Sea Doo Challenger 1800

It's got a jet motor, can turn on its own length, launches out of the water like an Exocet and, should you choose, you can hurl a curtain of spray high into the air. But, relax, relax, it's not one of those all-too-personal watercraft.

Funky, futuristic and, above all, founded on a principle of functionality, the latest jet-powered boats have created a new class of boating convert.

The boats can carry a gaggle of thrill seekers, have amenities to assuage pleasure seekers, and unlike a jetski they need only a stock-standard boating licence to drive.

MEETING THE CHALLENGE
The Challenger 1800 from Bombardier, the world's biggest manufacturer of recreational watercraft, exemplifies the new breed. A capsule of clever design, the Challenger is an adept social boat with a sporty facade and some truly smart engineering.

Being a boat rather than a 'bike', the Challenger should appease some waterways users who don't take too kindly to personal watercraft (PWCs) buzzing about their favourite anchorages. Those aboard will find plenty to embrace.

The skipper gets to drive from behind a helmstation and windscreen located aft of a foredeck. There is good vision in fair weather and foul. Passengers, meanwhile, have lots of seats and lounges.

While the handling of the Challenger is more predictable than a PWC, it is no pussy. The boat offers a good deal of fun, eye-watering acceleration, and G-forces that tug you out of your seat.

The combination of amenities and performance explains why Canadian-based Bombardier has enjoyed a strong following for its Challenger. Would-be PWC buyers like it because it packs a punch. But you will find that the Challenger offers a lot more than just thrills.

During my time aboard I cruised the Georges River for views, carried a group of comrades upriver, could have towed a skier or wakeboarder if I chose, and tackled heavy chop on the way home without drowning my passengers.

The Challenger 1800 hull has a healthy 20° of deadrise and is topped with sculptured mouldings and ergonomically-designed seating. What's more, there is plenty of storage, a first-rate finish, and sex appeal in and out of the water.

GET SMART
As mentioned above, the Challenger 1800 has some truly smart engineering. This is highlighted by a clever parking system. Jetboats only have steerage when the throttle is operated - a recipe for disaster among novice boaters. Not so on a Sea.Doo. A small turn of the wheel, to the point where you feel resistance, advances the throttle enough to shift the boat left or right. In forward or reverse gear, the boat turns while making slow progress. In neutral, it pivots about an axis defined by the jet drive.

This parking feature allows you to manoeuvre at close quarters and sidle up to a wharf with absolute aplomb. Needless to say, it gives a new driver a greater degree of control over his vessel than a first-timer grappling the handlebars of a PWC.

Crew have also been considered in the design of the Challenger. The mouldings are designed with ergonomics in mind, with a good deal of dry and wet storage space, seats that lock you in, abundant grabrails, a sound system, drinkholders, even a canopy tucked neatly overhead in a sock.

Measuring 5.46m long (almost 18ft) and 2.29m wide, the Challenger 1800 has a seven-person capacity. It carries three on an aft lounge, two behind the helm consoles, and two up front. The hull has plenty of freeboard and sheds spray until you jack it into a tight turn.

A spray rail is moulded into the hull sides and the top sides are flared.

The sides appear to increase alongside the helm and just aft of it to help protect those riding on the aft lounge. The hull's dry weight is 848kg, so it is no toy.

High density foam and thick marine-grade vinyl are used for all the seats.

Behind the aft lounge is a sunpad, which lifts to reveal access to the engine. A full-width boarding platform lets you slip in for a swim. Skiers will feel that little bit more comfortable knowing that there is no external propeller.

The bow is graced with two cleats, a split navigation light, twin handholds, two drinkholders, and storage under the seats including a central well for the anchor. The walkways between the consoles is wide enough to facilitate moving about the boat, which has a moulded, non-skid floor liner.

Rakish mouldings are used for the consoles, which are fitted with pop-up windshields. These seem flimsy at first, but they do reduce the amount of wind in your face when they are locked in position. The copilot console has a glovebox with marine stereo and there's a 12V accessory socket for the mobile phone or video camera nearby.

The helm ahead of the skipper looks nothing if not sporty. The trendy white gauges cover revs, fuel, volts, engine hours, and of course, the speed at which you are travelling. There is a side-mirror so you can check on a skier or the passengers, a good waterproof switchpanel, two drinkholders, and an underfloor ski locker.

Fuel capacity of 151lt is sufficient for a full day on the water. I spent several hours running upriver, touring the waterside houses, performing slalom tests and playing silly buggers for the camera. It didn't take long to get the hang of it and it is hard to go wrong.

WE HAVE LIFT-OFF...
The perky Mercury V-six M2 Jet Drive has enough grunt to wow everyone including the skipper - the boat does 0-30kmh in just over two seconds. Yet it's the responsiveness that leads to the greatest thrills. A mere 270° lock-to-lock in the steering system means a tweak here and there on the wheel is all you need to effect a radical turn.

Apply some throttle and accelerate out of that turn and you will leave a big rooster-tail hanging in the air or blow the back clean out of the water. A rev-limiter prevents you doing any damage to the engine, which proved smooth and not too noisy. Top speed was a recorded 48mph (78kmh), while 25-30mph (40-48kmh) offered a pleasant cruise.

So what more could you want? My test confirmed my earlier feelings about jetboats. For my money they are a good deal more practical than any PWC and perhaps even more adaptable than a conventional bowrider.

Then again, the price suggests they should have the edge. The Challenger 1800 with canopy and some extra gauges on a single-axle Australian-made trailer was selling for $48,000. Which isn't small pennies.

But as Sea.Doo says: Don't worry. Be happy! And that's the best thing about jetboats. The mod squad offers thrills and spills, comforts and sportiness, and safety to boot. It's just a pity they didn't come out sooner.