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Options For Protecting Sides Of Spark...Anyone use these?

13826 Views 21 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  Straightbangin, 
Straightbangin


I want protection that stays on the wave runner and helps to protect against rubbing against a dock. I will be lifting my wave runner out of the water with a lift at home but its next to a sea wall so for any minor bumps im wondering how protective these side strips are, if they stay on pretty permanently, if they are prone to coming off while driving etc. Any input would be great. Thanks
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N
Where did you find these? Are they an official Spark accessory or did you find them elsewhere? Can't say that I have any experience with them but I'm sure somebody will be able to give you a bit more info.
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Straightbangin said:


I want protection that stays on the wave runner and helps to protect against rubbing against a dock. I will be lifting my wave runner out of the water with a lift at home but its next to a sea wall so for any minor bumps im wondering how protective these side strips are, if they stay on pretty permanently, if they are prone to coming off while driving etc. Any input would be great. Thanks
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I just installed those side protectors last night but haven't had a chance to actually put them in use yet. They seem like they should work well and I think it gives the spark a more finished look when they're on. The only problem is that the directions call for you to drill the lip of the top and use those little plastic push tabs to help hold them on. I couldn't bring myself to drill my new spark so I'm just going to see how the 3m adhesive that comes with them works before I do any drilling. They are available from seadoo it is a seadoo product and I believe they are about $131 for the kit.
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O
I have installed these on my 3UP. They are made specifically for the Spark, though, and I note you referred to a 'wave runner'? But I'll assume you're talking about about a Spark.

They attach by a 3M adhesive backing and a series of plastic 'darts'. You have to drill a series of 4mm holes for the darts, and then push the darts through. If you do it, be careful with the darts -- I accidentally crushed one of them and there are no spares in the kit. It's an official BRP kit, so it comes with instructions.

I have heard of one guy who found one of these bumpers came off in the water - I read that on another forum. However mine seem to be staying on, despite one of the panels being a dart short.

Before I got the bumpers, I was finding the sides of my Spark were particularly vulnerable around docks, and I had sustained a few scratches and nicks. However, installing these covered those up and I guess will protect it from future bumps and knocks.

How well do they protect? Hard to say because I haven't purposely tried to test them and find out. The rubber is quite thin, but I think they're better than nothing. I'm pleased with them so far, and I like the way they look as well.
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Orca said:
I have installed these on my 3UP. They are made specifically for the Spark, though, and I note you referred to a 'wave runner'? But I'll assume you're talking about about a Spark.

They attach by a 3M adhesive backing and a series of plastic 'darts'. You have to drill a series of 4mm holes for the darts, and then push the darts through. If you do it, be careful with the darts -- I accidentally crushed one of them and there are no spares in the kit. It's an official BRP kit, so it comes with instructions.

I have heard of one guy who found one of these bumpers came off in the water - I read that on another forum. However mine seem to be staying on, despite one of the panels being a dart short.

Before I got the bumpers, I was finding the sides of my Spark were particularly vulnerable around docks, and I had sustained a few scratches and nicks. However, installing these covered those up and I guess will protect it from future bumps and knocks.

How well do they protect? Hard to say because I haven't purposely tried to test them and find out. The rubber is quite thin, but I think they're better than nothing. I'm pleased with them so far, and I like the way they look as well.
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Quick questions ....... Do you think that the Spark fenders will work with the bumpers? I have the fenders but have yet used them. Also are there cut out on the bumper for where the fenders attach or do they even go up that high?
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rv245 said:
Quick questions ....... Do you think that the Spark fenders will work with the bumpers? I have the fenders but have yet used them. Also are there cut out on the bumper for where the fenders attach or do they even go up that high?
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I think you are talking about the orange snap in fenders? I can't speak from personal experience because I am yet to purchase them. However, if you take a look at page 10 of this BRP Spark catalogue, it says the side protectors: "Allows installation of the Snap-in Fenders and maintenance with no problems."

http://www.brpdealers.com.au/website_file/pdf/pwc/spark_cata.pdf

So I think it's safe to assume you can still use the orange snap-in fenders with the side protectors installed.
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J
YES, had my dealer install those AND I got the orange "bumpers"...no experience(s) yet though...
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ORCA How did you make sure you didn't drill through the second layer?
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mvardi
Orca said:
I have installed these on my 3UP. They are made specifically for the Spark, though, and I note you referred to a 'wave runner'? But I'll assume you're talking about about a Spark.

