Sea-Doo Challenger 180 Specs and Review [Video]

Sea-Doo marketed its tiny Challenger 180 jet boat from 2005 through 2012. This family bowrider was built on an 18-foot hull, which could be fitted with either a naturally-aspirated or supercharged 4-stroke Rotax 1503 engine option. Its bigger brothers were the Challenger 230 and the mid-range 210.

In this post, we’ll review the 4-stroke Challenger 180 and its factory specifications.

Sea-Doo Challenger 180 Review

Hull and Capacities

The history of the Sea-Doo Challenger series goes back to the mid-‘90s when the Canadian manufacturer introduced the Challenger 1800.

Over the years this line was expanded with many new models including the base Challenger, the Challenger 2000, and the Challenger X.

As a rule of thumb, each of them was powered by a 2-stroke Rotax or Mercury Jet engine.

For the 2005 model year, the manufacturer completely redesigned its Challenger series.

The first model in this all-new breed was the Challenger 180, which was officially labeled the Challenger 180 4-TEC.

As the name suggests, the 180 could be opted for with single Rotax 4-stroke power options.

Its deep-V fiberglass hull was specifically designed for these high-performance power mills.

Measuring 17 feet 7 inches in length and 8 feet 2 inches in width, the boat could carry 8 passengers or 1,440 pounds.

Its sporty cockpit came with plenty of convenience features, but only later models featured a wrap-around windshield.

It was engineered with two swivel seats and a rear bench for three, while the relatively small bow area housed three seats. Each of them was nicely upholstered and cushioned.

The Challenger 180 was revamped for the 2008 season, during which its dry weight decreased from 2,075 to 1,898 pounds. Sitting on the trailer, the gross weight of the rig was in the ballpark of 2,500-2,900 pounds.

Thanks to its small, lightweight construction, this boat could be easily towed and launched even by a small vehicle.

Engines

As a rule of thumb, the Sea-Doo Challenger 180 was exclusively marketed with single Rotax 1503 engine options.

Interestingly, this engine and its propulsion were derived from Sea-Doo’s PWC division.

This 4-stroke, 1494cc, SOHC, triple-cylinder engine was available in two configurations.

In the early years (2005-2006) the boat could be opted with either a naturally aspirated or a supercharged version, rated at 155 and 215hp, respectively.

For some reason, in 2008 the 215 SC engine was the only offering.

From 2009 onwards, the available engine options were the single 215 SC and the single 255 SC, both enjoyed a gear-driven supercharger and an external intercooler.

Each of these engines was connected to an axial-flow, single-stage Bombardier formula jet pump with a direct driveshaft.

Features

The most important features and accessories of the Challenger 180 were as follows:

• DESS Key
• Safety Lanyard
• Removable cooler (16 qt.)
• Grab handles
• Swim platform
• Retractable ladder
• Bow and stern lights
• Radio
• Speakers
• 12V outlet
• Deck drain system
• Bilge drain plugs
• Bow and stern eyelets
• Mooring cleats
• Towing tower (optional)
• Cup holders

Storage units:

• Glove box
• Side pockets
• Under-seat storages
• Floor ski locker
• Stern storage

Informational center gauge:

• Tachometer
• Speedometer
• Fuel level
• Information display
• Indicator light
• Water temperature display

SE variant:

Sold from 2008 through 2012, the Sea-Doo Challenger 180 SE was a more featured version in this model line. The main model-specific features of the SE were as follows:

• Bimini top
• Bow filler cushion
• Radio remote control
• Pull-up cleats

 

Performance

Smaller Sea-Doo boats were often considered oversized jet skis, and with good reason.

They shared a lot of DNA with their PWC relatives including their powerful engines, pumps, and some other features.

These similarities reflected the riding experience of the boat.

Combining these features with its lightweight construction, the Challenger 180 was very fun to ride. It was fast, agile, and could perform very sharp turns and great spins.

But unlike jet skis, it could carry up to 8 passengers and plenty of gear.

The top speed of the Challenger 180 was 45-47 mph with the single supercharged 215hp engine option.

Adrenaline junkies appreciated the extra power of the supercharged 255 and 260hp engines, which propelled the boat to 49-51 mph.

Its 20-degree V hull cut through the smaller waves with ease, offering smooth and predictable rides even on a moderate chop.

Problems

Even though the 4-stroke Challenger 180 was significantly more reliable than its 2-stroke forerunners, it had some common issues.

As reported by Boats.com, their engines were fairly loud at both full throttle and cruising speed.

