Sea-Doo Spark

Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) has reignited the watercraft market with its transformative Spark. You get affordable fun, a three-seater option for family inclusion, and enough speed to enthuse converts. With mum and two thrill-seeking kids champing at the bit, BoatPoint and boatsales put the Spark to the test.

OVERVIEW
- Bringing back affordable fun afloat
In some ways, BRP went back to the future to ignite the declining watercraft market. Its innovative and aptly named Spark, priced from just $7800 with a standard 60hp engine and two-seater layout (sans trailer), is all about creating opportunities for the masses and accessible riding fun.

The pared-back watercraft removes a lot of the boundaries that might otherwise prevent ownership. The Spark is intuitive and rusty rider mum (pictured) proved as much, turning the ignition key, pressing the start button, grabbing the handlebars and pressing a trigger or two. Quick as that, she was skipping down Pittwater chasing our mothership.

With the 90hp HO engine upgrade, speeds up to 80km/h are plenty fast enough. Mum and our young son (4) almost considered it excessive, while daughter (7) and Dad enjoyed all those horses that come standard with the three-seater model we had on test.

In two-seater guise, the base 60hp engine is obviously tamer. It gives 65km/h (40mph) top speed, which takes us back to where we were riding watercraft 20-years ago. But according to Sea-Doo design director Jacques Mayrand that’s not all bad.

"That was the speed in the beginning. In 1995, they were going at that speed. This is fun and, hey, we’re having a great time at that speed. This is the first engine.

"The second engine (90hp) delivers 50mph (80km/h). At that speed you can challenge yourself a little bit without putting yourself in danger. With a 90hp and a [weight] ratio that’s really light you can compare the Spark with a Honda Civic," Mayrand says.

Fuel consumption or lack thereof adds to the appeal of the Spark. During average cycling, the base 60hp engine uses just 7.3 litres per hour, while the 90hp consumes 9.0 litres per hour. After the best part of a weekend zooming around our mothership, we topped up the tank for less than $20.

DESIGNER LINES
- A completely new and compact approach
Sea-Doo says the watercraft industry really needed something different to bring back the easy fun. Not with bigger and bigger engines, but with something completely new. This was the impetus for the Spark.

"The first key difference you see is the size of it. It’s very small compared to any other [Sea-Doo] product we have. The second point is the surprising opening at the front [cowl]," Mayrand says.

"We’re so used to having a closed box. There are two plastic arms and it’s structural, to make the Spark rigid and really solid on the water. And there’s a nice place to put your stuff," he explains.

"If you’re new to the business, you don’t want to be scared. This is why this product will fit you. It’s so small you can manoeuvre it with ease. It’s clean. You don’t need to take care of oil and all that stuff. And when you ride it, it’s intuitive," Mayrand adds.

"The learning curve is fast and so you will have fun from the first second. Then the more you learn it, the more the fun increases. It’s simple and its 'easy peasy'."

EASY FUN FOR EVERYONE
- A fast learning curve then the fun increases
This is the claim that resonates with our crew and helps convince mum to get back in the saddle. Our Spark, an upgraded demo model with the works, is collected from Beaches Recreational Powersports in Balgowlah during the frenetic pre-Christmas rush.

The launch at the Pittwater ramp is uneventful, but the anticipation is palpable among our soon-to-be riders. The intuitive claim is immediately put to the test and the brake (iBR was an upgrade) is welcome. Without much ado she is sparking.

The biggest Sea-Doo dealer in the world, JSW Powersports on the Gold Coast, says the Spark has opened new doors. "It’s become 25 per cent and more of our business," Jeff McNiven from JSW Powersports told us. "People are enjoying the ride and now starting to come back and get bigger skis.

"And because of the Spark’s light weight, it’s a popular tender (davits commonly have a 250kg lift capacity), especially with the optional iBR braking system."

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Demo with the works including must-have brake
From a base price of $7800 for the small 60hp engine and no trailer, our Spark demonstrator had the works and topped out at $12,000 driveaway on road. But even as an upgraded three-seater (205kg carry capacity) instead of two-seater (160kg capacity), and with all the fruit and a bigger 90hp engine, the Spark offers abundant affordable fun. For this family of four recreational riders, it was more than enough.

Along with the 90hp engine upgrade that comes with the three-seater (cost about $1100 and well spent on the two seater), the big option was iBR braking (about $1000), which is so effective as to be deemed a must, especially as we were using the Spark as a tender to a 42ft Riviera.

An optional Convenience Pack ($366) was fitted including a front storage box and rear step ladder. We used both a fair bit and the step is very handy when reboarding from the deep.

The Spark was on a basic trailer (from about $1000) and looked great with the Skeleton graphics in a black-and-white combo. With five colours and six new graphic kits for 2015, there are 26 combinations to customise your Spark.

Of the upgrades, the bigger engine is probably the main consideration, as it will extend the appeal of the Spark well beyond the honeymoon period of 'soft' riding. And the brake, if your bills allow it, is the best in the watercraft business.

DESIGN AND LAYOUT
- Ergonomic seating, handy storage and cool looks
Despite its light weight, the Spark feels stable at rest. Mum said she felt the watercraft was "very solid", which added to her confidence during initial boarding and slow-speed transit.

At rest and drifting, you just don’t feel like you will fall off. The inherent stability is appreciated when carrying kids and reboarding from the stern after a spill. The footwells are nice and deep, with thigh padding adding to the ride and at-rest comfort.

All the while, the ergonomic three-seater 'saddle' melds with the body and is slim enough to let you adjust your riding position. You can get down low and hook into the turns or shift fore and aft to encourage spin-outs and wave jumping.

