Sea-Doo Boats and PWC for Sale

A false start in 1968

Bombardier, the company that made the Ski-Doo snowmobile, sold its first Sea-Doo in 1968. It was designed by Clayton Jacobson II, who later developed the Kawasaki Jet Ski. The original was a flat, round-looking craft about 7.5 feet long and 5 feet wide with an air-cooled Rotax engine. It overheated, saltwater got into the engine and electrics, and Bombardier dropped the line after 1970.

Sea-Doo came back as its own brand in 1988 and took off. By 1995 it was selling more than 100,000 units a year. Bombardier Recreational Products, now BRP, has owned the brand since it split from Bombardier.

The models

• Spark (2014 on): BRP spent eight years developing it under the code name CAFE. It uses a light Polytec hull and the Rotax 900 ACE engine, and it became the best-selling Sea-Doo.
• GTI and GTI SE: the recreation line, non-supercharged and simpler to own.
• GTX: touring and luxury skis.
• RXP and RXT: performance models, most with supercharged engines.
• Wake and Wake Pro: tow-sports skis.
• Fish Pro: fishing skis, expanded with the Scout, Sport and Trophy for 2022.
• Explorer Pro: touring.
• Switch: a jet-powered pontoon boat BRP launched in 2021, with a modular deck you can rearrange.

Know your engine

This is the most important thing on a used Sea-Doo.

Two-strokes (580, 657, 717, 787, 951) are older. Carbureted ones are easier to work on. Fuel-injected two-strokes (RFI and DI) are harder to diagnose, and many shops won't touch them.

Four-strokes without a supercharger (1503 at 130 or 155 hp, and the Spark's 900 ACE) are generally the simplest to own.

Supercharged four-strokes (1503 at 185 to 260 hp and 1630 at 230 to 325 hp) are fast, but the supercharger needs service. Ask for receipts showing when it was rebuilt and at how many hours. Without them, budget for an inspection right away.

What to check on a used Sea-Doo

Paperwork. The hull ID number on the transom and the paperwork have to match, and the seller should have a title or registration in their name. Don't pay in full until that's sorted.

Hours and records. Under 250 hours is a normal used range if the ski has been serviced. Past 500 hours, buy only with good records and a fair price.

Cold start and compression. Ask the seller not to start it before you arrive. A compression test tells you a lot.

Pump and wear ring. Look at the impeller and wear ring for damage, and check the intake grate.

Salt use. Look for corrosion on the engine, exhaust and electrical connectors.

Water test. Run it to full throttle, check that it planes cleanly and holds RPM, and test reverse and the brake (iBR) if fitted.