300/440/550 new to ski`s trying to identify

[screwball]

hi guys im new to ski`s but ive liked stand ups my whole life and finally decided to look for one, i found one thats pretty local its a 91 kawasaki, and thats about all he knows, can some one pleese try to identify this for me, here are the pictures that he sent me

it looks like it might be a 550sx but im not sure, sorry the pictures are so bad, he sent them on his phone. i know that almost everyone is going to reply that i should save and get a superjet but around here they go for anywhere from 1500-4000 and im only 15 so this seems like a good fit for me at 375.

thanks guys!
James

 

[Kalwren]

If you get the HIN off of it, you can find out more about it. You can easily find out the year.

 

[suva]

If it's actually a '91 it's a 440, not a 550. The 1990+ 550s had a different style gunwhale to accomodate the rubber elbow pads. The last 2 numbers on the HIN are the model year and the number on the front of the engine will start with 440 or 550 if I remember correctly.

 

[Motorheads5]

The Exhaust manifold look's like a 440 to me.

 

[suva]

The Exhaust manifold look's like a 440 to me.

Yeah, I guess the 550s had that giant box thing there.

 

[Motorheads5]

Yep jet power exhaust, which alot of guy's claimed it really was a good exhaust compared to all the previous year's.

 

[special fx]

late model 440 or a pre-SX 550 that someone stuck a 440 engine in.....but prolly just a stock 440.

 

[screwball]

alright guys thanks, do you think this would be a good ski to start off on to just ride around in the river, then eventually get a bigger engine for it....



thanks!
James

 

[grezzmky]

alright guys thanks, do you think this would be a good ski to start off on to just ride around in the river, then eventually get a bigger engine for it....



thanks!
James

You can get it to ride arownd on for awhile but save the mod money for you future Superjet. Trust me dude!

 

[SJBrit]

alright guys thanks, do you think this would be a good ski to start off on to just ride around in the river, then eventually get a bigger engine for it....



thanks!
James

Any day on any ski is better than a day on no ski. You'll have fun on this, you'll get hooked, and that will motivate you to try to move up to an SJ. Plus, at this point unless something horrible happens to it, that ski has pretty much bottomed out in price so you won't lose anything when you come to sell it on.

Go for it.

 

[screwball]

thanks guys! im going to look at it either tommorow or thursday and ill report back,
another thing i thought might be cool would be to make it a flatdeck, but that would be after i ride it a couple of times......


James

 

[550klunker]

yeah a flat deck would be cool. i got a 550 that i am trying to sell and it was fun for my first ski, but i am into my 650 i bought a while back. i say go with it.

 

[SJBrit]

thanks guys! im going to look at it either tommorow or thursday and ill report back,
another thing i thought might be cool would be to make it a flatdeck, but that would be after i ride it a couple of times......


James

Again - all good practice. If you don't have them already, you'll need to develop some fiberglassing skills as you go forward. What better machine to practice on than this one? I dare say you'll get your fare share of engine troubleshooting and repair experience too

 

[grezzmky]

Again - all good practice. If you don't have them already, you'll need to develop some fiberglassing skills as you go forward. What better machine to practice on than this one? I dare say you'll get your fare share of engine troubleshooting and repair experience too

Good point. Do some mods for practice just dont go putting a 3 grand motor in the thing. definatly a good time to learn son glassing and turf skills

 

[screwball]

yea, i already have some skills glassing things ( redid a 13 boston whaler) and my dad is pretty good at it, maybe eventually i can pick up a 650 or a 750 motor, do you guys have any good ideas for performance mods that wont break the bank, like maybe an exhaust, and i think it might need a new prop (or whatever they are called on ski`s), also what is a ride plate and what is a good one for this ski.

thanks!
James

 

[SJBrit]

The terms "440" and "performance" are not generally used in the same sentence unless the term "lack of" is also thrown in.... ;-)

Seriously, I wouldn't spend anything much on this ski - use it to learn on, use it as a test bed for hacking if you want, but know that with its lack of power, even adding 20% more won't get you far (except farther away from having enough money to upgrade).

 

[grezzmky]

yea, foot holds are one thing. motor swap, nope.

 

[screwball]

so are you guys saying that maybe i shouldent get this and wait for something like a superjet or maybe a 650 kawasaki...

 

[SJBrit]

so are you guys saying that maybe i shouldent get this and wait for something like a superjet or maybe a 650 kawasaki...

No! If you are short on cash then buy it and go ride - just know that you will want to upgrade as soon as you can afford it so don't spend your pennies on this one.

But don't go without a ski until you can afford what you really want either - like I said, a day on a 440 might not be as fun as a day on an SJ, but it sure as heck beats not being on a ski! :beerchug:

 

[grezzmky]

No! If you are short on cash then buy it and go ride - just know that you will want to upgrade as soon as you can afford it so don't spend your pennies on this one.

But don't go without a ski until you can afford what you really want either - like I said, a day on a 440 might not be as fun as a day on an SJ, but it sure as heck beats not being on a ski! :beerchug:

Exactly, ur gonna fall inlove with riding it and your gonna want to upgrade it. then ur gonna see posts about 550 builds, Dont do it. Ride this one and put a superjet togather. The money I spent on my 650 I could have bought a new SJ for at the time. The only stock parts on it are the electronics, the pole bracket, ant the driveshaft. I have NEVER even ridden it (two 100ft test rides b4 it was done). I had about 25min of work to do to get everything buttoned up and rode an sj. The 650 sits in my mom's basement now just like it has for the past 3 years seince I found an SJ.... and still only needs that 25 min of work to be water ready. its registered and everything.
Buy it and ride it but DONT modify it. ull understand later. Wish somebody told me this stuff.