Stefano Andrean Heads To Florida To Experience The 2017 Seadoo Line-up

The 2017 SeaDoo model lineup all feature switchable riding modes, easily changed by buttons on the left-hand side of the handlebars: ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Economy’. Normal is the mode the watercraft starts up in, providing a smooth throttle response and is perfect just for day-to-day riding.

Sport mode sharpens up the throttle response and the watercraft responds more aggressively to user input, making it the ideal setting you want if you’re out for a ‘Sunday blast’. Economy mode is useful when you are trying to cover the maximum ground using the minimum amount of fuel, when you fully depress the throttle in this mode the SeaDoo will automatically accelerate to the speed that gives the best economy and keep it there, which makes perfect for island hopping.

The Spark Trixx has been a resounding success for the SeaDoo brand. One telling sign of the competence of this particular product is that it is a firm favourite with the staff. The senior members of the team behind the SeaDoo range are given the choice of one of the watercraft in the range to take home with them to use each year and the majority of them took the Spark Trixx this time; when asking about this most of them cited the fact that it’s the most all around fun of the SeaDoo range.

Even with 300bhp models on offer it shows the quality of the Spark Trixx and the pound-for-pound fun on offer. Even me with my non-existent experience on a personal watercraft managed to consistently hold tail stands, do bunny hops and submarine. As the Trixx was designed to be as light as possible (it uses the frame from a quad bike and minimal panelling), even with only a 90bhp engine it was surprisingly fast and is the most economical model SeaDoo has to offer as a result.

The GTS & GTI series are meant to provide an excellent value proposition to the consumer, with power ranging between 90bhp to 155bhp and represent an excellent way to buy into the personal watercraft industry without breaking the bank and yet still getting a quality, fun, product. I started off my trial of the product on this range and even the 90bhp model, the cheapest of that particular range, was still very entertaining on the slalom course.

If power, and general one-upmanship times is your thing, SeaDoo has you covered With the RXP-X and RXT-X ranges. SeaDoo’s unique ErgoLock system is an extra bit of padding in between your legs allowing you to to really hold on tight in the corners, and with the supercharged Rotax engine producing 300bhp. The only difference between the two models is the extra seat on the latter watercraft and cosmetic differences.

If you want the power but want something a little more luxurious and more comfort for your derrière, the GTX Limited S would be ideal, and it is available with power levels up to 300bhp. It’s slightly heavier weight and suspended hull makes it something akin to a powerful GT car on the water, but the handling is still more than good enough – SeaDoo’s ErgoLock system features on this model too, which not only makes it easier to stay on the watercraft when cornering, but reduces legs fatigue as well during day-to-day riding.

There was some abject immaturity from myself and one of the Brazilian journalists on the trip with us pitting the RXP-X 300 and RXT 260 in drag races across the bay, but it did provide some useful insight. Whilst one of the main attractions of the SeaDoos is the handling ability, when power reaches these sort of levels that the top of the line models boast, straight line speed becomes intoxicating. I conveniently nabbed the 300bhp RXP-X and model can confirm that it wholeheartedly entertains, even in a straight line.

Whichever one of the new lineup you get, you should be suitably impressed. I would probably avoid the 60bhp models apart from as a basic runaround; you will get used to that power quickly. Any of the models with more power than that have more than enough oomph to satisfy most.

My favourite? Possibly due to my deep-rooted love of fast cars, would be the RXP-X 300. Its acceleration is addictive and despite throwing me off mid-corner at 60mph after a slight misjudgement by me (lightly bruising my ribs & my ego), I fell a little in love with it; though that could have been down to Stockholm Syndrome you get when riding something that powerful. In my eyes it has the best cosmetics out of any personal watercraft on sale, too. For those who want the same power but in a more comfortable, manageable package, go for the GTX Limited S 300.

2017 Seadoo Range – Where and how?

Available immediately. See the full range at www.sea-doo.com – link