why are Sea Doo Challengers so cheap

[JasonBo]

Thats my question i see this 93 - 98's listed between 2500 to 4500 all day garage stored looking very nice condition. Is there something wrong with jet boats?

 

[H20Rat]

Re: why are Sea Doo Challengers so cheap

Thats my question i see this 93 - 98's listed between 2500 to 4500 all day garage stored looking very nice condition. Is there something wrong with jet boats?

thats a typical price for a comparable outboard powered boat. The challengers in that age bracket had rock solid engines (rotax 717 or 787's) but weren't exactly overpowered.

 

[JasonBo]

Re: why are Sea Doo Challengers so cheap

I mean i see worse looking 90's bass boats going for 5 6 grand but im guessing that due to they have 150hp engines and are 17 to 20 ft long

 

[Loco-Coco]

Re: why are Sea Doo Challengers so cheap

I've noticed this too. The only thing I can think of is that:

1) The engines, like any PWC, generally don't last all that long since they're designed to go like a raped ape. They often only see WOT and are rarely used to putt around the bay or go fishing from. That's the nature of a jet boat. I know this as I had a Waverunner. I drove the **** out of it just like the owner before me, and talking to the owner after me he does the same.

2) They're ridiculously hard on fuel compared to a similar 4-stroke I/O. I have a buddy who once had an old-school mid-90s Speedster with twin 85s. He said that at the time gas was around 80 cents/litre and when you were really out playing with it it would cost somewhere around $80/hour. Ouch.



LC.

 

[JasonBo]

Re: why are Sea Doo Challengers so cheap

I just thought it would be neat to have a little challenger put a trollie on it an use it for bay fishing

 

[redone4x4]

Re: why are Sea Doo Challengers so cheap

i would say go for it if they are for sale all the time. if you dont like it you can sell it in the spring, maybe even for a small profit. thats pretty good especially if you get a few good trips out of it and decide its not for you.

 

[seaboo]

Re: why are Sea Doo Challengers so cheap

I think alot of the reason there are so many for sale is people get tired of them. They are harder to maneuver at slow speeds, entry level ones tend to be a bit underpowered, MOST jet boats are harder on fuel than traditional drives, smaller ones are....well....small and get crowded quickly when you add people and gear. The repairs are higher than traditional drive systems (on the flip side there seem to be less "maintenance" or repairs needed.

A traditional drive system also tends to have more torque and hole shot than a jet (skiing, wakeboarding, ect.). This drawback (like maneuvering at slow speeds) is easy enough to figure out how to work around, just takes some practice and time.

Alot of people (again my opinion) buy them for a second (or starter) boat and either figure out that they don't need a 2nd boat, or a boat, or upgrade.

I've driven /ridden in them, they are fun, I enjoy them. One wouldn't replace a traditional boat (for me). I enjoy them like I do my jet ski (fun in small doses, several times a season, but won't replace my traditional drive boat.

You are correct, they sell for that amount EVERYDAY. Not that any boat is necessarily an investment, but at the routine price they sell for, I really don't see how you could lose (alot) of money if you bought one, and decided it wasn't for you and resold it the following season. If it fits your style of riding it's a (relatively) cheep way to get on the water.

 

[ziggy]

Re: why are Sea Doo Challengers so cheap

i agree with loco-coco.
2 stoke pwc engines usually need major service around 200-300 hrs. just the nature of the beast from what i've seen. that would be a drawback for me. 2 or 3 seasons before major engine work is too soon for me. same goes for pwc.

 

[tawood]

Re: why are Sea Doo Challengers so cheap

I've owned a couple of them, and I agree with everyone about engine longevity: those motors are ticking time bombs...
Also, they are hard to get someone to work on them, so expect to do ALL work yourself.
I completely disagree about them being under powered (I just don't understand peoples idea of necessary power anymore): my last one was a single engine, would do 51 mph with 4 in the boat, and was a blast towing a tube....what more do you want? Guess it was underpowered because it wouldn't do 70 mph?

 

[45Auto]

Re: why are Sea Doo Challengers so cheap

my last one was a single engine, would do 51 mph with 4 in the boat, and was a blast towing a tube

Maybe yours wasn't one of the underpowered ones they were talking about.

 

[Steve Mahler]

Re: why are Sea Doo Challengers so cheap

All the merc sport jet 90 and 120 jet boats are underpowered and generally horrible

 

[overkill]

Re: why are Sea Doo Challengers so cheap

I had a 97 Seadoo Challenger with the 110HP. bought it new, just sold it a couple years ago(college money) Loved the boat. on a calm lake she would do 60MPH, and pull off any manuver a jet ski can do. I would have to dissagree with the less manuverable part. at least with the seadoo's. they are set up so that the engine will give a little bit of thrust when you turn the wheel hard over. its nothing like driving a traditional drive system so might take some getting used to. she was my first boat so its what i learned on.
you can put it in nutral, turn the wheel hard over, and the boat will spin like a top without moving an inch in any direction. if you alternate FWD and reverse, turning hard overone way then the other, you can actually make the boat go sideways.

i dont know a GPH for it, but it did pretty good on fuel for me, yea it was run mostly at WOT, but i dont think i ever used more then 15-20 gallons with it on the water all day(little more then half a tank)

60MPH 90 degree turn

360 spin


will get another one when the money is better

 

[Chaparralboater]

Re: why are Sea Doo Challengers so cheap

I love jet boats and want one bad. But a good deal came my way for an I/o.. I wish I could go 60.. I would be happy to pay the price of fuel

 

[JasonBo]

Re: why are Sea Doo Challengers so cheap

Dont get me wrong I got a very good deal on my stratos 290 s/f. But i planon rebuilding it over the winter and selling next season. I really want somthing that will hold up over 4 seasons for the kids then i can come back to the fishing side. That and a 20 ft boat is alot of boat for me right now.