Ski Mode and Speed Control Issues - Dealer and BRP Both Unable to Correct

[MTElmore]

Hello all. I’m new here and love my SeaDoo. However I’m having an issue and hope someone here can help.

I have a problem neither the dealer nor Sea Doo (BRP) can seem to solve, all having to do with ski mode and overall speed control. I have a 2010, 210 Wake, 2-155 hp, with about 75 hours, and still under warranty.

The particulars: Ski Mode 2, max speed set to 22, ballast tank empty, smooth water, winds at 6-8 mph. 140 pound skier on single ski. We engage ski mode and the boat accelerates normally up to about 9-10 mph (about 5200 RPM). RPM then backs off to about 4700, holding the boat at 9-10 mph for about 4-5 seconds and then starts very slowly accelerating up to about 22 mph. During this 9-10 mph lull the skier never totally gets up out of the water, just being dragged along half in-half out of the water.

If I try pulling the skier the old fashioned way – manually, it is also quite frustrating because no matter where I set the throttle, speed and RPM varies +/- 4-5 mph. which makes my wife mad, “Why can’t you tow me at a constant speed?!?!”

The dealer has no clue. They’ve gone through the computer and can find no problems. The factory has no further suggestions.

I’m so completely frustrated with this problem. I love this boat, but I’m torn between putting a For Sale sign on it or instituting a Lemon Law claim against SeaDoo.

Before a make any drastic moves, does anyone here have any suggestions?

 

[Macster]

Sorry no technical solutions but I wouldn't let the technology ruin your experience in the mean time... I use a GPS to measure my speed accurately whilst underway and just adjust the throttle by hand during a ski run i.e. full down during start then gradual pull back until we hit 55 kph (whatever that is in mph). I'm sure you've developed those skills though after 75 hours?

 

[Dr Honda]

The way I see it is... the boat is under warranty still, and it's their problem. I would start the easy way... tell them to replace the computer, crank triggers, TPS(s), and the speed sensor.


Bombardier will try to side step issues, until they are no longer in warranty. Don't let them do it !!!! In years past, there have been guys who have gotten new boats because of spider cracks in the gel.


Also... don't let the dealer take it saying that "They are going to work on the problem"... and then hold the boat for months at a time.

 

[cycleguy88]

ok first off, ski mode ramp 2 is for wakeboarding and is too slow of a ramp up for a skier. You need to be on 4 or 5 ramp up. That's a lot of your problem right there. Skiers need to be pulled up quickly and the ramp setting of 2 will take a long time to build up the 22mph. Try it on 4 and see what happens. As for the mph being off, the newer boats use GPS to verify speed so you don't need some aftermarked thing to tell you. Good luck and post back after trying a higher ramp setting.

 

[MTElmore]

Thanks Cycleguy88 for your reply and your suggestions. Let me clarify a couple points. My wife and I are experienced skiers, each skiing slalom for 15-20 years. We can get up at both low speeds and fast. Our main problem isn't the fact that the speed ramps up slowly (though that is aggravating), the main issue is the fact that the boat ramps up to about 9-10 mph then stays at that speed for about 5 seconds. During this 9-10 mph lull the engine actually drops about 500 rpm, from 5200 to 4700. Afterwards it very slowly ramps up to the set speed. What I didn't explain in my original post is that the same thing happens in ramp 3 and 4 as well. We haven't tried ramp 5.

As far as speed control, the issue is that without touching the throttle, speed varies by as much as 4-5 mph up and down, with RPMs going up and down as well. If we can't use ski mode to pull a skier at a constant speed, and we can't manually pull a skier with the throttle at even close to a constant speed, it makes for a really frustrating trip to the lake.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

 

[DeepSeaOne]

Your issue almost sounds like a stray or intermittent voltage issue. Try re-seating every cannon plug or electrical connector you can find. Also it may be helpful to spray the connector pins/receptacles with an electronics cleaner. The slightest bit of oxidation or moisture on connector contacts can cause strange problems like that, especially when dealing with such small voltages that some of these circuits rely on.

 

[cycleguy88]

Ok sorry. I'd take it back and insist on a fix or use the lemon law

 

[bkounkel]

I have a 2012 Seadoo wake 230 510 HP. I have the same problem. Alot of us wakeboard around 22-25 mph, I have about 100 hours on it now, the last 75 hours when you get a full boat and ballast are filled it speeds up to 12-15 then takes forever to get to 22 like 45 seconds sometimes. We are very experianced wakeboarders, Its bazaar this problem came out of nowhere. I also have a issue where my driver side motor is running at 7100-7200 rpms and passenger at 7600 rpms, had it to the dealer twice.... cant figure it out. Wear rings, impeller are perfect, oil has been changed on the dot. Its bazaar. Ive had kinda lot of issues on this boat already. Comeing from a mastercraft, I thought i'd have less issues. The karavan trailers are garbage. The front mount from on the bunk has already broke, and the other one welds are cracking. Speaker wireing to the tower speakers sucked on the setup. But I'll let ya know if I get it figured out, have a open case with seadoo on it.

 

[sunvox]

I am not a specialist by any means but I am an electrical engineer and I own a 2012 SeaDoo 210 SP all of that says that my thoughts and a buck might get you a cup of coffee at a diner . . . joking aside I have experienced two issues that MAYBE can offer some help.

1) GPS signals are not perfect, some areas have poor signal strength and unfortunately SeaDoo's "first generation" software for running a boat using a GPS does a poor job when this is the case. The onboard computer has no way to evaluate a GPS signal and it has no "backup" to compare to so if your GPS signal is poor you will see huge variations in speed.

2) Jet boats are WAY more sensitive to a balanced boat condition than center drive props. If you have a 200 lb buddy on the driver's side and your 100 lb wife on the other your port jet has less intake and less output and the revs will vary considerably especially in choppy conditions.

Bottom line, I have no idea if your problems are more serious but jet boats and GPS technology have a long way to go before they are perfected. Having said that I wouldn't trade my 210 for anything. I love my SP.

In the end I have to second the comments above. Take the dealer's mechanic out in your boat and show him the problem. If they can't fix it; then you need a new boat that doesn't have the problem or your money back.

I hope you'll keep us posted as I'm curious to hear the conclusion of this story.


Joe

 

[bkounkel]

The boat was perfect, before the 75 hours, ive had more people in it and lots of weight and it worked perfect. Not so much now. As far as the differance in rpm's I think from reading alot it might be a intake manifold sensor telling me that its to hot and wont let it run WOT.

 

[CameronLake]

I have the same boat (510 Hp) and am dissapointed with topspee. dn't fly around bit thought it would do more, best I have seen is 54MPH.What is top speed on your boat?

Thanks.