Sea Doo Boats

[bud29]

Anybody here know anything about the Sea Doo line of boats like the Challenger, Sportster?

We are looking at buying a boat, and am wondering what the advantages/disadvantages of them are versus a inboard/outboard.

[ltr450kid]

what are u looking to do with it

[Loudelectronics]

Jet boats are a blast to just rip around the lake with. However water sports are a different aspect. The jet stream often washes out the wake. Yes I realize most of these come with towers but they are completly useless for wakeboarding. Never tow a tube off the tower either. If you slalom the wakes are very hard at speed so they are not good for that either. These boats also consume more fuel then I/O's and inboards. They put 400 hp in these things just to make them haul like a 150 hp propelled boat. The fit and finish is nothing compared to an actual boat either.

If you are a serious boater there is no replacement for an I/O or inboard. I have a inboard V drive and they are even better then an I/O. Propelled boats are better on fuel, pull more and get out of the water better under load. Water sports are much more enjoyable too. The jet boats are just so expensive. If you are going to spend that much I would just jump right into a true Inboard. You can pick one up used for that price and you can do alot more with it. True inboards you can actually surf behind the boats.

Like I said they are fun to drive but that is about it. I would test drive them all if you can. Inboards drive like sports cars (on rails all the time).

Let us know what you come up with.
http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10405&stc=1&d=1211769274
http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10418&stc=1&d=1211854458

[bud29]

Just recreational type stuff. Skiing, tubing etc... Have 3 young kids that are just about the age to start getting into that stuff. Also, it will probably see most of its use on Rock Lake.

[ltr450kid]

price range ? i also have a vdrive boat and love it cnat beach it or ne thing and no trim but vdrive is still the way to go. !

[Loudelectronics]

Just recreational type stuff. Skiing, tubing etc... Have 3 young kids that are just about the age to start getting into that stuff. Also, it will probably see most of its use on Rock Lake.

Price range will be very important. You would be fine with a jet boat, but I am sure you will dislike putting gas in it. Expect to pay close to 40-50 bucks an hour to operate one of them. A small I/O like a bayline 1750 will be about 15-20 bucks an hour and a big vdrive like mine (24 feet) will cost around 30 bucks. A smaller 20 foot vdrive will be much less to operate.

Like LTR stated, you can not trim the prop on a Inboard boat but these boats sit in very little water. The prop actually sits in the same depth of water as and I/O trimmed all the way up before Trailer mode. However, Tige boats do have trim (my boat in picture). Very nice feature as you can diminish wakes for skiing and trim up for large wakes for surfing and wakeboarding.

I can drive my inboard safely in about a foot of water. Jet boats you have to worry about sucking in crap like weeds and stuff. Not very much fun swimming under the boat to pull them off.

[ltr450kid]

loud ru talking about trim tabs because yes they do but they do not have power trim also with a vdrive the boat can be running when ur on the rear deck and vdrive boat will have a lower deck height i have a 22 foot centurion and im ordering a brand new malibu24/7 wakesetter next year

i agree jet boats are pigs on fuel but u get wicked handling i have a seadoo pwc rxt and an rxp and theres nothing that comes close

[Loudelectronics]

loud ru talking about trim tabs because yes they do but they do not have power trim also with a vdrive the boat can be running when ur on the rear deck and vdrive boat will have a lower deck height i have a 22 foot centurion and im ordering a brand new malibu24/7 wakesetter next year

i agree jet boats are pigs on fuel but u get wicked handling i have a seadoo pwc rxt and an rxp and theres nothing that comes close

Do you have a Avalanche? How do you like the Centurion. I almost baught one last year. Why switch to malibu? I have looked at them as my dealer is WWS but there is very little freeboard, static hull with no adjustability and are known to suck back the gas more then others. They are nice handling boats though and look really nice. Have you ever looked at the RZ4? If you have never driven a Tige before, I recomend you try one. They handle so nice, cut through the rough water, fuel efficient and the TAPS is something else.

[ltr450kid]

i just love the look and feel of the malibu and i know the owner and salesmen well so thats what i like but i do like the rz4's very clean looking and when ur sticking an 8.1L in it its guna suck it back no matter what. yeah i have an avalanche.as for driving one i have driven a few along with s/a nautiques andmastercrafts but imo i like the malibu.s

[Loudelectronics]

Either way, they are all awsome. Make sure you post some pictures.

[Loudelectronics]

i just love the look and feel of the malibu and i know the owner and salesmen well so thats what i like but i do like the rz4's very clean looking and when ur sticking an 8.1L in it its guna suck it back no matter what. yeah i have an avalanche.as for driving one i have driven a few along with s/a nautiques andmastercrafts but imo i like the malibu.se

You know Lee Debruin? or Mike Gilmour? I bought my boat through WWS. It was the club boat and I bought it with a bunch of cracks in the Gel under the contract that they would get it fixed. Its been a year and they still have not fixed it. So Mike does not like me much right now, his fault for not owning up to his side of the contract though.

Lee is a great guy to deal with. He is actually the one that owns all the Malibu rights in Manitoba and Sask. WWS just purchases from him. My next boat will be right from SWS instead of WWS.

[ltr450kid]

mike gillmore.

[Canadian144]

Just my contribution:

I really like inboard boats. We used to have a 20 foot Four Winns inboard (I'm thinking an H series, but really don't remember), and that was a great boat. Lots of power, easy to tube/ski/kneeboard off of, just a really nice boat.

However, we sold it about 4 or 5 years ago as it was too large and too impractical for a lake the size of the one the cottage was on.

[Loudelectronics]

mike gillmore.

Hope you have better luck. Just from my experiance, make sure you get everything in writing.

[Loudelectronics]

Just my contribution:

I really like inboard boats. We used to have a 20 foot Four Winns inboard (I'm thinking an H series, but really don't remember), and that was a great boat. Lots of power, easy to tube/ski/kneeboard off of, just a really nice boat.

However, we sold it about 4 or 5 years ago as it was too large and too impractical for a lake the size of the one the cottage was on.

Can144, dont get inboard/outboards confused with Inboards. There is a big difference. Inboards have the prop under neith the boat and I/O's have the prop at the back of the boat off the stern. Both have the motors inboard but I/O's have an outboard prop. You are right though, they are great to do water sports on. However the true inboards are much safer and have more capabilities as far as watersports go.

[Canadian144]

Can144, dont get inboard/outboards confused with Inboards. There is a big difference. Inboards have the prop under neith the boat and I/O's have the prop at the back of the boat off the stern. Both have the motors inboard but I/O's have an outboard prop. You are right though, they are great to do water sports on. However the true inboards are much safer and have more capabilities as far as watersports go.

Hey sorry about that. I'm kinda boat stupid. LOL