Most reliable generation of SEADOO ?

[Piper Mike]

Just wondering which generations/years of SeaDoo's have the best reputaion for reliability or if there are common issues with certain years ?

 

[adamsbj123]

I will offer my 2 cents. As far as reliability goes I have to go with the older skis. My 92 GTS with a single carb 587 has been great. It has nearly 300 hours on the original engine and I have only done routine maintenance and repairs. Granted it is not the fastest ski or the best looking but it always starts and runs. I still see alot of older Seadoos running at the lake. On the other hand my 99 GTX RFI 787 needed a complete engine rebuild after only 85 hours due catastrophic engine failure. Much like women the faster and better looking they are the more trouble and money they will cost you.

 

[Piper Mike]

Did fuel injection increase reliability ?

 

[LouDoo]

This is my opinion, and I think a lot of others would agree with me. The most reliable vs. HP engine the SeaDoo ever used was the 717 developing 85HP. This is followed closely by the 787 developing 110HP, in my opinion not quite as reliable as the 717 but considering the extra 25HP, I'm starting to lean toward the 787. This is a big step for me because I've been a big fan of the 717 for years.

To me the golden years of SeaDoo was 95, 96, 97. I may be a little biased as you can see from my list of skis.

Lou

 

[Welder75901]

I agree with older models like the late 90's. I have had three mid 90's and had little trouble with all. I am working a rebuild on a 97 xp with a 787 but the rebuild is because the previous owner starved it for fuel. My parents have 2 newer GTI's and they have been in the shop a couple times for electronic problems. Plus the older ones are easier to work on in my book.

 

[Welder75901]

I also agree the best luck I have had has been my 96 GTI with the 717. Not the fastest but fun and reliable.

 

[WhiskeyD]

The 91 SP I have in the garage ran for 18 hard years with basically no maintenance. Put gas and oil in it and just rode. It did finally lose compression but we got our moneys worth out of it!

 

[adamsbj123]

Did fuel injection increase reliability ?

For me personally yes. I opted for the RFI because my wife could not grasp the concept of when and why to use the choke on our older ski. It caused many heated arguments at the lake when she couldn't start the ski. The RFI is very user friendly with no choke or adjustments needed. But it is also harder to troubleshoot and repair. Fuel injected skis also do not like ethanol in the gas. I have to add Stabil marine ethanol treatment with each fill up or it it hard to start and wont idle.

 

[Matt Braley]

I agree with Lou that the 717 or 787 would be the best all around. But I think a white 587 is the most reliable.

 

[Piper Mike]

Does anyone else have problems with ethanol affecting fuel injectors ?
I just bought a 2001 GTX DI and wonder if I should use an additive as well ?

 

[manolocross]

The 717 was used for almost 8 model years and hundreds of thousands were produced by seadoo.... I think they know a thing or two about that engine and that's why the 717 had such a long run.

 

[Dr Honda]

The 717 was used for almost 8 model years ......

8??? it was used for 11 model years. 95 was the first (in the XP and the HX)... and 2005 was the last. (in the GTi)

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

The DI and RFIs have a lot of expensive to replace parts when pushing 10-12 years old. Many 787s still run today. Your 951 should get 200-300 hours between rebuilds.

Which is 10-12 years between rebuilds.

 

[Piper Mike]

The DI and RFIs have a lot of expensive to replace parts when pushing 10-12 years old.

Have you actually owned a DI or are you one of those guys that just doesn't like new stuff ? My friend says his DI saves him huge on gas. Possibly enough to pay for all those "expensive to replace parts"

 

[Guest_User]

I had a 951 DI that only lasted 56 hours before the electrical gremlins showed their head. then it was gone...
Great running ski and sips fuel compared to the carb`d versions but problematic...

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

Look up the price of your injectors and fuel pump, then tell me if you think you can run your ski enough to save that much in fuel.

The DI and RFI are both great pieces of tech. But 12 year old tech. If this was 01 I'd be interested in one, but the parts for these 12 year old machines are harder and harder to find. Combined with dealers who don't want to bother with something so old and hard to diagnose...

I'm sure your ski will work fine, long as you maintain it properly. If it fails feel free to look here for help.

As for fuel.. My buddy uses approx 3 less gallons in a 4 hour ride, but he's on a 787 DI. vs my 951 carb. And I guarentee I'm harder on the throttle..

 

[Piper Mike]

I agree that injectors are expensive but very little lobor cost to replace, on the other hand i assumed that carburetors can be difficult to adjust and/or rebuild and the labor cost is higher ?

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

Not really, rebuilding carbs can be done at home, and removing them isn't hard. $45/each roughly I think. Adjustment is also quite easy, in fact setting them to stock works very well. I've never had to mess with them once installed and set properly.

at the end of the day, I'm amazed anything 12 years old runs this well. it's actually quite the testament to SEA-DOO for building such quality machines that there are so many still on the water after all these years.

 

[Spimothy Leary]

I agree that injectors are expensive but very little lobor cost to replace, on the other hand i assumed that carburetors can be difficult to adjust and/or rebuild and the labor cost is higher ?

in summary, the fuel savings with a DI is there, and as long as its running, its a great ski, but as soon as it breaks, your trouble will be just beginning. you will most likely never save enough fuel to justify the repair expenses related to the DI models. my reasoning... #1 it can be expensive to diagnose, since the DI setup is over the head of your standard DIY guy and quite a few good mechanics as well, and once you diagnose it, parts are still more expensive as well.

IMO, don't purchase a DI model, the negatives outweigh the positives.

carbed models might not be as efficient but diagnostics and repair are within the capabilities of most DIY guys and 99% of the mechanics, so its easier to diagnose, and parts are much more plentiful and less costly, i also believe that a DI model is harder to sell since a lot of buyers have been advised against them.

 

[LouDoo]

Not really, rebuilding carbs can be done at home, and removing them isn't hard. $45/each roughly I think. Adjustment is also quite easy, in fact setting them to stock works very well. I've never had to mess with them once installed and set properly.

at the end of the day, I'm amazed anything 12 years old runs this well. it's actually quite the testament to SEA-DOO for building such quality machines that there are so many still on the water after all these years.

Amen, to factory settings on the carbs., also on rave valves.

Lou