300/440/550 JS550 Vs. Modern Ski's

BrightE's

BrightE's

Paul
Location
Seattle, WA
So I suppose my initial question has spawned from what seems to be very dedicated groups of people on both sides of the issue. The issue is this - the vintage 550 hulls get a pretty bad rep around here from anyone with a more modern hull, yet they still are very often traded, sold, modded, and built. Despite all the talk about how terrible they are at turning and getting good hook-up, there are countless vintage pictures of people leaned over nearly laying on the water turning these things.

So what is the truth about these old hulls? Can they shred like the newer, more sophisticated OEM hulls out there? Do they really skid out in turns like so many have complained of? What accounts for the great shots of the pro-riders handling the heck out of these things if they are truly so awful?

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rhaas

rhaas

Location
bay saint louis, ms
we have a conversion kit to put a yamaha 650-701-760 motor into a 440-550 hull, and conversion plates to put kawasaki 650-750-800 motors into them as well.
the hulls are small and squirly compared to modern skis. they take a lot more time getting used to but in the right hands, these hulls can be real performers.
We have made the decision to make some products for these old hulls to make them into the ski they should have been.
think about it you can get these hulls for almost free. In fact I seem to attract the free hulls. I have 5 of them right now and constantly have people telling me of more of them I can have for nothing or almost nothing.
look forward to more products to make these old skis the monsters they should be.
 
two81's

two81's

Location
Baytown Tx
I used to think my 550sx was hot. That was until I picked up an 800sxr. This thing is a pig but it carves hard enough to throw me off if im not caerfull. When I get back on my 550 after a year of riding the 800,I soon realize how much skill was involved in riding the 550. I think if it was possible for me,I would have a larger engine in the 550. Its alot less effort to ride the 550 and I think it only lacks in the power dept.
Hope this helps
 
naticen

naticen

Site Supporter
Location
wilmington, nc
Skis are starting to be more and more purpose built. There are buoy runners, back flippers, surf thrashers, and then in their own category, 550's. They are the next step after you remove the training wheels from the other skis.

They do require being set up right and ridden right, but they will shred.
 
kevbo

kevbo

Location
dfw
naticen said:
Skis are starting to be more and more purpose built. There are buoy runners, back flippers, surf thrashers, and then in their own category, 550's. They are the next step after you remove the training wheels from the other skis.

They do require being set up right and ridden right, but they will shred.
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550 hulls are good for a tight slalom course. They need a larger pump and engine though. The hulls are too weak for hard landings. Nobody does anything with them because they are no longer fasionable.
 
fastgtfairlane

fastgtfairlane

Location
Charlotte, NC
the thing is, 550s just require lots and lots of hull work to make handle well and mainly take the abuse of a newer ski.. most people go to superjets because they handle so much better stock and have a bigger pump and engine.. plus being longer and a littler wider makes them more stable.. 550s stock are so under powered and sloppy handling.. i just like them because they are the OG jetski.. i think its cool seeing something other than superjets all the time.. 550s are great beginner skis though and are lots of times peoples first ski..

i bought one a few years ago for my first ski.. was cheap, and something for me to learn on, i knew very little about jetskis so it was also something for me to figure out mechanically.. did some research, found some really cool vintage go fast parts and built a ski.. modded the hull because it was something to experiment on and because the hulls are soo cheap, i could get another one for next to nothing if i messed up fiberglassing.. after modding it, its pretty quick and handles well.. its a blast to jump waves with, and runs right at 50mph..and is reliable.
 
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crazy4sand

crazy4sand

Location
Vegas
if you want to get into the sport you can on the budget my co worker has a 550 thats flat decket has 2 footstraps and a 650 motor... the ski is fun as hell and my 230lbs of fat enjoys riding it..... but theirs nothing like a superjet!
 
special fx

special fx

X
Location
Brigantine, NJ
xxBrightEyesxx said:
What accounts for the great shots of the pro-riders handling the heck out of these things if they are truly so awful? ]
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People used to have to REALLY learn to ride. The new hyper stable boats have reduced the learning curve to a season vs several seasons for the old 440/550 hulls. The old Kawis could be carved very hard in the right hands ( and feet). That said, once you've ridden a boat with good power and a good pump, there's no going backwards.
 
B

Bob Gruen

Location
Atlanta, Ga
My first ski was a 440 that I blew up and put an 550 piston port block into. (This was right when the reed valve PJS block came out and a few years before Kawasaki finally went to reeds. The 440 pump was actually the hot ticket for a modded 550 back in the day because the bushed design processed more water than the 550's ball bearing design. When I finally sold my 550 is had dual 38s, a rare Westcoast manifold & center bleed pipe (the predecessor to the "Jetpower" pipe), a traditional Kerker pipe and manifold, a gutted stock waterbox, scoop grate, ride plate, bulldog nose brace, filled in gas filler, Kaw blue and green paint (actually the green was Ford Signal Green and the blue was another Ford shade), and a lot of care and tlc.

The thing about that first generation hull was that it was narrow, you really did lean it over on it's side to turn. When I moved up to a 650 I had a hard time because I kept leaning over too far and it would slide out. Also, the first generation hull had a very round nose that would naturally get pushed up by waves, while the 650 would just cut through them. Finally, the first gen hull was light; if you had a decent motor in it putting the nose anywhere you wanted was easy, the 650 always felt disconnected to me, no where near as agile.

My favorite hull design is still the X2, with the Baster as a close second. If I were to buy a standup I think I'd look for or build a 650 or 750 in a 440 hull (to get that older bushed pump). Might be hard pressed to find a good prop for it though...

Bob
 
Scribbleheli

Scribbleheli

Location
United States
I started on a 550. Then upgraded to a worked 550 I got for a great deal. All the go fast and power goodies. Pjs everything.
My superjet can't/won't ever replace it. Riding my superjet is indeed fun. But just so different from what I now consider how a jet ski should "feel" like.
I'm a small guy, so the light weight of the 550 suits me better then the heft of a superjet.
I feel like I can't bend to my will like I can the 550.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
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