Need Advice - Thinking about purchasing GTR 215

[SolMan]

Hey all,

I'm new to the forum and completely new to boating/pwcs. I've been doing some due diligence and research, and I'm pretty sure what I want to buy is a new GTR 215 based on looks/speed/value.

I originally wanted to buy a speedster 150, but my wife informed me my 4 month old daughter wouldnt be old enough for a while to go boat riding. So I need something I can put in and out the water with 1 person. It looks like the GTR 215 is the best value for what I need and the Icatch trailer will allow me to put it in an out the water by myself.

My only heart burn is I live in Destin, Florida and I talked to a lot of the jet ski rentals and EVERYONE uses Yamaha. I try to tell them I want to rent a Sea Doo, and none of them have it and they make sure to tell me not to buy a Sea Doo. Only one was specifically able to articulate why, and he mentioned the exhaust coupler melting when you get seaweed in the engine, and then water gets in the boat and starts to sink. It seems like that could be mitigated by following the procedures in the manual.

Anyway, just looking for some advice. Would this pwc and trailer work well for one person that is trailering the pwc? What else would I need to buy? It looks like speed ties, cover, sandbag anchor, and life vests are pretty helpful. It looks like the ceramic washers are no longer an issue with the supercharger, anything else I need to be worried about mechanically?

I'll be mostly using the pwc in the bay where I can get flatter water closer to the shore and then going to the sand bar to anchor down in waste deep water. Will the sand bag anchor be good enough or will I need to purchase a metal anchor? This PWC would be exposed to salt water 100% of the time and sea weed will sometimes be an issue out there.

I have 0 boating experience and am new to the world of PWCs so I appreciate any advice. My only real experience is taking a few rental jet skis for a spin.

Thanks for the help all. I really appreciate it.

 

[Coastiejoe]

No matter what you buy INSIST on a test ride that will last longer than 30 minutes as well as get/do a compression test by hear two things will nearly guarantee that you get a good ski, (assuming the test ride goes well and the compression is good).

With Super Charged (SC) skis the SC needs rebuilt every 100 hours unless you get the most recent updated kit and then it's good for 200 hours. I own an RXT-X with the 255 SC and absolutely love the ski.

I would not go lower than a 215 engine, but that's because I enjoy the performance of the larger engines which all have SC'ers.

 

[chucked]

I love my sea doo but if I could go back I would buy a yamaha, the part and customer support is much better. Also, I think new sea doos are over engineered and tend to have problems with those over engineered parts.

 

[SolMan]

No matter what you buy INSIST on a test ride that will last longer than 30 minutes as well as get/do a compression test by hear two things will nearly guarantee that you get a good ski, (assuming the test ride goes well and the compression is good).

Ah, why longer than 30 minutes? Also how is the compression test performed? I assume the dealer has the right equipment? What are they looking for?

Do you have any experience with your sea doo in salt water or sea weed?

 

[Coastiejoe]

Ah, why longer than 30 minutes? Also how is the compression test performed? I assume the dealer has the right equipment? What are they looking for?

Do you have any experience with your sea doo in salt water or sea weed?

In most cases, any problem with a ski, no matter the brand, will present itself within an hour of riding.

You want to go fast, slow, do hole shots, turn hard then accelerate, ect ect.

For example. If you get high engine RPMs but poor speed/performance then you know you have a cavitation issue.

This is why a test ride is considered a MUST do.

Compression test: plugs out, plug wires grounded, full throttle, compression gauge installed in spark plug hole. Perfect reading is near 150 PSI. Down to 135 is good. Below that is a sign that the engine will need service in the somewhat near future. It can run at 125, but not well. Normally loses power/performance for example.

Yes the dealer will have the means to test compression. I would ask to be present just to make sure they are honest with you.

They have a vested interest in selling it if the are stocking it and trying to sell it,,,

Fresh water only. Many here are salt water users. Just requires flushing and cleaning after each use. And spraying engine down with a protectant, don't recall the name off hand.

 

[ken0276]

Hey all,

I'm new to the forum and completely new to boating/pwcs. I've been doing some due diligence and research, and I'm pretty sure what I want to buy is a new GTR 215 based on looks/speed/value.

I originally wanted to buy a speedster 150, but my wife informed me my 4 month old daughter wouldnt be old enough for a while to go boat riding. So I need something I can put in and out the water with 1 person. It looks like the GTR 215 is the best value for what I need and the Icatch trailer will allow me to put it in an out the water by myself.

