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2001 Sea Doo Sportboat Utopia 185 Photos
2001 Sea Doo Sportboat Utopia 185 Test Details
| Category | Jet Boat |
| Length | 18ft 3in / 5.49 m |
| Beam | 8 ft. |
| Fuel Capacity | 151 L |
| Weight | 2,050 lb |
| Dealers | Contact Dealers |
| Buyers Guides | Search For Buyers Guides |
| Boats For Sale | Search For For Sale |
2001 Sea Doo Sportboat Utopia 185 Description
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For a few years now, Bombardier has been trying
mightily to persuade boating journalists (and through them, boaters)
that they are not building jetboats but rather sportboats. That
way, boat-buyers will think of Sea-Doos boats as sportboats first,
instead of regarding them as larger, perhaps more accommodating
personal watercraft.
Savvy boat-buyers, however, already know that Bombardier builds good boats well-designed and well-constructed. As for water-jet power, its become more of a mainstream option, a top choice for boaters who appreciate the absence of an exposed propeller and jetboats shallow-water capabilities. When Sea-Doo began using Mercury engines, it increased its potential for building larger boats.
Sea-Doos boat designs, however, have remained at the cutting edge of style, sporting hot colors and incorporating unique, modern elements of style and design. Boating trend-setters love being seen in a Sea-Doo.
The new Sea-Doo Utopia 185, however, has been designed to fit in with, rather than stand out from the family bowrider crowd. Its got a full wraparound windscreen, allow-ing installation of a convertible top, spacious bow seating area, two swiveling seats forward and a bench seat aft in the cockpit.
The lines are conservative, as are the colours (our test boat had a white hull with a broad green stripe below the hull-deck joint along with green and sand-colored pleated upholstery). The dashboard even has a sort of retro look, with instruments that have a sort of antique appearance, with Art-Deco-style design motifs.
Driving the Utopia, however, quickly reminds you that whether you want to call them jetboats or sportboats, Sea-Doos jet-powered craft are always a boatload of fun. Acceleration to 20 mph takes less than four seconds; you reach 30 mph in under six seconds and 40 mph in 8.24 seconds. Testing took place on Biscayne Bay near Miami. Conditions were calm in the
channel and the boat idled effortlessly and thanks to automatic acceleration, when the steering wheel was turned full-lock in either direction handled easily even at slow speeds.
Conditions out on the bay were quite rough, a good test for the Utopia. It passed with flying colours, topping out at close to 50 mph (48.3 mph at 5,900 rpm, to be exact) in radar-verified testing, while providing a secure and dry ride. The boat cruised easily at 32.5 mph at 4,500 rpm, a much more comfortable speed in the wavy test-day conditions. While sound levels at cruising speeds were 89 dbA at the helm and 91 dbA in the aft cockpit area, they were exactly the same at top speed. Thats a real testament to engine room insulation and tight construction.
The boat provided the sort of handling Ive come to expect in a Sea-Doo. In other words, it easily turned on command, at any speed, without bogging or spinning-out, jumped moderate waves and larger swells with ease (landing comfortably) and showed that it could run circles around more traditionally powered sportboats.
While designed with more conservative lines than its sportier siblings, the Utopia still has a couple of tricks up its sleeves. The helm and companion seats are broad and comfortable, but both swivel around to face sideways, neatly joining with the aft bench seat to form a huge U-shaped sofa great for loafing away sunny afternoons on the water. The sunpad aft of the rear bench seat curves neatly around the sides of the seat for added comfort. Beneath, there is storage to starboard. To port, there is a chemical head with privacy curtains that pull up with the hatch. Its a great convenience and recognition that folks will be spending the day on the water in this craft. Another nice touch, adding increased soundproofing, is an additional insulated cover over the engine.
A swim platform provides access over the stern perfect for watersports lovers. The full drained fibreglass cockpit liner ensures easy cleanups. Whether or not this Utopia is the ultimate, ideal, stress-free experience (as its name implies), it is certainly a dry and comfortable place for family boaters who want speedy, wave-taming performance.
2001 Sea Doo Sportboat Utopia 185 Test Specifications
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Test boat engine:
Mercury OptiMax 200-hp EFI M2 Jet Drive, 2.5-litre
(150-cid), 200-hp, V-6, two-stroke, with direct fuel
injection and variable rate oil injection.
Acceleration:
mph sec.
0-20 mph 3.62 sec.
0-30 mph 5.87 sec.
0-40 mph 8.24 sec.
Top speed (radar)
mph rpm
48.3 5,900
Cruising speed (radar)
rpm mph
4,000 rpm 24.4 mph
4,500 rpm 32.5 mph
5,000 rpm 37.6 mph
5,500 rpm 43.1 mph
Sound levels at cruise (4,500 rpm)
helm aft cockpit
89 dbA 91 dbA
Sound levels at top speed
helm aft cockpit
89 dbA 91 dbA
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