Brand strategy is the name of the game for Sea-Doo in 2027 and the moves make far greater sense when viewed at a 30,000-foot altitude. Simultaneously, there are changes made here that will speak to a potential future far beyond that of what can be presently observed to the lay reader. But first, let’s give a little context:
Personal watercraft sales are currently in a precipitous decline since 2023, which recorded – per the NMMA’s reporting – a peak new unit sales of roughly 84,000 machines. This number in itself is questionable given that it includes a large portion of delayed and incomplete production units postponed due to supply chain constraints throughout 2022, which recorded a total of 71,700 new unit sales (down 12% from 2021).
Nevertheless, sales across North America (and globally) have continued to slide downward towards a projected 56,700 total for 2026. Not what one would call “good news.” Yet, not all is lost. Powersports always has its enthusiast core to rely upon and 2023 welcomed several exciting offerings that spiked faltering sales; including the introduction of Sea-Doo’s wicked 325 ACE engine for 2024 that certainly spiked people’s interests.
To say that big horsepower numbers “brings all of the boys to the yard” is an understatement. Bragging rights is the butter to this hobby’s bread, and it seems that no matter the economic landscape, a significant bump in power output inevitably pumps up sales like throwing a chunk of magnesium into an open campfire. And yes, that is precisely what Sea-Doo is planning for 2027.
Not only is the venerable supercharged ACE 1630 being cranked up to an almost unfathomable 350-production-horsepower, but BRP is rolling out an entirely new 1-liter ACE engine for the entire Spark family – along with a completely resculpted hull and redesigned jet pump; new pumps (mainly stators and venturis), ride plates and intake grates for some of if not the entire fleet.
Sea-Doo is pulling out all of the stops in an effort to flood the market with better accelerating, harder-hitting and frankly, far more thrilling watercraft than seen in the last decade.
Where to Begin? How About The Wrong Foot
Predictions are tough to make – at least if you want to be taken seriously. We had hard confirmation of a new Polytech hull. We also knew that 1. Dealers were told that all of the 325 models needed to be sold ASAP; and 2. That the ST3 hull was due to be replaced both because of BRP’s seemingly predictable 9-year cycle and secondly, due to its growing number of warranty claims (albeit many are due to older units being abused by 2nd and 3rd generation owners).
So when Joshua Dowling of Watercraft Zone announced that the 325 would be usurped by a fantastical 350-horsepower ACE, we readily shot that notion down. Alas, his sources proved correct and we’re gladly dining on a hefty slice of humble pie. Credit where credit is due. The power bump is built upon no whim either. Rather, Rotax had this goal in mind from the jump but opted to ease into the king’s throne rather than storm it. Well, if you can call a 0-to-60mph time of 3.1-seconds “easing into it.”
Internally, the 350 ACE receives an improved connecting rod with beefier rod bolts. A revised compressor wheel – increasing in diameter from 72.5mm to 75.5mm – ups both air volume and boost output, not unlike some current aftermarket wheels have done.
Consequently, some ECU tuning has been made to properly calibrate the ACE’s efficacy and up the max revolutions to a dizzying 8,500rpm. Externally, nothing has changed (well, except for the GTX Limited, which did have IDF and no longer does.) The compressor housing remains the same as do all other engine components – gone is the 325. Now is the day of the 350.
Now with the new 350-ponies, here are some better means to use it; namely, a redesigned stator with repitched vanes for reduced cavitation and increased thrust (no official thrust output numbers have been released); a redesigned ride plate that pitches the nose upward and a redesigned intake grate for improved traction and pump ingestion. Horsepower doesn’t mean much if you can’t put it to the asphalt, and this new pump arrangement will do that in the water.
Initial word is that the new stator will be carried throughout the entire Sea-Doo lineup but will retain the same impeller housing meaning no change to the wear ring or pump diameter itself. Simultaneously, the new ride plate is expected to be applied to all ST3-based machines (confirmation pending). We’re still waiting to hear back regarding which machines get the new intake grate, whether it’s only the 350 ACE models or all ST3-hulled machines. Hang tight on that one.
Building Upon a Legacy
Heralding the launch of the new 350 ACE, Sea-Doo partnered with the Senna estate to develop an exclusive one-year-only RXP-X Senna 350, honoring the legacy and values of the three-time Formula 1 world champion Ayrton Senna and featuring the all-new 350 hp engine. The limited-edition RXP-X Senna 350 will only see 1,991 units produced and sold worldwide. Sea-Doo marked each unit with a unique serial number on the dashpad, reading “1 of 1991” and so forth.
Senna edition RXP-X’s come in a halting Racing Yellow and Amazon Green livery with hand-painted fairings featuring large black “350” callouts. Details abound with Ayrton Senna signatures on the rear mat and dashpad-mounted plaque; a large “Senna” logo on the rear boarding deck; and Senna’s F1 championship years sprinkled throughout the ski.
