That’s good stuff Jimmy! I love the history of all water sports, it is fascinating what was designed to help us have fun. The 650sx 750 pro and the 800 are our favorites, haven’t been on a 1500 yet. Someday! Keep the videos coming!
Interesting history lesson ! I remember in '68 that Chalmers Marina got a Sea Doo, (I've even got a model of one I glued up) who was a long time Ski Doo dealer. Looked interesting, but was slow, lol. Kid up the lake got a Wet Bike in 78, was quite an improvement, lol! Of course none of them could keep up with my 12' Duck billed Hydro plane with a 50hp Johnson (traded stuff for it around 74, harhar.), that was home built plywood from the late 50's -early 60's. Fun on flat water, dangerous with ANY chop, lol! PWC have come a loonnngggg way in 50 years... Thanx !
Pretty comprehensive history. You didn't mention the short lived collaboration between Artic Cat and Suzuki (a.k.a. Wetbike). I had a '78 that I bought from a dealer in 1980. It was new old stock, so I was the 1st owner although it probably had 50 hours on it, because the dealer had demonstrated it but never sold it. They were PWC, but very different from the whole jet ski class because the didn't really have a hull. Technically they were a hydrofoil. My then girlfriend hated it, and I had a friend who really wanted it. He had two '78 440's and we worked out a trade. Later I bought an additional '77 model 440, and a triple bunk trailer. Over the years I made a lot of upgrades and modifications. I made one of my 440s into a super-stock racer that had a top speed of 48/49. They used to tell us that that pump on the 440/550 could only pass 52 mph worth of water through it. I speak from experience that 48 mph on a 440 is exhilarating when you are young. I just turned 63 and I graduated from fast standups a long time ago. BTW: what ever happened to the little 1 cylinder Kawasaki 300? My neighbors 12 yo kid got one because he wanted to ride with us.
No Video, but Since The Factory Sea Doo Prototype for the X4 hull ( the 95 XP 800) was made by Bullett Racing (the same guys that made my amazing standup) and Are here in Havasu, I do know the story. I will put it on the list of videos I need to do. :-) Thank you for the suggestion...
The more you know..as you know still have my ‘92 750.. I am thinking you are on the river now.. if the invitation is still open I am looking to be out there in September..
I found you because I got a 1992 wr500 from the dump and bought another 1989 wr500 hoping to make something good out of both and I just love the education you provide
Thank you, That was one of John Dady's (Founder of Blowsion) early paint jobs. All the white on the ski use to be day glow fluorescent orange yellow or pink (it has all colorfast to white now). About 15 years ago I saw someone getting ready to paint over it and talked him into trading me for one of my Goodtimes Terminator x2's. It was in all the magazines in the early 90's. It still has the "dr. Mario" Mural on it...
You might should make a website and post/sell quality parts that work well for restoring these things. Im sure there are a lot of these across the country that could be restored.
I think the "bilge pump" claim is interesting. Everyone claims they were bilge pumps but i have yet to see any sort of actual proof. I'd love to see some pictures, or any sort of evidence on the bilge pump version if you could provide any that would be awesome!
So i grew up on a lake i saw tons and tons of personal watercraft the only two i wasnt sure about one look like snowmobile and road way out of the water kinda looked like a fat tire dirt bike definitely had a ski on the front to steer The other would seat 2 people but side by side any idea what they were
Thanks Jim! 👍
Good stuff Jim! Have fun this week! 😅
That’s good stuff Jimmy! I love the history of all water sports, it is fascinating what was designed to help us have fun. The 650sx 750 pro and the 800 are our favorites, haven’t been on a 1500 yet. Someday! Keep the videos coming!
Interesting history lesson ! I remember in '68 that Chalmers Marina got a Sea Doo, (I've even got a model of one I glued up) who was a long time Ski Doo dealer. Looked interesting, but was slow, lol. Kid up the lake got a Wet Bike in 78, was quite an improvement, lol! Of course none of them could keep up with my 12' Duck billed Hydro plane with a 50hp Johnson (traded stuff for it around 74, harhar.), that was home built plywood from the late 50's -early 60's. Fun on flat water, dangerous with ANY chop, lol! PWC have come a loonnngggg way in 50 years... Thanx !
Man you guys know everything! Awesome.
Keep the content coming! Really enjoy it. 💪👍🏼
Great vlog... Thank you for the history lesson.
