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2005 Sea Doo Sportboat Sea-Doo Challenger 180 Photos
2005 Sea Doo Sportboat Sea-Doo Challenger 180 Test Details
| Category | Jet Boat |
| Length | 17ft 7in / 5.18 m |
| Dealers | Contact Dealers |
| Buyers Guides | Search For Buyers Guides |
| Boats For Sale | Search For For Sale |
2005 Sea Doo Sportboat Sea-Doo Challenger 180 Description
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Sea-Doo always has at least one new exciting sport boat to add to its lineup every year. That tradition continues under the Bombardier Recreational Products corporate banner.
This year, one that really caught our eye was the Challenger 180, with two power options - a 185-hp 4-TEC supercharged four-stroke inboard or a 215-hp 4-TEC that's supercharged and intercooled.
The boat also comes in two colour schemes - steel blue or fire copper, Ouur test was a steel blue Challenger 180 powered with the smaller 185-hp engine.
The exterior lines of the Challenger are very unique, as you will see in the photo above.The boat displays an aerodynamic style, enhanced by its graphics package.
The bow area of the boat has seating, for two people, with a filler cushion that slides into place to create a lounge. Similar to the rest of the Sea- Doo sportboat lineup, the Challenger has lots of on-board storage space in the floor and under the seats. Most impressive is the dual-access rear storage area that opens initially as a storage area under the hatch, behind the rear lounge or can open as a single unit to expose the engine.
The main cockpit is comprised of two swivel bucket seats and a rear lounge seat large enough for three adults. Over the engine compartment lid there is an easy step-through access for rear boarding from the swim platform. For those warm days on the water there is a built-in cooler under the rear seat. Between the two swivel bucket seats is a large in-floor ski storage area.
To meet the needs of jet boat owners who wakeboard in North America, the Challenger 180 comes with an optional wakeboard tower.
Another need the new boat meets is an old familiar one for jet-drive boaters. One of the problems with a jet-driven boat is the clogging of the inlet with weeds.To address this problem the Challenger 180 comes with a one-touch inlet clearance system.
To address another need - preventing theft - the Challenger 180 comes with D.E.S.S. (digitally encoded security system).
I really enjoy driving a jet-powered boat once I get use to manoeuvring them at slow speeds and driving them in reverse. Especially in reverse, everything happens opposite to what you are used to,but it does not take long to become proficient.
As I took the boat out into the bay and pushed the throttle forward the boat leapt out of the water, then streaked down the bay to a top speed of 45 mph at 7,400 rpm. Pulling back on the throttle, the Challenger settled into a nice cruising speed at 28 mph, around the 5,000-rpm mark.
I have always liked the way any of the sportboat models track through the water at any speed and the Challenger was no exception. From hard turns at full throttle to a nice leisurely turn, it never missed a beat. I always have been a strong believer in the safety aspect of a jet drive versus a propeller, especially when the kids are in the boat enjoying watersports. I just wish I could have tried the larger engine. It's hard to imagine how more fun the bigger engine would provide.
Bringing the boat back to shore, I noticed the Challenger's quiet operation. The company technicians on hand explained that noise reduction was part of the new 2005 product lineup.
A commitment to watersports remains. At the rear of the boat there is a large integrated swim platform with a recessed ski-tow eye and a twostep reboarding ladder to make it easier for someone getting into and out of the water.
2005 Sea Doo Sportboat Sea-Doo Challenger 180 Test Specifications
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Test boat engine: Rotax 4-TEC 185 hp, 1,494-cc, 185-hp fuel-injected four-stroke gasoline inboard driving an axial-flow water jet pump.
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