Lightweight and Low-cost Seadoo

Back in the day SeaDoo had thumb throttles, rather than the finger throttles on Yamahas. Boy I hated them. My thumb always got numb after an hour of riding.

I concur the IBR is the only way to go, especially since they moved the levers to the finger side. Yamaha has almost exactly the same thing - I don't know who came out with the design first.

The other Yami advantage is the cruise control, which lets you hold at a fixed rpm without having to control the throttle lever. Finally, their no wake speed control lets you cruise in calm waters without even having to touch any levers. Doos may have these options as well, but i haven't looked at one since I switched. Yamis are made in Georgia, USA.

Sparks have a polypropylene hull, just like Fisher Price toys. Yami hulls are built from thin pieces of a fiberglas composite that are pressed together under pressure to build thickness. As such the former is not repairable, but the latter is. A Spark can still be fixed, but the whole hull has to be replaced.

As I said before, I was a Doo guy since they first came out, and an owner since 1999. One ride in a new Yami was all that it took to get us to switch.

Again, just my opinion. I'm also a SeaRay guy, but don't hold that against me.....LOL.
 
When we get this decided can we discuss Ford vs Chevy? (Ford of course :))

Like they say about Porsche's and Ferrari's, you date a Ferrari but you marry a Porsche, that's how I feel about SeaDoo vs Yami. I've had the same Yamaha FX HO Cruiser for 10 years. It lives outside on a floater 365 days a year. Every year it starts for the first time like I'd ridden it the day before. It's built like an anvil so we happily turn it over to inexperienced riders who inevitably seem to bang into things. (I have one rule when they get on it, never EVER EVER point it directly at my boat!!) Its so reliable and stable that it never gives me an excuse to buy another one, even though I do lust after some of the new features.

That said, most of my dockmates and family have SeaDoo's. They do seem 'sportier' but I find them less stable. Compared to my FX they also seem drier to ride at slow speeds in choppy water however maybe the newer Yami's got that resolved.

The new Spark seems to be a bit like the original SeaDoo's that were tippy but chuckable. That makes for great donut-fun but that thrill faded for me years ago. I like to be able to effortlessly cruise around on a rock-solid platform and sight see or blast across the chop in as much comfort as possible for a short light craft.
 
Everybody has their own opinion. Its just so nice to see everybody has been civil in this thread.

It's funny, my personal feeling has always been that Doos are more stable than Yamis, and they are drier. That was true when they were all 2-strokes. Now Yami FXs are much more stable, but still not as much as a GTX. That goes for Yamis to this day. I can't comment on Doos from the last 3 model years.

On another note, Chevy is the ONLY one and you marry a Corvette.
 
I haven't kept up with current sled models....but back in the 90's and early 2k years I spent a ton of time on many different ones. I always loved the Rotax engines the most.

When Sea Doo came out with their FIRST jet boats, (early 90's if I recall) the first year run I bought their twin engine Speedster. (early whit models with some purple) This was back when it was 14' and twin 80's. The thing was crazy....0-50 no boat could touch me, topped out around 57mph when light on gas and in the calm. You could do full speed, keep both throttles pegged, tach at ~6,200 rpm, and with the 90* lock steering wheel do a quick full turn, the boat would do a 180* real quick and be facing the other direction in seconds..and rocket off. Talk about crazy g-forces! Or...sometimes if I had someone in the bow pad seat (lol)...when doing around 40 or so I'd slam it in reverse. With jet drives..they don't know the difference...no gears, always spinning the same, just the cavitation plates come down and redirect the thrust about 45* down and forward. So the stern would lift up, bow would sometimes submerge...scare the heck out of the person up front.

Engines were bullet proof. Well made engine compartment, easy to service everything. Ran that boat good for ~5 years and sold her at a top price.

Quality wise..fit 'n finish, yeah I did feel Yami's were a bit better top sides 'n all. I just liked the SD's Bombardier Rotax engines better. Kawi's never gave me wood.
 
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