Just like the title says, I am new to Sea-Doo boats and am looking at the 180 Challenger SE. I am not new to jet boats, I have a Yamaha LS2000 and am looking to upgrade to a four-stroke. The 180 Challenger looks to be perfect for me and what I will be using it for. I have a few questions about the boat, however. Will the 215hp engine be enough power? I will be pulling some wakeboarders and tubers. What is the top speed I will be seeing, I know it won't be as fast as my LS2000, but it will be roomier and smoother on the water. If I can be able to expect 42-50 MPH with 4 people on board with the 215hp I would be happy. I have read on here that the superchargers need to be rebuilt every 100 hours, is this true with both the 215 and 255 models, and is there anything that will help make the superchargers have a longer life? Also, has anyone put an aftermarket wakeboard tower on one of these? I am looking at used boats by the way, a new one is a little out of the price range I would like to pay. Is there anything I should look at on these boats that is a cause for concern? Thank you in advance.
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Looking at 180 Challenger SE, new to Sea-Doo
- Thread starter BigTwiz
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speedster32940
Active Member
I test drove a 215hp Challenger and thought they were kind of under-powered. I certainly wouldn't expect 50 out of it, and I think 42 would be lucky with 4 people. I bought a speedster instead: 310hp from twin 155's, (nice to have a backup engine in case you suck something up in the jet) top speed in mid-to-low 50's and no supercharger issues.... Plus, I like the layout better with the sunpad in back. Just my 2 cents...
I was looking at the speedster 200 as well, however my wife likes the full windshield. I know the speedsters have the pop-up wind blocker on the windshields, but it doesn't really help in the backseat. My problem is that I cannot find a used 180 with the 255hp any where around me.
I wouldn't get the 180 with the 215HP engine, I think you would be disappointed with the performance. Don't be afraid to look in other States for the right boat, there are some good deals out there!! I too looked at the 180's but decided with the speedster200 for the same reasons that speedster32940 posted. Good luck
seadoomichael
New Member
I like mine. 48mph with 1-2 onboard. I've had mine around 42 with 4 adults and 2 kids. Great boat for tubing/skiing/cruising. Marginal for wakeboarding. I've boarded behind it but only with 2 people in the boat (no tower). Nothing crazy though. Tons more fun then any stern drive I've driven/had. The only thing that makes me nervous in the boat is the single engine, the tendency to occasionally suck up crap (only once so far), and the rather dubious maintenance history I keep hearing about on these boards. So far so good for me (minus a bilge pump issue).
I'm with you on the windshield. My boat has to have a windshield. Wife needs a windshield. Particularly here in the chilly Northwest.
Good luck in your search.
I'm with you on the windshield. My boat has to have a windshield. Wife needs a windshield. Particularly here in the chilly Northwest.
Good luck in your search.
chlarson23
New Member
I'm a 180 owner and I would think that most of us would happily take the speedster 200 over a 180 however the reality is that we can find the 180 a little cheaper and easier. I live in Central Texas and there is a ton of lakes and a huge boating population and I have only seen one or two speedsters and they were basically new. One day, but until then the 180 is a really descent smaller boat, it's by no means a speed demon, but it's agile and fun. Safe for the kids and has plenty of storage. works for me, I can't complain. You want to ask it the ceramic washers in the super charger were replaced with the steal ones if you buy an older boat. I think it was sometime in 2008 they stopped putting the ceramic ones in there. You will see 180's with the tower mounted towards the back, those are stock, anything else mounted towards the middle should be aftermarket, a lot of people have them. Last thing, from experience, you want to buy from an experienced Jet Boat user. My boat was purchased from some real idiots, there was a ton of evidence of them sucking crap into the pump, there were cut ski ropes on the boat when i bought it and the wear ring and impeller were shot. they are an easy fix but if you find someone who took care of there stuff and knew not to run it in shallow water or over ski ropes they are typically in decent shape. good luck with your purchase.
timeman
Active Member
My first experience in jet boating was on a friends, twin engine /2 stroke Speedster...It was an absolute blast, but a bit tight on usable space, and likely to make everyone wet from bow splash...Like others, my wife (and I) really liked the challenger's roomier, more enclosed, layout, I bought an 06 Challenger, s/c 215HP, factory wake tower(which easily collapses to accommodate my garage door), My boat will run high 40's with 2 and around 40mph+,with 4. Though I have to move weight / people, forward when pulling up larger skier / boarders...
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Hi BigTwiz, I have owned a 180 challenger since 2009. I pull 2 tubes at a time with 4 kids in total with ease. This boat will hit 50mph with 4 in the boat. My boat has never been clocked with a GPS but my bros in law has a searay 18ft boat that he has had clocked at 44mph and I can pass him with ease. 30hrs on the boat so far and no problems. The dealer highly recommended that I buy the 215 supercharger as the 185hp is a bit of a dog. I can't comment on the supercharger needing rebuilt at 100hrs. Never heard of that one! Hope this helps....
