Looking at 2008 RXT 215 for adventure travel - opinions needed

[xrochester]

Looking at 2008 RXT 215 locally, 60 hours. Asking price: $7600 firm. What is the current thinking around the reliability of this engine? I'm a little nervous about buying a used 4-stroke supercharged fuel injected engine with no warranty from a private owner because there's no way I could ever fix it myself and the large cost involved if there was an engine problem. I'm used to 2-stroke seadoo's - I have a 95 XP 720 which is obviously a lot simple (and has been stone cold reliable). I would never buy anything without water testing it first, but who knows how it was treated by the previous owner.

I love the looks of the RXP. I like the size of it, the fact that my girlfriend and I could swim off of it, but the main reason I want it is for adventure travel - exploring new areas and taking long rides in the 50 to 100 mile range, possibly some overnighters. This larger ski would give us the room, comfort and stowing ability to do what we want. But obviously reliability is a major factor I need to consider when operating on Lake Ontario. The main reason I want a four stroke is that we may need to cruise at idle speed for extended periods when we go through canals with 7 mph speed limits and I don't want to smell 2-smoke and foul plugs. The XP is a great ski, but riding two-up for extended periods is out of the question.

I don't necessarily need this much power, although it would be fun. Are there any other Seadoo's in the lineup that would give me the comfort and cruisability I'm looking for with less power and potentially more reliability. Sorry for the long post and THANK YOU in advance for any advice you could provide.

 

[Oldie]

Hi, I'm a bit new to the forums but have a 2007 RXT 215. One thing to keep in mind with the supercharged models is that the supercharger needs to be rebuilt at around every 100 hours, so that adds a bit of maintenance to it. I haven't had any issues with the engine itself, from what I've heard from others too they are reliable. If you are just looking for cruising around and not towing and don't need the power, the GTX 155 model is basically the same engine without the supercharger, so you can save some maintenance (and cost) and still get your cruising done. I wouldn't go down to the GTI, though.

Good luck

Edit: I believe they made a non-supercharged RXP that year too (and in 2007).

 

[red2blue]

Looking at 2008 RXT 215 locally, 60 hours. Asking price: $7600 firm. What is the current thinking around the reliability of this engine? I'm a little nervous about buying a used 4-stroke supercharged fuel injected engine with no warranty from a private owner .....

The '08's had upgraded sc washers so any worry over ceramics is nill. Ride it before you buy it. Make sure you can get it to like 8200rpm or so and 70 on the dreamometer. Check for cavitation...check the engine bay...look at the oil filter housing...pretty good ski...ain't a house boat or anything...but a nice ski.

 

[door54]

Obviously there is inherent risk with any used purchase. Your buzz words that struck me were: 'Lake Ontario', 'liking the size', '''7mph for extended times', 'cruisability', 'comfort'. All of which you will need for 50-100 mile runs...I did not see "need for speed"

Oldie and red2blue were both spot on in their comments. You have to decide. I will say this, and its not intended to sway.

My wife and I made an 100+ mile (round trip) run this last month from Laughlin Nv. to Lake Havasu Az on the Colorado River. There was a LOT of traffic, the water was rough most of the time and it took 6.5 hours. I could not imagine making that run on anything less than a 3 seat 900+ lb 215hp SC pwc.

We are in our mid 50's and were sore the next day, but when we took a rest on a popular sand bar just above the mouth of Lake Havasu at one point of the run, the word got around that we were on a run from Laughlin and we were swamped by boaters who came over to talk to us. There was a lot of surprise and disbelief that pwc's would support that length and type of a run, in that heat. Really? Your boats do?... It was 106+ and the 215 SCIC's never hiccupped once.

They are 07 RXT 215 SCIC's They have 60 and 70 hrs respectively on them- They were "formally" serviced at 10 hrs by the dealer.

Note: on several occasions on the run, lack of common sense and plain stupidity on the part of other boaters/pwc's made the availablity of the Supercharger quite handy