| Sea-Doo | |
| Producttype: | Personal watercraft |
| Producedby: | Bombardier Recreational Products |
| Country: | Canada |
| Related: | Sea-Doo XP, Ski-Doo |
| Markets: | Worldwide |
Sea-Doo is a Canadian brand of personal watercraft (PWC) and boats manufactured by Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP).[1] [2] All Sea-Doo models are driven by an impeller-driven waterjet.[3] [4] All Sea-Doo PWC models are produced at BRP's plants in Querétaro and Juárez, Mexico. Its Rotax engines are produced at BRP's plant in Gunskirchen, Austria.[5] In 2016, Sea-Doo had a 45.8% share of the PWC market.[6]
Bombardier introduced its first personal watercraft in 1968, called the Bombardier Sea-Doo. It was designed by Clayton Jacobson II, who would later develop the more successful Kawasaki Jet Ski watercraft.[7] Also heavily involved was Bombardier's Laurent Beaudoin, who was interested in expanding the success of the Ski-Doo snowmobile to the PWC market. Advertised as the "Jet-powered Aqua Scooter",[8] the original yellow Sea-Doo was 5 feet wide and 7.5 feet long, somewhat resembling a flying saucer. In 1968, it was powered by an air-cooled, 320cc engine with a top speed of 25 mph. Following complaints of overheating and inefficiency, it was replaced in 1969 with a water-cooled 372cc engine.[9] There were common complaints about discomfort from its flat seat and minimally-padded Ski-Doo supplied stainless steel handlebars. After only two years on the market, it was discontinued.[10]
The Sea-Doo was re-introduced in 1988 as its own brand under Bombardier. By 1995, annual sales for the Sea-Doo reached over 100,000 units, signaling a turnaround in the company's declining sales.[1] By 1997 the company had $212 million in sales, recapturing over half of the PWC market.[1] [11] [12] In 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sea-Doo personal watercraft converted into explosive unmanned surface vehicles were used to attack Russian naval vessels at the Sevastopol Naval Base.[13]
There are five categories of Sea-Doo models: Recreation, Tow Sports, Touring, Sport Fishing, and Performance.[14]
The Sea-Doo jet-powered sport boats included a four-seater Sportster 150 with 155 hp or 215 hp, a four-seater Speedster 150 with 255 hp, and a seven-seater Speedster 200 with 310 hp, and a Speedster 230 with space for up to twelve people. The Wake 200 model was made for wakeboarding and the two Challenger models were less sporty and more luxurious: a smaller Challenger 180 and a larger Challenger 210. In 2012, BRP discontinued sport boat production, citing a decline in global sales in the marine industry. This meant the loss of 350 jobs, including most of those at a plant in Benton, Illinois.[15]
The Sea-Doo Spark which was released in 2014 was aimed to attract new buyers to the decreasing PWC market. This model was in development for eight years and was code-named CAFE (clean, affordable, fun, and easy to use).[16] It used a unique polytec hull and deck structure to cut costs and weight. The Spark quickly became the best-selling Sea-Doo model.[17]
In August 2021 they released a Pontoon boat style boat called the Switch.[18]