Need advice from you ski fix/flippers

I need some advice. Is there money to be had with minimal work? Sorry for the long story but here is the scoop:

Theres a guy that has two skis with a nice double trailer parked outside of his house with a for sale sign on them. The aren't listed on CL so don't bother searching lol. Both skis are BEAT TO HELL, always stored outside, currently covered in 6" of snow and he wants 3K. Before I really looked them over, I called him and thought it wa s ano brainer. I was ready to buy. then I drove back by and got a good look, without the seller there. Now I'm not totally sure since I don't have a lot of experience and don't want to lose my a$$, but I'm still intrigued.

For starters, the trailer is a yacht club all black double trailer that could hold two sit downs in great shape. That's the prize of the deal IMO. I think I could land 500-800 bucks from this, but I would like to sell now, so I would probably only get 500.

One ski is a Kawasaki ZXI, same color scheme as a 95 but I'm not absolutely sure of the year. It runs and will start. It needs a new seat, and the paint could use a buffing. Other than that I wouldn't do much. If I did that it would look average. I see them listed in decent condition at about 800-1000 on CL in my area.

The second ski is a round nose, which is what got my attention to begin with. Not sure of the year because he painted it a horrible flat black almost rhino lined look. Worst paint job ever. The good (according to the seller): Every mod you can have has been added apparently. It has a milled head, wiseco prop, wiseco pistons, some kind of pipe that I didn't recognize, AM intake grate, am ride plate, bilge, total loss ignition, and said there has to be tons more but couldn't think off the top of his head. No footholds. Told me some race pro from 99 rode it. Not sure if that means he rode it in 99 or if the guy was a has been in 99 and rode it later on as a rec ski. The Bad (from my first visual glance + seller disclaimer): It wont start because apparently the total loss ignition needs one part that is 240 bucks. I'm not sure what the part is, nor do I know if he really knows. Also, like I said, the paint is in terrible shape, the pole has been replaced with another round nose pole so im wondering if the original pole broke/added stress to the pole bracket. turf and chin pad are toast. there is a hole on the outside of the tray about the size of a dime, so minor fiberglass work needed + total refoam. I gather from his vibe that its been sitting for a couple years.

I'm a moron and didn't take pics. wish I would have.

My questions to you. I've never sold a sit down, nor have I really priced them for a long period of time. Is it easier or harder to sell an older model couch than a stand up? that is one of my main concerns that im hoping you guys can help me with. Second, I don't think I have the wherewithal to restore the SJ. Do you think it could bring in some cash from parting it out? which of those AM parts do you assume would be worthless from sitting and being stored outside? and how much (ballpark) do you assume I could part the ski out for assuming poor condition and lowest price of used parts? Is it worth it to pay 3K, offer 2K, or just not make an offer? he wants 3k and thinks he is losing his ass because of the AM parts so I don't know if he will budge. Im torn. HELP.
 

eastcoastjumper

James
Site Supporter
Location
Long Island
That doesn't sound like a good deal to me. If the prize of the buy is a 500 dollar trailer for spending 2-3k uhhh...

Recently I bought a 2008 kawasaki stx 15f with a new aluminum trailer for 1000. Yeah the ski was blown up needing 2k in parts and machine work but it might be able to sell for almost 4500-5000 around here. The trailer was the prize of the deal lol being worth the 500-700 new. Even if i parted out the ski id still make money off a small investment. I wouldn't spend 3k to make a few hundred bucks.


That superjet sounds pretty beat up. Wiseco doesn't make jet ski impellers. & Sitting under snow is the last place id want my jet ski's.
 

McDog

Other Administrator
Staff member
Location
South Florida
Stay away. Assume total loss is worthless since you cant test it. Unknown pipe practically worthless. Old racing skis are usually pretty clapped out. This one sounds especially so. Old kawi couches are junk. Dont waste your time.
 

98gti

C@R H@ul3R
Location
NW FL
At very best you may get your money back, and if your time is worth absolutely nothing to you I guess that would be ok, lol. Seriously though I'd definetely pass. But if you insist on making an offer I'd have to say you would be safe at $1000 to $1500 tops.
 
Last edited:
Location
Pa
if you have your heart set on a winter project, break it down to the guy the same way you did for us, run all the numbers past him, make sure he knows what the trailer sells (assuming the wheels spin freely on a jack with no sound) for and what the running ski and then make sure that he knows the fact that the rn is NOT running (will it turn over??) that it is basically only worth 500 for the poopty looking hull plus another 300-400 for the poopty pole and other random abused parts. this is also assuming he has 3 titles with matching vin/hin numbers...and what ^^he said 1500 tops, you have to plan to basically trash the tl if it even has tl and rebuild the motor and pump maybe and then it was a race ski so should be ported accordingly so you wont get alot of bottom end out of the motor. if you can steal it steal it otherwise make him your offer and let it sit. andddddddddddd i personally would never sell parts that i have never used myself and know that they are not crapped out...
 
ya that's a good point. I refuse to even sell a car that isn't in perfect running condition so selling these parts would leave me nervous as hell. I think after what everyone said, I could maybe pull 500 cash if the guy was willing to sell it for 2000, but even that is an optimistic guess. Definitely not something that is worth it to me.
 
didn't take pictures and its parked at a guys house that I would have to go out of my way to get to. if I were considering it I would make the drive, but since its not something I want to take on I don't really want to.
 
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