2007-2012 Sea-Doo Wake 230 Specs and Review [Video]

Sea-Doo manufactured the Wake 230 from 2007 through 2012 as the larger brother of the popular Wake 210. This jet-powered wakeboard boat shared her body and most features with the Challenger 230, but had been upgraded with a watersport package.

In this post, we’ll review this 23-foot wakeboard jet boat and her key specifications.

Sea-Doo Wake 230 Review

Body and Features

In 2007, Sea-Doo introduced its popular 230 series including the Challenger 230 series and the purpose-built Wake 230.

As their name suggests, these boats shared the same 23-foot composite hull and many other features, but the Wake stood out in the crowd with her special features and powerful engine package.

She measured in with an overall length of 23.5 feet and had a trailerable beam of 8.5 feet. Despite its dimensions and weight, the draft of this platform was only 1 foot.

Unlike its dimensions, the weight of the Wake 230 changed over the years.

Depending on the model year, the claimed dry weight ranged between 3,635 and 3,922 pounds, which converted to a trailering weight of 5,400-5,600 pounds.

Aside from the hull, the Wake shared her stern architecture and cozy forward lounge with the rest of the 230 series.

The latter enjoyed a widened, deck-boat-style layout with large wraparound seating.

Standard features of this lounge included integrated cupholders, under-seat storage, storage pocket nets, and marine-grade speakers.

The angular bow peak housed an anchor locker, was surrounded with navigation lights, and pop-up mooring cleats.

Protected by a large walk-thru windshield, the cozy cockpit also offered great comfort and a lot of free deck space.

Unlike standard Challenger 230 models with helm and port swivel seats and a symmetrical U-shaped aft lounger, the Wake was designed with a slightly different seating configuration.

This layout came standard with one helm swivel bucket seat and an L-shaped, full wraparound lounger on the port side

The port console was also different and featured a backrest, which allowed the observer to sit comfortably facing backwards.

Keeping convenience in mind, this lounge was equipped with a stereo system, floor carpet, table mount, ski locker, grab handles, cup holders, under-seat storage, and storage nets.

To the greatest regret of many Sea-Doo enthusiasts, the 230 skipped out on the walk-thru transom, swim platform storage, and the fold-out aft lounger seats, which came standard on the 210 models.

In return, the 230 was designed with a larger integrated reboarding platform and a full-beam sun pad.

The stern was also fitted with some bells and whistles like a ski eye, stereo remote, deck mats, and grab handles.

Let’s talk about the model-specific features of the Wake 230 like the ballast system and the foldable wakeboard tower.

The latter also came standard on the Challenger 230 SP, but the Wake variant enjoyed wakeboard racks, boombox speakers, and Roswell tower lights as well.

Labeled as the Sea-Doo WakeBoost system, the ballast system featured separate reservoirs on both sides of the cockpit.

Another nice addition was cockpit heating, which transferred heat via a stretchable heating duct.

While the Wake shared her dashboard with the Challenger line for many years, in 2012 she was upgraded with an innovative touchscreen display.

Regarding capacities, the boat could carry plenty of gear and 12 people up to 2000 pounds.

The fuel capacity was 44 or 53 gallons depending on the year.

Engines and Performance

The Sea-Doo Wake 230 was offered with twin supercharged Rotax 1503 4-TEC engine packages. These 4-stroke, 1494cc, triple-cylinder marine engines were available in both 2x215hp and 2x255hp configurations.

(To be more precise, the 2x255hp variant was upgraded to 2x260hp in 2012.)

These innovative power mills packed many advanced technologies like iTC throttle control, Closed-Loop Coolin System, multi-port fuel injection, and D-Sea-Bel sound reduction system.

Engine power was delivered to Bombardier Formula jet pumps, housing 159mm, stainless-steel impellers.

Fitted with the standard 430hp engine variant, the Wake 230 topped out at 50-52 mph.

Opted with the 510/520hp package, the top speed increased into the mid-50s while the 0-30 mph time averaged around 5 seconds.

Thanks to its powerful propulsions and relatively small hull, the Wake 230 was fast and agile.

This nimble attitude meant easier handling for the captain and faster restarts and pick-ups for wakeboarders.

In return, the boat produced much smaller wakes than purpose-built wake boat.

This is no surprise since her hull didn’t sit as deep in the water and housed smaller ballast tanks as well.

Hence, even though the Wake 230 could be used for wakeboarding or even wake surfing, she was primarily recommended for beginner riders.

For more advanced riders who were looking for higher and sharper wakes, an inboard wake boat was the only way to go.

(The most well-known brands in this league included Tige, Mastercraft, Moomba, and Nautique.)

Specs Charts

For your convenience, we’ve listed the key specs of the Sea-Doo Wake 230:

Dimensions and Capacities

Overall Length	23.5’
Beam	8.5’
Draft	1’
Dead Rise	21°
Height on trailer (tower down)*	8’ – 8.8’
Height on trailer (tower up)*	10 – 10’ 7”
Load limit (passengers + luggage)*	2000-2284 lb.
Number of passengers (driver included)	12
Fuel Capacity (’07-’09)	44 gal.
Fuel Capacity (’10-’12)	53 gal.

*Depending on the year

Weight

Model Year	’07-‘09	’10-‘11	‘12
Dry Weight	3635 lb.	3774 lb.	3922 lb.
Gross weight on trailer	Na.	5507 lb.	5575 lb.

Engine

Number of Engines	2
Type	Rotax 1503 4-TEC SOHC
Maximum HP RPM	8000 +/- 50 RPM
Performance (std.)	2x215hp
Performance (opt.)	2x255hp*
Fuel Injection Type	Multipoint Fuel Injection with iTC
Induction type	Supercharged (SC)
Exhaust system	Water cooled
Cooling System	CLCS (Closed-Loop)
Engine Stroke	4-stroke
Number of Cylinders	3 (each engine)
Displacement	1494cc (each engine)
Engine Oil Capacity	3.2 qt. oil change with filter (each engine)

* Upgraded for 2×260 in 2012

Propulsion

Jet Pump Type	Axial flow, single stage
Transmission	Crowned splines, direct drive
Pivoting angle of direction (nozzle)	21°
Minimum required water level for jet pump	90cm(3ft) underneath the lowest rear  portion of hull

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

Takeaways

The Sea-Doo Wake 230 was a 23-foot wakeboard jet boat powered by twin supercharged Rotax 4-TEC engines.

The standard package delivered 430hp, which could be opted for 510/520hp.

Rated at 12 people, her bowrider-side top deck had a wide and spacious bow lounge and a cozy cockpit with a helm bucket seat and full wrap-around seating.

She came standard with a factory-installed wakeboard tower fitted with lights, speakers, and racks.

Other watersport-intended features included a 1,000-pound ballast system, cockpit heating, and a large reboarding platform.

Compared to purpose-built wakeboard boats with inboard engines, the Wake 230 was smaller, lighter, and with a much less professional wake profile.

Yet, her performance was more than enough for beginner wakeboarders and wake surfers. What’s more, she was much cheaper to purchase and maintain, too.

Thanks to her affordability, the Wake 230 is still popular among used boat buyers.

Depending on the age and engine package, the prices of these used jet wakeboard boats average between $25,000 and $50,000.

Besides its smaller brother, another main competitor of this model was the deservedly popular Yamaha AR230.