{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Short description|Canadian boats and personal watercrafts}} {{tone|date=September 2018}} {{Infobox brand | name = Sea-Doo | logo = | logo_upright = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = Toronto Police Sea-Doo C10391ON.jpg | image_upright = | alt = | caption = Toronto Police rescue unit. | producttype = Personal watercraft | currentowner = | producedby = Bombardier Recreational Products | country = Canada<!-- or: origin --> | introduced = {{start date and age|1968}} | discontinued = | related = Sea-Doo XP, Ski-Doo | markets = Worldwide | previousowners = | trademarkregistrations = | ambassadors = | tagline = | website = {{URL|https://sea-doo.brp.com/}} }}

'''Sea-Doo''' is a Canadian brand of personal watercraft (PWC) and boats manufactured by Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP).<ref name="MacDonald2012">{{cite book|author=Larry MacDonald|title=The Bombardier Story: From Snowmobiles to Global Transportation Powerhouse|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=92E3c0O9ioIC&pg=PA233|date=26 November 2012|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-118-48501-9|pages=233–}}</ref><ref name="Magazines1990">{{cite journal|author=Hearst Magazines|title=Popular Mechanics|journal=Popular Mechanics Magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OuMDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA61|date=April 1990|publisher=Hearst Magazines|pages=61–|issn=0032-4558}}</ref> All Sea-Doo models are driven by an impeller-driven waterjet.<ref name="Magazines1968">{{cite journal|author=Hearst Magazines|title=Popular Mechanics|journal=Popular Mechanics Magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q9MDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA91|date=August 1968|publisher=Hearst Magazines|pages=91–|issn=0032-4558}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/466717/personal-water-craft-us-market-share-by-brand/|title=Personal water craft (PWC) companies market share in the United States from 2012 to 2016*|website=Statistica}}</ref> All Sea-Doo PWC models are produced at BRP's plants in Querétaro and Juárez, Mexico. Its Rotax engines are produced at BRP's plant in Gunskirchen, Austria.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brp.com/en/about-us/our-locations/manufacturing-facilities.html|title=Facilities|website=BRP|access-date=2019-02-19|archive-date=28 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528213149/https://www.brp.com/en/about-us/our-locations/manufacturing-facilities.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2016, Sea-Doo had a 45.8% share of the PWC market in the US.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/466717/personal-water-craft-us-market-share-by-brand/|title=Personal water craft (PWC) companies market share in the United States from 2012 to 2016*|website=Statistica}}</ref>

==History== [[File:SeaDoo XP Generation 1.jpg|thumb|left|1992 SeaDoo XP generation one, the original high-performance runabout style PWC.]] Bombardier introduced its first personal watercraft in 1968, called the Bombardier Sea-Doo. It was designed by Clayton Jacobson II, who would later develop the more successful Kawasaki Jet Ski watercraft.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boatingmag.com/pwc-history-evolution-personal-watercraft#page-2|title=PWC History: The Evolution of Personal Watercraft|last=Hemmel|first=Jeff|date=8 January 2016|website=Boating Magazine}}</ref> Also heavily involved was Bombardier's Laurent Beaudoin, who was interested in expanding the success of the Ski-Doo snowmobile to the PWC market. Advertised as the "Jet-powered Aqua Scooter",<ref name="Aqua">{{cite web|url=https://www.brp.com/en/about-brp/our-heritage.html#content-1960|title=About BRP: Heritage|publisher=Bombardier Recreational Products|access-date=16 September 2018|archive-date=3 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103012731/https://www.brp.com/en/about-brp/our-heritage.html#content-1960|url-status=dead}}</ref> the original yellow Sea-Doo was 5 feet wide and 7.5 feet long, somewhat resembling a flying saucer. In 1968, it was powered by an air-cooled, 320cc engine with a top speed of 25 mph. Following complaints of overheating and inefficiency, it was replaced in 1969 with a water-cooled 372cc engine.<ref>{{cite web |title=1969 Sea-Doo 372 Bombardier |url=https://www.grautogallery.com/vehicles/5984/1969-sea-doo-372-bombardier |website=www.grautogallery.com |access-date=17 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923231842/https://www.grautogallery.com/vehicles/5984/1969-sea-doo-372-bombardier |archive-date=September 23, 2020 |language=en |url-status=live}}</ref> There were common complaints about discomfort from its flat seat and minimally-padded Ski-Doo supplied stainless steel handlebars. After only two years on the market, it was discontinued.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parkeryamaha.com/68seadoo/sdbirth.htm|title=INSIGHT: The birth and rebirth of Sea-Doo|last=Johnson|first=Joel|website=Parker Yamaha}}</ref>

