Sea-Doo Boats?

[Penningtonsm]

Hey guys, newbie question here. I am in the market for my first boat and have been researching alot of boats. Different engine types, Boat configuration, different manufactures...etc.etc. I came across sea-doo boats. Firstly, I had no idea that sea-doo makes boats. I thought they just made wave-runners. Anyway, I learned that they have some new technology, (at least I think its new) called direct drive jet Propulsion. Question is, does anyone know much about sea-doo and this new technology. How about sea-doo boats in general. I have tried other sites like boattester but they seem to love all the boats they test. I need a un-biased review. Any suggestions? Thanks

Steve

Edit: Sorry if this has been beat to death already. I did a search for sea-doo in this forum and came up empty.

 

[PGFISHER]

Re: Sea-Doo Boats?

Sea Doo does make boats, as does yamaha. These boats are powered by PWC engines and the dirrect drive is a PWC pump driven by the engine the same as a PWC. There is no reverse or transmission. Reverse is taken care of by a backwash hood that is lowered over the pump exit nozzle as on a PWC. There are single and twin engine models.

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: Sea-Doo Boats?

I think Boattest.com gives reasonable reviews and they have done a lot of reviews of Sea Doo boats. All reviews are biased by the preferences and opinions of those doing the reviewing.

Sea Doo make jet boats and compared to IO or outboard drive configurations, a jet has different handling characteristics that not everyone finds attractive. With practice some of these characteristics can be overcome or compensated for, but IMO jet drives have their own feel and you either like it or you don't.

Overall, I've heard good things about these boats recently and you certainly do see them around. I think beyond that, it depends on which models you are considering.

Grouse

 

[Penningtonsm]

Re: Sea-Doo Boats?

Overall, I've heard good things about these boats recently and you certainly do see them around. I think beyond that, it depends on which models you are considering.

Grouse

This is the one I'm considering.
This is a 2008 Seadoo 230 wake. This boat has, heater, power windows,
perfect pass, 1000 lbs of ballast at the push of a button,
custom fit cover, Bimini top, wakeboard rack, stereo, wakeboard tower,
tower speakers, tilt steering wheel, depth guage,
cabin lights, adjustable drivers seat, seats 12 people.
Twin fuel injected rotax marine supercharged engines, trailer included, low hours.
Has a beautiful black white and red paint sceam. boat has never been beached.

This is going For $14,900.

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Sea-Doo Boats?

Been there. Done that. Wouldnt do it again.

We had a great time with it for 3 summers, but they break down alot if not new. Parts are expensive. Takes over a week to get parts in so you end up losing at least one weekend on each repair.

The new ones are supercharged and direct injected( this is fuel system, not jet drive system). I have heard rumors of class action suit against them for supercharger failures. They go out after 100 hours, drop chunks of ceramic washer into the crankcase. Make a mess.

Do some research before you decide.

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: Sea-Doo Boats?

I have a neighbor that bought a 20' seadoo boat and while the rest of us are boating in our primitive i/o's his spends more time at the dealer or dock. I will say that the main problem is that they were 1st time owners and wanted to get something fancy to impress. They definately are not boats for newbees. IMHO

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Sea-Doo Boats?

In my opinionl after owning a couple, Seadoos are AWESOME machines, but they are tuned to the top of their possible performance, so you are running them at top rpms, right at redline all the time.

My two rode at 7200 rpms . Who in their right mind would run an engine at 7200 rpms all the time?

My maverick spins to 7000, but only at the track, the rest of the time I keep it around 3000-3500. If I ran it 7000 for even 10 minutes, I would be scraping pistons off the ground, most likely.

On the other hand, for example, my new-to-me replace-that-seadoo challenger-Glastron I just got last week redlines at 4800, I typically run it at 2500-3000. A V6 can run at 3000 rpms for a very long time before it craters.

So a 600 hour Volvo V6 is still a relatively new boat. A 100 hour Seadoo is already on borrowed time.

And I can now get my parts from O'Reilly or Autozone, and they are IN STOCK!!! I just ask for parts for a 4.3 Jimmy or S-10 Blazer.

Before you make a decision based on my negative experiences, do a google search on my name, scooper77515. It will link you to a maverick forum and a seadooforum that I was a top poster on for several years. Look around there and see what problems the seadoos are having before you go buy one.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Sea-Doo Boats?

I'm of the opposite camp... I have a VERY hard time going back to a boat with a prop in the water. My current jet boat is a Sugar Sand Tango, with a merc 175 sportjet powerplant. I have had zero issues with it, nadda, in a couple years of ownership. Change the lower unit and stator oil yearly, and that's it. I have lots of boating friends, with boats ranging from outboards, I/O's, and V-drives. They all have spent at least one weekend in the shop compared to my zero.

Also have a pair of 787 powered seadoo PWC's. Rock solid, and again, in years of ownership I haven't had any issues. They are both north of 250 hours last I checked.

like every other boat, maintenance is everything. You can take the best engine in the world and destroy it in minutes.


