Seadoo is the smart choice IMO
Hey there 96 speedster, glad to give my opinion on Seadoo supercharged skis since I own three of them. Like you and Artic I enjoyed snowmobiling from 1980 thru 2001, I found when you find something thats works for you, You stick with it, for me it was Skidoo snowmobiles mainly due to the dealer in OLD FORGE NY, trail banged them when suspensions were not as good as todays. Drag Raced on frozen lakes with flat tracks and chisels. So it was my gut feeling to stay with Bombardier/Seadoo. Bought my first one a 2006 RXT 215 hp. Had no problems with it. Then the new 255 hp RXT-X was launched in 2008. Not wanting to be lagging with my 215 version I modified it with a RIVA STAGE III kit. Still no problems. Three years later i finally dialed in the motor, hull and drivetrain to the way it is running now very fast and dependable. Having the right connections is key to obtaining success. Jerry Gaddis the owner of the GREEN HULK FORUM and PWC PERFORMANCE is a personal friend of mine and it was him that gave what I needed to hit the sweet spot. Check him out on Face Book he is a great guy. He only runs Seadoo and Yamaha in that order.
Okay back to Seadoo I wouldn't trade them for anything else to date. The superchargers have been flawless (They don't make turbos) The 2011 Seadoo GTI-SE just got awarded the 2011 ski off the yearby PWC TODAY over the runner up Yamaha VXS 1800, you should read that, they also lead all competitors in Tecnology with the IBR drive by wire system , brakes, S-3 hull and fit & finish. Then there is post on here about a guy went to a Yamaha and Seadoo Dealer with the Idea of buying 2 Yamaha VX cruisers instead the same dealer that sell both brands recommended the Seadoo GTI-SE and sold them to him over the Yamaha, that kinda says alot.
Most complainers of Seadoo either had pre- 2000 skis, which I believe were not as reliable, although you were running a 96 Speedster with no problems. the nineties were some rough years for the manufactuers , even the mighty ARTIC CAT shut down production of TIGERSHARK skis. The other people IMO were not the brightest bulbs in the house when it came to owning and maintaining your stuff, and any one that lends out there rides is asking for trouble by letting novice drivers abuse them. Would you guys let people have a free for all on your sleds/skis? Didn't think so. Ok next you can find RXT's and other great Seadoo skis for $4000-$8000 for model years ranging from 2004 - 2008.
As far as statistics go I don't have broad numbers, but I can tell you 6 or 8 of group of guys all run Seadoo, 1 guy runs a Yamaha FZR but he feels outnumberd, all of us swear by Seadoo and laugh at the Nay Sayers because we all know better from seaons of hard use on our skis
We were out today on the upper bay and the percentages of skis seen in the water and running were led By Seadoo, then Yamaha and a couplel of older Kawasakis. I personally ran with some modified Seadoos and a FZR Yamaha , and a Stock 2010 RXT-X, neither could hang with us on speed runs
I also have found the Austrian made 4 strokes a cut above the Jap versions. European four strokes have always IMO have been better, look at the car motors, also no harm intended but one has to think of the uncertainty of Japan's viability going forward.
OK enough said for now:thumbsup: