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- Apr 5, 2011
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I don't get into the habit of naming boats that I test. I leave that for the future owner, hopefully someone who reads these reviews (which are usually banged out at near stream-of-conscious thought), gleans insight or some faint meaning from them, and extrapolates that out to a purchase decision. My aim is not so much to provide specs and information - you can get that anywhere. I get a charge out of The Feeling. How does it make you feel? Because, in the end when we put our boats up on the hard at the end of the season, The Feeling is why we all do it, isn't it? And it's the reason why we cannot wait to splash the boats again for another season, and for another fix. The name is merely an expression of those memories, an emotional (and usually meaningful) construct festooned to the back of a boat with registration numbers. The memories and the name? Quite simply, that's your job.
So here I was in the middle of a lake in Florida, having just taken a quick early morning lap with the GTX215, a vessel I lovingly started calling Goldilocks.
Goldi, as I had taken to call her, was in the process of charming the pants off of me, and I was falling hard. Now, I try not to get emotionally involved - strictly professional, as most politicians would say. But this machine was having her way with me, and my walls started crumbling. Having test ridden the base GTI up to the 260 hp RXP-X, I kept coming back to the same basic conclusion: this was the sweetheart, the one that was the best mix of performance, luxury, and value. The Goldilocks of the bunch, if you will.
Let's get the formalities out of the way. New for 2014, the GTX 215 Limited is what you would expect - a lower power 3-up sibling to Big Brother (and top dog) GTX 260 Limited.
Complete with all the features that make the 260 Limited special (special coloring, full luxury features like a cushy touring seat, iBR, electronic engine control, electronic trim, full gauges with reconfigurable display, and that's just to start), the 215 is also notable for what it lacks: 45 horsepower and the Intelligent Suspension system that the 260 gets.
This isn't the detriment that it might appear to be, because for the performance-oriented touring rider, the removal of some complexity pays dividends. The GTX series still rides on the S3 hull that the Performance models get, runs much the same 4-TEC Supercharged Rotax that those models get, but add a thick coating of luxury to the experience. The result is the perfect tourer, a machine with all-day comfort, and performance at the rider's whim. The fun factor is extremely high, the craft providing feelings and emotions that are simply unavailable from a boat at this price point. Removing the suspension system results in a more "pure" ride that feels in some ways sportier than the iS models, but it also removes complexity. This is a good thing for the family person who intends on running this thing long-term. Handling doesn't seem to suffer one iota...dip your shoulder down, lean into the power, and the GTX 215 bites down, rotates, and rockets out of corners like it's deranged.
Dip deeper into another corner, and you can get as wet as you want to. As for the power, yeah, it's down from 260 hp - but's not something you are going to notice. The GTX 215 still tops out in the lower 60s and will give the Yamaha FX Cruiser SHO a run for its money. Acceleration in Sport Mode could charitably be described as brutal.
There are other aspects to the 215 that point to a pleasurable owning experience. The 4 cycle Rotax triple has closed cooling and fuel injection. Standard tilt steering means anyone can find a comfortable riding position. The touring seat provides plenty of cushion over rough water, and the hull handled bigger wakes and waves with no effort at all. The hull itself was quite stable for standing up and walking around, and the swim platform was plenty roomy for watersports, with a swing-down boarding ladder. There's over 13 gallons of storage capacity as well as a fuel tank with a 15.9 gallon capacity. That means all-day gear with all-day range - provided you keep the throttle in touring mode and set the (standard) cruise control.
I couldn't help but feel that during my test this would be the perfect exploration vehicle for the person or family that doesn't want to be tied down to one waterway...or a larger watercraft and it's associated expenses. It's the ultimate water-born multitasker. And since everyone gets on a personal watercraft to destroy calm water, I wanted something...more. I wanted a boat ride. So arriving at the test venue early, I got the keys to the 215 and headed off....well, anywhere. I wasn't on a leash and I wasn't with any other riders. Just me and the PWC, and I was looking to put some serious running time on the engine. I wanted to see how the 215 would handle longer rides..and how I would too, for that matter.