I've got an '08 180SE with the 215 motor. It's got plenty of power to pull my three kids (2 teens) in a 3-man tube faster than I should go. I haven't wake boarded on it yet, but a huge tube is much more drag than a skier or boarder. Don't let anyone tell you this isn't enough boat--wake boarding and skiing is done at slower speeds, anyway. The used Challengers like mine don't have ballast to get a really awesome wake like the new models, but it looks to be pretty decent nonetheless. I can do mid 40's with 2 adults, 2 teens and 1 kid on board. The Speedsters may have more speed, but this boat has more room, better wind protection, more storage space and a tower. The Challenger is more "family" oriented. The Speedster is more for one or two couples, IMO.
The only weak spot of the Challenger is that it takes a bit to get up to speed. It has a decent hole shot and gets on plane pretty quickly, but takes a bit to get up to high speed. One thing that's really fun to do is get up some speed and then yank the wheel all the way around and do a hard U-turn. The boat holds the water so well people have to hang on for dear life. It reminds me of a huge Jet Ski.
Two engines may be helpful to get you home if you kill one, but two engines suck up gas twice as fast. We've never had an issue with sucking anything into the impeller or not being able to start it. As was mentioned, for any made before about mid-2008, make sure the supercharger washers have been replaced as the factory ceramic ones were known to break apart and get ingested.
The only weak spot of the Challenger is that it takes a bit to get up to speed. It has a decent hole shot and gets on plane pretty quickly, but takes a bit to get up to high speed. One thing that's really fun to do is get up some speed and then yank the wheel all the way around and do a hard U-turn. The boat holds the water so well people have to hang on for dear life. It reminds me of a huge Jet Ski.
Two engines may be helpful to get you home if you kill one, but two engines suck up gas twice as fast. We've never had an issue with sucking anything into the impeller or not being able to start it. As was mentioned, for any made before about mid-2008, make sure the supercharger washers have been replaced as the factory ceramic ones were known to break apart and get ingested.
James.Moon
Active Member
BigTwiz and all
I had a chance for a heck of a deal on a 2009 new speedster in 2010 but gupped out because of lack of windshield. Got a 2009 180SE 255HP instead. It has plenty of power to pull whatever and does get up to speed very quickly showing 90-95 KPH on speedo albeit speedo reads about 10KPH high. Other owners are reporting a chronic momentary
cavitation on WOT from stop - I have the same thing with mine which has 33 hours - I am not sure if BRP will fix on warranty, however it is not really a problem for me, so I will live with it if BRP won't fix it for free in the fall.
Stick with mid 2008 and newer to avoid the ceramic washers super charger problem - the jury is out whether a supercharger rebuild is required at 100 hours - 2009 BRP owners manual does not require it.
I recommend the 255HP if you can find one although I expect the 215 is plenty depending. Full WOT at 8000RPM with mine is too fast for me anyway, and if there is any chop at all it will by flying over the waves and scare me to throttle down in a hurry. It planes and cruises beautifully anywhere in the 5000 -6500 rpm range at 50-70 kph with only me the driver. For towing you don't even want to go that fast.
I forget what rpm it gets to when pulling two on a tube at maximum 40kph ish.
Mine has the tower and bimini top, however so far I have not made any use of either. The tower tow eye is recommended for wake boarding only, not to be used for tubes and skis.
I had a chance for a heck of a deal on a 2009 new speedster in 2010 but gupped out because of lack of windshield. Got a 2009 180SE 255HP instead. It has plenty of power to pull whatever and does get up to speed very quickly showing 90-95 KPH on speedo albeit speedo reads about 10KPH high. Other owners are reporting a chronic momentary
cavitation on WOT from stop - I have the same thing with mine which has 33 hours - I am not sure if BRP will fix on warranty, however it is not really a problem for me, so I will live with it if BRP won't fix it for free in the fall.
Stick with mid 2008 and newer to avoid the ceramic washers super charger problem - the jury is out whether a supercharger rebuild is required at 100 hours - 2009 BRP owners manual does not require it.
I recommend the 255HP if you can find one although I expect the 215 is plenty depending. Full WOT at 8000RPM with mine is too fast for me anyway, and if there is any chop at all it will by flying over the waves and scare me to throttle down in a hurry. It planes and cruises beautifully anywhere in the 5000 -6500 rpm range at 50-70 kph with only me the driver. For towing you don't even want to go that fast.
I forget what rpm it gets to when pulling two on a tube at maximum 40kph ish.
Mine has the tower and bimini top, however so far I have not made any use of either. The tower tow eye is recommended for wake boarding only, not to be used for tubes and skis.
Thanks for all your help guys!! The info has been very helpful. I have decided to wait and look at buying a 255hp 180. I'm too used to the speed of my Yamaha (please don't lynch me!!) to be able to compromise that much on speed. I love the design of the Sea-Doo's and having only one engine will be nice for the fuel aspect of things.
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