8 replies to this topic

[jmhanep]

Have had a Challenger 230 SE on order since Club Sea-Doo and this will be my 5th twin engine Sea-Doo. Question is that I have never had one that you were able to keep both throttles even and the engines maintained the same rpm, close if you really worked the adjustments but especially running a river when the pumps load differently the rpm really get off and you need to nudge the offending lever forward. Does anyone know if the new single lever is totally cable operated or uses electronics to sychronize engines like the perfect pass system?????

[tda3]

I suspect it's a throttle-by-wire system in that it might use a cable from the throttle lever to some type of potentiometer which then sends a signal to some type of throttle sync system which in turn controls the fuel injection system.

Personally I think it's kinda stupid to have a single control for dual engines. I mean, one of the beauties of having twin engines is the docking maneuvering ability of operating one engine in forward and one in reverse.

And if single control was superior, why don't you see it on other boats with twins? I mean, if any boat could benefit from single control it would be offshore racing boats and they don't use it despite the electronic engine management systems they use.

Tom

[keviseeb]

Tom, I hate to tell you this but Seadoo has never had a model where forward and reverse can be operated independently for each engine. The current models are the not that way either. As the boat will spin in its own length in neutral bucket position anyway, I don't see the need to add mechanical complexity for virtually a zero increase in steering ability. You may be surprised to learn the throttle control on the Islandia, 230 Challenger, and 205 Utopia are all purely mechanical! The cables use a tee connector. We have yet to have a model that has not been extremely close to being synchronized all the way through the RPM range. It seems to keep working that way too, we have water tested several 2006 Islandias and Utopias recently and all are stll running the same today as they did new.

[jmhanep]

Tom, I hate to tell you this but Seadoo has never had a model where forward and reverse can be operated independently for each engine. The current models are the not that way either. As the boat will spin in its own length in neutral bucket position anyway, I don't see the need to add mechanical complexity for virtually a zero increase in steering ability. You may be surprised to learn the throttle control on the Islandia, 230 Challenger, and 205 Utopia are all purely mechanical! The cables use a tee connector. We have yet to have a model that has not been extremely close to being synchronized all the way through the RPM range. It seems to keep working that way too, we have water tested several 2006 Islandias and Utopias recently and all are stll running the same today as they did new.

I have owned 4 twin engine sea doo boats with twin throttles and have never had any of them maintain a neutral throttle position between the throttles. I always had to have one or the other ahead depending on which pump was loaded more. Still don't understand how a single throttle can be the answer? Please elaborate on how the rpm's remain the same on a single throttle system while turning the boat around a bend in the river.

Mike

[jmhanep]

Well I pick up the Challenger 230 SE on this Tuesday and yes it does have a single throttle and yes it is cable controlled. Will post the results after I have a chance to run it.

[Kevin Leclair]

Congrats on the new doo, post some pics when you get a chance too!

[RiverRacerX]

Let us know how you like it. I am still in the market.

[jmhanep]

Let us know how you like it. I am still in the market.

Have 18 hrs on the boat so far and have completed the 10 hr chk. This is the 6th twin engine seadoo I have owned and it is as close to perfect as you can be so far. Have run offshore in 3-4' waves 25-30 mph with no hard jarring. Can't make the boat porpoise under any conditions. With all windshields up including the center it was a dry ride. After break in with two people, light chop ,and 1/2-3/4 fuel it ran 57.4 mph on GPS as max speed. As I suspected the engine rpm's are slightly off from right after idle to just before max. Right engine lags the left by about 500 rpm in that range. It is not noticible in the steering so no big problem. The electric windshield option is expensive but I love it, so does my wife. Watch when fueling as the new no vent to the outside seems to want to come back out as the nozzle shuts off. Only mistake I can find so far is no security lock on the anchor bracket, and the use of std. screws in the radio cover hinge inside which are rusting already. Also the spring that supports the radio cover is like the old spring on the ski locker so people naturally just try and push it down. If not careful this will be a problem. Running the river at around 30-35 mph in tight turns you will go all the way to the lock on the wheel and sometimes have to give it more throttle to turn tighter, this has not been a problem if the driver is experienced. The boat will carve a tight turn if you nail it as you turn. The model I purchased is the SE 430, with the retractable window option, and galv trailer.

Well off to have more fun with the boat.

[DDR]

I have a new leftover 2008 and the tachometers were 500 RPM different through the throttle range. I finally noticed that the left tachometer needle wasn't dropping all the way down when the engine was shut off and rested at 500 RPM. It also jumped around a bit when I tapped on the glass. Dealer looked at it and replaced it under warranty.