Proclaiming the "Horsepower Wars Have Begun" is a little after the fact, as the top four manufacturers have been in a neck-and-neck struggle to outperform one another since the PWC industry's inception and, more importantly, since the four-stroke engine platform has been adopted as the engine of the future. But to boldly claim that the "Horsepower Wars have Gone Nuclear" might be more correct.
Sea-Doo traces its legacy back to 1968 with Clayton Jacobson Jr. Unfortunately; Bombardier fizzled out due to plaguing warranty and longevity issues caused by a nonexistent supply of suitable replacement components and inexperienced technicians. It would be 20 years later that Sea-Doo would reemerge as a competitive personal watercraft that was stable, quick and reliable. Now for 2008, Sea-Doo celebrates its brand's permanence by stepping up to the batter's box and knocking one out of the park.
The complaint most two-stroke loyalists pose is the four-stroke's anemic power curve, it being unable to press out enough initial torque to properly propel its large heft out of a dead stop. Additionally, many claim that the four-stroke lacks enough horsepower to maintain the higher speeds that competitive riding requires. Four-strokes are a larger powerplant with a design which allows for cleaner emissions and a more efficient fuel burn, but at the cost of bottom-line horsepower.
In 2004, amid the controversial industry-wide slow transition to four-strokes, Sea-Doo decided to draft its own four-stroke blueprint, designing a three-cylinder, single overhead camshaft, internally cooled, centrifugally supercharged plant featuring a closed-loop engine heat-extractor that would plumb its coolant through the ride plate. Named the 4-Tec Rotax, Sea-Doo's engine of choice would produce a first-ever 215 ponies while its competition struggled with 165 (and lower) power ratings. By the following year, Sea-Doo's RXP, RXT, and GTX Limited dominated the two and three-seater markets in both acceleration and top speed.
Until 2007, the only other watercraft available on the market with barely competitive horsepower was Sea-Doo's own 4-Tec-powered GTX SC, making a reliable 185 horses. Sea-Doo was undoubtedly the king of the hill when it came to muscle. But a dark horse in 2007 toppled Sea-Doo's reign; Kawasaki reached deep into the brand's racing heritage to birth a rude and unforgiving doppelganger to Sea-Doo's RXT, the Ultra 250X. The 250X had Ferrari-like looks, Viper-like performance, and Corvette-like pricing. But its greatest achievement was Kawasaki's market-leading 250 horsepower. Redesigned from the ride plate up, the Ultra was a coup de grace that shook the competition.
But Sea-Doo's grip on the watercraft performance market was already too tight for the bruising new kid on the block. Over three years of aftermarket participation and competitive racing, Sea-Doo had enough supporters swearing by the brand's record. Bolt-on components were already achieving Ultra 250X numbers in RXPs, and the Rotax's tight torque curve propelled the wider RXT three-seater up to 30 mph faster than the higher-horsepower Ultra. Frankly put, Kawasaki's coup d'état over Sea-Doo was anything but a landslide, in fact, quite the opposite.
Today, the magic number is 255.
As performance-leading models, the RXP and RXT get new performance packages. Branded the RXP-X and RXT-X, the craft in the X-series feature the aforementioned 255 horsepower ratings thanks to a re-tuned Rotax 4-Tec sporting larger fuel injectors, a revised Vortec centrifugal supercharger with a larger intake tube allowing for greater ingestion while maintaining the same level of boost. An oiling vein has also been added to the supercharger's impeller shaft, allowing for constant lubrication. A larger aluminum intercooler is affixed to the rear wall of the engine compartment above the pump tunnel, cooling the intake charge better than before. For the RXP-X, the pump tunnel is 18mm wider than the standard RXP and lengthened for greater acceleration. In fact, class-leading acceleration is Sea-Doo's ultimate goal. From the supercharger's modifications, to the aggressive intake grate, to the geometry of the impeller, the X-series is intended for the fastest acceleration available.
Available in a bold silver, black, chrome and metallic orange scheme, the X-series features unique diamond plate-patterned floor mats and textured seat covers, and aggressively stylized plastic cladding. But serving both form and function is the race-inspired billet steering system. The twice-adjustable steering neck is a billet CNCed double-X that meets at the top of a brazen-hued set of handlebars covered with an X-adorned safety pad and billet aluminum controls. The starter box shares its position with an all-new electronically controlled VTS trim control. Soft to the touch and super responsive – even on the fly - the VTS system features dual pre-programmable settings. But what amazed us most was Sea-Doo's thankful relent to a finger-operated throttle. Yet, the thumb throttle, which has been a signature gripe with many enthusiasts, still is found on all non-X-series craft.
Personal Watercraft Illustrated was invited to test drive the X series craft this last August in Lake Shasta, California. It was here that we were sold on the power curve of these retuned Rotax plants. Sea-Doo kept strict adherence to the unwritten agreement between the U.S. Coast Guard and the watercraft industry stating that no factory craft will exceed speeds of 65 mph. While most high performance musclecraft are inching past this fine line, Sea-Doo changed its trajectory. Rather than building an out-of-the-box craft that would obliterate that agreement, Sea-Doo built a boat that would reach that speed faster than any other manufacturer. While pinned, the RXP-X and RPXT-X both sprinted up to 65 mph with little hesitation.
Down the line, Sea-Doo betrothed the X-series' brethren with equal attention. The opulent GTX Limited retains the 215-horse output, but gains new gadgetry. Fixed inside of a recessed glove-box door, a Garmin GPS featuring a large color screen can lock into place for the more adventurous GTX riders. The Garmin, too, is completely buoyant, which we tested by tossing purposefully into the water before the Sea-Doo representatives. Besides the new blue paint scheme, the GTX Limited also features an integrated depth gauge, a removable dry-storage case, a waterproof cell-phone case, and adjustable steering (operated via a low-ratio twist knob, which we felt was tiresome after several twists, gaining only an inch or two after several minutes of cranking).
