It’s been said that the happiest day of being a boat owner occurs when you decide to purchase your vessel. The second-happiest day of your life ends up being the day when you sell your boat.
Until 2012, Sea-Doo manufactured several popular boat models, including the Challenger, Speedster, and Sportster. Some of the models offered up to 430 HP, but even the entry-level choices started at 155 horsepower.
What made the boats unique was the use of a jet propulsion system through one or two Rotax engines. Instead of a propeller for thrust, the technology is similar to jet skis that use an impeller.
Unless you want to manage expensive maintenance needs, don’t buy a Sea-Doo Challenger if you want a boat.
Don’t Buy a Seadoo Challenger
Don’t buy a Sea-doo Challenger 1800 used. Before purchasing a secondhand jet ski, you’ll want to take several factors into account, such as how hard it was ridden and the maintenance schedule that they followed with the craft. The first question to ask is if it was used on saltwater.
The issue with the Sea-Doo Challenger (and all impeller vessels) is that the water gets sucked up into the jet drive. Anything that is out there while you’re driving gets jammed in there simultaneously unless a weed screen is available.
Challengers are notoriously prone to sucking up seaweed, ropes, and debris into the pump. Once that happens, you have significant issues to manage when restoring the vessel to full functionality.
That’s why you don’t want to buy a Sea-Doo Challenger 1800 or any other model. Although jet propulsion is fun to use, it isn’t practical on a vessel the size of this boat. It tends to be harder to steer, especially in tight places, and the noise is significantly higher than what you’ll find on other PWC.
◼️ What If I Want to Purchase a Seadoo Challenger?
Don’t buy a Sea-Doo Challenger 1800. You don’t know where it has been or who has been driving it over the past decade. Even if you got the latest one off the line, the model year for it was 2012.
That’s a long time to build up potential maintenance issues for a vessel, especially if it hasn’t been given enough attention around the pump.
There is an alternative for you to consider. A company called Rec Boat Holdings LLC purchased the jet boat assets from Sea-Doo when the brand decided to dump this portion of its inventory line. Once the transaction was complete, a new boat called a Scarab was introduced to the marketplace.
Scarab boats are essentially the recreation of the Sea-Doo Challenger. Not only are they powered with the same Rotax engines as the previous jet boats, but they also feature almost all the same features, upgrades, and design specs.
What to Know About the Lineup of Scarab Boats
When you see boats like the Scarab 195 ID or the 255 Open ID, the visual aesthetics from the Sea-Doo Challenger are immediately apparent. Although the colors are different and some of the shaping is unique, you’ll find a similar driving experience with a brand-new jet boat when working with this brand.
Since you’re purchasing the boat new, you can expect to pay a significant price for some of the models. Here’s an overview of the six primary stock models and the suggested retail price.
| Scarab 165 ID | MSRP: $27,452 |
| Scarab 195 ID | MSRP: $40,382 |
| Scarab 215 ID | MSRP: $52,675 |
| Scarab 255 ID | MSRP: $71,467 |
| Scarab 255 Open ID | MSRP: $71,733 |
| Scarab 285 ID | MSRP: $113,067 |
You have the option to build your own jet boat when working with Scarab. That means you can trick it out with virtually anything, creating an unlimited pricing profile. There are vessels out there being used today with available upgrades priced above $140,000.
When you look at the price of a Sea-Doo Challenger from 2010-2012 on the secondhand market, you can often find them priced in the $25,000 range. The starting price for the older vessels can be as low as $5,000.
Since most used boats are for sale by the owner, you’ll need to speak directly with the person or agency from a found listing.
Most of the boats tend to be located in Florida or Texas, and you might not receive the trailer as part of the transaction. Before traveling to purchase a used Sea-Doo, please remember to have it professionally inspected to avoid getting a lemon.
Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Used Sea-Doo
Before you purchase a jet boat instead of a more traditional design, you’ll want to consider a few factors during the transaction. If you keep the following key points in mind during the vessel inspection and initial negotiations, it is easier to get a great deal or know you can walk away from a potential money pit.
1. Don’t buy a two-stroke Sea-Doo engine.
During the 1990s, most jet-style engines for boats and other personal watercraft were two-stroke engines. Although this technology works just fine, the pollution profile from the motor is significant. It’s also much harder to find the parts since most of them are 20+ years old at this point.
If you run into a two-stroke Sea-Doo vessel, it is essential to check on its compression ratio before even thinking about a purchase. A professional mechanic should also inspect the boat to ensure it can operate safely.
The first four-stroke Sea-Doo didn’t reach the market until 2002. Until 2007, the brand included both.
2. Engine hours shouldn’t be your first consideration.
You’ll find Sea-Doo experts talking about how most jet engines are built to last for about 300 hours of driving time.
Although that figure is a nice average for some smaller craft, the reality is that some can last for twice that time when the previous owners followed the recommended maintenance schedule.
It’s more important to review the hull, the pump, the overall shape of the craft, and its compression before considering engine hours.
If you purchase a compression gauge before reviewing a Sea-Doo listing, you can see if each cylinder performs above 100 PSI and has a similar reading to the others.
3. Water test the Sea-Doo Challenger first.
Before you purchase a secondhand Sea-Doo Challenger (or any other boat), it should get water tested to ensure it can perform. You want the vessel to take off immediately.
As you push the throttle, check to see that everything is in a safe range instead of getting red-lined right away.
Although the process isn’t scientific, you should have a smile when you’re running at full speed on a Sea-Doo. If the boat doesn’t make you happy, it’s time to move on to the following listing to inspect.
Even if you purchase a used Sea-Doo Challenger 1800 from a dealership, you can demand that the vessel get water tested before buying it. Although it is probably fine, you shouldn’t trust anyone when purchasing a secondhand boat.
4. Check the Sea-Doo Challenger for damage.
The first thing to check on any boat is the wear and tear on the seats. When damage occurs here, it means a cover wasn’t kept on the vessel.
When an owner is too lazy to cover a boat that they can’t store in a building, it’s usually a good indication that the yearly maintenance schedule wasn’t followed.
When you see slight tears in a seat over ten years old, that’s a good sign. It shows that the boat was well-loved.
If chunks have gone missing or tears occur where people don’t sit, that’s an indication you should avoid buying that boat.
5. Inspect the boat around the pump and engine.
Is the engine’s paint starting to flake off? If it is, don’t buy a Sea-Doo Challenger in that condition. It’ll be a matter of time before the corrosion starts causing electrical problems that can be expensive to fix.
You can inspect the boat to see if it has been sunk by taking the seats off. If they are heavy, almost to the point where it feels nearly impossible to carry them, the Challenger was likely submerged. The water stays in that foam for a long time.
Don’t Buy a Seadoo Challenger 1800!
The only reason to purchase a Sea-Doo Challenge 1800 from before 2002 is if the original owner replaced the engine. It should have a weedless system to prevent damage, and you might want to see new upholstery. Even then, you might have more problems with it than with a propeller-style option.
When you get behind the wheel of a Sea-Doo Challenger, you’ll hit top speed quickly. Most of the jet boats from this brand can plane in under four seconds!
Many of the Challenger models will seat eight people safely. Don’t forget about bringing approved life jackets to ensure you’re meeting local laws and guidelines.
My first choice would be to purchase a new Scarab since the design elements are the same. That way, I’d know I was starting on the right foot with vessel ownership!
Don’t buy a Sea-Doo Challenger unless you have no other choice – especially if it is from before 2002.
It isn’t worth the headache.