2001 Utopia w/Merc 210hp worth it?

[m0brando]

Been a year or so since I had the jet boat bug but one has recently come up for sale locally that seems like a good deal. 2001 Utopia 185 supposedly w/120 hours (haven't looked at boat yet) for $6250. Deal? Last time I looked I was scared away from the Mercury motors and can't afford a newer boat with Rotax. I realize this is probably somewhat a debate but should I be scared of this one (assuming it appears to have been taken care of, good history, etc)? Looking for something that is probably going to get used 8-10 times per year for family of 5 (2 adults, 3 kids under 10) for cruising/water fun.

Thanks for any opinions!!

Brandon

 

[Dr Honda]

Is the price good???? Yes, if it's in good condition.

If you were scared by Merc motors back then... wel... all the same rules apply. I personally don't like Merc power because of the high price of replacement parts... but it's up to you.

Personally, if you can't afford a newer Rotax boat... then I would recommend an older 2-stroke. For $6K... you could restore an old boat, and it would be reliable.

 

[RFoster130]

Yeah I agree with what Doc says. That is a good deal on that boat if it is in good shape, but you will have the mercury motor.

 

[WAJetboating]

The Mercury engine is actually an advantage...

I have both Mercury SportJet and Rotax engines in my various watercraft. I do all of my own maintenance so I can speak from personal experience. I've spent far less money and time maintaining the Mercury SportJet (and zero time repairing it) and I've owned it longer than my Rotaxes.

Cost to maintain the Mercury is about $70-100 per year and I do more than the service manual recommends. Meanwhile, I keep having to buy Rotax replacement voltage rectifier/regulator modules ($70 each time), starter solenoids ($30), etc. I've lost track of the hours I've spent with my head in a Rotax engine compartment. I don't hate maintenance but it's not why I bought these engines!

Take good care of your equipment and it will take good care of you.

 

[Dr Honda]

Maintenance isn't the issue. If you need an engine... it's $3500. If you need a rebuilt pump (and gear box) it's $1700.

When you are dealing with a 9 year old boat... it could run for 9 more years... or it could eat itself the first run out.

I will agree that the Merc drives are reliable, but anything can happen... even with good maintenance.

 

[WAJetboating]

Maintenance isn't the issue. If you need an engine... it's $3500. If you need a rebuilt pump (and gear box) it's $1700. I will agree that the Merc drives are reliable, but anything can happen... even with good maintenance.

All true. But it sounds like you're basing your equipment choices on what is least expensive to replace. Using that logic, you'd tow your boat trailer with an old VW because replacement engines, axles, etc. are cheaper than a more capable vehicle like a truck. IMHO this artificially restricts your choices too much.

If the device in question had a history of poor reliability, I'd give more weight to its replacement costs. But since you point out that the Merc drives are reliable, that issue becomes moot. As you say, anything can happen... to any brand.

Fortunately, we have lots of options and can make our own choices. In my case, I chose both! [grin] I have both kinds of engines and like them both for the purposes for which I use them.

I just felt that the anti-Mercury sentiment was a bit strong, and that the opposite point of view (and in my case, personal experience with both) deserved to be represented. Hopefully the original poster can take our comments and make his own decision.

Thanks!

 

[Dr Honda]

Yes... I openly admit that I am a little anti-Merc in a SeaDoo boat, and I just want to give people the info needed to make a good decision. I did not say... "Don't buy it, they are CR@P."

In my view... it's a "What is it worth" thing. For example... if you take a first year Merc boat, and the engine pops... the average person can't swap an engine them selves. So, by the time they buy a new power head, and then have someone install it... it will easily be more than the boat is worth.

Furthermore... I'm a little upset that SeaDoo treats the Merc boats like a bastard step child. I understand not having full support on a boat as old as mine, but I can still get a key programed, and order many of the parts from my local dealer. But ask a dealer for help with a Merc boat... and they will send you packin'. Sure, there are a few dealers that will work on them, but most wont, since the official stance from SeaDoo is no support.

This comes back to the "Most people can't do their own work" thing. If you can fix you own stuff... this doesn't apply. But, if you need to take it somewhere to get it fixed... then it can be a pain in the a$$ since the SeaDoo dealers wont work on them, and some Merc dealers won't either.

Now... talking personally... if I found an 05 Merc powered Islandia for the right price... I may buy it, but I would pay twice as much for an '06 with twin Rotax power.

