New Utopia 185 Owner Needs Assistance

[ET4]

I am pleased to join the SeaDoo Forum. Thank you for welcoming me. I just purchased a 2002 Sea Doo Utopia 185 from a local dealer. Sea Doo offered an option for a changing room located in the rear on the port side. My boat didn't come with one, Sea Doo has discontinued this, and I can't seem to locate any online. My wife insists on having one of these so I must have one custom made. Does anyone on the Forum know the dimensions and how it is connected at the top. I saw a UTube video where it appears to be secured to the top of the rear motor cover when this is raised. It would really help if someone has pictures of the mounting and dimensions. Your help would be greatly appreciated.

This is the first boat that I have owned since 1970. I really enjoy the layout, the shallow draft, and the wide beam of the Utopia 185. We live in a Townhouse so I have to keep it in my garage when not in use. This limited my choices to one that will fit into this space. It is tight as I only have 2-1/2" extra on each side of the boat. I will have to practice backing into tight spaces. Otherwise I will have to buy an electric boat dolly {another $1,000+}.

Docking this boat is interesting as it handles quite differently than a conventional propeller driven engine. I haven't figured out how the boat changes into reverse. Does the impeller change direction or is this accomplished with a defector or some kind? I have searched the internet and haven't been able to find a good discription of the drive.

I look forward to hearing from other memberes.
Ed

 

[El Toro 33809]

Welcome to the forum. I am not aware of the changing room option, so I'm no help there.

Reverse is accomplished with a deflector as you guessed. The engine is direct drive, so the impellar is always turning. When backing a jet boat you have to turn the opposite way that you would a conventional boat. The steering assist, increased RPM's when turned to the stops, comes in very handy in my opinion.

 

[ET4]

Thank you for your reply, El Toro. I can see from your list of boats that you are a serious Sea Doo enthusiast.

It has been 42 years since I last used or owned a boat and that one was a sailboat. I since got busy with college and work. It's now time to get back to enjoying life a little and that means boating, too. I have seen the changing room option but not with enough detail so that I can duplicate the privacy curtain. The changing room allows a porta-potty to be added. It is not terribly convenient but better for the wife than none at all. Most women don't seem to appreciate Folger's cans. Hmmm.

My boat is presently being detailed and minor fixes are being made. This includes the addition of the changing room. I would like to keep this as close to original design as possible but I haven't been able find details of the changing room. We have a gentleman that does marine upholstery that will handle the facrication of the curtain and the dealer will install the porta-potty. It would be wonderful to duplicate the original changing room option as closely as possible.

Thank you for the information about the jet drive. It seems to be a pretty good design. Stearing takes no effort as it seems to only turn a nozzle or similar device. The reverse deflector must drop down when moving the lever into reverse. I hear that I should get a weed rake and that I should be able to access the intake grate from inside the boat ... better than diving under the boat. I have to go over all these details when I pick up the boat.

I am impressed with the details of the boat. Sea Doo makes very nice boats that are geared to family fun and convenience.

Best regards,
Ed

 

[seadoosnipe]

No, you can't access the intake grate from inside. I believe your referring to a lever that is inside, that allows you to drop the intake grate from the bottom. Most of the grates are bolted on and don't drop down for removing debris. Not sure if your model is designed with this, but your description is of that design.

I don't know anything about the changing area. As long as I've been doing this, I've never seen or read any posts on it. Your the first.

Yes, there is a huge change coming from a propeller driven to a jet drive. The first thing you'll have to get used to is backing up. In outboard models, when backing, you turn the wheel in the direction of your turn, then when you move the throttle and linkage forward, you spin the wheel quickly to the other direction. With the Jet drive, you don't turn the steering wheel. You can spin these babies on a dime.

Good luck with the boat!!!... Sounds like your going to really like having this fine running craft.

 

[ET4]

Changing Room Option

Hi Seadoosnipe,

Thank you for the information. I have a lot to learn about this boat. It sounds lilke backing up is similar to backing up with a trailer. Some people place their hand at the bottom of the wheel so that the movement feels more natural. I had better do so practicing before docking the boat.

