The Purchase
I found a 1999 Sea-Doo Speedster on Facebook Marketplace. Twin Rotax 787 engines, jet boat, looked like a fun family project. The seller assured me it had been tested on the water and was ready to go.
That turned out to be a lie.
The Original Ad – What Was Promised
Here’s exactly what the Facebook Marketplace listing said when I found it:
| Listing | 1999 Seadoo speedster |
| Price | $7,500 |
| Location | Brisbane, QLD – Pickup Daisy Hill |
| Seller | Gavin Broom – 4.6★ (37 reviews) |
Seller’s description (verbatim):
99 seadoo speedster left engine full rebuild 30min run time right engine excellent comes with 3rd engine ready for build new piston rings and bored both pumps done new carbon seals new led gps gauges new battery Bimini included and towable and life jackets boat registered but trailer not only selling as just don’t have the time to use
Nine photos showed a white and yellow Speedster on a single-axle trailer with alloy wheels. Rego BKK27Q. It looked clean, ready to go.
Reading this ad, you’d think you were buying a sorted, well-maintained boat from a reputable seller. That’s exactly what I thought.
What I Actually Got
After getting it home, the problems started surfacing fast:
- One of the driveshafts was the wrong length — it wouldn’t even properly drive the impeller
- There were rocks inside one of the jet units
- The boat clearly hadn’t been near water in a long time
- It became obvious very quickly this wasn’t a “light tidy-up” — it was a full mechanical project
I’d been ripped off. But rather than flip it onto the next unsuspecting buyer (like what was done to me), I decided to fix it properly.
The Rebuild — Everything That Was Done
Over several months, I methodically went through every system on this boat. Here’s the full list of work completed:
Engines
- Carburettors rebuilt on both engines
- RAVE valves rebuilt
- Fresh spark plugs
- Oil pumps checked
- Oil injection lines to the crankcase replaced
- Rotary valve oil feed lines refreshed (one had started leaking — common age issue)
- Ignition checked (spark confirmed on both engines)
- Starter motor replaced and properly secured (fixed slow starting)
- Voltage checks completed (regulator/rectifier inspected)
- Temperature sensors checked
- Right-hand engine confirmed rebuilt — cylinder head removed and visually inspected
- Good compression on both engines
Jet Pumps & Driveline
- Jet units rebuilt
- New wear rings installed
- Driveshaft components corrected and refreshed (including the wrong-length shaft)
- Pumps operating well
- Impellers serviceable (new ones would improve hole-shot, but current setup works)
Fuel, Oil & Electrical
- Fuel lines refreshed where needed
- Fuel filters replaced
- Oil tank fitting repaired
- Fuel sender diagnosed
- Wiring inspected and cleaned
- Battery hold-down fitted
- Voltage drop checked from battery to starter
- Bilge pump cleaned
- Jaycar buzzer fitted
Trailer
- Galvanised trailer
- Fresh brakes
First Proper Run — 5th January 2026
After all the work, I finally took it out on the water. It ran beautifully. Starts well, smooth power, drives straight. Very enjoyable to drive.
Only two minor things remain — both simple adjustments:
- Port throttle cable needs adjustment to match starboard — currently not reaching full throttle opening, so top speed is slightly lower on the port side
- Throttle control handle could use slightly more friction — occasionally the port throttle creeps back on its own
The Honest Classified Ad
I’m selling this boat now. Not because it’s a problem — because I want to be transparent about exactly what it is. Here’s the ad I would have wanted to read when I was buying:
1999 Sea-Doo Speedster — Twin 787s — Well Sorted — Runs Beautifully
Location: Australia
Trailer: Galvanised with fresh brakes
Spares: Complete spare 787 engine, rebuild kit, new pistons, assorted Sea-Doo partsEngines: Twin Rotax 787 two-stroke. Good compression on both. Right-hand engine appears rebuilt (head removed and visually inspected). Carbs rebuilt, RAVE valves rebuilt, fresh plugs, oil pumps checked, oil injection lines to crankcase recently replaced, rotary valve oil feed lines refreshed. Starter motor replaced and properly secured.
Jet Pumps & Driveline: Jet units rebuilt, new wear rings installed, driveshaft components corrected and refreshed. Impellers serviceable — new ones would improve hole-shot.
Fuel, Oil & Electrical: Fuel lines refreshed, filters replaced, oil tank fitting repaired, fuel sender inspected, wiring cleaned and checked, bilge pump cleaned, Jaycar buzzer fitted.
Remaining Tweaks: Port throttle cable needs adjustment for full opening; throttle control handle could use slightly more friction (occasionally creeps back). Both are straightforward.
This boat suits: Someone mechanically minded who appreciates older Sea-Doo jet boats. Not ideal for someone wanting a brand-new, maintenance-free boat.
The heavy lifting has been done — what remains is simple fine-tuning.
Lessons Learned — Buying a Boat on Facebook Marketplace
If you’re reading this and thinking about buying a jet boat (or any boat) on Facebook Marketplace, here’s what I wish someone had told me:
1. “Tested on the water” means nothing without proof
Ask for video. Ask for timestamps. Better yet, insist on a water test before handing over cash. If the seller won’t do a water test, walk away — there’s a reason.
2. Bring someone who knows these boats
I thought I knew enough. I didn’t. A second pair of eyes — specifically someone familiar with Sea-Doo jet boats — would have spotted the wrong driveshaft and the jet unit damage immediately.
3. Budget for the worst case, not the best case
If the seller says “it just needs a service,” mentally double or triple the expected cost. Old two-stroke jet boats almost always need more than the seller admits.
4. Check the jet units and driveline first
These are the expensive bits. Engines can be rebuilt. But a destroyed jet pump or wrong driveshaft means the boat physically cannot move — and those parts aren’t cheap or easy to find for a 25-year-old Sea-Doo.
5. Be honest when you sell
The person who sold me this boat lied. I could have passed the problem on. Instead, I fixed it properly and listed it with full disclosure. If you’re selling, write the ad you would want to read as a buyer. Karma matters.
Final Thoughts
Despite the rough start, this Speedster turned into a rewarding project. It’s a simple, proven design. It’s fast, light, and genuinely fun on the water. If you’re mechanically inclined and understand two-strokes, these boats are worth the effort.
Just make sure you know what you’re buying before you hand over the cash.
Got questions about Sea-Doo Speedsters, jet boat rebuilds, or buying boats on Facebook Marketplace? Drop a comment below.
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