All Senna editions come with Sea-Doo’s most premium DSP sound package, 10.25” full color dashboard, additional rear passenger seat and a signature ski cover. Although uniquely crafted for the super fan, the Senna-edition is no faster or better performing than the standard issue RXP-X 350.
To many unfamiliar with Formula One racing, the co-branding of this Sea-Doo and a legacy race car driver who died in 1994 might be a curiosity but trust us when we say the strategy is sound. Senna is a legend globally and to local Brazilians, a hometown hero. Together, this package has all of the signs of an aggressive effort to dominate the burgeoning marketplace and capture the hearts and minds of Brazilian consumers.
Just So Damn Overdue
We had publicly bemoaned Sea-Doo’s almost incompetent unveiling of the redesigned 2024 Spark. Buried deep below the 325 ACE reveal, the decade-old Spark – the very same unit that saved Sea-Doo in 2014 and altered the course of PWC for years to come – was scarcely ballyhooed at the model year press release. Smooth and seemingly staid in muted tones, the new Spark felt like an afterthought to many who rightly envisioned its true worth.
As it turned out, Sea-Doo’s engineers had similar sentiments and had changes and improvements hidden in the wings that brand strategists kept at bay. Of those were the fabled “Spark X” that will finally see the light of day. In late 2022, we were made aware of a prototype sporting a 130-horsepower 1630, but the engine’s increased weight proved discouraging to the Spark’s goal of remaining lightweight. (Yet felt it necessary to add IDF to the X, ironically.)
Instead, the Spark X capitalizes on Rotax’s newly redesigned 1000 ACE 3-cylinder. While maintaining nearly indistinguishable external features from its 899cc predecessor, the 1-liter enjoys a cornucopia of improvements: static cylinder compression is upped to a staggering 12.5:1; a wholly redesigned cylinder head provides superior quench, hotter combustion, increased intake ports, better exhaust scavenging, under piston oiling, a redesigned intake manifold and superior oil windage – all adding up to a 110-horsepower output.
Rotax assures that there’s still “plenty left on the table” for the new 1000 ACE, so don’t think this is the “bleeding edge” for the new motor. Future Spark X’s pushing the envelope further are on the horizon. As the new powerplant replaces the outgoing 900 ACE, all standard Sparks will receive the new engine with the same 60 and 90 horsepower outputs. As the X reaches speeds of 55mph at 8500rpm, lesser equipped Sparks will continue to perform around 48-49mph at slightly over 7250rpm (that’s an increase of 15% total top speed over the previous generation).
A completely redesigned pump introduces the consumable plastic wear ring to the Spark for the first time; repitched vanes for the stator and a venturi with cast-in vanes are new as well. And yes, all Sparks will receive this setup. Of course, the big surprise was a wholly redesigned Polytech hull. Realigned lifting strakes, an increased bowline and a rounder outside chine not only allows for quicker acceleration and better top speed, but a more aggressive inside lean in corners and all of this while maintaining its playfulness and agility.
Speaking of which, Sea-Doo has also “plussed” the popular Trixx by making it a tier above the X; namely, all Spark Trixx units will be made standard with the 110-horsepower tune, regardless if it’s sold as a 1-up or 3-up Trixx.
Although a bit of a missed opportunity, the Spark X comes foolishly in either 2- or 3-up configurations leaving a sporty single-seat off of the table. Likewise, it’s only available in a drab blue and charcoal black colorway. Not exactly the kind of eye-catching style that first put the Spark in the limelight.
Yet seemingly intentional, Sea-Doo offers the Trixx in Blue Mist and Coral Red (as well as last year’s Gulfstream Blue and Orange Crush) to better lure in enthusiasts seeking more fanciful colors. But what is significant about these colorations is the advent of colored Polytech. Yes! It is indeed possible for Sea-Doo to produce polymer panels in brilliant colors. This not only opens the door for future applications and color combinations but for colored hulls, effectively removing a common complaint from the table.
Every Base is Covered
And with that, the core of the 2027 lineup is complete. Again, all units both great and small enjoy improvements to the pump stator as others gain that and a reshaped ride plate. As of this writing we’re still awaiting official domestic MSRP pricing for most units besides the Spark X, starting at $10,849 (2-up) and Spark X Trixx beginning as a 1-up for $11,549. No word yet on the Senna Edition RXP-X save that out of a total 1991 units to be built, 500 are en route to Brazil as of this writing and another 100 to Australia.
And as for colorways, here’s what’s new: Spark X is sold in Deep Black and Blue Mist as the Trixx is sold Blue Mist and Coral Blast. Of course, the RXP-X 350 Senna Edition is only available in Racing Yellow and Amazon Green. As for both the RXP-X 350 and RXT-X 350 your options are Solar Orange or Gulfstream Blue. The top tier GTX Limited 350 gains a fetching Mineral Blue along with its Pearl White option; and by the grace of the good and holy God above, Sea-Doo ditched the heinous “Sand” coloring on the Wake models for Manta Green and Teal Blue.