Hope that clears things up on my stance, and why I think the way I do. :cheers:

 

[WAJetboating]

It's all good...

Furthermore... I'm a little upset that SeaDoo treats the Merc boats like a bastard step child.

Yes, that irks me too. But as I've noted elsewhere, the engine is almost always manufactured by someone other than the boat maker. BRP and Yamaha are the obvious exceptions to that rule, but if you look at non-jetdrive boats virtually all of them have engines from a dedicated engine manufacturer. More on this below.

I understand not having full support on a boat as old as mine, but I can still get a key programed, and order many of the parts from my local dealer. But ask a dealer for help with a Merc boat... and they will send you packin'.

Since the engine is made by Mercury, was not specific to Seadoo, and is based on Mercury's popular six cylinder outboards (of which they've shipped thousands, perhaps tens of thousands), it doesn't matter what a Seadoo dealer says. Just find a Mercury dealer - and there are a LOT more Merc dealers than Seadoo dealers! ANY certified Merc shop can work on these engines because the parts and tools and everything are identical to the outboards. The only real differences are in the jetdrive, which frankly is far simpler than any outdrive.

This comes back to the "Most people can't do their own work" thing. If you can fix you own stuff... this doesn't apply. But, if you need to take it somewhere to get it fixed... then it can be a pain in the a$$ since the SeaDoo dealers wont work on them, and some Merc dealers won't either.

See above. I have yet to call a **certified** (i.e. trained technicians, not just some guy with a set of wrenches) Merc shop that wouldn't work on a SportJet. A couple have said "A what?" until I mentioned it was a 2.5L V6 fuel injected powerhead, at which time they inevitably said "Oh, you mean an outboard. No problem."

You hit the nail on the head with your comment about BRP orphaning the Merc powered boats. That's sucky customer service - from SEADOO, not Mercury! But fortunately Merc shops are everywhere, and they are happy to work on Merc engines no matter whose name is on the hull around it [grin]. I actually think that's an advantage, because when I'm buying maintenance parts I have half a dozen Merc shops around here that might stock it, while I only have two Seadoo jetski/boat dealers. Usually the Merc parts are local, but I have to order and wait for the Rotax parts.

Thanks!

 

[denni49]

Ahhh so i should just buy a yamaha and be done with it!! I hear they sell more complete packages anyway and include items that sea doo, a privately owned entity sells as options? I was interested in a 2001 utopia with a v6 200 hp power plant listed on this site to start with. Also i know that ultra lite and kite planes use some rotax powered engines such as a 912 cc turbo model. great discussion guys!
thanks
Dennis
ps I am looking for a boat and I live in alberta canada but not much for sale here

 

[jshaley]

parts and pieces

I've been looking at Utopias for a while buy recently got scared off. Some marketing wiz put in his ad that the boat was in good shape since he just sunk $9k into it. If I'm buying a boat for around $10k (2000-2004 185 or 205) I do not wish to turn around and have to sink more.

I know to have a certified merc mech look at it, especially impeller and compression testing. After that though if the engine goes is a "repower" $3500 or closer to $9k? I am comfortable with risk - no guarantees in life. But am trying to avoid having the wallet sucked into the hydro surge.

Also, you guys referred to the power head as similar to outboards. I love outboards! They seem so much more reliable (the smaller 2 stroke ones at least). Is it that close?

Maybe I should stick with the sailboats, but the kids tend to fall asleep on the tube and fall off.

 

[Dr Honda]

That's the main problem. People want prime $$$ for them, but if there are issues, it gets expensive quickly.

Yes... the Merc power head is right off the V-6 outboard, and as far as I know... if you needed an engine, you can unbolt it from a 240 HP Outboard, and bolt it on to a sport drive without any mods.

The question on prices... last I saw... you can get a new power head for $3500, but most people can't do their own work, so you will pay a Merc dealer $85 to $120 /hr to install it. (plus gaskets, sealant, etc) I would say, you are looking at at least $4k with installation.

I REALLY want an Islandia, and last year I found one with a bad engine, and needed some love on the interior. The guy wanted $9k for it, (I offered him $3k) and to this day... he's still holding tight on his price. He knows exactly what an engine costs, and he knows the the seats need redone... but he keeps saying how much money there is on the parts. (but he isn't parting it out)

I don't mind risk either... but I need a buffer with risk. So... to me, that buffer is a good price. $9k for a 9 year old boat, with a bad engine is just dumb.