They attach by a 3M adhesive backing and a series of plastic 'darts'. You have to drill a series of 4mm holes for the darts, and then push the darts through. If you do it, be careful with the darts -- I accidentally crushed one of them and there are no spares in the kit. It's an official BRP kit, so it comes with instructions.

I have heard of one guy who found one of these bumpers came off in the water - I read that on another forum. However mine seem to be staying on, despite one of the panels being a dart short.

Before I got the bumpers, I was finding the sides of my Spark were particularly vulnerable around docks, and I had sustained a few scratches and nicks. However, installing these covered those up and I guess will protect it from future bumps and knocks.

How well do they protect? Hard to say because I haven't purposely tried to test them and find out. The rubber is quite thin, but I think they're better than nothing. I'm pleased with them so far, and I like the way they look as well.
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Can you post a pic of the way they look on your spark? I was thinking of getting them but was not sure if they stick out to much or affect the look in a bad way.
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PPIJAY said:
ORCA How did you make sure you didn't drill through the second layer?
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I've got a drill with a measuring bar on it, so I drilled to the length of the plastic darts that come with the kit. I forget exactly how long they are

However, you'll know when you've drilled through the first layer; there's enough gap between them that you will easily 'feel' it through your drill.

The drill will slowly work through the first layer, then BAM, it's free before it gets to the second layer.

Remember if you don't drill deep enough, the plastic darts will stick out on the outside of your ski. And if you drill too deep, you might have other problems : )

However, I'm useless with tools and I managed this okay.
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UPS just dropped 2 sets off today for my son and I to install on our ski's. I plan on just using the 3M adhesive for now and see how well that will work.
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mvardi said:
Can you post a pic of the way they look on your spark? I was thinking of getting them but was not sure if they stick out to much or affect the look in a bad way.
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I haven't taken a photo yet, but here's a BRP shot with the bumper kit installed.
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Interestingly in the promo shot above, it looks like they haven't installed the plastic darts either - they're just running with the 3M adhesive.

It looks that way because on mine the plastic darts have round ends, so you can distinguish them among the hexagonal pattern on the bumpers. I can't see any round bits in the pattern on the front bumper in the shot, but on mine there are two darts on the front bumper - one at the front and one at the back.
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J
Do these wrap under the bottom lip of the hull? I'm interested in these but I'm not sure if it's something I'd have to remove every time I separate the hull to do any work on the ski.
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S
Good point. Does anyone know if they have to be removed in order to take the top back off?
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serpent710 said:
Good point. Does anyone know if they have to be removed in order to take the top back off?
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I haven't put them on yet, but have set them on where they are suppose to go. It looks like you have to remove the these to take the top off. There are cut outs for the screws. This is another reason why I/m not drilling to put the push tabs in.
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S
So if you use the 3m tape, it will just come off with the top? Using just the 3m tape, when it rubs on the dock will it force the mldg off?
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rv245 said:
It looks like you have to remove the these to take the top off. There are cut outs for the screws. This is another reason why I/m not drilling to put the push tabs in.
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That's not correct - they only adhere to the top deck, even when the plastic darts are used. This is why the screw cut outs are there. When you lift the top deck off, these will remain stuck to it.
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jpg.crna said:
Do these wrap under the bottom lip of the hull? I'm interested in these but I'm not sure if it's something I'd have to remove every time I separate the hull to do any work on the ski.
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No they don't wrap under the bottom lip. They adhere to the top deck only so you don't have to remove them to separate the decks. They just stay on the top deck when you lift it off.
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GizmoK
So are these actually impact tested? They look more like a garnish than anything. double sided tape?
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