Custom/Hybrid NOOB in over my head with a project that I know I want to do... need expert advice

[Nuclear Cowboy]

Ok, so... to understand where I'm coming from... I'm 25 years old, virtually no experience riding PWCs other than renting or borrowing from friends. I just moved to the Texas gulf coast not too long ago from up north. I been racing motocross since I was a kid, so I'm very comfortable with motorsports in general, even more comfortable working on motors. I have limited experience working on PWC engines... not to the extent that I know motocross bikes, but enough to know my way around a STX/ZXI...... about 2 weeks ago, one of the guys I work with says he's lookin to get rid of these two boats that have been sitting in his shed for 3 years, neither of them run anymore... I traded him some of my guns for both of them with the trailer. They are both sit-down PWC's... Kawi STX 1100 (1999 I believe, no DI) and a Polaris 1200. These are both way too big for what I need or want... for the same reason I would rather ride a dirt bike than an ATV, I decided I need to convert at least one of them to a stand-up. After a few days of researching all of the hulls and the capabilities of different hulls and different engines I'm starting to get a little overwhelmed and I figured it would be best to ask the community rather than try to figure this out for myself.... basically I would like to take the 1100 motor out of my STX and stuff it into a stand-up hull. And although I am nowhere near experienced enough to start flipping and barrel rolling in flat water, I would like to build a ski that will have those capabilities once I do get more experience on it. From what I've read on here and seen elsewhere, there are plenty of people that have done this that probably have a wealth of knowledge to share about the best ways to do it and the basic components that I will need.... so I guess my question to you all is where do I start? what hulls should I be looking for (on a total project budget of <$4k over the next year) what accommodations do I need to make for the 1100 engine etc. where do I go from here?

 

[CRJ]

you could put that motor in a few different machines, kawi's being the main, and ive seen it in a Square Nose superjet. the downside is it very heavy. it makes a fun racing platform, but not a freestyle ski.

 

[sjetrider]

Man, you have opened a can of worms here, everyone will want to help but will also be VERY OPINIONATED on what you SHOULD DO.
Here is my opinion: SELL BOTH and start with a nice motor platformed surperjet, make sure it has the basic upgrades that can be used in future up grades.
pole, b-ppe or powerfactor pipe, a head, MSD ignition or enhancer, dont stress hull mods accept for footholds as you will be selling the hull soon and upgrading it so dont waste money and time reinforcing or hoods and such, holds only.
Do not try a tripple in a freestyle boat, just my opinion.
Sell off what you have and start with something you can ride now and upgrade as you go.

 

[Nuclear Cowboy]

that's what I am almost considering doing... my only issue is I know I'm not gonna get $hit for either of these two the way they are and I'm really only gonna be able to sell one of them since I have to have at least one sit-down for the gf. I figured a triple would be okay in the air but I guess not... I know this is gonna be a huge can of worms but that's not all bad... if I can get my moto-fix in the water I might not break so many bones. But I definitely wont get the same excitement unless I'm riding something that I can jump and whip around like a bike, so freestyle capability is a must.... I just don't know if I can get that done by trading up from what I have now.

 

[Nuclear Cowboy]

Im just curious though... has anybody actually put a 1100 triple into an aftermarket hull and tried to use it as a freestyle machine? I mean, yes it is a whole lot heavier but there is also a whole lot of weight that you could reduce with lighter aftermarket alternatives... couldnt you get it to the point where the increased horsepower can overcome the increased weight?

 

[d_moss]

Yes I have seen a 3 cylinder freestyle ski flipping and stuff. Its buried on youtube somewhere

unless the ploaris is mint condish sell that pos. I hate polaris couches. Rad dudes sells motor swap kits for the kawi 1100 into a stand up.

 

[Dmac80sc]

What you could do since you are into motocross is look into a waveblaster and doing the 1100 triple into that. It is a sit down but not a couch. So the girlfriend might ride that one and you would really enjoy that hull for some fun. Then look for a sj for a stand up.

 

[JRock637]

Don't put any money into putting those motors in any hull for freestyle. Far heavyyyyy. It would be a absolute nightmare to ride just starting out in the sport. I'm a fellow MX rider/racer my whole life and just got into this sport last summer. Start out on a nice super jet. Exactly what was stated above. Few power mods. And foot hold and you'll be loving it. Then have a great platform to upgrade into a aftermarket hull. What's most important in this sport is simply just go ride, ride, ride, ride....I logged 117 hrs on a 750sx my first 3 months!

 

[lawmaster891]

the lonestar freeride is in a few weeks, the weekend of oct 18. Its at surfside beach. you should come out and meet the people and check some skis out. I have a blowsion built roundnose superjet hull I just listed for saleas well if you are interested

 

[swapmeet]

The blaster swap would be cool.

But yeah, definitely wouldn't try and tackle a triple AM hull monstrosity.

 

[JRock637]

The blaster swap would be cool.

But yeah, definitely wouldn't try and tackle a triple AM hull monstrosity.

It's the same as putting a locomotive diesel into a Miata....sounds cool....but drive it then call me back lol

 

[ProSouth]

I agree with dmac. I haven't ridden an 1100 blaster, but sounds like what you'd be in to. Blasters are pretty fun, and I can only imagine an 1100 blaster, rockered and shortened.

 

[Nuclear Cowboy]

I've decided I'm basically going to do both suggestions. After researching more, I've pretty much come to the same conclusion that y'all gave me...

An 1100 isn't gonna be a freestyle machine. BUT it is still gonna be a kickass transplant into a standup. So I'm gonna go ahead and get the conversion kit and yank the motor out of the STX for it.

As for the other one, I would LOVE to do a triple in a blaster! I'm dead set on this. That is the only way to achieve my goal of one standup and one seated, without hating the seated ski. Only problem is the other motor... I haven't been able to find any info at all about putting a Polaris 1200 into a blaster. Or any info at all about Polaris triples in general for that matter.... It's not mint by any means but it's in good shape... I feel like it would be a shame to get rid of a perfectly good motor but I think that might be my only choice. Sell it or trade it towards the blaster build.


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