4 replies to this topic

[Jason]

I am pretty set on going the route of the Speedster.. I was 50/50 on which to get but figure im probably better off going with teh speedster 150 only for the fact that I can take more people out and at the same time do the fun stuff like pull tubes, skis, fish or just hang out.. I was having dinner with my parents and mentioned I was going to take a ride to teh dealership and they both jumped on me saying that I was stupid for wanting to get a boat and that I am just in for a world of headaches and that boats are just a burden on the pocket... My father ripped into me about all the costs associated with boats and to be honest I just find this hard to believe... I mean so many people have boats that arnt millionaires so how can it be that expensive.. I plan on purchasing the 2009 Sea-Doo Speedster 150.. It is the 155hp version so no supercharger or anything like that.. Its really just for me and my girlfriend and maybe brother to go out with mostly... But anyway.. I was just curious if anyone had a breakdown of what maintenance will be like and also what the routine is for before and after using a boat.. I am brand new to the boating world other then renting one here and there.. The speedster will be brand new with 0 hours on it and a 4 year warranty.. So anyway.. I didnt know if anyone had a run down or maybe an average figure on how much maintenance will cost each year between oil changes, winterizing, etc.. Also I was wondering what the routine is for before and after riding.. I will be trailoring the boat each time I use it.. I know you are supposed to hose it down afte each use and drain it.. But my father mentioned running a hose through it or something and said there is a bunch of other stuff.. he said that its 2 hours prep minimum before going out..

[Kevin Leclair]

There is a saying among boaters, "the most exciting day for a boater is the day they purchase a boat and they day they sell it." The reason being is because with anything it requires work and maintenance, with that being said anyone who enjoys boating doesn't mind those things. Just as a car you have maintenance, you do it because it is part of owning a car. Same goes with a boat, you will have routine maintenance, unplanned maintenance and it will require work before and after a day on the water.

Really you are the ultimate judge if you feel these things are worth owning a boat, to us yes they are because we love boating, being on the water and water sports. All the pros out weigh the cons for us.

[Jason]

There is a saying among boaters, "the most exciting day for a boater is the day they purchase a boat and they day they sell it." The reason being is because with anything it requires work and maintenance, with that being said anyone who enjoys boating doesn't mind those things. Just as a car you have maintenance, you do it because it is part of owning a car. Same goes with a boat, you will have routine maintenance, unplanned maintenance and it will require work before and after a day on the water.

Really you are the ultimate judge if you feel these things are worth owning a boat, to us yes they are because we love boating, being on the water and water sports. All the pros out weigh the cons for us.

I understand that completely and I agree with you 100%.. When I go on vacation I always rent a boat as I love to just be out on the water.. I mean I never rented anything major.. When I wasa kid it was always the boats they let ou take out down in Disney and whatnot which barely move but the idea of being out in the water was always awesome.. But I am just wondering what kind of maintenance there is.. Like what must be done before and afte riding? What should I expect to be paying if goign to dealer for regular maintenance. Just trying to get an average yearly figure in mind so that I can weigh the options out.

[Kevin Leclair]

You have will have maintenance at 10 hours, 50 hours and so on - the manual will outline all of this. You should also plan on changing the oil yearly, along with with winterizing yearly. On average I would plan at least $500 - $1000 in maintenance costs. Obviously these numbers could be greater or lower depending on if you do the work yourself or have the dealer do it. Also it depends if you do all the items, for example, we don't fully winterize yearly because our boat stays in a fully enclosed garage.

Prior to going out on the water you will need to check the battery and fill up with gas, I always fire up the boat before we leave the house to make sure everything is running okay. When you return it is recommended that you spray the boat down and flush it (this is a must if you are boating in salt water) - how much time, this will depend on how quick you are and if you have help. Plan about 15min to an hour on this, depending if you flush every time - if you are boating in fresh water it is not critical you flush every time but I would do it every 2 - 3 times.

[Borne]

You're going to find that the time you spend maintaining the boat is not excessive, and quite enjoyable. If you can afford the ~$15K, you can afford the maintenance costs. However, there are a lot of add-ons and upgrades that you may choose to make. And gas will eat a hole in your wallet too. But those are all controllable. I wont give you specs, because I have no idea how my numbers compare to the average.

But prepare yourself! You will feel incredibly jealous of people with larger engines, and faster throttles. The best way to deal with that is to challenge people to a race in 2 feet of water. Then who's crying?! (Incidentally, this is very possible, but a really bad idea which I have not yet tested. Just seems like it would be fun to put others to shame.)

Maybe you know this, but the main advantages of a 150 Speedster over most other boats is that is is maneuverable while in neutral. That is a godsend when docking in wind, positioning yourself to pick up dropped skiers, and maneuvering in and out of caves on Lake Superior. That, and you don't need to worry too hard about breaking parts in shallows.

Cheers!