Sorry mods but I figured there were some water people out there with boating knowledge that could help me out.
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So, I've been looking at getting a summer toy for the water. I came across this waverunner at a local auction, that will take place in a few weeks, and wanted to find someone who knew anything about these machines. What to look for what to stay away from etc....

Here's the specs on the one I am looking at:
Year-? (I believe it's a 1997)

Kawasaki
Sport Tourer
1100 STX

I popped the hood on this bad boy and its got 4 cylinders and had a cover that said it is a CV (constant velocity) carburator. Any info would be appreciated on what to pay for this thing, advice and such..........

Also, what's the deal with the registation on water-based vehicles? Insurance, title, registration? Never owned a water based vehicle so somebody with experience care to share?


TIA,
Chris

Mine was fuel injected... Sold it with the lake place last week.
Never heard of a cv carb. Them little things are a blast for a week or two. After that I got tired of beating my butt on the seat.
Mine was no trouble at all. Had a TEXAS boat title. Had a TEXAS trailer title.
Also had a Texas parks and wildlife NUMBER on the thing.
I would think the carb would be easy to service. The beating them little guys take should call for a real tough carb and everything else in there.
Had two accidents with it. One daughter ran over her OWN tow rope and the thing INJESTED the rope and stopped spinning out there in the lake.. Took a couple of hours to seperate rope from innards..
Then the son... well he went up a creek at about 60 or so and ran her on a boulder. Took the bottom out of it. $2300. later she was back in business again.
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

bout 50% of the bikes on the roads and most all ATV's/dirtbikes are CV.

They are great carbs. Since the intake runners are so short and the carbs are so quick acting, NO accelerator pump on the carb! The work on venturi vacume lifting a rubber diaphram, makes it so they run on the money everytime, no tuning. If car's had CV cars, EFI would almost not be worth the price difference.

ahhh waverunners so much fun.. i have two of my own, good times. i have two yamaha's and they might be a little different than what your looking at. so you wanna know what to look for? well check the hours meeter on it. that way you can tell how much it was used, if it has one. but i'm guessing it will since its a 97, you might need to turn it on to get the display to show up. and i would also check the prop, they started to come with stainless steal ones not sure when they started, but its good to know. you might have to take some of the parts off to look at it, and while your looking at it see if its in good condition. no big gashes and stuff. and check the hull for holes or cracks. there really isnt much to them but if you do get it, i would give it a good tune up, plugs, fuel filters, check the wiring, fuses.

as for insurance i dont have to insure mine but i'm in NY, it could be different where you are, and i also have to have a boaters licence to drive one. try calling your local coast guard office they'll give you the low down. as for price you said 97, 4 cylinder so i'm guess its a 1200 or something, a 3seater. i looked at the blue book value it was around 3000 grand, but they listed two models. if that helps. also someone dropped out of the jetski market i wanna say it was kawasaki, but not sure, mabey someone else might know that one. just an extra tid bit.

one more thing see if they'll let you try and start it before you buy. but dont run it too long only like 30 seconds or so.
hope that helps good luck!!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />