ZARDOZ

Happy Holidays!

In preparation for the new boating season, I am investigating improvements to my 2001 + 2002 XLT 1200's. After all of the updates I have done, I still have not:

1. changed the stock intake grate; or
2. sealed the pump.

I have heard the horror stories of operators being thrown off at high speeds due to cavitation problems with these models. Advice I have read says to change the stock intake grate to an R&D grate and to seal the pump with either a pump plug kit (PPK) or with moulding resin, or with Permatex "Right Stuff" gasket sealer.

I have not had any problem with cavitation, but I don't want to have any problem either. Being of the older (not elder) generation, I do not operate the skis at WOT that often. Pulling tubes and putzing around the lake are more my SOP, not wavejumping and racing. The only modifications I have made to my skis are the replacement of the cat cons with a D-plate & sensor and the replacement of the "noise dampeners" in the exhaust with a straight pipe.

My questions are:

1. How vitally essential is it to change the intake grate if you are not wave jumping and pushing the ski to the limit?

2. How vitally essential is it to plug the pump?

3. If it is vitally essential to plug the pump, which is the preferred option - a PPK from one of the aftermarket manufacturers? the two-stage rubber epoxy? the Permatex Right Stuff sealer?

4. The ones who advocate the two-stage rubber epoxy sealers mentioned that the epoxy, at about $20, was cheaper than the PPK which run about $75, and then go to say that you "pour the resin into the areas that need to be sealed." Since I believe the area that needs to be sealed is on the bottom of the ski, how does one pour upside down? Maybe "spread with a spatula" would be a more accurate installation instruction? Would Permatex Right Stuff in a tube with a caulk gun be the answer?

Further, if the intake grate does need to be replaced, and the best option is to install a PPK, is that something I, a person with moderate wrenching skills, can perform myself? I suppose that if sealer is to be applied from a tube or with a spatula, I can do that.

There is probably a thread already on this forum that deals with my questions, and if so would someone just point me in the right direction. If the changes I have mentioned need to be taken care of I would hope to do so before the 2013 riding season begins.

Thanks for any input or guidance you can provide.

Season's Greetings to all and I hope Santa brings you whatever you need for happy and safe boating during the new year.

Z


former sea doo owner, will never own one again

Ernest T

I haven't heard of a problem with the XLT as far as bucking, but I'm not real familiar with this model. The bucking problem seems to be primarily with the Yamaha FZR/S models.

You may be able to improve cavitation with a pump seal kit, but in my experience the difference is barely noticeable unless you are actually experiencing cavitation.

On some models it is not recommended to seal the stock pump, since it was designed to run with some leakage. I'm not sure about the XLT, but I know that they do not recommend sealing some of the other models unless you also upgrade the intake grate. If you find a seal kit for the stock grate/pump shoe then you will be OK.

I'd say sealing the pump is optional, and not a requirement on any ski. You may notice a slight improvement in the ride by changing out the intake grate/pump shoe with an aftermarket like the R&D. If you do go with an aftermarket grate, then I definitely recommend adding the pump seal kit as well, or filling the spaces with resin. I put a R&D grate on my ski and did the seal kit at the same time. The biggest improvement for my ski was a better ride in rough water with the new grate. The improvement was noticeable, but slight.........if that makes any sense.

The areas you are sealing are the hollow spaces inside the intake grate/pump shoe. You have to remove the intake grate/pump shoe to do the seal. You can use the aftermarket kits, which are basically just rubber pieces that you glue into the hollow spaces with 3M 4200 or 5200, or you can fill them with resin. See this photo for an idea of what I'm talking about:

__________________
2008 Yamaha FX HO Cruiser
2010 Hurricane Sundeck 2100

ZARDOZ

Good Morning Ernest T! How are things in your part of the woods?

I was beginning to worry about you as you hadn't posted a reply to my inquiry earlier this weekend. It's certainly good to hear from you.

Some threads I have looked at seemed to indicate that cavitation problems with the jerk to the right which threw the rider off also occurred with the XLT.

Now, your response in a nutshell = Zardoz, if you don't have any problem with cavitation now, your ski is pretty much unmodified, you don't run in rough water much, you don't go WOT much, and you're basically an old sedate geezer who putzes around and pulls his teenagers on a tube, then you don't have too much to worry about with cavitation and being violently thrown off the XLT, and a new intake grate and sealing the pump would just be an option you may want to choose later on down the line when you have losts of extra money to spend on your skis.

Right?

Thanks again for your opinion and input. Also for taking time out of your busy holiday schedule to respond to guys like me.

Z


former sea doo owner, will never own one again