Fun with SeaDoo
2/6/2004 7:10:26 PM by by Marshall Brodie
Remember the muscle cars of the early 1970s? Car manufacturers crammed outrageously powerful engines under the hoods to fight for the title of fastest and baddest production car on the road. Well, that horsepower (and marketing) war is happening again -- on the water. Purposefully taking design cues from the '70s-era muscle cars, Sea-Doo's metallic apple green (available in yellow, too) and chrometrimmed RXPpacks a monstrous 215horsepower supercharged and intercooled four-stroke engine under the seat, making the RXPthe hottest stock production muscle craft on the water. Sea-Doo took the 185-horsepower supercharged three-cylinder engine from its three-passenger GTX 4-TEC and added an intercooler to cool the compressed air from the supercharger before it enters the combustion chamber. Cooler air is denser, which allows for more complete combustion and that means more power. Additionally, Sea-Doo bumped the engine rpm up to 8,000, elevated the supercharger pressure slightly and recalibrated the ignition to find 30 more horsepower from the 1494cc Rotax engine. At 215 horsepower, the RXPhas a 50-horsepower advantage over the Honda and Yamaha in its class. However, with their lighter weight, both the Honda and Yamaha still are nearly as fast and will top 60 mph. Even with 215 ponies ready to go at the squeeze of the throttle, the RXP is smooth, quiet and clean running. It meets the California Air Resources Board two-star rating for "very low" emissions. The RXP's good fuel efficiency and the 15.9-gallon fuel tank combine to offer the RXPplenty of range without refueling. The engine of the test boat started quickly and settled down to a smooth, quiet idle. Acceleration is impressive and even throughout the rpm range.
My GPS measured a top speed of 66.4 mph on a hot day with a full tank. On a cooler day, with less fuel in the tank and a lighter operator (lighter than my 220-pound frame), the RXPlikely would approach 70 mph. For the speeds the RXPis capable of, safety is an important concern. Sea-Doo gave the RXPa longer hull for high-speed stability, variable trim control, dual convex mirrors and a steering system that helps maneuver the craft without power. Even so, this watercraft demands your full attention. Smooth water can lead to a false sense of security. Things can happen quickly at speeds over 65 mph. For example, a passing boat's wake could cause the watercraft to go airborne and sideways, sending the rider tumbling. In rougher waters, prudence will dictate slower and safer speeds. In a chop, the RXPis wet riding. However, relatively inexpensive and effective aftermarket spray deflectors are available to solve the problem -- if, indeed, getting wet is a problem. The RXPfeatures electrically powered variable trim to adjust the bow up or down, but most riders will find the neutral position is the all-around sweet spot. Perhaps not quite as nimble as smaller and lighter performance watercraft, the RXPis still very agile. Instead of relying on finesse, the RXPmuscles its way through tight turns and aggressive maneuvers. It takes some upper body strength to get the most out of the RXP's capability. For slow speed handling, Sea-Doo's forward-neutral-reverse system works well. SeaDoo's useful "Learning Key" system limits top speed to about 35 mph for new riders.
The well-equipped RXPincludes an analog speedometer and tachometer along with an easily read 16-function LCD information display. The dual convex mirrors are adjustable but one of the mirrors on the test would not hold its position. For taller riders, the nonadjustable handlebars are a bit too low. The two-passenger seat is soft and form-fitting to help keep you in the seat. One feature not standard is a reboarding step, but the wide aft deck is low enough to climb aboard relatively easy without it. This watercraft is not designed for touring with a storage capacity of just 10.7 gallons. Accessibility to the engine is about as good as it gets by removing the engine shroud held on by just three bolts. As in Sea-Doo's GTX 4-TEC, the RXPhas a closed-loop cooling system to keep saltwater out of the engine for longevity. For the athletic person who wants bragging rights with the fastest watercraft straight out of the box, the Sea-Doo RXP awaits.