Boat Test: Sea Doo Speedster 200 (adrenaline inducer)
Duncan McIntosh
The new Sea-Doo Speedster 200 is a beautifully and boldly designed boat that’s sure to get a reaction from boaters. You can’t help but notice the Speedster 200’s unique rear sundeck, which has a raised, wing-like profile that looks like a variation on an automobile spoiler.
With its Rotax 4-TEC four-stroke engine, the Speedster has some of the most horsepower available on a jet boat. In fact, with its twin 155 hp jet drives, the boat boasts a massive 310 hp.
We took our test boat out in two waves. We got our performance numbers during the first run, with two people and a full tank of fuel on board. Idle was at around 1,800 rpm, at which the throttle was running a little faster than it should. We took the boat up to plane, which we hit at around 4,500 rpm. As it went to plane, the boat jumped from 8.1 mph at 4,000 rpm to 23.2 mph at 4,500 rpm.
Our next step was to bring the boat to a stop, so we could time it from 0 to 30 mph. The Speedster 200 made it to 30 mph in 9 seconds, and as serendipity would have it, 30 mph also made for a great cruising speed. We played around at cruising speed for a while and then decided to see just how fast those 310 horses would take us. The boat hit a top speed of 53.4 mph, proving that it had earned the name Speedster.
One of the things we can always count on with a Sea-Doo boat is that turns will be sublime -- and the Speedster 200 continues the tradition. The only other time we’ve used the clichéd expression of “turns on a dime” was during our test of the Sea-Doo Sportster 4-TEC in 2002, but that description is just as appropriate for the Speedster 200. We can’t help but marvel when the boat literally turns around in place. That’s the power that only comes with a jet drive -- or two of them, in this case.
The Speedster 200 also gets high marks for its quietness. At wide-open throttle, there was very little vibration, and the sound in the cockpit was only 93 dB. Moreover, the boat has a great exhaust sound to it, so the small amount of noise present is not displeasing.
With the business of performance numbers out of the way, we were free to take a pleasure ride. For our second run in the Speedster 200, we had seven people on board, but even with a loaded-down boat, we were able to hit 48.8 mph at 7,000 rpm. Not too shabby.
Lookin’ Good
Whereas most bowriders have a V-berth that takes up the entire bow section, the Speedster has a large storage locker at the tip of the bow with two small mini-settees/seats flanking each side. Instead of a walkthrough windshield, the boat has two separate windscreens – one on the helm console and one on the port console. The windscreens have pop-up wind deflectors, but these types of windscreens, while aesthetically pleasing, never offer as much protection from the wind as a full-size wrap-around windshield.
One of the boat’s most striking features is the set of “multi-function” aluminum rails that run along each side of the boat. The rails’ sweeping lines add to the boat’s aerodynamic feel, but we never could tell what the rails’ multiple functions might be.
All of the upholstery on the boat is top-notch. The bucket seats at the helm console and the companion console are particularly well done, both in design and execution.
The helm has a way-cool futuristic look that we loved, with the gauges aligned in a double-V formation. Rocker switches are located right below the gauges, within easy reach.
The portside companion console houses an AM/FM CD stereo system, which includes four speakers, and a built-in ice chest is hidden under that console’s windscreen. A ski storage locker is built into the deck space between the two consoles.
A long, straight settee runs along the back side of the cockpit. Behind the settee is the spoiler-like sunpad, which has storage underneath. The two cushions on the sunpad flip up like French doors, making the space a great spot for hiding extra gear and life jackets.
A ski pylon is placed at the intersection of the sunpad’s two cushions and the straight settee, but sadly, we didn’t have a chance to put the pylon to the test that day, because 1) we didn’t think to bring skis along, and 2) we weren’t sure that would be wise, since we were testing the boat in the alligator-infested waters near New Orleans. In fact, we saw a few ’gators that day, and they looked none too pleased.
The Sea-Doo Speedster 200 is sure to appeal to younger boaters who are buying their first boat and want something that looks as wonderful as it rides. The sharp turns afforded by the boat’s twin jet drives are a pleasure to behold, and the bold splashes of color on both the hull and the upholstery make the boat a true eye-catcher.
MORE INFO: Bombardier Motor Corp. of America; (800) 882-2900 or (715) 848-4957; www.sea-doo.com or www.bombardier.com.
Specifications
Length: 19 ft., 9 in.
Beam: 8 ft.
Draft: 1 ft.
Weight (dry): 2,770 lbs.
Fuel capacity: 40 gals.
Maximum power: 310 hp
Base price: $28,299
Engine Packages Available
Twin 155 hp Rotax 4-TEC four-stroke jet drives
For a complete list of test engine specs and available engine packages, visit goboatingamerica.com.
Standard Features
One-touch inlet clearance system, padded/bolstered seating, glove compartment, custom-matched trailer, full instrumentation, non-skid decking, 12v jack, non-slip grab handles, navigational lights, auto bilge pump/switch, six stainless steel cleats.
Optional Features
Bimini top, galvanized trailer, cockpit carpet.
Top speed: 53.4 mph
RPM @ top speed: 7,000
Cruising speed: 35.6 mph
RPM @ cruising speed: 5,500
MPG @ cruising speed: 7.12~
GPH @ cruising speed: 5~
Range @ cruising speed: 140 miles~
~ estimated
WHAT IT IS: Loaded with 310 hp and the ability to corner like crazy.
WHAT IT ISN’T: For pure classicists, since the rear sun deck has an ultra-modern look sure to get a love-it or hate-it reaction.
Speeds as Tested
RPM - MPH
1,800 - 4.7
2,000 - 5.1
2,500 - 5.9
3,000 - 6.6
3,500 - 7.2
4,000 - 8.1
4,500 - 23.2
5,000 - 30.3
5,500 - 35.6
6,000 - 38.8
6,500 - 43.8
7,000 - 53.4
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