![]() This new power source was somewhat more reliable and offered 24 horsepower.īesides this new model, the Sea-Doo 320 also remained part of the 1969 lineup.Īlthough the specifications of the newest model were lucrative, the new cooling system didn’t solve all the malfunctions. The manufacturer tried to fix these issues, so the 1969 Sea-Doo 372 was powered by a 372cc water-cooled engine featuring a reverse and electric start. Improper cooling resulted in ongoing overheating issues and various other malfunctions.īecause of this, the 1968 Bombardier Sea-Doo 320 had a bad reputation for reliability. As you can imagine, this was not the best place for an air-cooled engine!Īlthough the engineers designed built-in stainless steel vents to deliver air to the engine compartment, they were ineffective. Unlike on snowmobiles, where the engine is exposed to the cold air, it sits in an enclosed hull on a jet ski. However, the biggest drawback of the 1968 Sea-Doo 320 was arguably its inefficient, 18 HP, air-cooled power source. The pull-start also didn’t do a good job on this machine, as yanking the rope while in the middle of the water was far from ideal! Standard features included a spill-proof battery, bailer, chrome bow ring and grip handles, water-cooled muffler, pull-start, and a storage compartment. It also had unpadded motorcycle-like metal handlebars, which were downright dangerous on rough waters. Unfortunately, the latter proved to be very uncomfortable due to its wide design. It was also filled with floatation material to prevent the hull from sinking.īesides its engine, the craft inherited many other parts from Ski-Doo snowmobiles, like a removable 3.75-gallon fuel tank, metal handlebars, pull-start, and bench seat. This fiberglass hull was quite large as it measured 7.5 feet in length and 5 feet in width. ![]() The engine was planted into a weird platform that looked like a flying saucer. ![]() To solve this issue, the setup was soon replaced with the more advanced clogged belt and pulleys. Unfortunately, this setup was prone to slipping or even breaking. Yes, you heard me, the Rotax engine delivered power to the 5J5 Berkeley jet pump with four belts. Just like snowmobiles, this early Sea-Doo also utilized a belt drive. ![]() With this inefficient single-cylinder engine, the top speed of the craft was only 25-30 mph under ideal conditions. As the name suggests, the machine was powered by an aluminum 318cc, air-cooled, 2-stroke Rotax engine featuring a Tillotsen carburetor. ![]()
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