The Sea-Doo was re-introduced in 1988 as its own brand under Bombardier. By 1995, annual sales for the Sea-Doo reached over 100,000 units, signaling a turnaround in the company's declining sales.<ref name="MacDonald2012"/> By 1997 the company had $212 million in sales, recapturing over half of the PWC market.<ref name="MacDonald2012"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Yachting|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2iFWXodY4UcC&pg=PT76|date=December 1997|pages=76–|issn=0043-9940}}</ref><ref name="BoehBeamish2007">{{cite book|author1=Kevin K. Boeh|author2=Paul W. Beamish|title=Mergers and Acquisitions: Text and Cases|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=54-8blUw7F0C&pg=PA408|year=2007|publisher=SAGE|isbn=978-1-4129-4104-4|pages=408–}}</ref> In 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sea-Doo personal watercraft converted into explosive unmanned surface vehicles were used to attack Russian naval vessels{{Broken anchor|date=2024-06-27|bot=User:Cewbot/log/20201008/configuration|target_link=unmanned surface vehicle#Use in combat|reason= The anchor (Use in combat) has been deleted.}} at the Sevastopol Naval Base.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sutton |first=H. I. |title=Moscow Cancels Black Sea Grain Deal After Large-Scale Drone Attack on Russian Warships |publisher=USNI News |date=31 October 2022 |url=https://news.usni.org/2022/10/31/moscow-cancels-black-sea-grain-deal-after-large-scale-drone-attack-on-russian-warships |access-date=1 November 2022}}</ref>

==Models== There are five categories of Sea-Doo models: Recreation, Tow Sports, Touring, Sport Fishing, and Performance.<ref name="RefGuide">{{cite web|url=https://www.jetskiplus.com/seadoomodelref/|title=SeaDoo Model Reference History|publisher=Jetskiplus.com|accessdate=31 July 2020}}</ref>

The Sea-Doo jet-powered sport boats included a four-seater Sportster 150 with 155&nbsp;hp or 215&nbsp;hp, a four-seater Speedster 150 with 255&nbsp;hp, and a seven-seater Speedster 200 with 310&nbsp;hp, and a Speedster 230 with space for up to twelve people. The Wake 200 model was made for wakeboarding and the two Challenger models were less sporty and more luxurious: a smaller Challenger 180 and a larger Challenger 210. In 2012, BRP discontinued sport boat production, citing a decline in global sales in the marine industry. This meant the loss of 350 jobs, including most of those at a plant in Benton, Illinois.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.boats.com/reviews/brp-to-exit-sport-boat-business-cease-production-of-sea-doo/|title=BRP to Shut Down Sea-Doo Sport Boat Line|last=Plueddeman|first=Chris|date=2012-09-14|website=Boats.com}}</ref>

The Sea-Doo Spark which was released in 2014 was aimed to attract new buyers to the decreasing PWC market. This model was in development for eight years and was code-named CAFE (clean, affordable, fun, and easy to use).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rideapart.com/articles/254642/2014-sea-doo-spark-review-rides-like-a-sportbike/|title=Sea-Doo Spark Review: Rides Like a Sport Bike|last=Macdonald|first=Sean|date=2013-09-18|website=Ride Apart}}</ref> It used a unique polytec hull and deck structure to cut costs and weight. The Spark quickly became the best-selling Sea-Doo model.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://boatingindustry.com/top-stories/2018/05/01/ready-jet-go/|title=Personal watercraft sales continue market climb|last=Quandt|first=Adam|date=1 May 2018|website=Boating Industry}}</ref>

In August 2021 they released a Pontoon boat style boat called the Switch.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.boatblurb.com/post/sea-doo-switch-headed-to-dealers#:~:text=The%20Switch%20was%20launched%20in,than%20a%20conventional%20steering%20wheel | title=Sea-Doo 'Switch' Headed to Dealers | date=30 March 2022 }}</ref>

==See also== *Sea-Doo XP *Sea-Doo Hydrocross (PlayStation video-game) *Ski-Doo (snowmobile)

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== *[https://sea-doo.brp.com/ Sea-Doo website]

{{Set index article}}

Category:Bombardier Recreational Products Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1988 Category:Personal watercraft brands Category:Canadian brands