The test venue was a freshwater lake chain in Central Florida, and not knowing the water system too well, I wasn't worried about how skinny the water got. It's not that I was overly concerned...with the jet drive and standard depth finder, I pretty much always knew what to expect, but not worrying about a propeller was liberating. I was already enjoying the beautiful weather as I left the first lake through a very narrow channel.
Popping out on the other side, I placed the 215 in Touring mode, and brought the boat up onto a relaxed plane at 30 mph. Slight leans to one side or another, a nudge on the handlebars, and that was all that was required for course corrections. Suddenly I wasn't testing a boat anymore...I was enjoying it. Following the shoreline and admiring the beautiful houses, I eyed the other side of the lake, with equally beautiful properties....and with a slight pull on the bars and a squeeze of the throttle, I was there in seconds. Boats came and went, and the 215 took the chop in stride. All too soon, another lake in the chain down.
Motoring through another no wake zone channel, I was able to evaluate slow speed handling. Sea Doo incorporated a feature on their PWCs called Steering Assist, where the RPM is brought up if the handlebars are turned full lock to make the craft turn. It really works well, and I never felt out of control - even for me, someone raised on boats exclusively with stern drives. The iBR system was also genius...a quick tug of the left handle puts the PWC in neutral, with a nice side effect: The thrust diverted to either side is enough to rotate the boat in-situ. This is a great feature that allows near-pinpoint accuracy in tight places. Pulling the left lever puts the craft into reverse, and tapping the throttle lever puts the boat into forward. Simple, and intuitive.
Another lake opened up before me, another easy cruise across, cool breezes, amazing scenery. Yes, I was truly enjoying myself now. I was happy. I was miles away from anyone and anything familiar, and my problems seemed half a world away. The wind blew through my hair, the sun was brilliant, the water clear and serene. I didn't care that the 215 could rip my arms out of my sockets and corner hard enough to behead me....it was equally up to relaxed touring. By the time I had reached the last lake in the chain, a full hour and a half had passed. I had absolutely lost track of time, and very nearly where I was. Glancing at my phone revealed text messages from Sea Doo like "Are you okay", and "We're going to report that thing stolen if you don't get back here." Honestly, they were right to be worried, because I was having a great time and I didn't want to give it back. Nevertheless....time turn around....and to raise the heartbeat.
Clearing the no wake zone, I had 4 lakes to clear in a very short amount of time. A quick toggle of the mode button flipped the engine mapping into Sport mode, and I pinned the throttle. In a flash, I was on plane and shredding across the water...30...40....50.... The supercharger screamed with glee. I couldn't hear anything after that. I didn't dare move my head for fear that my Ray Bans would be torn off my face. My eyes were watering. I didn't care. 55.....60.....62...Goldilocks was starting to run out of breath, but it didn't matter because at these speeds I was on top of the next no wake zone in fivefourthreeetwo....****, hit the brakes! Squeezing the iBR brought a surprising amount of deceleration - it felt like I threw a parachute over the side. I was at idle speed just as I passed the no wake buoy. I was sweating, breathing hard, giggling. It was liberating, and I wanted more. The channel was a ludicrous 5 minute slog to wait for my next hit. Patience, it seems, has it's reward...because once I cleared the No Wake Zone, it was party-time all over again. The supercharger spooled up with it's characteristic zeal, and in 20 seconds flat I was across the lake and entering the last channel. A quick run through, a quick jaunt to the left, and I was back to home base. And, if I am honest, sad to turn the keys back into to a slightly relieved looking handler.
As I said before, an ideal touring machine, and a study in the dichotomy of good and evil. Relaxed and comfortable when you want it to be, and an absolute animal when you're ready to indulge your juvenile delinquency. The battle between Sea Doo and Yamaha will not be settled here in these words, but there's no doubting the passion in Sea Doo's products. Goldilocks had her hooks in me and she knew it. In love, parting is such sweet sorrow. I guess I may have to arrange for a little more of a commitment.
