Sea-Doo Spark

Starting at $4,999, the two-passenger Sea-Doo Spark is the least expensive personal watercraft on the market. The Spark’s hull and deck are molded from a durable, lightweight composite dubbed Polytec, a mix of polypropylene with long-strand glass fibers. Polytec features a matte finish, a look Sea-Doo plays up with a choice of five colors, including orange crush (orange), bubble gum (magenta) and pineapple (yellow) along with a classic black and white. The deck is reinforced with an exoskeletonlike frame, which adds rigidity while reducing weight. In stock trim Sea-Doo forgoes a bow stowage compartment, giving you a good look at that exoskeleton’s futuristic design. Customer access points are minimal, but hull and deck can be unbolted in about 10 minutes, offering unprecedented access to the engine.

The lightweight construction allows Sea-Doo to take advantage of a lighter-weight, lower-horsepower engine. The compact Rotax 900 ACE was co-developed with Ski-Doo snowmobile engineers with the marine version used in the Spark. It produces 60 hp in base form, enough to push the Spark to about 40 mph. An optional high-output (HO) model produces 90 hp and increases top speed to about 48 mph. Like Sea-Doo’s iconic SP model of old, the Spark carves with tenacity when weighted appropriately but also displays a loose and playful side often missing in today’s more precise-handling craft. It’s ideally suited to smaller bodies of water, but aggressive riders can push limits in tougher conditions. A three-passenger option extends both seat and hull, and makes towing skiers legal. Other options include a seven-gallon stowage compartment for the bow, flip-down boarding step and Sea-Doo’s Intelligent Brake and Reverse system, which provides stopping power at speed but also excellent, low-speed handling at the ramp.

Buyer’s Spotlight

• With a starting price of $4,999, it’s the least expensive personal ­watercraft on the market.
• Innovative composite construction is durable and lightweight; matte finish comes in five color choices.
• Exoskeleton adds rigidity while keeping weight low.
• Bolted-together hull and deck construction allows service technicians unprecedented access to both the engine and fuel system underneath.
• Rotax 900 cc engine exploits the boat’s horsepower-to-weight ratio, available in both 60 and 90 hp configurations. Top speed is between 40 and 48 mph.
• Playful, old-school ride can be cranked through a corner, or spun and slid.
• Popular options include a bow storage compartment, flip-down boarding step and Sea-Doo’s Intelligent Brake and Reverse system.

How We Tested

• Engine: Rotax 900 ACE HO
• Impeller: Mercury 16″ x 13″ 3-blade aluminum
• Gear Ratio: 2.38:1
• Fuel Load: 7.9 gal.
• Crew Weight: 150 lb.

Price

• $5,799 (with test power)