Best 4 seater Seadoo Boat for power and reliabliity

[pudder]

Hey everyone, I am new to the seadoo boats. My wife would like one that has the 3 seats across the back and the one rear facing seat. I am ok with that but I want the one with the best power and reliably. Around my area there are multitudes to pick from and depending on the year. I like the idea of the twin engine and the 170 hp challenger I think??? seems like a good one? I dont know, what do ya all think? If I go new like 2004 I see the speedster 150 has the same style seating but only one engine and less power. I bet the difference is 2/4stroke and the later is lighter with only one motor... I will be doing a lot of river riding between lakes through shallow waters in some places with fast currents so two motors makes sense as long as they dont both go down from the same issue. please help

 

[cheappc]

Hello and welcome, well it depends on your needs, the previous speedsters (1995 to 2003) have 2 engines, which is cool if one breaks down. If you want something newer with 2 engines (2004 and up), you will need to look at speedster 200's, and challenger 210 or 230's and up.. What is your budget?

 

[Macster]

The Seadoo Speedster only needs 1 foot of water on idle, but under power needs at least 2-3 feet to avoid sucking crap up off the bottom and damaging the impellor.

 

[RFoster130]

The boats with the bench and rear facing seat don't truly seat 4 adults in my opinion. It's too cramped. I'm kinda biased but I think the best sea doo boat for seating 4 is the 98-99 speedsters with the twin 787's. You get 4 true seats, and twin engines. Plenty of power and room.

 

[cheappc]

The boats with the bench and rear facing seat don't truly seat 4 adults in my opinion. It's too cramped. I'm kinda biased but I think the best sea doo boat for seating 4 is the 98-99 speedsters with the twin 787's. You get 4 true seats, and twin engines. Plenty of power and room.

Sounds nice, I know the 787's are one the best engines out there seadoo made, so basically you really have 220hp.. But it comes with a cost, fuel consumption?

 

[johnathanrn]

Hi. I can say that the three forward facing and one rear facing is a little tight. But then again it's not a big boat so obviously it will be tight. They look great and are fast. I'd say go for a model year as new as you can...and yea def try to get twin engines...that's a rest idea invade of one breaking down...

 

[RFoster130]

Yeah they can be thirsty and expensive on fuel. I have gone through 50 gallons in 1 day before. Between gas and oil, that was a $200 day. A normal day though where i take it easy is around 20 gallons. So thats still 75 to 100 bucks for a day of playing on the water. But we all know up front these things are expensive or we wouldnt own them.

 

[cheappc]

Yeah they can be thirsty and expensive on fuel. I have gone through 50 gallons in 1 day before. Between gas and oil, that was a $200 day. A normal day though where i take it easy is around 20 gallons. So thats still 75 to 100 bucks for a day of playing on the water. But we all know up front these things are expensive or we wouldnt own them.

Wow thats tough Rfoster, I think not even my sportster drank so much... But you are right, I think it was like almost a tank in one day in my sportster, I though that was good before.. Now Im getting spoiled, im hoping my gas gauge is working properly, because its hard to believe.

 

[pudder]

Hey thanks for all the replies everyone. I tell ya this has been a tough decision I went from wanting a 98 twin 787 challenger to testing a 2004 sportster 951. The 2004 was more for a feel of them in the river here as I was really hesitant on a single engine 2 stroke. It was good but I new I wanted a 4tec if not the twin 787 which I avoided because the guy was a bit of a flake. I got home and then found a 1999 yamaha exciter twin engine 1200 which is 270hp. I was sold on the hp alone, and then... I figured out that it burns 36 gallons an hour at WOT and about 33 and hour at cursing speed. Back to the drawing board I went. I am now looking at a 2007 Seadoo speedster supercharged 4tec 215hp that gets 5 times the fuel economy of the exciter and is way newer let alone mint condition with only 66 hrs. It has wake tower, bimini top board racks, upgraded stereo cover and galvinized trailer, throwing in jackets tubs and a bunch of ropes. The guy is asking 11500.00 canadian, it has been properly winterized fogged and the works. He even re pacts the wheel bearings which I know I never do enough lol. What do you all think? Like I said it has everything and is next to brand new, It is less hp but the fuel savings would be worth it IMO.

 

[dsw222]

Don't be sold on the horsepower alone. A lot more goes into the speed/power of these boats than a raw horsepower number. The design and shape of the hull has a HUGE impact on what performance you will get. Same with the weight and some other factors.