The link below shows the changing room option [picture 2 in the rotation] that was available for the Utopia 185 and 205 models from 2001 until 2005. I have recently seen a few listings for boats that include this option. I even have the obsolete part number for the enclosure.

http://www.sea-doo.net/units/2005/Utopia-205.pdf

You can see this in use in at the following link. Start watching at 5 minutes and 10 seconds into this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O15mPu9_PXQ

It appears that this must not have been a wildly successful option.

Thank you for taking the time to reply and for the information.

Best regards,
Ed

 

[ET4]

Hi SeaDooSnipe,

This may be a duplicate response but my previous response appears to have been lost.

I am undoubted confused about the grate cleanout procedure. I have lots to learn.

I have seen the changing room option in the following YouTube video. The scene that shows the changing room starts at about 5 minutes and 10 seconds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O15mPu9_PXQ

You can also see it in the brochure found in the link below. It appears in picture 2 about right-center.

http://www.sea-doo.net/units/2005/Utopia-205.pdf

It sounds like backing up is similar to backing up with a trailer. Some people place their hand at the bottom of the wheel so that the motion is more natural. I will practice before trying to dock the boat. Sounds like I better practice a lot.

Thank your for taking the time to reply. I will remember your advice. Happy boating!
Ed

 

[Murph_13]

Hi Ed,

First of all congratulations on your boat! I have a Utopia 185 and absolutely love it.

I have the P/N for the Toilet and Curtain Kit (P/N 295 500 881), I know you mentioned that it has been discontinued but I didn't know if you had the P/N and if that might help in trying to find information for it. I have the following information about installing the kit from the Sea Doo Utopia literature, but it doesn't give a lot of detail or dimensions:

NOTE: Installation time is approximately 1.0 hour.

PARTS TO BE INSTALLED
This kit consists of:
1. Toilet Curtain with Hardware
2. Toilet

INSTRUCTION
Curtain Installation
Refer to illustration for modification.

{see first photo below; the following steps refer to photo}

STARTING POINT FOR GROMMET PLACEMENT
1. Begin at inner corner, at back of PORT inside engine cover
2. Cut line shows proper curtain alignment
3. “X” shows 4th hole placement

1. Mark starting point as per illustration no. 1. Drill
pilot hole using a 3.5 mm (9/64 in) drill bit.
2. Insert screw into finishing ring and tighten first
grommet to inner motor cover lid.
3. Continue marking and placement of all grommets
and fasteners, distributing material evenly.
4. Install four (4) front threaded snaps for curtain
front fastening points.
NOTE: Storage flap will use same snaps.
5. Without pulling too tightly, install lower front curtain
threaded snaps according to location of snaps
at curtain front.
6. After lower front threaded snaps have been installed
and curtain has been snapped into place,
verify position of back snaps on curtain and place
threaded snaps accordingly. Be sure to stretch
curtain as wide as possible from side to side.

NOTE: When not in use, curtain should be properly
folded and rolled-up and storage flap snapped
into front curtain fastening points in order to properly
close engine cover.

Sea Doo also offers (possibly discountinued as well?) a Permanent Toilet Kit (P/N 295 500 933) for the Utopia. The rake that you mentioned is also discontinued. The rake allowed you to stand on the swim platform and clear any weeds/debris from the intake without having to get in the water. I tried to find a rake when I first got my Utopia, but could not find one. I've thought about making my own, but haven't yet and get in the water when necessary (and trust me, in the northern states you can find yourself out on the boat when you definitely do not want to get in the cold water). You may still have the factory "weedless grate" that is spring loaded and is supposed to clear out (ingest) weeds/debris so you don't need to clear the intake. I read too many bad things about the "weedless grate" and I installed the 11-tine stainless steel grate (Mercury/Quicksilver call it the Rock Grate) on my boat right when I got it. I'd rather have to clear the intake grate than damage an impeller or pump housing.

Good luck with the changing room and enjoy your new toy!

Best regards,

Todd

 

[ET4]

Hi Todd,

Thank you very much for your reply and for the information. Unfortunately, it appears that all of these part numbers have been discontinued. I am having an upholstry person fabricate a curtain enclosure. The Installation of the porta potty is being handled by the dealer. I would have preferred to have the original but I haven't been able to locate anyone that has one for sale. Such is my luck.

