From the classifieds: Sea-Doo GTR 230

However, while there are performance jet skis that want to rip your head off in a straight line and look to punish you at every turn, this isn’t one of them.

The Sea-Doo GTR 230 introduced to Australia in 2017 wore at its heart a 230hp supercharged three-cylinder Rotax 1500 HO ACE engine.

Powerful, and replacing a 215hp normally aspirated version, the supercharged version was quick enough to feel like it was on a knife’s edge – around 5.5 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint and more than 100km/h in a straight line– but not enough to cut you.

The three-seat Sea-Doo GTR 230 was branded a sports model, sitting on a flatter hull than more powerful skis with deeper vees, with sharper chines on the sponsons largely to make it corner better.

Riders could choose between Sport and Touring modes, with the former providing punchy hole shots and the latter becoming a default setting for novice riders who were a little wary of unleashing all the potential performance on tap.

An Eco mode really dulled the experience, and is probably best suited to limping back home with maximum economy, or saving fuel on the straight-line run 50 metres offshore.

Other standard features included wide side mirrors, hand grips with palm rests, a front splash deflector and bumper, padded footrests, a deep swim platform, and an easy-to-read digital dash.

The Sea-Doo GTR 230 could also include an iBR – a “brake” setting that can reverse the engine’s thrust and provide emergency stopping power.

On board was 116 litres of storage space and a 60-litre fuel tank, with the ski being rated to carry up to 272kg of payload across its high and comfy bench seat.

The Sea-Doo GTR 230’s engine was based on the 1503 Rotax 4-TEC, but for this generation added a modified external intercooler to help the supercharger perform better, as well as a high-flow head helping to produce horsepower.

The engine also gained more durability, with the alloy block using plasma-coating technology, a thermal-spraying process that adds a protective coating to the cylinder walls.

Today, early Sea-Doo GTR 230 jet skis dating back to about 2017 still command decent money on the used market. Part of the reason for this was that the ski cost almost $20,000 new even before it was sitting on a trailer.

Engine hours and maintenance are key factors for these highly strung, high-performance jet skis, so evidence of a regular servicing schedule is important.

Look for a ski stored in a garage, not in the driveway under its travel cover, and check the fibreglass hull for signs of stress – this is a jet ski that is in its element in the waves, and it may have suffered accordingly.

Look to see, too, that the owner has taken as much care with the trailer as they have with the ski; having to repair or even replace the trailer can be costly and reduce the amount of time you and your new ride are out on the water.

Last year, the Sea-Doo GTR 230 received its largest upgrade in almost a decade, rolling out a slightly larger 1.6-litre Rotax engine, more storage, and a rail mount system for accessories.

The hull also swapped out from fibreglass to reinforced plastic.