Even If It’s Cool, Is It Still Annoying?
Its a Sea Doo Doo!
On ebay today I found this cool classic Sea Doo Personal Water Craft. Now, here is the question for today, even though its classic, and cool because of its age and place in history. Or is just one more annoying water craft designed to annoy boaters out there. I suppose the good news is that the 13 year old that would have enjoyed this back in the day is now an adult and safer on the water. That seems to be the trend in our area. 13 year olds racing around at 50 mph with no real understanding of whats going on around them. With all that said, this is still a cool part of boater history, and would be fun to see at a boat show! Oh god! Are these considered boats in the ACBS rules? Here is the listing on Ebay for today!
Oh, and its header day.. Look back and enjoy the great headers of the past just by refreshing the page!
Love header day! Gonna fritter away some time this morning!
Yes.
I have to admit I did not know they made Sea-Doo’s in 1969.
I think it is cool and in this day of inclusiveness in the ACBS I think there should be a place for them.
I can’t believe you missed this one Troy.
This 1968 Hydro Cycle is ACBS eligible. Found on the Chicago Craigslist for $695 It beats the Jet Ski in Ugliness!
It just needs ape hangers and a skull painted on the bow.
1970 Aqua Loop. 14 year old owned and NOT interested in boat shows. Just interested in having fun in a cool boat.
I remember when these came out. They had a lot of problems.
There was a Ski Doo dealer up the river from me and I remember him franticly pulling on the recoil as I was bearing down on him w/ my 1947 Chris express cruiser.
Chris Craft had one too all be it a bit later in 76. Wouldn’t mind one of these but I’m not sure I’d ride on it.
I don’t remember seeing this in “The Essentials Guide”.
How many other ‘unique’ models did C-C make that we don’t know about (i.e., ferro-cement pontoon boats, etc.)????
Chris Craft used the yacht tender hull to build 6 of these.
Owned one as a kid… it was a cool boat but heavy as all hell, so it couldn’t get out of it’s own way. Not sure if mine was just water logged or if it was all of them. Sold for $1000 13 years ago. Cool boat though to see. Never seen another one again.
These are eligible under ACBS – we determined a 1980 cut off for PWC’s was a reasonable place to start. When I personally contemplated the issue, I was thinking about how unique some of the very early PWC’s were. This certainly counts – yes, this and others of the period were the progenitors of craft that many people find annoying (it is the operator more than the PWC itself usually), but they are fun and have been plentiful for 20 years. I would love to see one of these on the water or in our show.
In Canada, use of watercraft is federally regulated and there is a licensing system in place. Essentially, no one under 16 can operate a craft with more than 9.9HP I think, so the problem of young kids operating these when they have no idea of that they are doing has been largely eliminated. It was crazy to think that until a few years ago, a kid could get on one of these and run it at 70 mph.
Paul: Thanks for the clarification. When I read the new categories recently I thought that I read that PWC’s and Pontoon boats were still not accepted.
Guess I need to log on and read it again.
Everyone needs an operator card no exceptions…
Age Power Restrictions
Under 12 years of age, and not directly supervised Can operate vessels with under 10 hp
Between 12 years and under 16 years of age, and not directly supervised Can operate vessels with under 40 hp
Under 16 years of age Not allowed to operate a PWC
16 years of age and over No power restrictions
Personally, I like the stand-up jet skis. They take some skill to get up on, they are an absolute blast to drive and it’s tiring so you’re not out all day just screaming around at 70mph…. like real water skiing
Cole found this while I was retrieving another moss covered, frog filled boat. We are not sure what “it” is; front looks like an Aqualooper, rear like a Hydrocycle but can’t find another example to say really who made it. He just knows it is cool looking and can’t wait to blast around with ALL 10 horses on the outboard screaming! If anyone has ideas on how to do a kill switch on a vintage outboard I would love to hear about it.
Tether the fuel line to the life jacket. It may take a few minutes of getting dragged around to finally stop, but it will. Probably funny to watch,too.
See. I knew there was a practical solution. One that provides entertainment at the same time is even better!. Thanks Mike.
Mike is on the right track. All modern pwc have a wrist tether attached to a kill key wired into the ignition circuit. When the key is pulled the engine dies. Someone eventually got smart and made the jet ski automatically drift in a circle without the operator. My great uncle and aunt both raced (and won!) on the jet ski circuit well into their 60s…in the 1970’s-90’s. The stand ups are a blast to drive, lots of fun when I was a kid.
I have an original hydrocycle with bill of sale and the original firestone engine and the puzzle that was gave to them from the dealer,just a nice original,, I like it more for the credentials than what it is,,Bill
YES! They are always annoying!
Heres the link to the site with a lot of info on the 68-69 dea doos. They only made them for 2 years. They didn’t come back to the market until 87 or so. Web site has a nice write up on the history with is pretty interesting.
http://www.vintageseadoo.com/
There should be a fairly easy kill switch solution that would wire in with the kill button on old outboards – or on one or the magneto circuit leads. I’m sure someone has done this.
The thing that scares me about the early hydrocycles is just that – falling off with that engine still running and getting chopped up by the prop – something that jet drives eliminated.
That said, PWC’s are involved in 70% (?) of accidents on the water involving serious injury or death – I’m not a fan of them because of how are usually driven, – the lack of knowledge of rules of the road and courtesy that is typically demonstrated.
But there are some real interesting craft that have been produced that would fall under the personal watercraft label – the saucer boats, motorized surfboard, and many like those pictured above when used within their limits have got to be a gas to run!
This one looks like fun!
And it’s electric so maybe Woodygal and so many others may not find them as annoying.
And By The Way my 88 year old Mother loves her Sea-Doo!
Yup, much like Harley’s and tattoos, once your 88 year old mom has one, it’s time to jump off the bandwagon!
Just kidding. Moms got spunk.
landfill material.
very cool, remember coveting this same Sea Doo as a 12 year old.
Jet skis are like mosquitoes that you can’t swat. I’m in favor of summer seasonal hunting with liberal bag limits…maybe six per day by any means…shotguns, grenades, mines, Howitzers….whatever. “The solution to pollution is dilution.”