1999-2000 Sea-Doo Speedster SK Specs and Review [Video]

The Sea-Doo Speedster SK was a closed-bow version of the high-performance Speedster 1600. These boats shared the same 16-foot hull and most features, but the former came standard with an enclosed bow area with a wakeboard/ski storage, more efficient engine packages, and many other watersport-specific features.

Let’s drill into the specifics, and talk about this iconic 2-stroke Sea-Doo wakeboard boat in detail.

Sea-Doo Speedster SK Review

Hull and Top Deck

In 1998, the 16-foot Sea-Doo Speedster 1600 replaced its 14-foot predecessor.

One year later, this revamped model got a new sibling labeled the Speedster SK.

As the name implies (SK here stands for “SKI”), this purpose-built jet boat was designed with waterski and wakeboard enthusiasts in mind.

Her model-specific features included an extendable ski pylon and an enclosed ski/wakeboard bow storage which could accommodate plenty of gear.

In contrast, the standard 1600 had an open bow section fitted with a rear-facing bucked seat.

Watersport lovers also appreciated the “launching pad” integrated into the rear trunk hood.

This step seat not only made preparation much more comfortable but also made entering the cockpit from the stern much easier.

Just like the swim platform, this was also covered with marine-grade deck mats.

Aside from these special features and different engine packages, the Speedster 1600 and SK were identical.

They shared the same multi-chine deep-V hull design featuring a 20-degree transom deadrise.

In terms of dimensions, this shell measured in at an overall length of 16.5 feet and had a beam of 7 feet 7 inches.

Rated for 4 passengers, the slightly cramped cockpit housed four highly-bolstered bucket seats and a minimalist helm.

The latter housed a padded steering wheel, single mirror, padded armrest, switch panel, 12V outlet, and shift/throttle levers.

Simple yet sporty, the dashboard was fitted with tachometers, a speedometer, a fuel gauge, and a low oil warning lamp.

Other standard features of the boat included low-profile windshields, grab handles, cup holders, mooring cleats, eyelets, navigation lights, a deck drain, reboarding step, an icebox, and a ski hook.

Besides a sizeable bow storage, you could find a lot of storage compartments under the windshields, floor, and rear hood.

Thanks to these simple features and small dimensions, the dry weight of the Speedster SK was 1,710 pounds with twin engines and 2,125 pounds with the single Mercury engine.

Filled with liquids and some gear, these figures converted to a curb weight of 2,000 and 2,400 pounds, respectively.

Figuring the weight of a matching trailer, you could expect the trailering weight of the rig to be anywhere from 2,400-3,000 pounds.

Engines and Performance

In 1999, the Speedster SK came standard with a twin Rotax 717 engine package upgraded to a single Mercury M2 210 jet engine for the Millennium.

Keeping fuel economy and fuel range in mind, the Canadian manufacturer offered the SK with more fuel-efficient engine packages than the standard model.

In 1999, the latter housed twin Rotax 787s rated at 220hp, while the SK had to deal with smaller twin Rotax 717 engines.

These 2-stroke, 718cc, rotary valve, single-carb, twin-cylinder Rotax marine engines delivered a combined 166hp at 6750 RPM.  (Advertised as 170hp.)

They were paired with two Bombardier Formula jet pumps with reverse and weedless intake systems.

After only one year of production, this power source was replaced with a single Mercury M2 Jet Drive engine.

Engineered with a 2500cc outboard powerhead, this 2-stroke, carbureted, V6 marine engine was rated at 210hp.

In 2000, the Speedster 1600 came standard with a fuel-injected version of this engine rated at 240hp, while the SK housed a carbureted variant that provided 30 horsepower less.

Both of these variants were paired with a Mercury Sport Jet propulsion system, specifically engineered for Sea-Doo jet boats.

Fitted with the twin Rotax 717, the Speedster SK topped out at about 47-48 mph at 6750 RPM.

As for cruising range, her 40-gallon fuel capacity and at a best cruising speed of around 28-29 mph at 5000 RPM enabled her to achieve a distance of 90-100 miles.

Problems

Even though it was a nice little boat, the Speedster SK had some design flaws.

The closed forward area not only sacrificed free deck space but also made entering the deck hard from the bow.

Her lightweight hull was also known for an inadequate performance on the chop and the swim platform was fairly small.

Another problem of the SK was her high-maintenance 2-stroke engines.

These power mills burned significantly more fuel and required much more maintenance than their 4-stroke 4-TEC successors.

(However, they were still much better on gas than the big-block inboard engines of real wakeboard boats.)

Even though their carburetors were easier to troubleshoot and fix than fuel-injection systems, they still caused a lot of headaches for owners.

We also have to mention the sensitive carbon ring seals and their rubber bellows. Wrapped around the driveshaft, this unit was designed to seal the bilge from the pump area.

Only a little damage or wear on this ring could result in a water leak issue.

Specs Charts

For your convenience, we’ve listed the key specs of the 1999-2000 Sea-Doo Speedster SK:

Dimensions and Capacities

Overall Length	16’ 6”
Beam	7’ 7”
Overall Length on Trailer	20’ 6”
Overall Height	50”
Overall Height on Trailer	63”
Draft	12”
Dead Rise	20°
Dry Weight (1999)	1710 lb.
Dry Weight (2000)	2100 lb.
Load limit	4 passengers or 905 lb.
Oil Injection Reservoir	2.3 gal.
Fuel Capacity	40 gal.
Hull Material	Composite (fiberglass)

Engines and Pumps

Year	1999	2000
Number of Engines	2	1
Type	Rotax 717	Mercury M2
Carburetion	Carbureted (single-carb)	Carbureted
Induction type	Rotary Valve	Reed valve
Exhaust system	Water cooled	Water Cooled
Lubrication	Oil Injection	Oil Injection
Engine Stroke	2-stroke	2-stroke
Number of Cylinders	2 (each engine)	V6
Displacement	718cc (each engine)	2500cc
Performance (combined)	166hp @ 6850 RPM	210hp @ 5650 RPM
Pump	Bombardier Formula	Mercury Sport Jet
Pump Type	Axial flow, Single stage	Axial flow, Mixed stage

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

Takeaways

The 16-foot Speedster SK was designed to be an affordable, 2-stroke jet wakeboard boat.

This model was a modified Speedster 1600 with some model-specific features, including:

• Enclosed bow storage
• Integrated step seat in the trunk hood
• Extendable ski pylon
• Deck mats on the swim platform and rear step seat
• Custom decals and color scheme
• Smaller, more fuel-efficient engine packages
• Less passenger capacity (4 instead of 5)

Compared to real wakeboard boats with inboard engines, this lively SK was significantly smaller and more fuel efficient.

She benefitted from easy handling and an agile attitude, which ensured sharp turns and quick restarts.

In return, she had limited deck space and lacked many convenience features like a large swim platform, wraparound windshield, and wakeboard tower.

Despite their age, many of these boats have been kept alive by Sea-Doo enthusiasts.

They rarely appear on the used market and sell very quickly when they do.

Their asking prices generally range from $1,000 to $7,000 depending on their condition and features.