The extended three-person seat has a rear-facing spot for the observer when towing and, with the  boarding extension, the top-line Spark measures 26cm more overall compared with the two-seater model.

The seat snaps out to reveal the filler to the 30-litre fuel tank linked to a multifunction gauge. As for storage, there’s just a basic small glovebox for personal effects, so the optional forward compartment is a must.

The plastic bonnet has toggles that unclip to reveal a hold big enough for some rope and a fold-up anchor. We used this basic ground tackle for securing the Spark in the shallows while playing ashore. Waterproof carry satchels filled with our beach gear were swung off the rear seat frame on the way back to the mothership.

Otherwise, there’s not much else to the Spark but the handlebars, which fall to hand with fly-by wire trigger controls, and the multifunction gauges with some 15 functions. With the upgraded 90hp HO engine we had on test, you also get a switchable Touring/Sport mode, with the later seemingly giving snappier throttle response.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Exoskel, Polytec and Rotax
The Spark was designed for stability with a two- or three-person capacity. The hull is all new, but a bigger change is its material. The minimalist Exoskel is made from lightweight recyclable Polytec, which is a kind of plastic and, well, it does feel that way, especially when fiddling with the forward cowl to the storage hatch.

"That was a big step, to go away from the typical fibreglass, which is used to build big boats. It [The Spark] is a small boat. There’s no need for building it too strong. So we changed the materials and… surprise… by changing the materials we made it even stronger!" Mayrand explains.

At 185kg-191kg, the Spark is the lightest watercraft on the market. Two Sea-Doo Sparks on trailer weigh less than 680kg, making for an easy to tow behind a sedan. As mentioned, the Spark is also an easy lift for a davit onto the cruiser foredeck or a swim platform.

The engine, meanwhile, is the naturally aspirated Rotax 900 (HO ACE upgrade) model, a three-cylinder DOHC four-stroke engine with closed cooling that seemed rather trim, tight, doubly so in its plastic shell, but smokeless and refined. It’s the smallest, most economical engine in the PWC market.

"To have fun with fewer horsepower the first thing to do is to be light. Let the power bring fun to you. So the ratio of weight to power is almost better than the normal PWC. You have the same time to plane," explains Mayrand.

ON THE WATER
- Plenty of driver input
On the water, the power-to-weight ratio is up there with high-end craft. Your body weight has a lot of effect and it’s possible to shift forward or back to encourage the Spark to spinout as with 'skis' of old. In this way, it’s bringing back a bit of the traditional riding thrill.

In both Touring and Sports modes, the Spark with 90hp HO rocketed out of the hole with this writer’s one-up 87kg payload. Two-up, with the screaming daughter who adds another 27kg, we had oodles of speed. Mum with the two kids weighed in about 120kg and the Spark was still very much the speed demon in their eyes.

According to our kids, speed was the highlight of this watercraft. Mum thinks there’s more speed than you need. But our daughter also noted the agility that allowed us to create wake shapes from figure eights to love hearts without failing off. It's certainly playful.

And I will add the iBR brake is a boon for boat-side docking. It's the best 'brake' in the watercraft business in this writer's opinion.

So who’s not happy then? Maybe the opposition...

VERDICT
- Seeding the watercraft market
In 2014, Sea-Doo had one of its strongest years in over a decade thanks to the introduction of the Sea-Doo Spark. 

"The introduction of the Sea-Doo Spark model has certainly rejuvenated the industry by bringing new and younger entrants who are now discovering that the Sea-Doo brand offers the best PWC for fun on the water," Chris Dawson, vice-president and general manager, Global Sales and Consumer Experience division, said.

Don’t expect the sophistication of the high-end skis, which are more like a touring car and offer a much more refined riding experience. The Spark does feel rather plasticky in parts and it does feel light, especially when the water is bumpy. But there’s no denying the bang for your buck.

We penned 12 attributes: fun, affordable, refreshing, fast, funky, user-friendly, family-orientated, lightweight, manoeuvrable, low maintenance, mass appeal, and with options and upgrades to create your own Spark.

Yet for all these words, the photos hereabouts say it best. There’s no denying that Spark-induced fun etched across the face of our family of keen riders.

Check out the video here.

HIGHS
>> Affordable fun from just $7800
>> Low maintenance and slight running cost
>> Nifty handling and plenty of speed
>> Funky looks and colour schemes
>> User friendly and intuitive

LOWS
>> 'Plasticky' feel of front ‘bonnet’ and hatch toggles
>> Not as refined as more expensive fibreglass skis
>> Lacking storage space

Specifications:
Price as tested: About $12,000 drive-away for three-seater with bigger engine, iBR braking, Convenience Package with storage and step, trailer, safety gear and regos
Priced from: $7800 for base 60hp two-seater, no trailer or options
Length: 279cm two-up, 305cm three-up
Beam: 118cm
Height: 104cm
Weight: 184kg/191kg (+ 6kg for iBR)
Storage: 1.6-litre glovebox, optional 28-litre front bin
Fuel: 30 litres
Fuel type: 87 octane
Ride capacity: 159kg/205kg
Engine options: Rotax 900 ACE (from 60hp for two-up) or Rotax 900 HO ACE (90hp for three-up), an 899cc four-stroke engine, with three cylinders and four valves per cylinder.

Supplied by:
Beaches Recreational Powersports
200 Condamine Street
Balgowlah NSW 2093
Phone: (02) 9907 6970
Email beachespowersports@gmail.com
Web: http://www.beachespowersports.com.au
See more from Sea-Doo at http://au.sea-doo.com.