trak. It got lost on the assembly line, so I called Glenn and he cleared it right up and got it shipped the same day I called him. I went with a 15/20 stainless swirl impeller to replace the 17/25 stock impeller. It ran me around $300. It came with the rubber boot seal for the impeller and the splined removal tool. I bought a wear ring off of ebay for $20. Make sure to get a wear ring with the lip on the end, the other ones don't seal very well if you get the really cheap ones. (Or so i was told)

Impeller install was fairly easy... hardest part being the removal of the wear ring. For those who want to replace a wear ring, the white/clear part of the jet pump surround is actually part of the wear ring too. I had a hell of a time trying to take just the black off, and was kicking myself in the head after I realized it was all one piece. (duh)

Heres the new impeller compared to the old

IMG_2065.JPG

IMG_2066.JPG

https://www.youtube.com/user/ranchero50 · Post by **Ranchero50** » 26 May 2015, 17:15

You really need to be vented and should be using forced air. Mine vents from the front edge of the deck at three places and out the back of the dog house. I've never smelled gas under the covers and always check before firing the engine.

Without good venting any fuel vapor will build up in the bilges and will light off at the worse possible time. I parted out a old glass jet boat that blew apart (literally). The fire extinguisher was useless and it was a total loss.