About two weeks ago I purchased my first jet boat, Seadoo Utopia 205. I was lead to believe that this boat could do 50-55 mph under certain weather conditions. Over the past week or so I've been out on the lake several times under very smooth (no wind) conditions with about 500 lbs in the boat and can not get the boat to do over 40 MPH.

My question... Can someone tell me, from experience, what I should be expecting for max speed on this boat? Is there anyting I should be adjusting or tweaking to gain more speed?

Thanks
New Utopia 205 Owner.

i bought a 2003 challenger 1800 last year and i tought this boat could do aroud 55mph. i heard somebody did 60mph with the same boat! my boat is shorter and lighter than yours and i did 46mph (47 on gps). i returned it to the dealer and he told me, after inspection, that my boat is in perfect condition. i don't know what makes a so impressive difference between our boats and those doing nearly 55mph? if you ever have an answer, let me know!
Stefan

Jets are very inefficient, any little ding on the impeller will cause lost topend. Likewise, if the grate is causing cavitation, the impeller efficiency will also drop.

Advice:
1) Check grate, impeller, and pump for any signs of damage.
2) Drop ride plate down.
3) Wax On, Wax Off.
4) Tell 400 pounders to sit on beach while dooinga speed pass.
5) Try adding weight to the bow and do the run again. Move the weight around to see if it helps.
6) Charge battery fully. A low battery pulls several horses.
7) Change plugs.
8) At WOT throttle position, pull back just a bit. The REV limiter retards cyclinder #2 when the RPM limit is hit. If there is cavitation, the RPM limit can be hit before reaching max speed.
9) Use 87 oc. only, with no additives. RAW real gas.
10) Check throttle linkage to make sure you are getting full movement (goes with number 8).

2001 speedster gps max speed is 56.4mph. However, I am happy with anything above 50mph.

Hi;
I have a similar story with my 205. Bought new last season, it would do 55 moh on smooth water with 2 passengers. This year, I am having trouble getting over 42 mph and have some minor engine misses when idling. I know I have some minor impeller dings due to some shallow-water debris ingestion. I'll try the items on the previous list (Change plugs, etc.).

Anyone know of a good source for impellers?

We have 2 2001 challenger 1800's, one efi, one carb, (rentals). Carb goes 54.7 gps, fastest was 58.2. EFI went 62.4mph gps now just tested and goes 51.5. 275 hours on carb, 500 hours on efi. As stated above, throttle linkage is important. But if your performance has dropped, there is something else going on. We had an intake tine break off and go through the pump and get wedged on the back side of the impeller and the bowl on both boats at separate times. We lost about 10mph, so it was time to do the drive oil change when I found it. If you can take all the slack out of the throttle cable, then you know you've got full throttle. Along with that, she's got to have fuel and 87 octane only. Change both filters: the one at the fuel pump (end of hose coming from tank) and the spin-on on the engine. Change your plugs, drive and stator oil only with standard issue replacements. As for putting weight in the bow, for speed don't doo it. The less wetted surface area the faster you go (i.e. adjust the ride plate UP to raise the bow at speed). This will also help water flow into the pump, not much, but it will help. But for stability, these things porpoise if the wake from a skipping rock hits them, so be careful about weight adjustment.
Good luck

Hi;
I plan to take your advice and replace my fuel filters on my Utopia 205 w/240 EFI M2. In another link, I read the advice in the service manual to change these every season (or 100 hours). My boat is up north at our cottage, so I can't pop open the hatch and check the part numbers for these filters. I've tried the mercruiser part site with the full part-by-part explosion, but there are at least 4 separate parts called filters in the fuel system. I'm afraid of ordering the wrong ones!

Do you know the part numbers of the filters you replaced?

Thanks
Craig

PS - This is only my second year with this boat, but I'm taking all the advice from these links. When I get up to the cottage next, I'll:
- change the plugs
- change these filters
- replace my HydroSurge with a 6-tine grate (ordered yesterday)
- change the lower unit lube
- adjust my ride plates down

Any other good advice?

You need a pump or some way to pump oil up and in the pan. There are two oil plugs. You open both and oil comes out of one. Oh, and the pump MUST be level during the entire time. Put one plug in and then pump oil into the pan until it comes out the hole your pumping it into. If you don't fill the pan correctly, it can lead to big trouble. It's a real mess and best done by your dealer.

I will look into each of these, but would think that off the showroom floor the boat would do what is advertised.

I'm actually going to take it back to the dealer and ask them to check everything out. I took her 6 hours from my hours for the 4th of July weekend and was only able to go out four about 4 hours when all of the sudden it started making a really rattle sound from the engine at 12+ MPH and had total loss of power.

Don't get excited. During our first breakin tank... I wasn't impressed either. After you run the first tank dry... change your plugs and fill her up again. It takes a few tanks before the 240EFI kicks butt.

Just wondering... how did you breakin? Mercury expects you to get on her, but don't under any circumstances keep the same speed for longer than 30 seconds. They want a constantly changing RPM to breakin, even WOT. If you just putt putt putt... it ain't good. Definitely, have the dealer check the powerhead if it's under warranty and your concerned. Otherwise, let her rip!

JetWild!
SpeedSter240EFI
Rj

My dealer really did not provide much (ok none) advise on the breakin. I really didn't do much, I've run about 3 tanks of gas (87 octane).

Today I took her to the dealer and am wait for the call. I'll post the results in the next day or two.

After I get her back I'm going to review each of the above items.

Thanks
New Utopia Owner

Well I picking her up today from the dealer. They said everything was fine and that with on person he was able to get it up to 44 MPH. He (the service manager) said he called Seadoo and 44 is acceptable and that Seadoo does not publish a top end speed.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
New Utopia Owner
RT

Without researching... I couldn't tell you the difference in weight between the SpeedSter and the Utopia. I know the Utopia is much larger than our SpeedSter, but 10-12 mph slower seems too much of a difference. I would expect near 50mph. Even the Challengers can reach that speed+. Are there more Utopia owners out there?