Matt Train is a life-long boater living in the greater Chicago area with his wife/first mate, Susan. Matt has provided numerous articles on powerboats from major manufacturers. Look for more of Matt's reviews in the future.
So here I was in the middle of a lake in Florida, having just taken a quick early morning lap with the GTX215, a vessel I lovingly started calling Goldilocks.
Goldi, as I had taken to call her, was in the process of charming the pants off of me, and I was falling hard. Now, I try not to get emotionally involved - strictly professional, as most politicians would say. But this machine was having her way with me, and my walls started crumbling. Having test ridden the base GTI up to the 260 hp RXP-X, I kept coming back to the same basic conclusion: this was the sweetheart, the one that was the best mix of performance, luxury, and value. The Goldilocks of the bunch, if you will.
Let's get the formalities out of the way. New for 2014, the GTX 215 Limited is what you would expect - a lower power 3-up sibling to Big Brother (and top dog) GTX 260 Limited.
Complete with all the features that make the 260 Limited special (special coloring, full luxury features like a cushy touring seat, iBR, electronic engine control, electronic trim, full gauges with reconfigurable display, and that's just to start), the 215 is also notable for what it lacks: 45 horsepower and the Intelligent Suspension system that the 260 gets.
This isn't the detriment that it might appear to be, because for the performance-oriented touring rider, the removal of some complexity pays dividends. The GTX series still rides on the S3 hull that the Performance models get, runs much the same 4-TEC Supercharged Rotax that those models get, but add a thick coating of luxury to the experience. The result is the perfect tourer, a machine with all-day comfort, and performance at the rider's whim. The fun factor is extremely high, the craft providing feelings and emotions that are simply unavailable from a boat at this price point. Removing the suspension system results in a more "pure" ride that feels in some ways sportier than the iS models, but it also removes complexity. This is a good thing for the family person who intends on running this thing long-term. Handling doesn't seem to suffer one iota...dip your shoulder down, lean into the power, and the GTX 215 bites down, rotates, and rockets out of corners like it's deranged.
Dip deeper into another corner, and you can get as wet as you want to. As for the power, yeah, it's down from 260 hp - but's not something you are going to notice. The GTX 215 still tops out in the lower 60s and will give the Yamaha FX Cruiser SHO a run for its money. Acceleration in Sport Mode could charitably be described as brutal.
There are other aspects to the 215 that point to a pleasurable owning experience. The 4 cycle Rotax triple has closed cooling and fuel injection. Standard tilt steering means anyone can find a comfortable riding position. The touring seat provides plenty of cushion over rough water, and the hull handled bigger wakes and waves with no effort at all. The hull itself was quite stable for standing up and walking around, and the swim platform was plenty roomy for watersports, with a swing-down boarding ladder. There's over 13 gallons of storage capacity as well as a fuel tank with a 15.9 gallon capacity. That means all-day gear with all-day range - provided you keep the throttle in touring mode and set the (standard) cruise control.
I couldn't help but feel that during my test this would be the perfect exploration vehicle for the person or family that doesn't want to be tied down to one waterway...or a larger watercraft and it's associated expenses. It's the ultimate water-born multitasker. And since everyone gets on a personal watercraft to destroy calm water, I wanted something...more. I wanted a boat ride. So arriving at the test venue early, I got the keys to the 215 and headed off....well, anywhere. I wasn't on a leash and I wasn't with any other riders. Just me and the PWC, and I was looking to put some serious running time on the engine. I wanted to see how the 215 would handle longer rides..and how I would too, for that matter.
The test venue was a freshwater lake chain in Central Florida, and not knowing the water system too well, I wasn't worried about how skinny the water got. It's not that I was overly concerned...with the jet drive and standard depth finder, I pretty much always knew what to expect, but not worrying about a propeller was liberating. I was already enjoying the beautiful weather as I left the first lake through a very narrow channel.