My only heart burn is I live in Destin, Florida and I talked to a lot of the jet ski rentals and EVERYONE uses Yamaha. I try to tell them I want to rent a Sea Doo, and none of them have it and they make sure to tell me not to buy a Sea Doo. Only one was specifically able to articulate why, and he mentioned the exhaust coupler melting when you get seaweed in the engine, and then water gets in the boat and starts to sink. It seems like that could be mitigated by following the procedures in the manual.

Anyway, just looking for some advice. Would this pwc and trailer work well for one person that is trailering the pwc? What else would I need to buy? It looks like speed ties, cover, sandbag anchor, and life vests are pretty helpful. It looks like the ceramic washers are no longer an issue with the supercharger, anything else I need to be worried about mechanically?

I'll be mostly using the pwc in the bay where I can get flatter water closer to the shore and then going to the sand bar to anchor down in waste deep water. Will the sand bag anchor be good enough or will I need to purchase a metal anchor? This PWC would be exposed to salt water 100% of the time and sea weed will sometimes be an issue out there.

I have 0 boating experience and am new to the world of PWCs so I appreciate any advice. My only real experience is taking a few rental jet skis for a spin.

Thanks for the help all. I really appreciate it.

The Seadoo boat has more usefull, enjoyable and fun than the ski for the family to me, once you drive the good boat, just saying, bet you won't go back to the ski.

 

[nastynate]

Just purchased a GTR 215 this past week, and couldn't be happier.

Still working through the 10 hour break-in period, but she's already a rocket, and has, in my opinion, the perfect amount of features.

Because the GTR is based on the newer supercharger - it'll only have to be rebuilt after every 200 hours. Pre-2011, need to be rebuilt after every 100.

Most people have told me the Yamaha FX HO or SHO might be better in rough water, because of the shape of the hull and it's ability to plow through the chop - but the VTS and the closed-loop cooling on the GTR can help adjust the trim/angle of the hull for different conditions, as well as helping to keep saltwater out of your internals.

Just my two cents - but hope it helps!

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Closed-loop cooling is a great feature for saltwater operating conditions, definitely! Otherwise, I tend to agree the seadoos are over engineered, but the Yamahaha's probably are too.

 

[Coastiejoe]

Closed-loop cooling is a great feature for saltwater operating conditions, definitely! Otherwise, I tend to agree the seadoos are over engineered, but the Yamahaha's probably are too.

Excellent point. Forgot to mention the closed loop system.

If I have a salt water ski it WILL have a closed loop system.

If you are not familiar with it, here are the basics.

The water you sit in is called "raw water". Your pump takes the raw water and cools the exhaust and passes through a heat exchanger and then dumps back into the ocean, lake or whatever you are riding in.

The closed loop is a totally self contained coolant system that uses antifreeze. It passes through the heat exchanger where it it cooled by the raw water and then continues on to cool your engine. Thus no salt water touching the inside if your engine.

 

[PeterC4]

I have a 215 Wake Pro and from a performance perspective I can tell you it is outstanding - 65 mph top speed, blistering acceleration. As i understand the top hp jet-skis may have governed top speeds to maybe 68 without mods so you don't lose much. Also I find the 215 is a fuel efficient cruiser. I have a 2011 155 GTX and a new 215 Wake Pro. First and foremost, the new Sea Doos have nice features and instrumentation, like GPS, IBR. Neutral is fantastic and handing is very good for such big skis. I have had my 155 now for three seasons, stored in winter (outside). That ski has been trouble free and it has been bumped, dumped, sucked up sticks, weeds, small rocks and still performs like a dream. The turbo models should be good for 200 hours before a major service to the turbo.

Like others have said if you are going to use it in salt water, Sea Doo's closed loop system is the way to go because the salt water is not used to cool the engine.

As to the hull design and rough water performance, all I can tell you is the S3 Hull found on the Wake Pro 215 and the GTX 155 215 and others are very good from my perspective. They are well balanced and coupled with trim adjustment they can handle rough and agitated water well. The GTR does not have the S3 Hull so I can't comment.

A cover and a good life vest are essential in my view - don't drive one without a good vest. Haven't tired a sand bag. Good luck.

 

[SolMan]

Do you trim up or down for choppier conditions?

 

[SolMan]

Gotcha, thanks. I guess you test drive the actual ski you are going to buy? Or do you test drive a different ski so you can operate outside of the engine break-in operating envelope.

 

[PeterC4]

up in choppier conditions.

 

[Lboogie]

I have 0 boating experience and am new to the world of PWCs so I appreciate any advice. My only real experience is taking a few rental jet skis for a spin.

Thanks for the help all. I really appreciate it.

Same goes with me. I just bought my first ski about a month ago. The folks on here are extremely helpful. Listen to their advice. My ski is smaller than the one you are looking at but after I did it once or twice it was no problem putting in and out with one person. Good luck