Sea Doo GTI SE 155

Name: Sea Doo GTI SE 155
Brand: SEA-DOO

In the world of PWCs, speeds are getting faster and Sea-Doo's GTI SE 155 proves to have ample velocity to stay in the race. It features the largest of their naturally-aspirated engines in a small, compact hull that has a lot of other features to make it a ‘must ride' machine.

LIKES

- Lots of power in a small craft
- Boarding step is a good idea
- The IBR brake is a very effective safety feature.

DISLIKES

We crawled all over this craft trying to pick even the smallest fault but it simply doesn’t seem to have any. What you see and what you ride is what you get!

OVERVIEW

- Big hp and compact hull

The GTI SE 155 features the highest horsepower rating of the three PWCs that BRP refer to as recreational craft. Length-wise it has had around 300mm trimmed from the earlier S3 (stability/stepped/strong) style hull.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT

- Handy standard equipment makes this a versatile craft

This PWC has a recommended retail price of $15,560 and that price does not include a trailer which will set you back in the order of $1200.

The iBR (Intelligent Brake and Reverse) system is standard on this model as is the boarding step which consists of a single spring loaded fold down rung that tucks back neatly against the transom.

Also standard is the supply of two ignition keys, one which allows the unit to operate to its full potential and the other a ‘learner’ key which switches the output performance to a governed level while newcomers get the hang of it -- a great idea.

The GTI SE has three operating levels that may be individually selected to further enhance or retard performance but one, importantly, is to conserve fuel consumption.

Full power operation is attained in the Sport Mode while Touring Mode offers a softer acceleration with a more gentle power band to reduce the likelihood of passengers jettisoning off the rear seat.

Then there is Eco Mode that caps the rpm to about 6100 which results in a top speed of between 65 and 70km/h with the most lean burn possible.

Switching between these modes is done via the electronic instrument on the dash on powering up the craft and every start will have the unit default to the Touring Mode so that the driver doesn't inadvertantly uleash the power of the Sport Mode.

LAYOUT

- Comfortable for one, two or three

Rated to carry three riders, the skipper sits in the lower rebate of the seat while a pair may sit behind slightly raised for a good forward view over the skippers head.

The deep and long foot channels are equipped with non-slip pads and they run well aft so a rear facing skiing observer still has some leg comfort and foot security when facing that direction. In fact, the channels slope upwards toward the stern making the rear facing observer more balanced while doing so and enabling them to maintain a more comfortable bracing position.

A rear grab handle is handy to that passenger and those boarding over the stern when using the fold-down boarding step.

A water-resistant compartment sits in the body just forward of the skipper and another in the bow of the craft opens to reveal a removable water-tight container that could be used for all manner of purposes including that of an ice box for food and drinks.

MECHANICAL AND HULL

- Totally new design

The GTI SE 155 is fitted with the model 1503 Rotax 4-TEC naturally-aspirated engine with a displacement of 1,484cc. The propulsion system is Sea-Doo Direct Drive to an aluminium axial-flow, single-stage hub with a 10-vane stator and stainless steel impellor.

The jet nozzle has a proprietary Variable Trim System (VTS) which is manually operated from the helm.

The single digital instrument performs a total of 23 functions which include fuel level, tacho, speedometer, touring/sport/eco mode, hour meter and compass.

In the hull department, the hull and top deck are a completely new design from earlier models. The hull build is termed ‘LFI’ which means ‘liquid filled injection’ where resins are forced in between two molds which results in superior strength and all hulls being exactly the same weight and dimension.

The top deck is then laid up in fibreglass, by traditional methods.

ON THE WATER

- The iBR brake works a treat -- other manufacturers take note!

On the test day the wind was driving at 25 to 30 knots straight down the Broadwater on the Gold Coast and we couldn’t find enough space to fully wind up this PWC’s throttle over the heavy chop. The manufacturer claims a WOT of 8100 rpm at 94km/h and no doubt it could get there pretty quickly. A hit of the thumb throttle and you can feel the skin on your face peeling back and you will definitely need some sort of eye protection from the various elements.

The tracking rails on the rear chine perform well and give the craft good stability in corners, and it can dive around with an incredible amount of agility; more than this rider/writer has in any case!

The iBR brake system is a concept that other manufacturers will sooner or later have to emulate if they have not done so already. It's a safety feature that cannot be ignored when doing comparisons with other skis when in the market place. The brake can be applied fully at full throttle to pull it up well short of anything else on the water and be warned, it will create a lot of inertia so a straight arm brace position is recommended to prevent an unintentional exit of the craft over the handle bar.

It is also advisable to apply it when travelling in a straight line as doing so when in a turn is akin to slamming on your car brakes when in a tight corner; you’ll lose it for sure. That was the case on the day of the review when another rider buried it in a turn when the brake was applied and tipped it over.

That proved a couple of things. The brake is effective when travelling in a straight line and in a tight turn, the emergency cut off works, and the internal compartments have a good amount of water proofing!

I doubt there would be a PWC rider on the water that is not looking for a good amount of exhilaration from their steed. They won’t be disappointed with the GTI SE; it’s a real adrenalin rush!

RATINGS

Overall rating: 4.9/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.8/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.7/5.0
On the water Performance: 5.0/5.0
Value for money: 4.9/5.0
X-factor: 4.8/5.0

Specifications

Price: $15,560
LOA: 3.368m
Beam: 1.23m
Height: 1.11m
Weight: 338kg dry
Engine: Rotax 4-TEC
Internal stowage capacity: 116.6 litres
Fuel: 60 litres
People Day: Three

Supplied by:

BRP Australia Pty Ltd.
56 Canterbury Road
Bankstown NSW 2200
Tel: +61-2-97946600
Fax: +61-2-97946697
Email: infobrpaustralia@brp.com

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Sea Doo GTI SE 155

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