Got a free stand up ski today

[Wbinder]

A 1988 550 that I don’t know anything about besides it’s been sitting for years. I hooked a new battery up to it and it turns over nicely with no obvious problems so far. Next I’ll pull the carb and plugs add fresh fuel and go from there. It definitely need a new fuel neck where the gas cap screws on to? Don’t know where to get that and needs new stripping around the engine cowl again don’t know where to get that. Any advice on where to shop for these parts and whatever else you feel like sharing I’m all ears too

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[traquer]

That'll be fun, nothing like a stand-up ski.

 

[SJP]

eBay is where I have had some luck.

 

[sixdays]

Lots of places to buy goodies online. I recently picked up an older stand up and there are tons of Facebook groups with tips and parts for sale.

Get that thing fired up and have fun!!!

 

[96motorhead]

Change the crank seals, they go bad after sitting for long periods of time which causes an air leak. When they have an air leak the engine goes wide open. If it ever runs away like this pull the throttle wide open and hold the kill switch, it will kill the engine. I learned this from my personal experience with a 1989 js550.

 

[77charger]

Ebay ofr used parts or new riverready21 there is a great seller. carb kit only use oem mikuni hood seal hydroturf makes a good one and they are cheap.

 

[77charger]

Oh and FB group kawasaki 550 jetski is a good page for info. I have a 90 550 I ride often.

 

[Tank]

NICE! I've been seriously considering buying a late 80's stand up to mess around on. We take the golf carts down to the water in front of our house, I've always wanted to rig a little trailer and pull a ski down and launch it right at the beach behind the cart.

 

[DLow]

My back hurts just looking at that thing. Spend a few bucks and get a Jettrim mat for that thing. You’ll also want a trigger throttle. If those aren’t straight bars, you’ll want some of those too. Oh, and a pole spring. Oh, and a ride plate and an intake grate, and...............
Glad it was free, because it’s going to be expensive.

 

[sirbob]

NICE! I've been seriously considering buying a late 80's stand up to mess around on. We take the golf carts down to the water in front of our house, I've always wanted to rig a little trailer and pull a ski down and launch it right at the beach behind the cart.

I used to see OJ and Nicole at their place on Victoria beach in Laguna all the time. He used to have 3 or 4 of them on the beach they would launch and ride right off the beach regularly.

We used to ride ours off of Doheny- back in the 80s you could ride them in the surf line right along the harbor wall. That spot was made famous surfing long boards and The Beach Boys sang about it. It was one of the best places to stand up jet ski - you could ride the long waves right next to a guy on a long board.

Great spot lost to new rules...

 

[Tank]

I used to see OJ and Nicole at their place on Victoria beach in Laguna all the time. He used to have 3/4 of them on the beach they would launch and ride right off the beach regularly.

We used to ride ours off of Doheny- back in the 80s you could ride them in the surf line right along the harbor wall. That spot was made famous surfing long boards and The Beach Boys sang about it. It was one of the best places to stand up jet ski - you could ride the long waves right next to a guy on a long board.

Great spot lost to new rules...

My neighbor a few blocks down had an old school 3 wheeler Honda hooked to a trailer and a stand up. When the waves got 6 plus feet he'd drag it down and launch it and proceed to get insane air jumpin' the waves. Used to just sit there and watch him. When he was done, ride up on the sand, put it on the trailer and drag it back to his house. Kept the ski and the ATC under a tarp on the beach in front of his pad.

 

[sirbob]

My neighbor a few blocks down had an old school 3 wheeler Honda hooked to a trailer and a stand up. When the waves got 6 plus feet he'd drag it down and launch it and proceed to get insane air jumpin' the waves. Used to just sit there and watch him. When he was done, ride up on the sand, put it on the trailer and drag it back to his house. Kept the ski and the ATC under a tarp on the beach in front of his pad.

We built a lean too type trailer to pull it behind our mountain bikes to the harbor and launch - we would bring a 10lbs weight with a milk jug tied to it and toss it off the jetty and hang out all day just past the surf break.

 

[DogNamedChevy]

Check out standupparts.com. Tons of parts on this website. If you have Facebook, join up the Kawasaki 550 group page. I picked up a 1988 JS 550 myself

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

[Tank]

Check out standupparts.com. Tons of parts on this website. If you have Facebook, join up the Kawasaki 550 group page. I picked up a 1988 JS 550 myself View attachment 888274

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

What'd you pay if you don't mind me asking. And is it ready to go or needs work? Seems to me you can get one of that era, running and in good shape for under a grand or right about at a grand depending.

 

[Activated]

NICE! I've been seriously considering buying a late 80's stand up to mess around on. We take the golf carts down to the water in front of our house, I've always wanted to rig a little trailer and pull a ski down and launch it right at the beach behind the cart.

Back in the day when my friends and I all had skis, we used to ride our skis at oil piers. We would carry them from the parking lot, across the beach to the water.

So much fun.

 

[77charger]

What'd you pay if you don't mind me asking. And is it ready to go or needs work? Seems to me you can get one of that era, running and in good shape for under a grand or right about at a grand depending.

not right now if it is under a grand it will take some work. Best bet is 91 up 550 with a reed engine but gonna be 16-2400. I got mine for 500 ive put about 1200 into it. New impeller jet trim mat bars tubbies intake grate redid seals pump rebuild etc.