 

[cheappc]

Hey thanks for all the replies everyone. I tell ya this has been a tough decision I went from wanting a 98 twin 787 challenger to testing a 2004 sportster 951. The 2004 was more for a feel of them in the river here as I was really hesitant on a single engine 2 stroke. It was good but I new I wanted a 4tec if not the twin 787 which I avoided because the guy was a bit of a flake. I got home and then found a 1999 yamaha exciter twin engine 1200 which is 270hp. I was sold on the hp alone, and then... I figured out that it burns 36 gallons an hour at WOT and about 33 and hour at cursing speed. Back to the drawing board I went. I am now looking at a 2007 Seadoo speedster supercharged 4tec 215hp that gets 5 times the fuel economy of the exciter and is way newer let alone mint condition with only 66 hrs. It has wake tower, bimini top board racks, upgraded stereo cover and galvinized trailer, throwing in jackets tubs and a bunch of ropes. The guy is asking 11500.00 canadian, it has been properly winterized fogged and the works. He even re pacts the wheel bearings which I know I never do enough lol. What do you all think? Like I said it has everything and is next to brand new, It is less hp but the fuel savings would be worth it IMO.

Believe me I got the same engine non supercharged, I cannot believe it, it's like unbelievable, I bought it, filled up the gas tank on 7-9-2012, took it out twice for like 4 hours twice, the first day it burned only 1/4 tank, the next outing, I wanted to have fun, so I went a full 3.5 hours non stop at 6400 to 6800 rpm (30 mph), and again it only burned 1/4 of a tank!! Wow, so my boat is in my backyard with a half a tank still!!!

Now my friend has a Yamaha, it.s beautiful, but she has to fill up twice in a 4 hour outing...OOOUUUCCHHH.. I'm cool, I love my speedster!

 

[pudder]

Believe me I got the same engine non supercharged, I cannot believe it, it's like unbelievable, I bought it, filled up the gas tank on 7-9-2012, took it out twice for like 4 hours twice, the first day it burned only 1/4 tank, the next outing, I wanted to have fun, so I went a full 3.5 hours non stop at 6400 to 6800 rpm (30 mph), and again it only burned 1/4 of a tank!! Wow, so my boat is in my backyard with a half a tank still!!!

Now my friend has a Yamaha, it.s beautiful, but she has to fill up twice in a 4 hour outing...OOOUUUCCHHH.. I'm cool, I love my speedster!

Yep I believe it... It is possible for the exciter to burn up to 34gallons an hour which is basically a tank and hour at WOT. AT 4.00gal + at the pump that is a hard hit. Here are numbers to compare.

Both have peak efficiency @ approx 5000 rpm

Test Power: 1 x 215-hp Supercharged Rotax®
RPM MPH Knots GPH MPG
2500 5.5 4.8 1.6 3.44
3000 6.1 5.3 2.5 2.42
3500 6.6 5.7 3.0 2.18
4000 7.1 6.1 4.0 1.76
4500 20.7 18.0 4.7 4.45
5000 27.0 23.5 5.9 4.62
5500 30.5 26.5 7.7 3.98
6000 35.4 30.8 9.1 3.91
6500 39.4 34.2 11.2 3.51
7000 44.3 38.5 13.1 3.38
7500 49.2 42.8 16.5 2.99
7750 52.6 45.7 17.3 3.05

Test Power: 2 x 130-hp Yamaha jets

RPM MPH Knots Total GPH MPG
3000 5.4 4.7 4.2 1.27
3500 16.8 14.6 14.6 1.15
4000 23.9 20.8 15.6 1.53
4500 29.0 25.2 17.8 1.63
5000 35.0 30.4 18.8 1.86
5500 39.0 33.9 22.2 1.76
6000 44.9 39.0 27.6 1.63
6800 57.1 49.7 31.6 1.81

 

[Z_Monzter]

Yeah they can be thirsty and expensive on fuel. I have gone through 50 gallons in 1 day before. Between gas and oil, that was a $200 day. A normal day though where i take it easy is around 20 gallons. So thats still 75 to 100 bucks for a day of playing on the water. But we all know up front these things are expensive or we wouldnt own them.

WOT!??!?!?? That's crazy. For that you are better off having a 24' Boat with a V8. I have a '12 Speedster HO and I can have a great day at the lake with one tank and still have gas left at the end of the day. If I go all out all day that's about one tank and a half and that still under $100 in gas with 93 octane.