What is your max RPM at WOT? Is this GPS or SeaDoo DreamoMeter measurements?

You should inspect your impeller for any damage. Do you have any cavitation or hesitation from a dead-stop-give-yer? If she jumps right up and starts moving out fast... the impeller is most likely fine.

42mph to 44mph... I would ask your dealer if anyone else has bought one from them, get their name and call em. I wouldn't take your dealer's input... get a second opinion from another dealer or a Utopia owner... if possible.

Your jet is NEW... don't be satisfied with it's performance or at least don't allow them to tell you... "It's goodenough!" Don't let up on them until your satisfied. Once you agree and if things are out of wack... you might find yourself out of luck owning a lemon which you have to sell some day. Hell, tell them to change the motor and the pump or you'll find a lemon law lawyer... Well, that might be too much too soon. I just would hate to have you settle for poor performance if you don't need to.

FYI I have loaded our boat beyond the 900 with people and gear, and then conducted a sub-move and filled the deck with a foot of water... and it still does over 50mph with all that weight! I'm not one to wait for the bilge pump to empty a good sub-move! I like the washing machine action to empty the deck. It works great... just add bio-soap and she's clean as a whistle after a good productive fishing trip!

JetWild and DON"T Settle!!!
SpeedSter240EFI
Rj

2003 utopia 185 with 240 efi M2 on a calm day did 57mph w.o.t on a choppy day in the bay 50 mph. You should have them check it out again.

Remember the SeaDoo speedometer isn't accurate. They general run 5mph higher than the real speed. Our speedo reads 59mph-62mph. The fastest GPS speed we saw was 56.7mph.

Its still fun to watch the SeaDoo SpeedoMeter... the people in the boat can't tell the difference between 50mph and 57mph...

JetWild!!!
SpeedSter240EFI
Rj

I get crap (twigs, weeds) caught up in my drive all the time. Just turning th engine off for 2 minutes somethimes yields a release (for the lucky. Otherwise i have pulled th boat out of the water and pulled a twig out of the stator/impeller housing

Hi;
I just replaced the spark plugs in my Utopia 205 that I bought last summer. When new, it did 55 mph with no problems. Starting up this year, it wouldn't do better than 42 mph. New plugs did the trick and it is back to it's normal 55+ mph speed.

I did get a few dings in my impeller, but that doesn't seem to have caused much loss in top end.

Craig

I have an 04 240hp and with 1/2 tank and the right water conditions 52-54 mph. I weigh 240 lbs and It actualy whips me up too fast on the slalom I must havemy wife not "wall it" and pull back the instant Im up.

I love it , my only gripe is the trailer (I biought virtually every acessory in the catalog both full cover, cockpit and bowcover, toilet, spare, bimini and dodger, up graded the compass, marine radia, pirana lcr etc). Im thinking of putting discs, led lights and full bunks on thetraileroalong with some bling wheels and tires.

Per my prior posting I'd like to hear from anyone who has switched their SeaDoo trailer to disc brakes, replaced their light with LEDs, put larger connected bunks on it, put fancier rims and/or tires on it ??????

My home eamil is LDJAWilliams@aol.com. I live in Delaware county Ohio (central) near Alum Creek Lake. I'd be intersted in knowing anyone with a Utopia 205 in the general area.

Should the plugs be replaced evey year?

Ive been boating 40+ years but always with much bigger 4 cycle I's & I/Os), we scuba, ski,wake and fish from the boat (by the way I had custom berber snap out carpet made for mine and its woderful, I highly recommend it - it reaaaly makes it quiet too)

Anyone who spends money and time working on their trailer... worrying about trailer appeal... man, you are true Dooer!!! Happy New Year!!!

I haven't ever changed our plugs but once... right after the breaken tank was empty.

Rj

Where can I find snap in carpet for my 2001 Challenger 2000??
Thanks!

I upgraded my rear lights (taillights and center 3-light tree) to LED systems. I thought the factory's incandescents seemed a little dim, and unbalanced (one side was brighter). I measured the voltage under load at the taillights and found it to be 9.6 volts - far less than what the bulbs are rated for, which explained the dimness. Towing a trailer is dangerous enough without being hard to see as well.

LED's draw far less current, hence the voltage drop to the rear of the trailer would be greatly reduced. It took some drilling to get the proper mounting holes but the result was absolutely great. Super bright taillights and center clearance light, and the brake lights are even brighter.

I replace all six plugs (and both fuel filters) when I winterize. Obsessive? Probably, and if that means someone is willing to buy my old "gently used" plugs just make me an offer [grin]. No? Then I expect you'll be changing your plugs every year too!

What is the gap on the plugs? 2002 240efi X20. Thanks

The -10 suffix means they are **supposed** to be gapped to 1.0 mm at the factory, but always check them with a good gauge to be sure. I've had several that were off a bit straight from the box.

Thank you!

Per my prior posting I'd like to hear from anyone who has switched their SeaDoo trailer to disc brakes, replaced their light with LEDs, put larger connected bunks on it, put fancier rims and/or tires on it ??????

My home eamil is LDJAWilliams@aol.com. I live in Delaware county Ohio (central) near Alum Creek Lake. I'd be intersted in knowing anyone with a Utopia 205 in the general area.

Should the plugs be replaced evey year?

Ive been boating 40+ years but always with much bigger 4 cycle I's & I/Os), we scuba, ski,wake and fish from the boat (by the way I had custom berber snap out carpet made for mine and its woderful, I highly recommend it - it reaaaly makes it quiet too)