We also have to mention the ceramic washer issues on the early supercharged Sea-Doo engines.

In the 2000s, the manufacturer used ceramic washers in its boat superchargers, which were prone to breaking apart. The debris often found its way into the oil pumps, causing more serious malfunctions.

Another main problem of these boats was the lack of a jet pump cleaning port.

These useful features came standard on every Yamaha jet boat but Sea-Doo completely missed it.

Without this port, cleaning a clogged jet pump was very tricky since the pump area was not accessible from the bilge.

To clean the pump, the boat had to be put on the trailer, or the crew had to prepare for a little diving.

Sea-Doo Challenger 180 Specs Charts

For your convenience, we’ve listed the key specs of the Sea-Doo Challenger 180 (2012 model):

Dimensions

Overall Length	17.6’
Beam	8.2’
Draft	1’
Deadrise	20°
Dry weight (no tower)	1913 lb.
Dry weight (with tower)	1948 lb.
Load limit	8 passengers or 1383 lb.

Dimensions On Trailer

Length	18.2’
Width	8.2’
Height – no tower	6.5’
Height – tower down	7.5’
Height – tower up	9.2’
Gross weight on the trailer	2878 lb

 

Engine Specs

Number of Engines	1
Type	Rotax 1503 4-TEC 4-stroke, SOHC
Number of Cylinders	3
Induction type	Supercharged
Displacement	1493.8 cm³ (91 cu. in.)
Exhaust system	Water cooled/water injected (opened loop). Direct flow from jet pump
Lubrication type	Dry sump (2 oil pumps) Replaceable oil filter. Water-cooled oil cooler.
Lubrication oil type	XPS Summer grade oil
Staring System	Electric
Cooling System	Closed-loop (CLCS)
Coolant	Ethylene glycol and distilled water (50%/50%).

Performance

Maximum HP RPM	8000 +/- 50 RPM
Engine RPM limiter setting	8000 RPM
Performance	215 or 260hp

Drive Unit

Propulsion System	Jet pump
Jet Pump Type	Axial flow, single stage
Jet pump grease	Jet pump bearing grease  (P/N293550032) sold by BRP
Transmission	Direct drive
Pivoting angle of direction (nozzle)	20°
Minimum required water level for jet pump	3ft underneath the lowest rear portion of the hull

Electrical

Magneto generator output	360 W @ 6000 RPM
Ignition system type	DI (Digital Inductive)
Ignition timing	Not adjustable
Spark plug type	NGK DCPR8E
Spark plug gap	0.7 mm – 0.8 mm (.028 in – .031 in)
Battery	12 V group 24, marine starting battery with top-mounted, round taper type battery post
Starting system	Electric starter

Materials

Hull	Composite FRP
Fuel tank	Polyethylene
Seat base	Polyethylene
Seat foam	Polyethylene

Fuel system

Fuel injection type	Multipoint Fuel Injection with iTC (intelligent throttle control). Single throttle body (52mm) with actuator
Fuel type/opt. octane rating	Inside North America: 91 (RON+MON)/2 Outside North America: 95 RON
Fuel type/min. octane rating	Inside North America: 87(RON+MON)/2 Outside North America: 92 RON

 

Capacities

Engine oil	3.2 US qt. w/filter
Engine cooling system	5.8 US qt. total
Fuel tank (inc. reserve)	29.7 US gal.

These specifications are for informational purposes only. For further information, please refer to the operator’s manual.

Takeaways – Looking for a Sea-Doo Challenger 180 For Sale?

Even though the Challenger 180 wasn’t the most comfortable model in the fleet, it instantly became popular among boaters.

Beginner boaters especially appreciated its safe and easy-handling jet drive and small dimensions.

Despite their age, many of them are still running great and showing up on the used market.

If you are considering buying one, you can find many Challenger 180s for sale on eBay, Craigslist, or classified boat sites.

Their asking prices start at $10,000 and go up to $22,000. Prices vary greatly depending on the features and the condition.

Believe it or not, the original MSRP of this boat back in 2006 was also $22,000 which included a ShoreLand’r trailer.

As the last word, our recommendation is to avoid used supercharged Sea-Doo boats, since their engine can cause a lot of headaches.

If you want to purchase a Challenger 180, by all means you should stick to one with a naturally-aspirated engine variant.

But if you are looking for something really reliable, you can’t go wrong with a Yamaha jet boat instead!

References:

Sea-Doo

Boats.com