Matt Spears Built a Camper on a Jet Ski and Spent the Night in a Storm

Matt Spears has turned more than one unlikely vehicle into a spot to sleep. His latest effort started with a big, damaged Sea-Doo Explorer jet ski that weighed well over a thousand pounds and stretched about twelve feet long. The machine had already crashed into rocks once, leaving cracks in the hull. He bought it anyway and set out to make it something he could live on for a night or longer.

The worst of the damage occurred where the upper and lower sections of the fiberglass body met, at the back of the jet ski. Matt used a die grinder to remove the shattered gelcoat and old material; it was a difficult task, but it needed to be completed before he could proceed. He next applied a couple layers of fiberglass mat saturated in resin, beginning small and working his way outwards. Fibreglass putty was utilized to smooth down the rough regions, and a two-part epoxy was employed to reattach the split pieces. After thoroughly cleaning everything with acetone, he could finally apply some fresh paint. When he eventually launched the Jet ski again, he was relieved to find that the repairs had held up well and that no water had leaked through.

After fixing the hull, he concentrated on the sleeping quarters. He chose to utilize a full 4×8 sheet of plywood as the basis, which he cut into two 3×4-foot panels and fastened with three piano hinges to allow them to fold together for transport and open flat when necessary. He’d also built a simple wooden frame that clamps to the jet ski’s rear mounting points, ensuring the entire platform remains sturdy. He had originally tried using plastic clips to hold the panels in place, but they gave way under weight, so he replaced them with a wooden version, which proved to be much stronger.


Matt then decided to start building the shelter, hoping to create a covered wagon-style structure that would keep the rain out. He had screwed several 90-degree PVC elbows to the edges of the plywood to use as pegs, which was an excellent start. Even better, he replaced those flimsy tent poles with some sturdy PVC bars and carefully fastened them in place; the difference was night and day. Plus, he used PVC panels connected at 45-degree angles to direct water off the roof rather than collecting and weighting everything down. He then covered the entire structure with tent fabric, which had a built-in door and window. He also added many little lights to clip inside for when it got dark, and since his workshop space was limited, he was able to finish a piece of the construction while floating in the water.


The first big test came a little later, when Matt set out on the jet ski with the camper ready, despite the fact that a storm was approaching. By 9 p.m. that night, the wind had risen up significantly, pushing the jet ski away from the coast. He awoke to see the Jet Ski spinning slowly on the open water and used a pocket winch to pull it back in. He tied off and attempted to sleep, but it was difficult because the rock was tugging and the temperature had plummeted into the 30s and 40s. The shelter did a fantastic job of keeping the rain out, but the constant swaying of the waves made the entire place feel uneasy.


Cooking inside wasn’t an option because the action made him feel sick, so he went outside the next morning to prepare pancakes instead. The jet ski itself ran fine following the hull repairs, but even on minor waves, the side-to-side movement made the little platform an uncomfortable place to sit for lengthy periods of time. Despite this, Matt has grander plans for this machine, such as carrying extra fuel cans, fishing rods, and a crab pot and venturing out on longer sections of protected coastal sea into Alaska. The large Jet Ski has enough room and power to make such a trip possible.
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