Post by Admin on Jan 23, 2020 12:36:13 GMT
All below is from 775Tnt from 2012 -- Thank you for helping others. Incredible Project! Was viewed over 5,000 times on the old board.
“As Playful as a Dolphin” was the eye-catching statement of the new aqua scooter developed by Bombardier for release to the general public in 1968. When I first saw one back in the late summer of 1968, I remember thinking: “Wow…that looks just like a Ski Doo snowmobile, only floating on water!” “How does it move?” was the next thought. Upon closer examination, I found it was propelled by something called a Berkeley turbine or water jet. Too young to ride one and way too young to even think about owning one, the whole experience was filed back into the subconscious to be explored in the future if the opportunity ever presented itself again.
This write up will pertain to the acquisition and complete restoration of the model 320 Sea Doo. First found approximately three years ago, she was started up to evaluate its performance when on its trailer. Powered by a 1968 18 horsepower air cooled Rotax engine, she breathed life quite well however it was decided to eventually perform a complete restoration because of the hidden problems associated with further investigation.
Click the hotlink below for the first start up movie:
1968 Sea Doo Start Up
Separating the hull required drilling out approximately 150+ rivets. Prior to hull separation, the ignition switch, starter button, steering column and air vent clam shells were removed. It was also noticed that the rear engine compartment vent grate was missing. Note to self...find out somewhere what it originally looked like.
After separating the deck from the hull, it was noticed that the two hull flotation devices were toast. They appeared to be vacuumed formed and heat sealed together air chambers that were cracked with missing pieces. The prior owner injected some expandable foam into the cracked areas that completely destroyed what was left of the functionality of the air chambers. It was decided what to do about this problem in the future. For now the chambers that were glued to the bottom of the hull were pried out. I've always remembered what a friend of mine told me many years ago: "Chris, any of this stuff was really never designed to last 40 some odd years...that's why it was pitched in the first place." It seems that for some reason, I'll rescue items that interested me from my past.
“As Playful as a Dolphin” was the eye-catching statement of the new aqua scooter developed by Bombardier for release to the general public in 1968. When I first saw one back in the late summer of 1968, I remember thinking: “Wow…that looks just like a Ski Doo snowmobile, only floating on water!” “How does it move?” was the next thought. Upon closer examination, I found it was propelled by something called a Berkeley turbine or water jet. Too young to ride one and way too young to even think about owning one, the whole experience was filed back into the subconscious to be explored in the future if the opportunity ever presented itself again.
This write up will pertain to the acquisition and complete restoration of the model 320 Sea Doo. First found approximately three years ago, she was started up to evaluate its performance when on its trailer. Powered by a 1968 18 horsepower air cooled Rotax engine, she breathed life quite well however it was decided to eventually perform a complete restoration because of the hidden problems associated with further investigation.
Click the hotlink below for the first start up movie:
1968 Sea Doo Start Up
Separating the hull required drilling out approximately 150+ rivets. Prior to hull separation, the ignition switch, starter button, steering column and air vent clam shells were removed. It was also noticed that the rear engine compartment vent grate was missing. Note to self...find out somewhere what it originally looked like.
After separating the deck from the hull, it was noticed that the two hull flotation devices were toast. They appeared to be vacuumed formed and heat sealed together air chambers that were cracked with missing pieces. The prior owner injected some expandable foam into the cracked areas that completely destroyed what was left of the functionality of the air chambers. It was decided what to do about this problem in the future. For now the chambers that were glued to the bottom of the hull were pried out. I've always remembered what a friend of mine told me many years ago: "Chris, any of this stuff was really never designed to last 40 some odd years...that's why it was pitched in the first place." It seems that for some reason, I'll rescue items that interested me from my past.
