Sea-Doo Speedster 150 Specs and Review [Video]

Bombardier marketed its popular Sea-Doo Speedster 150 jet boat from 2007 through 2012. This model could be opted with a single naturally-spirated 155hp Rotax engine, or a supercharged 215/260hp Rotax. Its bigger brother was the Speedster 200, which was available with more powerful twin-engine packages.

In this post, we’ll discuss this single-engine Sea-Doo bowrider and its factory specifications.

Sea-Doo Speedster 150 Review

Hull and Capacities

Even though the Speedster 150 was introduced in the 2007 season, the same model was marketed under the name of Sportster 4-TEC from 2003 through 2006.

Its foam-filled composite RFP body was carried over from its predecessor without any significant changes.

Encouraged by the success of its 2-stroke jet boats, Sea-Doo released this platform in 2003 to accommodate the very first 4-stroke Rotax marine engines.

As the name implies, the “150” Sea-Doo hull measured 15.3 feet in length and 7.1 feet in width, while its deadrise was 20 degrees.

Thanks to its extremely low, 1-foot draft and jet propulsion system, it could go into very shallow areas.

Its claimed dry weight was only 1,452 pounds alone, but its gross weight was 2,100 pounds on the trailer.

Its lightweight construction and small dimensions made the Speedster very easy to tow even by a sedan.

In terms of capacities, the boat was rated for four persons or 715 pounds including gear.

Its cockpit was designed with four highly bolstered seats, which kept the crew tight during fast turns and spins.

Storage compartments included a large rear storage tray, a lockable waterski storage, and a lockable front storage.

The latter was a watertight compartment with a removable basket.

Engines

The Sea-Doo Speedster 150 was available with three single-engine packages.

The naturally-aspirated Rotax 1503 4-TEC delivered 155hp while its supercharged versions, the 1503 4-TEC SC were rated at 215 or 260hp depending on the model.

These fuel-injected, 4-stroke, 3-cylinder, 1494cc engines were almost identical. One of the major differences between them was the supercharger and an external intercooler on the supercharged “SC” versions.

Each engine enjoyed closed-loop engine cooling (CLCS), water-cooled exhausts, an electric start, and a digital inductive ignition system.

Engine power was delivered toward an axial-flow, single-stage jet pump with a direct driveshaft. It housed a four-blade, variable-pitch, stainless-steel impeller.

This jet propulsion system was equipped with a reverse bucket that was designed to reverse the water jet behind the nozzle. Eventually, this reversed water would cause the boat to move backward.

Features

Besides its remarkable performance, Sea-Doos were known for their innovative features.

In a nutshell, the most important features of the Speedster included a sound system, retractable reboarding step, pull-up ski pylon, navigation lights, integrated cooler, grab handle, and beverage holders.

The helm of the 150 featured a standard steering wheel, separate shift and throttle levers, a battery switch, a fuse box, a DESS magnetic lanyard key, and the digital information center.

Performance

Sea-Doo jet boats were known for their amazing performance, and the Speedster 150 was no exception.

Even with the standard naturally-aspirated engine, the boat topped out at 50-51 mph.

You could expect its best cruising speed to be in the neighborhood of 34-35 mph, where it burned 11-12 gph with an estimated range of 240-250 miles. (The fuel capacity of the boat was 21 US gallons.)

In contrast, the supercharged Speedster 150 SC burned about 6 gph while cruising at the economical speed of 31-32 mph.

This translated to a mileage of 5-5.5 mpg and a range of about 100 miles.

But, when this supercharged model topped out at 58-60 mph at 8,000 RPM it got 3-3.5 mpg. At this thrilling speed, its cruising range was limited to just 60-70 miles.

Besides its remarkable top speed, the Speedster was also known for great maneuverability and intuitive handling.

Thanks to its small and well-designed hull, it could turn on a dime and offer a PWC-like riding experience.

It was very agile, and responsive, and offered a ton of fun even for a family of four.

Another key point of the Speedster was its enclosed impeller, which ensured a much safer operation than standard props.

Problems

Even though 4-stroke Sea-Doo jet boats proved to be much more reliable than their 2-stroke predecessors, they weren’t completely bulletproof.

One of the most common problems of early supercharged Speedsters and Sportsters was with their ceramic supercharger clutch washers.

These washers were prone to blowing off, causing major supercharged failures.

In the worst-case scenario, these malfunctions resulted in severe engine damage, since the metal/ceramic debris from the supercharger often ended up in the cylinders.

Unfortunately, Sea-Doo was using these ceramic washers in its supercharged boat engines until the end of the 2000s.

Specs Charts

For your convenience, we’ve listed the main factory specs of the Sea-Doo Speedster 150 (2012 model):

Dimensions and Capacities

Overall Length	15.3’
Beam	7.1’
Draft	1’
Height on trailer (no tower)	4.9’
Height w/tower down/up	6.8’ / 8.5’
Deadrise	20°
Dry weight (no tower)	1,453 lb.
Dry weight (with tower)	1,475 lb.
Load limit	4 passengers or 715 lb.

Dimensions On Trailer

Length	18.4’
Width	7.1’
Height (no tower)	4.9’
Height – tower down	6.8’
Height – tower up	8.5’
Gross weight on the trailer	2,100 lb.

Engine Specs

Number of Engines	1
Type	Rotax 1503 4-TEC 4-stroke, SOHC
Number of Cylinders	3
Displacement	1494 cm³ (91 cu. in.)
Engine oil	3.2 qt (U.S. liq.) oil change with filter
Fuel tank capacity	21 US gal.
Performance (NA engine variant)	155hp
Performance (SC engine variant)	260hp
Cooling System	Closed-loop (CLCS)

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

Takeaways

There’s no question that Sea-Doo Speedsters were among the most exciting jet boats ever built.

Even though the Canadian manufacturer stopped their production in 2012, many of them are still running on the water.

If you are considering buying one of them, you may find many Speedster 150s for sale on eBay, Craigslist, or classified boat sites like BoatTrader or Boats.com.

The asking prices of these boats start at $10,000 and go up to $15,000 depending on their engine option, features, and condition.

References:

Sea-Doo