I haven't looked at that the intake grate on my boat, yet. After reviewing your reply, I began looking for an 11-tine grate for the 2002 Mercury Sportjet 200 Optimax motor used on my Utopia 185 but I haven't been able to locate the correct part number for this particular grate. I will ask my dealer about getting the correct one. I agree with you that I am not looking forward to cold dips under the boat in order to clear the grate but maybe that is a fact of life. I, too, live in the north. I will be very careful around rocks but I have read that one person's boat sucked in a small piece of wood that jammed the system. As they say, all that glitters ...

Thank you again for all of your information. It is very helpful. I am looking forward to getting my boat but it may take a couple more weeks to get all the upholstry work finished and the mods done. They are adding a fold-over tongue to the trailer so that the rig will fit into my garage. It should be worth the wait when everything is done but I have a lot to learn. I just purchased a trailer dolly in order to assist moving the boat into my rather tight garage.

Best regards,
Ed

 

[185utopia210]

How's the washroom install going? Found this but don't know whether it's still valid.
http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/a...hanging+Room/Toilet+Kit/accessories127631.htm

 

[ET4]

Thank you for the link and for your followup. I tried every link that I could find and all were out of stock and said that the part was discontinued. That being said, however, my dealer had a local man, that does marine upholstery, design and fabricate one using Sunbrella material. He did a fantastic job. It is ever better than the original. He incorporated a mesh screen near the top that allows it to stay cool inside. I am very impressed by his workmanship. The wife and I love the Utopia 185 and I am beginning to get pretty good at backing the boat and trailer into the water and into the garage. I have to make a 90 degree turn to get the boat into the garage with only about 3 inches on either side. I was pretty nervious the first time. I tend to putter around on the lake so the gas lasts a very long time. We enjoy seeing all the sights and the wildlife. The price of oil was surprising as it is about $40 per gallon. I guess that they put in a lot of addtives {gold?}. I hope that you are having terrific boating in Ontario, Very best, Ed

 

[ET4]

By the way, I see that you are a new member. Welcome aboard. I am also very new to all of this. Looks like we both have the same boat. How are you doing with your Utopia 185?

 

[185utopia210]

Hi ET4-yes same boats, that's great! The fiance and I just got the boat last fall so we are loving it. Uses lots of gas if you are travelling about fast, put puttin' around its good. We don't go out in Lake Ontario or the St Lawrence if its windy, as Joanne's back doesn't like the pounding,lol; but there are lots of inland lakes to explore just north of Kingston. We are like you and lucky to have a large garage to put it in.
My welder is making a new inlet grate tomorrow to replace the hydrosurge which has two broken tines. So far so good!

 

[Seadoobuddy]

Dr. Honda got a 2002 last may. It's a project for him rebuilding the motor. I saw his boat and the porta-potty/changing room. It was just in front of the "dash". I thought on the Starboard side but maybe that's the "cooler"....can't remember.

 

[ET4]

I am pleased to hear that you and your fiance are enjoying the SD 185 and I wish you luck on the grate project. It sounds like you have lots of options for fun boating. We also love the SD 185. I ntoiced that the seat back for one of the front bow seats is pulling away from the hull liner {I am guessing about the name, "Hull Liner"}. The seat back appears to be held to the hull liner with black puch-in clips similar to those used on some cars. I am a little nervous about taking off the seat back without having some replacement clips. Do you happen to know the proper name for these clips and where I might be able to find them? Happy boating!

 

[ET4]

Hi Seadoobuddy. The standard option that I have seen is located on the port side at the stern of the boat. The cooler is generally located on the starboard side but I don't see any reason why this couldn't be reversed. How do you like the Glastron?

 

[PaulJohnson]

ET4, I am looking at buying a Utopia without a changing room/toilet but both are a must for my family. I wonder if you might be so kind as to send me some pics/post pics here of the final product. I saw some pics of the curtain and that seems fairly straightforward I think. Another model of Sea doo has such a changing room, although it's in a different part of the boat.

i'd be particularly interested in pictures of how the toilet was mounted, etc. I'm quite the handy man and can do fiberglass work, etc. so I could do my own. I'm not very good designing things but can copy others ideas. So, if I had some pictures of how it works, I might be able to recreate it.

Thanks so much for your help.

 

[El Toro 33809]

The Islandia, which is similar to a deck-boat, is the one with the changing room/potty.