Which Sea-Doo jet ski should I buy?

Sea-Doo has the biggest range of jet skis (personal watercraft) in Australia, with new model prices ranging from $15,000 to $32,000, in round numbers.

So, which one is right for you?

Sea-Doo showrooms can be intimidating when they are crammed with every available model.

It’s difficult to know where to start, but this guide could help.

Here’s what you need to know.

There are three sizes of Sea-Doo watercraft: small, medium and large.

The small line-up includes the entry level Sea-Doo Spark and Spark Trixx (the one that can ride on its tail).

The medium-size models include the Sea-Doo GTI basic recreation series and GTR performance series.

The full-size models include the Sea-Doo GTX, Fish Pro Sport and Trophy, Explorer Pro and the performance RXT-X.

Here are the key details for the five most popular models searched on boatsales.

Related: Top 10 tips for buying a jet ski

This is the entry model in the supercharged Sea-Doo line-up, with new prices starting from about $22,000 ski only (no speakers) or $23,000 ski only (with speakers).

The Sea-Doo GTR 230 shares its platform with the basic Sea-Doo GTI model series, but under the seat is the 230-horsepower version of Sea-Doo’s supercharged 1630cc three-cylinder Rotax engine.

So it’s a lot of power in a basic, lightweight runabout.

The hull and sponsons are very forgiving and like to slide, so if you’re a thrill-seeker this craft is easy to throw around.

But because of its relatively small size and weight, the Sea-Doo GTR 230 is better suited to flat water or low to medium chop.

This hull is very hard work in rough conditions.

There is no shortage of power. You will likely run out of energy before the ski runs out of fuel.

For 2024, Sea-Doo’s performance touring flagship went from 300hp to 325hp thanks to a major engine overhaul.

The RXT-X (not to be confused with the RXP-X, our next model on the list) is based on the full-size Sea-Doo ST3 deck and hull design.

That means it comes with the awesome, easy-access storage compartment that lifts up the top of the centre console with the handlebars.

You can easily reach in to fetch your gear, rather than lean precariously over the handlebars (as is the case will most other skis).

There is no shortage of power from the 325hp version of Sea-Doo’s 1630cc three-cylinder Rotax engine, and you can fit Sea-Doo’s vast range of LINQ accessories to the cleats on the rear deck.

You could even build up the RXT-X with Sea-Doo’s fishing accessories if you were so inclined.

Downsides? The ST3 hull has a concave bow and that means it gets pushed around a lot when in wake or rough chop. Your knees and wrists won’t thank you as the ST3 hull can have a mind of its own in these circumstances.

But in flat water or low to medium chop it is okay, especially with a full belly of fuel.

As the fuel load lightens, the bow tends to bounce around even more.

Caution: this model – and its predecessor, the RXP-X 300 RS – really is for experienced riders.

This is the fastest-accelerating ski on the market today (Sea-Doo claims it can hit 100km/h in about 4.0 seconds, although our testing shows this figure is closer to 4.7 seconds (which is still the fastest out there!).

Top speed (as tested) is 120km/h in stock condition.

This is the Ferrari of the water and it costs about $32,000 for the ski only, as new.

The hull is epic, and crushes chop with ease.

The sponsons are so aggressive and the hull is so responsive that the 2024 model comes standard with a steering damper, which works brilliantly and makes it harder to highside and eject yourself.

The extra steering effort makes it more difficult to turn too tightly, too quickly.

The RXP-X feels as assertive as an army tank when it comes to chop, yet it has the cornering precision of a Formula One car.

Don’t be a hero. Take your time to build up to this one. Water is like concrete if you fall off and hit it at speed.

This is almost identical to the Sea-Doo RXT-X – especially in terms of the top deck and hull – but with more luxurious colour schemes.

However, for 2024, while the RXT-X stepped up to 325 horsepower, the GTX Limited stayed with the 300hp version of Sea-Doo’s supercharged 1630cc three-cylinder engine.

The same criticisms of the ST3 hull design apply to the RXT-X and the GTX. It’s better suited to low to medium chop rather than rough conditions.

Should you buy the RXT-X 325 or the GTX 300? You’d be hard-pressed to feel the performance difference.

So buy the one in the colour scheme you like the most.

The original Sea-Doo Fish Pro, based on Sea-Doo’s then-new ST3 deck and hull, launched in late 2018 as a 2019 model year with a 155hp 1503cc three-cylinder Rotax engine.

In late 2019, Sea-Doo released the 2020 model year with a larger 1630cc three-cylinder Rotax engine, which had a power bump to 170hp.

Spotting a massive shift towards the fishing jet ski market, Sea-Doo kept tinkering with the concept.

In 2022 Sea-Doo expanded the range to three Fish Pro models.

Sea-Doo introduced the Fish Pro Scout (based on the mid-size GTI series) and then split the full-size Fish Pro into two models: Sport and Trophy.

The Sea-Doo Fish Pro Scout is being phased out after weaker-than-expected sales (only a few remain in stock).

Frankly, its size is not suited to fishing. While it came with the 51-litre cooler box and a Garmin navigation unit and fishfinder, the hull is not stable or large enough, and the price was way too high.

The Sea-Doo Fish Pro Scout was even dearer than the original, full-size Fish Pro introduced in 2019 even though the Scout was way less practical.

The best options are the Fish Pro Sport (blue and white colour scheme) or the Fish Pro Trophy (shark grey and orange colour scheme).

Both come with rod holders, a 51-litre cooler box, a rear deck extension and, from 2024, Sea-Doo’s IDF debris removal reverse thrust system.

Warning: despite three major updates to IDF, this technology is still fickle, and when it fails you lose drive.

The engine will run, but you will be idling with the current as you lose forward and reverse.

So if you happen to find a Sport without IDF on the used market, that could be the go.

Buying new? The Trophy gains dual batteries (so you don’t run out of juice during a long day on the water), a premium Garmin touchscreen unit (way better to use), and a live bait well (tubes and taps that turn the cooler box into a live bait well when on the water).

Both the Fish Pro Sport and Fish Pro Trophy are a great choice.

Helpfully, there were no colour changes to these models from 2022 through to 2023 and 2024.

The only way you can pick the difference between the year models is the HIN on the rear, which will have 22, 23 or 24 as part of the HIN.