Popping out on the other side, I placed the 215 in Touring mode, and brought the boat up onto a relaxed plane at 30 mph. Slight leans to one side or another, a nudge on the handlebars, and that was all that was required for course corrections. Suddenly I wasn't testing a boat anymore...I was enjoying it. Following the shoreline and admiring the beautiful houses, I eyed the other side of the lake, with equally beautiful properties....and with a slight pull on the bars and a squeeze of the throttle, I was there in seconds. Boats came and went, and the 215 took the chop in stride. All too soon, another lake in the chain down.
Motoring through another no wake zone channel, I was able to evaluate slow speed handling. Sea Doo incorporated a feature on their PWCs called Steering Assist, where the RPM is brought up if the handlebars are turned full lock to make the craft turn. It really works well, and I never felt out of control - even for me, someone raised on boats exclusively with stern drives. The iBR system was also genius...a quick tug of the left handle puts the PWC in neutral, with a nice side effect: The thrust diverted to either side is enough to rotate the boat in-situ. This is a great feature that allows near-pinpoint accuracy in tight places. Pulling the left lever puts the craft into reverse, and tapping the throttle lever puts the boat into forward. Simple, and intuitive.
Another lake opened up before me, another easy cruise across, cool breezes, amazing scenery. Yes, I was truly enjoying myself now. I was happy. I was miles away from anyone and anything familiar, and my problems seemed half a world away. The wind blew through my hair, the sun was brilliant, the water clear and serene. I didn't care that the 215 could rip my arms out of my sockets and corner hard enough to behead me....it was equally up to relaxed touring. By the time I had reached the last lake in the chain, a full hour and a half had passed. I had absolutely lost track of time, and very nearly where I was. Glancing at my phone revealed text messages from Sea Doo like "Are you okay", and "We're going to report that thing stolen if you don't get back here." Honestly, they were right to be worried, because I was having a great time and I didn't want to give it back. Nevertheless....time turn around....and to raise the heartbeat.
Clearing the no wake zone, I had 4 lakes to clear in a very short amount of time. A quick toggle of the mode button flipped the engine mapping into Sport mode, and I pinned the throttle. In a flash, I was on plane and shredding across the water...30...40....50.... The supercharger screamed with glee. I couldn't hear anything after that. I didn't dare move my head for fear that my Ray Bans would be torn off my face. My eyes were watering. I didn't care. 55.....60.....62...Goldilocks was starting to run out of breath, but it didn't matter because at these speeds I was on top of the next no wake zone in fivefourthreeetwo....****, hit the brakes! Squeezing the iBR brought a surprising amount of deceleration - it felt like I threw a parachute over the side. I was at idle speed just as I passed the no wake buoy. I was sweating, breathing hard, giggling. It was liberating, and I wanted more. The channel was a ludicrous 5 minute slog to wait for my next hit. Patience, it seems, has it's reward...because once I cleared the No Wake Zone, it was party-time all over again. The supercharger spooled up with it's characteristic zeal, and in 20 seconds flat I was across the lake and entering the last channel. A quick run through, a quick jaunt to the left, and I was back to home base. And, if I am honest, sad to turn the keys back into to a slightly relieved looking handler.
As I said before, an ideal touring machine, and a study in the dichotomy of good and evil. Relaxed and comfortable when you want it to be, and an absolute animal when you're ready to indulge your juvenile delinquency. The battle between Sea Doo and Yamaha will not be settled here in these words, but there's no doubting the passion in Sea Doo's products. Goldilocks had her hooks in me and she knew it. In love, parting is such sweet sorrow. I guess I may have to arrange for a little more of a commitment.
Matt Train is a life-long boater living in the greater Chicago area with his wife/first mate, Susan. Matt has provided numerous articles on powerboats from major manufacturers. Look for more of Matt's reviews in the future.