But what might prove to be the best addition to the lineup for the average watercraft consumer is not any one particular boat, but a simple bolt-on component available through Sea-Doo: the Wake Ballast System. While the Sea-Doo Wake 215 and 155 are the industry's only wakeboarding and waterskiing-committed watercraft featuring a retractable tower and side-mounted board racks, the Ballast System is a plastic platform that attaches to the tail of the PWC and fills up with up to 200 pounds of water providing the watercraft greater stability and larger displacement, which provides the boarder a larger ramp or wake to launch from. The system feeds off of the watercraft's pump, filling the tanks in little over two minutes. Twin plugs similar to those found on the PWC release the ballast tanks' contents in seconds.
Down through the ranks, Sea-Doo has caringly resurfaced and repainted each of their craft. It's an attention to detail that makes the 2008-model year the most impacting we've seen for the brand in years. BRP's latest innovations and commitment to product excellence makes for possibly the strongest year for the brand's future.
Celebrating Sea-Doo's 20th anniversary, nearly the entire brand line received the royal treatment with new graphics, colors, and seats, while two new high-performance bruisers joined the BRP family: the RXT-X and RXP-X.
The RXT-X stems from the offshore-endurance favorite, the RXT. The performance three-seater features 255 hp propelling the big runabout up to 65 mph in record time. Only available in the silver, black, chrome, metallic orange scheme, the RXT-X features a race-inspired billet steering system with two points of adjustability and a finger-operated throttle. Instrumentation includes an enclosed depth meter and digital gauges.
The three-cylinder Rotax 4-Tec has been the darling of performance enthusiasts since its inception only a few years ago. For the X series, the previous supercharger has been replaced by a new Vortec centrifugal unit with a wider inlet and redesigned impeller, providing for more air intake while retaining the same pounds-per-square-inch of boost but at a greater velocity. Larger fuel injectors fired by a state-of-the-art ignition system sparks the fire. An aluminum intercooler cools the intake charge before it is ingested, while a straighter exhaust system (sans J-pipe) plumbs the spent gases out quicker.
The RXP-X with the VTS set at its highest point, persistently "bunny hops" from a dead start. Set up for acceleration through buoy courses, the RXP-X features an electronically controlled trim system, which can be adjusted while on the run.
The billet bars feature a subtle double X steering stem, XX being the Roman numeral for 20, in commemoration of Sea-Doo's 20th anniversary.
The GTX Limited retains its healthy 215 horses, but gains a new Garmin GPS nestled into a customized glove box-lid with a lock. Not to worry, though, because the full-color GPS is 100-percent buoyant. Inside of the gauge cluster is an incorporated depth meter, digital compass, along with the usual gauges.
We expect the RXP-X to become the runabout of choice for all competitive buoy-course venues around the world. With its race-inspired styling, motorcycle-like handling, and arm-stretching acceleration, we know of no other two-seater watercraft with matching talents.
New for 2008 is the Wake Ballast System. Able to hold up to 200 pounds worth of water, the system siphons off of the watercraft's pump to quickly fill its tanks in just over two minutes. Featuring foot wells, traction pads, and drain plugs, the Wake Ballast System is the perfect addition to the multi-faceted watercraft enthusiast.
Text by Kevin Shaw
Photography by Tim McKercher and Courtesy of Sea-Doo
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Celebrating Sea-Doo's 20th anniversary, nearly the entire brand line received the royal treatment with new graphics, colors, and seats, while two new high-performance bruisers joined the BRP family: the RXT-X and RXP-X.
The RXT-X stems from the offshore-endurance favorite, the RXT. The performance three-seater features 255 hp propelling the big runabout up to 65 mph in record time. Only available in the silver, black, chrome, metallic orange scheme, the RXT-X features a race-inspired billet steering system with two points of adjustability and a finger-operated throttle. Instrumentation includes an enclosed depth meter and digital gauges.
The three-cylinder Rotax 4-Tec has been the darling of performance enthusiasts since its inception only a few years ago. For the X series, the previous supercharger has been replaced by a new Vortec centrifugal unit with a wider inlet and redesigned impeller, providing for more air intake while retaining the same pounds-per-square-inch of boost but at a greater velocity. Larger fuel injectors fired by a state-of-the-art ignition system sparks the fire. An aluminum intercooler cools the intake charge before it is ingested, while a straighter exhaust system (sans J-pipe) plumbs the spent gases out quicker.
The RXP-X with the VTS set at its highest point, persistently "bunny hops" from a dead start. Set up for acceleration through buoy courses, the RXP-X features an electronically controlled trim system, which can be adjusted while on the run.
The billet bars feature a subtle double X steering stem, XX being the Roman numeral for 20, in commemoration of Sea-Doo's 20th anniversary.
The GTX Limited retains its healthy 215 horses, but gains a new Garmin GPS nestled into a customized glove box-lid with a lock. Not to worry, though, because the full-color GPS is 100-percent buoyant. Inside of the gauge cluster is an incorporated depth meter, digital compass, along with the usual gauges.
We expect the RXP-X to become the runabout of choice for all competitive buoy-course venues around the world. With its race-inspired styling, motorcycle-like handling, and arm-stretching acceleration, we know of no other two-seater watercraft with matching talents.
New for 2008 is the Wake Ballast System. Able to hold up to 200 pounds worth of water, the system siphons off of the watercraft's pump to quickly fill its tanks in just over two minutes. Featuring foot wells, traction pads, and drain plugs, the Wake Ballast System is the perfect addition to the multi-faceted watercraft enthusiast.
