2009 Sea Doo Sportboat 230 Challenger SP

Sea-Doo’s new-for-2009 crossover promises to leave no one at the dock, with the sporty performance you’d expect from a runabout equipped with all the functionality of a boat geared for watersports. And as the largest Sea-Doo ever, with room for 12 passengers, the 230 Challenger SP offers space enough for all to partake in the fun.

And lots of fun there will be! Out on the water, the 230 Challenger is extremely quick out of the hole – planing in a mere 2.8 seconds and blasting to 20 mph in just over three seconds.With no props to worry about, the 230 curves through turns with no cavitation. Cruising is nice and smooth, with handling very responsive throughout the entire range.

The helm will make driving this fun machine even better with a track and swivel, flip-up bolster seat and backlit, anti-fog gauges.The stainless steal chrome finish on the dash and at the separate shift and throttle levers puts the sport style in this sportboat.

But the fun factor on the 230 Challenger SP is not relegated solely to the person at the wheel – what good would that be? This beamy bowrider provides lots of comfortable seating for friends and ample storage for all the water toys and gear they’ll bring along for a day of fun on the water. Several compartments are lockable for added security.

A U-shaped cockpit bench integrates with the rear-facing passenger lounge, which offers the perfect vantage point for a spotter, and another roomy U-shaped bench fills the bow. Both hide centre walkthrough steps for easy access fore and aft.

If you plan on making the most of the watersports features, the swim platform mat and a two-step rear boarding ladder are both welcome additions. Several other standard options, such as the satellite ready stereo speaker withMP3 port, wakeboard tower and Bimini top, mean not much is left to the imagination. But you can still opt for some neat add-ons – a retractable windshield, tower speakers or amplifier – to take it up a notch.

No matter how you choose to deck it out, you’ll leave everyone green with envy and in your dust with the Sea-Doo 230 Challenger SP.

TEST BOAT ENGINE
Twin fuel-injected Rotax 1503 SCIC 4-TEC direct drive jet engines, 430 hp (total), 1,494 cc, with closed-loop cooling system.

ACCELERATION (mph/sec)
0-20 / 3.1 ; 0-30 / 5.03

TOP SPEED (rpm/mph)
53.8 / 7800

CRUISING SPEED (rpm/mph)
5000 / 23.7 ; 5500 / 28.2 ; 6000 / 33.6

SOUND LEVEL AT CRUISE (5500 rpm)
Helm – 89 dbA ; Aft cockpit – 92 dbA

SOUND LEVEL AT TOP SPEED
Helm – 94 dbA ; Aft cockpit – 97 dbA