With all that said, would I do a jet boat again if I didn't have a specific purpose? (shallow water) Probably not. If I ran in a lake the entire time with no chance of sandbars or hidden rocks, I'd probably run a nice 350 powered I/O. Given that I spend most of my time in water less than a foot deep, a jet is SOOOO much less stressful!

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Sea-Doo Boats?

I agree, maintenance is key.

But those 787s are timebombs for the average rider. Just forget to swap out an oil filter or oil injection line, and cratered in seconds. And the warning for it is...locked up motor. Too late.

If you keep the injector maintained and maybe even run a little premix for backup like i did, you can have a couple mishaps and still make it home to fix it without any major issues.

Now the Merc powered ones...that is a whole different story. I would assume they hold up better. Just keep the wear rings swapped out every couple years...

 

[semo549]

Re: Sea-Doo Boats?

Sea Doo does make boats, as does yamaha. These boats are powered by PWC engines and the dirrect drive is a PWC pump driven by the engine the same as a PWC. There is no reverse or transmission. Reverse is taken care of by a backwash hood that is lowered over the pump exit nozzle as on a PWC. There are single and twin engine models.

I don't know about the Seadoos but Yamaha's engines arn't PWC engines. They are a marinized R-1 street bike engines.

These engines are made to run at high rpm's. There piston bore & stroke is much smaller than a typical v6 or v8. They have no trouble revving high. I can't speak for Sea Doo but I do know the newer yami boats have very good ratings. I have also own a 07' yamaha sportbike, there is no maintenance beside regular oil changes.

 

[Penningtonsm]

Re: Sea-Doo Boats?

Thanks alot for the replies guys. Looks like I have alo more "studying" to do. Who knew that finding that perfect boat was so hard. Wayy too many choices.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Sea-Doo Boats?

Now the Merc powered ones...that is a whole different story. I would assume they hold up better. Just keep the wear rings swapped out every couple years...

i don't believe there are any current merc powered jets unfortunately, at least outside fishing boats. shame, they probably had the best drive system coupled to the best engine at the time.

Not counting the merc 90/95/120's, the sportjets were identical to an outboard, with the exception of a different crank and a little performance tuning. My merc 175 is the 2.5l v6 block, and actually de-tuned a little. (that block was in some substantially higher HP engines)

wear rings aren't much of an issue, the impeller wears out faster. (the wear rings are metal) I've also rebuilt mine using JBweld to build it up, surprisingly that lasts quite nicely, at least 2 seasons even with my shallow water (aka occassionally pumping sand) running.

I see someone else beat it to me, but the yammy engines aren't pwc engines, they don't have any resemblance to it. They are sportbike engines that have an extremely good track record. And from their track record so far, they have proven to be EXTREMELY solid on the water.

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Sea-Doo Boats?

There may not be current Merc powered jet boats, but they did use them in Seadoo boats for a few years early to mid 2000s. My brother has one in his challenger.

 

[Hansolo99]

Re: Sea-Doo Boats?

We had a great time with it for 3 summers, but they break down alot if not new. Parts are expensive. Takes over a week to get parts in so you end up losing at least one weekend on each repair.

I agree 100%. First see if there are any dealers nearby that can work on your machine and be willing to wait for parts. If I was to go with a Jet I would do YAMAHA all the way. Great boats and very reliable.

 

[smclear]

Re: Sea-Doo Boats?

I have a 2007 Sea-Doo Speedster 150 with the inter-cooled, supercharged engine. The family has put many, many hours on it for the last three seasons. It has never been in the shop once (except to get winterized each fall).

As mentioned earlier, prior to the 2010 models, they used ceramic clutch washers in the supercharger (not anymore). When (not if) they let go, tiny bits of ceramic will infiltrate your engine and you will need a complete rebuild at big bucks. The solution is relatively inexpensive at $150 (if you know where to send it). Problem solved.

This boats is extremely fast, will out maneuver anything on the water, and just an overall blast to have fun in. Still, if this were to be my only boat, I'd go with something else. The speedster 150 is too small. I have heard good things re: the wake model. Do not discount them, but do have the engines thoroughly checked out. If the washers have not been changed, then do so and you'll be fine.

 

[Hansolo99]

Re: Sea-Doo Boats?

As mentioned earlier, prior to the 2010 models, they used ceramic clutch washers in the supercharger (not anymore). When (not if) they let go, tiny bits of ceramic will infiltrate your engine and you will need a complete rebuild at big bucks. The solution is relatively inexpensive at $150 (if you know where to send it). Problem solved.

That is the point where to find a place that will fix it and wait for parts. I had a 14' Bayliner with a Force 50 and it was a great motor despite what others may say. I WOULD NEVER BUY another one! Where and who fixes them anymore and parts-HARD TO FIND!!

Get something reliable and parts widely available................................

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Sea-Doo Boats?

at least from what i've seen, there are just as many mechanics willing to work on seadoo rotax engines compared to an outboard. Obviously any seadoo dealer will, as well as most small engine shops/snowmobile places. (and those two places usually won't touch an outboard or I/o)