• This site contains eBay affiliate links for which Sea-Doo Forum may be compensated.

Dont get mad!!!!!!!!!!

Status
Not open for further replies.
rcookr1

rcookr1

Active Member
Ok I sold my seadoo sportster. I loved the boat. I'm looking for a 180 challenger but they seem to be lacking power 2007 215 S/C. I love the style of seadoo. I have read so much about the 4 tech engines throwing rods timing chains or just plain blowing up or supercharger washers bearings ect. There doesn't seem to be any reason or any indication of when they blow up. Some seem to be low hrs and maintained well. Would you buy another one or go with a Yamaha jet boat???. Low hours on a seadoo don't seem to mean much for reliability. I would like to buy one but don't see any way to improve reliability or I might be wrong
 
Not going to get mad :-)
You have some legit points from observation on this board considering I am one of the ones who threw a rod.

My honest points on my boat.
The 215HP 180 challenger is NOT lacking in power. I can run 40 with full fuel and three people. Just remember it sucks fuel at that speed.

I just did a rough fuel/range check and I got this:
46 miles aprox boat running time 2.5 hours

Fuel tank is 28 gallons (well I thought it was 18)
Estimated use 15 gallons

That puts me at 6 GPH running 6000 RPM at around 20 MPH (GPS)

Now would I go with a an other seadoo, the answer is yes. Considering I do all my own maintenance and have tools, it would be a waste to retool and relearn and new boat/engine. I would say the biggest issue is prior owner abuse and engine reliability resulting from that.

The crappy washers is seadoo's own doing and does seem to be a random event.
 
It is very hard to judge the reliability of a boat/truck/chain saw/etc... based on forums. Most people come to a forum because they have a problem. Granted, they are a good way to figure out what the potential problems could be, but the extent of those issues in the broader population of devices is hard to calculate.

To answer your question: Yes? I would be buy another Seadoo boat. I had a sportster 1800, which I sold to buy my challenger. I've owned several skis. I would agree with xintersecty. I have a knowledge base and can't imagine starting over with a different drivetrain.
 
Remember there is aftermarket so if you want more powahhhhh you can do the X charger, exhaust even a turbo if you want. 300+ HP is easily attainable with the single engine. Some pwc owners have 450+ hp :)

As with any forum most come here to talk about issues, it's usually the exception and not the norm. The people with serious troubles are a fraction of the units sold. Doesn't mean stuff won't happen... We all know it does

Proper maintenance is extremely important..... Many have supercharger issues due to not following the mfg recommended intervals.
 
I'm going by what I have read on this forum and also when I call on used ones most seem to have had problems. A lot of rebuilt engines and S/C. I don't know about adding power. I'm surprised that the 155 to 255 h/p engines have the same block and internals..
 
I have always been surprised they used a SC on these engines vs a turbo. Everything I read is the oem supercharger needs maintenance vs a turbo which needs zero maintenance. I think every 2 years or 100 hours or something like that is when the supercharger needs serviced.

I think often times people get in trouble by not following the super chargers service intervals which then leads to bigger problems when it fails.

It's the same due to cutting costs. It's a lot cheaper for rotax to produce one engine that can take boosted and non boosted power vs one engine that can't, and one that can. I do not have a clue how much power one of these engines can reliably take w/o needing new pistons and all that stuff. I would hope somewhere north of 300hp is safe....
 
I agree with the others in that reliability really depends on how well maintained the boat was during it's life. Our previous boat, a 1992 Nautique, had 1800+ hours on it when we traded her in for our current 210 Challenger. The Nautique still ran like a champ and had amazing compression. The trans was trouble free as well. The boat was regularly maintained and thoroughly used (meaning it never sat for long periods). On the Nautique forums I'd see boats with less than 500 hours on them all the time with major issues.

Some of the problems with Sea Doos are not maintenance related (Na filled valves and ceramic washers), but they are well known and documented so you know the issues prior to purchase if you've done your research.

We've put over 40 hours on our boat (currently at 155) and haven't owned it a year yet. She's been good to us so far. We do all the maintenance ourselves and stick to the manufacturers recommended intervals.
 
I would not worry about a non S/C engine.... The S/C one are the problem for the most part that I have seen. 155 to 255 is a lot more stress on the engine..
 
You also have to remember that all the people who post on this forum have some sort of a problem with their Seadoo. There are many thousands who don't have any problems and post nothing. I have owned my Seadoo for three years and had two problems. The start switch died, I had to replace it and had to replace oil pressure sensor.
 
rcookr1 said:
I guess I will sneak around the Yamaha jet boat forums to see what going on with them
Click to expand...

Check into the problems with their clean out ports. I thought this was a big disadvantage for the Sea Doos compared to the Yamahas until I read about how often they froze up and what it took to remove them.

They have similar engine and electrical issues as well. As others have mentioned, most forum posts are to discuss problems, not to preach of the amazing reliability and such.
 
I see that PWC rental places seem to never use seadoo only Yamaha that says a lot... I'm still up in the air on what to get
 
I think reliability there were some Yamaha pwc for sale her in atl with 1000 hrs and one with 960. I have never seen or herd of a seadoo lasting that long never
 
rcookr1 said:
That's what I'm trying to figure out I really like the looks of the seadoo....
Click to expand...
So do I so I am staying with my seadoo products. I have no problems with the yamahas and have plenty of friends with the jetskis. Sadly don't know any boat people. Basically the only advantage I think that yamaha has is they make new boats.

Otherwise it's going down to an emotional decision. Just remember in the seadoo world you will be taken on somebody's else problems by buying a used boat and the same with yamaha.
 
rcookr1 said:
I think reliability there were some Yamaha pwc for sale her in atl with 1000 hrs and one with 960. I have never seen or herd of a seadoo lasting that long never
Click to expand...

I bet if you go to the PWC side I bet you can find some high hour owners. Go and ask.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

N
2003 Sportster 4-tech performance issues...
Replies
1
Views
188
YYZRC
Y
D
2003 4Tec sportster. Upgrading from Siemens to Bosch
Replies
1
Views
63
alainm
A
M
Sportster shopping; was wondering about parts availability
Replies
0
Views
188
M1n1fan
M
T
1997 XP has no torque
Replies
2
Views
276
DaddyLoafin
D
J
2004 Seadoo Sportster 4 Tec Value
Replies
0
Views
117
John Pfennig
J
Back
Top