Sea-Doo Utopia 205 Specs and Review [Video]

Intended to be the bigger brother of the single-engine Utopia 185, Sea-Doo marketed the 20-foot Utopia 205 from 2003 through 2009. Early models were marketed with single 2-stroke Mercury Jet engines, replaced by twin 4-stroke Rotax engine packages in 2006.

If you want to find out more about this Sea-Doo jet boat, you’ve come to the right place.

We’ll take a close look at this deservedly popular 20-foot jet bowrider and its factory specifications.

Sea-Doo Utopia 205 Review

Hull and Capacities

Sea-Doo revealed its Utopia jet boat series in 2001 with the introduction of the 18.5-foot Utopia 185. This model featured an 18.5-foot hull and 2-stroke single-engine options.

Its larger variant, the Utopia 205 hit showrooms for the 2003 season.

Unlike its smaller sibling, the 205 was noticeably larger and heavier. This was no surprise since this model was designed with a spacious 20-foot fiberglass hull.

To be more specific, the boat measured 19 feet 5 inches in length, 8 feet in width, and had a 20-degree deadrise. In 2006, its length was expanded to 10 feet 10 inches while the rest of its specifications remained unchanged.

Depending on its engine option, the weight of the 205 varied slightly.

You could expect the dry weight of the 2-stroke models to be in the ballpark of 2,270-2,330 pounds, while their 4-stroke subsectors weighed 2,500-2,600 pounds.

The claimed gross weight on the trailer was 3,400-3,700 pounds, depending on their age and engine option.

In terms of capacities, the load limit of the boat was 8 passengers or 1320 pounds, while its fuel capacity was 44 pounds.

Its cockpit came standard with plush upholstered seats, including a swivel Captain’s seat, a rear bench, and a versatile swing-back two-person seat.

Located behind the port console, this small bench could face forward or even sideways, creating a nice lounge area.

The deck was also designed with plenty of storage space, including an anchor locker, glovebox, side pockets, cupholders, and under-seat storage.

However, its most useful feature was arguably its huge “trunk,” which was a large storage unit beneath the sun pad.

This space could not only hide plenty of gear, but it could also accommodate the bimini top when it was not in use.

Other convenience features included a large sun pad, full windshield, grab handles, swim platform, a reboarding ladder, and more.

Engines

Interestingly, Sea-Doo marketed the Utopia 205 with many different jet engine configurations.

Early models were powered by single 2-stroke V6 Mercury Marine Jet engines like the 200 Opti, 210 Carb, 240 EFI Plus, or the 250 Optimax. From 2006 onwards, Sea-Doo marketed the 205 with 4-stroke, Rotax 4-TEC twin-engine packages.

As one may expect, the 4-stroke power sources were much more popular than their outdated 2-stroke predecessors, and with good reason.

Outdated 2-stroke Mercurys were not only less fuel efficient, but they also tended to be less reliable.

In contrast, the modern 4-stroke Rotax engines offered higher durability and smooth operation while delivering a whopping 310 / 430hp.

For a better comparison, we’ve compiled these engine packages in one chart:

Year	2T / 4T	No. of Engines	Brand	Type	HP
2003	2T	1	MerCruiser	200 Opti, 210 Carb, 240 EFI Plus, 250 Optimax	200, 210, 240, 250
2004	2T	1	MerCruiser	200 Opti, 240 EFI Plus	200, 240
2005	2T	1	MerCruiser	200 Opti, 240 EFI	200, 240
2006 – 2008	4T	2	Rotax	2 x 4-TEC NA 155	310
2009	4T	2	Rotax	2 x 4-TEC NA 155, 2 x 4-TEC 215hp SC	310, 430

Features

The 205 shared most of its features with the Utopia 185, including the swim platform with a ladder, walk-thru windshield, navigation lights, sun deck, cup holders, cleats, and an audio system.

SE Variant:

The 205 was also available in a more featured configuration under the name of Utopia 205 SE.

Compared to the base model, it came standard with covers, carpets, a stereo remote, and a depth finder.

Performance

Unlike early Sea-Doo boats, which were virtually oversized jet skis, the Utopia 205 was a real 20-foot family jet boat.

Its seating arrangement and amenities offered plenty of comfort while the jet power source ensured a remarkable performance.

Powered by a single 2-stroke engine, she topped out in the high 40s. For example, its GPS top speed with the Merc 200 Opti and Merc 240 EFI were 45 and 47 mph, respectively.

When it comes to 4-stroke twin engines, the naturally-aspirated 2x155hp package ensured a top speed of 53 mph.

At this speed, the engines were burning 21 gph while getting 2.5 mpg.

The best cruising speed of this setup was about 28-30 mph, which translated to 8.5 gph and 3.3 mpg.

Speed junkies appreciated the power of the supercharged 430hp engine option, which was only available in the last (2009) model year.

This twin power mill propelled the boat to 56-57 mph at 8000 RPM, while its minimum planing speed was a shy 20s.

The acceleration with these engines was also impressive since they could do the 0-30 mph sprint in 5 seconds.

Problems

Even though the larger Utopia was an amazing boat, its engines weren’t completely bulletproof.

The 2-stroke Mercury engine options required more attention and care while they used significantly more gas and burned more oil as well.

The carbed 210 V6 (note: V6 = six carburetors!) was especially known for its high maintenance and poor fuel economy.

Specs Charts

For your convenience, we’ve listed the main factory specs of the Sea-Doo Utopia 205 (2008 model, 2 x Rotax 4-TEC 155 NA engines):

Dimensions

Overall Length	19’10”
Beam	8’
Draft	12”
Deadrise	20°
Dry weight	2570 lb. SE: 2590 lb.
Load limit	8 passengers or 1320 lb.

Dimensions On Trailer

Length	20’ 4”
Width	8’
Height (no tower)	6’ 7”
Height – tower down	7’ 1”
Height – tower up	9’ 11”
Gross weight on the trailer	3670 lb. SE: 3690 lb.

Engine Specs

Number of Engines	2
Type	Rotax 1503 4-TEC 4-stroke, SOHC
Number of Cylinders	3
Induction type	Naturally aspirated
Displacement	1493.8 cm³ (91 cu. in.)
Lubrication oil type	10W 40 4-stroke oil (API service classification SM, SL, or SJ
Staring System	Electric
Engine oil	3.2 US qt. w/filter, 4.8 US qt total
Fuel tank (inc. reserve)	40 US gal.
Performance	2 x 155hp

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

Takeaways

If you are looking for a Sea-Doo Utopia 205 for sale, you should avoid 2001-2005 models with 2-stroke Mercury engines.

Even though the asking prices of these boats average between $5,000 and $10,000, their outdated Mercury engines are not worth the trouble.

Best practice is to invest in a 4-stroke model (2006-2009) with twin naturally-aspirated Rotax engines. These boats deliver 2x155hp but they tend to be more reliable than their 2-stroke predecessors.

The supercharged 430hp version is also not recommended due to its supercharger issues and poor overall reliability.

So, if you’re looking for something really reliable, you should consider a Yamaha jet boat instead.

References:

Sea-Doo

Boatingmag.com