From the classifieds: Sea-Doo Fish Pro 155

It was a radical move, because now instead of buying a jet ski and modifying it using aftermarket accessories to become an ideal one-up fishing platform, fishing enthusiasts could buy one that was ready to hit the water.

It was an instant success for Sea-Doo. Sales of the Fish Pro model brought a big bump in sales for the brand.

The launch model for Sea-Doo’s fishing specialist was the Sea-Doo Fish Pro 155. At 3.74 metres end to end and the only Sea-Doo to feature an extended rear deck, it was the longest model in the Sea-Doo jet ski line-up.

The Sea-Doo Fish Pro 155 was built on the same ST3 hull as the more premium models in the Sea-Doo range.

The extra 30cm of rear deck gave it more carrying capacity than the regular models, meaning owners suddenly had a place to add a 15-litre fuel can, as well as a 51-litre cooler box.

The cooler box’s lid featured a grippy surface, and its sides were fitted with four rod holders. A mesh net on the front of it was a perfect place to store hook removers and filleting knives.

Up at the handlebars, the Sea-Doo Fish Pro 155 featured a 6.0-inch Garmin EchoMap fishfinder, while in front of the rider was a 7.6-inch digital dash – although with push-button rather than touchscreen operation.

The other benefit of the Fish Pro model was more fuel capacity, with the onboard tank holding 70 litres, an extra 10 litres over other high-end models.

Powering the Sea-Doo Fish Pro 155 was a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre in-line three-cylinder Rotax engine, producing around 116kW. Newer versions of the ski, sold as the Sea-Doo Fish Pro 170, now spit out 126kW.

A few of these skis are starting to come onto the market as owners who started out on PWC-based fishing step up to a trailer boat.

A dedicated fishing jet ski is probably used quite differently to ones with a more leisurely focus, so expect to find a used Sea-Doo Fish Pro 155 to be well maintained by its previous owner.

Depending on the age of the ski, you may need to have it checked to ensure its carbon seal – a watertight ring that stops water flowing in past the driveshaft – is still working as it should.

You don’t have to worry as much about the Sea-Doo Fish Pro 155’s cooling system, as it uses a sealed system that keeps the cooling fluid separate from the water the jet ski rides in.

If the previous owner has regularly headed offshore to fish, it may pay to have the engine mounts inspected. This model of Sea-Doo only has three engine mounts compared with the more common four, so thumping down off waves can create more wear and tear.

The Rotax engines tend to be pretty economical on fuel compared with rivals, so expect to feel a bit less range anxiety if you’re making an extended trip.

Prices of used Sea-Doo Fish Pro 155s tend to be quite close to a new Sea-Doo Fish Pro 170, largely because the Fish Pro is such a popular model. The COVID-19 pandemic has also helped to keep prices high as people who previously hadn’t thought of owning a jet ski jump on board.

Judge the price carefully, because the money they command can almost buy you a good second-hand small trailer boat package.

But, if you’re starting to think beach-based fishing has lost its magic, a used Sea-Doo Fish Pro 155 is still a cheap way of getting out on the water.