Loving content learning a lot, thanks, Jim
Awesome! Thank you for the feedback. Glad you enjoy it. 🙂
Pretty comprehensive history. You didn't mention the short lived collaboration between Artic Cat and Suzuki (a.k.a. Wetbike). I had a '78 that I bought from a dealer in 1980. It was new old stock, so I was the 1st owner although it probably had 50 hours on it, because the dealer had demonstrated it but never sold it. They were PWC, but very different from the whole jet ski class because the didn't really have a hull. Technically they were a hydrofoil. My then girlfriend hated it, and I had a friend who really wanted it. He had two '78 440's and we worked out a trade. Later I bought an additional '77 model 440, and a triple bunk trailer. Over the years I made a lot of upgrades and modifications. I made one of my 440s into a super-stock racer that had a top speed of 48/49. They used to tell us that that pump on the 440/550 could only pass 52 mph worth of water through it. I speak from experience that 48 mph on a 440 is exhilarating when you are young. I just turned 63 and I graduated from fast standups a long time ago. BTW: what ever happened to the little 1 cylinder Kawasaki 300? My neighbors 12 yo kid got one because he wanted to ride with us.
Great content, keep it coming!
Thank you for the well explained Jetski history 👍😀
Hell yeah🤙
Great video any history on the 95 seadoo xp’s 800
No Video, but Since The Factory Sea Doo Prototype for the X4 hull ( the 95 XP 800) was made by Bullett Racing (the same guys that made my amazing standup) and Are here in Havasu, I do know the story. I will put it on the list of videos I need to do. :-) Thank you for the suggestion...
Jumped in fron Fav Rats, and Merlin.
That's so cool! Welcome to the channel. :-)
great analogy-- of personal watercraft vs boat... much like folks ride ON a motorcycle-- , they also ride IN a car..
That 91 650sx is so clean. Love the stock graphics
The more you know..as you know still have my ‘92 750..
I am thinking you are on the river now..
if the invitation is still open I am looking to be out there in September..
very cool
Good job Jimmy!
Right on Buddy, Loved the Video!
Thanks 👍
I found you because I got a 1992 wr500 from the dump and bought another 1989 wr500 hoping to make something good out of both and I just love the education you provide
That's so cool! I love to hear that. That is how I got my first ski as well. :-)
Have they gone four stroke on the stand ups now?
Yes, they sure have, both the Kawasaki SX-R 1500, and the Yamaha Superjet are both currently 4 stroke.
Awesome paint job on the X2!
Thank you, That was one of John Dady's (Founder of Blowsion) early paint jobs. All the white on the ski use to be day glow fluorescent orange yellow or pink (it has all colorfast to white now). About 15 years ago I saw someone getting ready to paint over it and talked him into trading me for one of my Goodtimes Terminator x2's. It was in all the magazines in the early 90's. It still has the "dr. Mario" Mural on it...
Great video Jim !! I knew absolutely Jack bout them. Now I know just slightly more. But I will continue to watch your videos.
Very cool information.
Fab rats and Merlin sent me now I have a bunch of cool videos to check out on my free time.
Great video .
Way cool! Thanks for sharing. I've said this before, I'd like to see a video of your background and merlins. Thanks.
Jimmy I’ve been riding stand ups since 77. A green 300. A dealer in Oklahoma got two of them we rode them on Canton Lake in north west Oklahoma.
Me and the girlfriend can't ride the stand up skis. We both have artificial hips.😮
I went to MMI and they pretty much explained it the same way
Please do a similar video on the sit down models! Also what someone should buy at different skill and investment levels.
I will put that on the list. Thank you for the feedback. :-)
More X2 content please!
Jimmy you know your sh-t and your shop is clean and organized love it Brother.
You might should make a website and post/sell quality parts that work well for restoring these things. Im sure there are a lot of these across the country that could be restored.
You are a step ahead of me. :-) I am working on a site right now. Should be ready in the coming weeks. Thank you for the feedback.
I think the "bilge pump" claim is interesting. Everyone claims they were bilge pumps but i have yet to see any sort of actual proof. I'd love to see some pictures, or any sort of evidence on the bilge pump version if you could provide any that would be awesome!
So i grew up on a lake i saw tons and tons of personal watercraft the only two i wasnt sure about one look like snowmobile and road way out of the water kinda looked like a fat tire dirt bike definitely had a ski on the front to steer
The other would seat 2 people but side by side any idea what they were
It was named a 'jet-ski' by the inventor Clayton Jacobson not Kawasaki
Okay... but kawi got the trademark. nor sir Clayton.