 

[77charger]

 

[Tank]

not right now if it is under a grand it will take some work. Best bet is 91 up 550 with a reed engine but gonna be 16-2400. I got mine for 500 ive put about 1200 into it. New impeller jet trim mat bars tubbies intake grate redid seals pump rebuild etc.

I was thinking something like this. Just a beater to play around on in the ocean.

1985 Kawasaki js550 stand up jet ski - boats - by owner - marine sale

1985 Kawasaki JS550 Bought this ski for my fiancé 2 Christmas’s ago. It’s been in fresh water only...

losangeles.craigslist.org

 

[Bails]

Free boat, there is no such thing

It reminds me of the old Wellcraft fishing boat I got for free. I put 4g's into it, used it a couple of times and sold it for $1000. I suspect that is how most "free boats" go.

 

[ltbaney1]

very nice, i like the old stand ups to mess around on. but the most expensive boat ive ever owned, was free.

 

[77charger]

I was thinking something like this. Just a beater to play around on in the ocean.

1985 Kawasaki js550 stand up jet ski - boats - by owner - marine sale

1985 Kawasaki JS550 Bought this ski for my fiancé 2 Christmas’s ago. It’s been in fresh water only...

losangeles.craigslist.org

Actually eyeing that ski right now as my daughter wants one but a new tank is gonna run about 160 plus battery when I can spend 2k and get a 94. 86 and up has better porting on the cylinder 91 up has reliable reed engine. Might just get her a 650. I like the 550 myself.

 

[sirbob]

 

[2Driver]

Remember you can pay too much for a free boat.

Id do a compression test and a leak down test first before putting any other money in it. make sure the fuel tank isn’t brittle.

 

[lbhsbz]

The only “free” boat that I didn’t grossly overpay for was the 2004 Aquatrax Turbo my old boss gave me...turbo was a bit sticky from evaporation outta the water box...it’s all good now.

 

[DogNamedChevy]

What'd you pay if you don't mind me asking. And is it ready to go or needs work? Seems to me you can get one of that era, running and in good shape for under a grand or right about at a grand depending.

Came in a package deal. But this 550, an old 500 waverunner with a double trailer I paid $500. Sold the waverunner and trailer for $600. Got this old turd running with new plugs and fresh fuel. I tried to sell it for $500, but got too many tire kickers for a $500 ski and decided to just keep it.


Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

[Tank]

Came in a package deal. But this 550, an old 500 waverunner with a double trailer I paid $500. Sold the waverunner and trailer for $600. Got this old turd running with new plugs and fresh fuel. I tried to sell it for $500, but got too many tire kickers for a $500 ski and decided to just keep it.


Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Rad!

 

[Taboma]

Anybody know the deal with Tech One Racing in Havasu ? What's the deal with that entire back lot filled with old jet skis in various states of disarray ?
I've never stopped in, but always curious what they do there ?

 

[77charger]

Added this gem to my collection. Was looking for one for my daughter to ride but wanted a solid runner was hoping to keep under 1200. Yeh right it’s a 94 mostly original except for bars and top loader grate. I ain’t adding nothing to it. It’s staying as is. I wouldn’t mind swapping engine into mine but I just can’t do it. Drove 4 hrs to get and 1000 over budget but in long run worth it. Most I saw needed a few hundy into them tags out of date etc lil more here but will hold value.

 

[Pattle]

Nice find!

Fiesta Island opens up again on July 6th. I guess I'll be taking that day off. Might hit up Granada this Sunday, but not sure yet.

 

[77charger]

Nice find!

Fiesta Island opens up again on July 6th. I guess I'll be taking that day off. Might hit up Granada this Sunday, but not sure yet.

Granada is still closed i believe ive met you before there notice the red 550? i moved to az but staying here til the 4th then go home for a week then come back for 3 more for work im taking both home on the 4th but bringing my red one back to play im staying in laguna niguel right now so mission is about 50 min no traffic.

 

[Pattle]

Yup, I remembered you as soon as I saw the red 550. I'm jealous of your move to AZ. I'm still trying to convince the wife.

Charles was out at Granada last weekend just for a look-see, and thought it looked open. No skis out, but plenty of kitesurfers and the gate wasn't blocked or anything. I don't want to drive all that way and not get wet, though, so maybe I'll just wait until the 6th. Damn Rona!

 

[DogNamedChevy]

Added this gem to my collection. Was looking for one for my daughter to ride but wanted a solid runner was hoping to keep under 1200. Yeh right [emoji23] it’s a 94 mostly original except for bars and top loader grate. I ain’t adding nothing to it. It’s staying as is. I wouldn’t mind swapping engine into mine but I just can’t do it. Drove 4 hrs to get and 1000 over budget but in long run worth it. Most I saw needed a few hundy into them tags out of date etc lil more here but will hold value. View attachment 892301 View attachment 892301 View attachment 892302 View attachment 892303 View attachment 892304

Sweet 94?! That rear exhaust is so worth it

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk