Off Topic - Sea Doo Question

[kacyk]

Sorry in advance for this off topic inquiry but it would seem that most H2 owners enjoy their toys. Does anyone have first hand knowledge of the reliability of Sea-Doo's? I've heard some people jokingly call the "Re-Doo's" but what's the real story?

I'm not a boat person but the kids love water sports so I thought I'd get a little 4-stroke Sea-Doo boat. My wife won't go for a traditional prop boat (thinks the kids might get hurt).

Any thoughts or links? I did a Google on this subject but didn't get any "real" answers. Thanks.

[kacyk]

Sorry in advance for this off topic inquiry but it would seem that most H2 owners enjoy their toys. Does anyone have first hand knowledge of the reliability of Sea-Doo's? I've heard some people jokingly call the "Re-Doo's" but what's the real story?

I'm not a boat person but the kids love water sports so I thought I'd get a little 4-stroke Sea-Doo boat. My wife won't go for a traditional prop boat (thinks the kids might get hurt).

Any thoughts or links? I did a Google on this subject but didn't get any "real" answers. Thanks.

[Harley]

My own personal pref is for Yamaha Jet ski's. I don't know about the small boats by Sea - Doo, but we spend a lot of time at the lake and the mechanics at the Marina always told me when I'd come in for gas that I made the best choice. They said they do the least amount of repairs on Yamaha's and the Sea Doo repairs keep them busy...

FWIW,

K

[Dan]

We call them "She Doo". Real men ride stand-ups. http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[PARAGON]

Seadoos are made by Bombardier.

The little jet boats look like fun and you can pull tubes and stuff behind them with the kids. It's been a few years since I did anything on the water and those boats were just coming out. They are the perfect boat to play around with.

Are you looking at the new speedster 200 that runs over 300HP?

[max]

I have a twin engine Seadoo Challenger. I have the jet skis also and a small fleet of power and sailboats. I have thought about replacing my jet boat but I would replace it with another Seadoo. I have enjoyed the kids tubing, skiing, wake boarding etc. and never had a problem. Turns on a dime and I think it is unflippable. I sure have tried.

[ckhagman]

When I look at purchasing a Personal Water Craft (PWC, not JETSKI) I look in the following order,
1. JETSKI (That is Kawasaki for those that do not know).
2. Waverunner (That is Yamaha)
3. There is no one else.

Polaris sucks because they do not sell the stand-up to comsumers. Kawasaki has been around longer and Yamamha is has been around 2nd longest.

If you are not going to look at PWC's but rather the jet boat yamaha has really nice ones. If you are looking at PWC's then you must get a stand-up. Sit downs are for people that don't want to learn how to ride safely. Stand-ups are easier to ride anyway. But then again I started riding when I was 9 years old and always tell everyone if they stop making stand-ups I see no fun in riding. I am looking at getting the JETSKI 800 stand-up hopefully this year, my JETSKI 650 broke 2 years ago and cost to much to fix.

[max]

Stand-ups are for idividual entertainment. Sounds like Kacyk is looking for family fun. Most family PWCs are at least 3 seaters (required by law to tow skiers). I've had a Yamaha jet boat and prefer the Seadoo. No problems with either, just personal preference.

[drmiles]

I've had 4 Sea- Doos, I buy the top of the line 3 seater. I currently own a 2000 and a 2004, never had any trouble with any of my PWC's. Highly recommend them.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by kacyk:
Sorry in advance for this off topic inquiry but it would seem that most H2 owners enjoy their toys. Does anyone have first hand knowledge of the reliability of Sea-Doo's? I've heard some people jokingly call the "Re-Doo's" but what's the real story?

I'm not a boat person but the kids love water sports so I thought I'd get a little 4-stroke Sea-Doo boat. My wife won't go for a traditional prop boat (thinks the kids might get hurt).

Any thoughts or links? I did a Google on this subject but didn't get any "real" answers. Thanks. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Ed G.]

I had a '03 Speedster with the 240 hp Mercruiser V-6. It was fast, lots of fun and could turn on dime at any speed. But, if the water was choppy it would beat you to death!

[md_sailor]

2003 GTX-SC 185Hp Supercharged. IMHO Sea Doo makes the Higest Quality PWC's out there. They are Fast and Comfortable. The Learning Key is a great feature to control the kids. I have yet to run into another stock Boat that is as Fast and Dry.

[Dan]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by max:
Stand-ups are for idividual entertainment. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's true if you ride alone. If you ride with other PWCs the entrtainment level is the same. I've rode both and sit-downs get boring fast IMO.

ckhagman - you have the right idea! Standups are like motocross on the water. I raced a modded 650SX locally and that was unbelievable fun. I sold it a few years ago, but have been eyeing those 800SX-R's. Sweet ride!

That said, if you want to show up at the water by yourself with the wife & kids in tow, a sit down would be best.

[md_sailor]

I will not argue with you guys regarding the Stand up's I cut my teeth Racing Kawasaki 550's 20 years ago. Stand ups are PERSONAL water craft and The Sit down is a Great FAMILY water craft.....seats 3 and pulls toys, and will Haul A*s with one rider. If it was jsut Me, Myself and I... I'd still be riding my Tricked out SX 650... Ahhh the good old days!

[funpilot]

I think the Islandia has the ability to have a small pool of water inside the boat for children. If you are going to use it on lakes or shallow water and do not care about how much gas it drinks (almost twice that of the Yamahas), it is a nice boat.

[Andy C]

The jet boats are good in a straight line at speed - they turn fairly well - though they tend to skip a bit in a tight turn - my only issue with them is that I live way up a river and I have a long way to travel in a no wake minimum speed zone before I can get to the ocean - jet boats handle horribly at slow speeds - that has always stopped me from getting one - fun at speed - handle like a bathtub at slow speed - of course that could just be the ones that I have ridden - ask around.

[HUMMERcustoms.com/TAZ]

kayck
I have a 27' Command Bridge Cabin Cruiser. I explain it as big and heavy with 2 helms one below and oen on top and looks like something You would see on the ocean as it as built for that but some guy before Me bought it and had it shipped to Arkansas on Greers Ferry lake. Nice place to visit if anyone is ever looking for a vacation spot with camping. it is run by the Corp. of engineers. It has a Volvo Penta Duoprop and weighs about 8,000 lbs. and runs flat out 51 MPH with light crew like 4 people. It runs a 350 Volvo Penta which is a Chevy engine with around 280 HP. It is sort fo like camping on water as it has A/C with dock power but fridge, ice box, private head, and can sleep as many as 10 or 12 on occasion. It burns allot of fuel and has a 70 gallon tank that if You run all day pulling kids around fuel gets ridiculous and that is when it is resonable. So, back in 1994 I began to look at something smaller to pull toys and skis with.
What i did was go around and look at what the marina's were using as rental's. I had a friend tell Me that they are going to rent what is the toughest most reliable waverunner which is what i wanted to pull kids on tubes while anchored in coves. Well I did as suggested and found without exception they rented out Yamaha's. I went to about 7 marina's and all had the same make & models. I was offered a good deal on a used Yamaha VXR 650 and promptly went to a stainless scat trac prop with more pull and a performance intake grate to take in more water to feed prop improvement. I then went to hotter plugs and leaner carb setting by adjusting and pulling spark plugs to see the burn on them. i worked to get the most power I could out of a 55 HP engine which was avg. at the time. Now it takes one that big to start the engine on some waverunners. I wanted to explain that to say that rig was a 1992 that I bought in 1994 and still have it. It has been rode hard and put away wet as GrandPaw use to say but, I took very good care of it mechanically. It runs today like the day i got and can not even begin to count the number of kids I have pulled on the thing. The prop change even allowed Me to pull a slalom skier max weight at about 150 lbs. As far as reliabilty in any motor vehicle I have never seen better. I know people who have Seadoo's and have traded because of problems. It could have been lack of maintanence. But, I have always worried about a snow mobile engine in a waverunner. I do know that Yamaha for the longest and may still be the only co. that produced an individual marine engine in a factory that produced nothing but, the engine and drive pump. That has been My experience and someone most likely has had a different one. Both of My girls were 14 and 10 when i got it and were little fish. They are now 24 and 20 finally quit using it last Year and it was taking up room in My slip at the Eden Isle Marina in Heber Springs, AR so I took it out but, now I'm giving it to My oldest. i mention the marina by name as You will not find many better and I would recomend if anyone is near there go and rent waverunners up to full house boats. There are really nice resturaunts on lake to dock at, well just a wonderful lake. There would be no way to figure how many hours they were on thing not counting all the kids from Church Youth We took on a lake trip twice a year. There would be days that the boat rarely moved and I pruned up from driving the thing and sunburn. Had to wear hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. It was fun but, work to say the least. The boys from Church were rough on it and it never should the wear. i had people turn it over or wind shi rope in prop and while we turned it upside down to clear prop would all but sink. Flip it over bail as much water as could and once started and ride till vacumm bilge finished the job and the little thing never missed a beat.
I hope this gives You some idea of what to ask questions about, look for, and do not be afraid or shy about asking. Make them answer every question You have and if they do not go somewhere else.
TAZ

[kacyk]

Thank you all for your input. An employee of mine owns Snake River Yamaha and has a used 2000 Yamaha LS2000 for sale. I fly to Boise next monday to check it out. Unlike the SeaDoo Sport I was contemplating, the Yamaha seats 7 so the whole family can fit.

[TWEEKS]

kacyk,

Hello I am new to the Hummer forum. I am in the powersports business and can offer some help on anything Sea-Doo or Yamaha related. Check us out www.performanceeastinc.com (http://www.performanceeastinc.com). As far as Sea Doo is concerned I personally believe that they offer the best products on the market, Especially in the 4-stroke market. Their 4-strokes have a closed loop cooling system which makes it nice when riding in salt water..etc. Also I am not sure how far away you are but we have a used 04' LX 210 which is the same model as an LS 2000 if you are anywhere near NC.

[kacyk]

Thanks for all the input. We switched gears since the wife wants room for the whole family now. We are down to two choices, a 175 SeaRay or a 180 Chaparral. Both boths have a beam less than 7.5 inches. The boat needs to fit in my garage opening which is only 7'11"s. I'd love a larger beam but the Hummer takes the garage bay that is 9'. The chaparral is about $10K more (has a bigger 220 HP engine compared with the 130 HP engine in the SeaRay). Is it worth the extra $10K? I've never owned a boat but $27K versus $17K for the SeRay is material.

[PARAGON]

I am a big fan of Sea Ray cabin cruisers but with the comparo you have going, it looks like you get what you pay for. I like the layout of the Chaparral better and when you are pulling tubes or toys, you WILL notice the difference in HP. JMO