Boat Test: 2024 Sea-Doo Spark Trixx

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Overview

We recommend Sea-Doo’s 2024 Spark Trixx. Yes, it offers minuscule storage capacity and barely hits 50 mph. But it’s so much freakin’ fun. With it, you can perform old-school spinouts and power slides with ease. The 90 hp engine paired with lightweight construction delivers surprising ­acceleration. Besides, who cares about storage when their boat can do something that no other sit-down watercraft can—wheelies. Yes, the Trixx hits bull’s-eyes when it comes to fun factors. 

Accessories

Sea-Doo’s long-running trio of Trixx add-ons truly awaken its freestyle potential. Extended range on the electric variable trim is the star of the show, providing an additional 10 degrees of upward nozzle movement to elevate the bow. Tap the button, and it instantly enhances the Spark’s already loose handling, allowing you to point the bow skyward by shifting your weight aft. An adjustable handlebar riser extends the height of the handlebars several inches to increase leverage. It allows even lighter riders to pull the craft into the wheelie position. Once bow-high, angled blocks molded into the tail end of the footwells provide a horizontal surface to stand on.

Changes for 2024 include the switch to a single passenger freestyle seat. It adds a welcome touch of comfort. More importantly, it shortens the length of the saddle to allow a rider to move aft or shift weight placement more easily. A removable passenger seat is now an available option and is easy to install for those times a rider wants to share the fun. Sea-Doo’s Intelligent Brake & Reverse (iBR) system, already great for low-speed maneuvering around tight areas and rapidly slowing the craft at high speeds, has also been tweaked to provide ­improved maneuverability at slow speeds. Riders can also take advantage of a new Trixx mode that drops the reverse bucket lower in the water to make possible a new generation of tricks, like nosedives and dizzying ­reverse doughnuts. 

Finally, consider the Spark’s new sleek aesthetics. While similar to the original model at first glance, closer inspection reveals that almost all of the craft’s previous hard edges and angles have been softened. It gives the craft a new, modern appearance, and pays practical dividends because the deck is now a little more forgiving during falls and the subsequent reboarding from deep water. 

How We Tested

• Engine: Rotax Marine 900 ACE
• Drive/Impeller: Jet drive/140 mm high-pressure pump with stainless-steel impeller
• Gear Ratio: 1.00:1 Fuel Load: 5 gal.

High Points

• Larger 4 1/2-inch digital display is easier to see. The upsize glove box includes waterproof phone storage.
• LinQ accessory mounts on the aft platform secure optional storage, gas or cooler accessories. LinQ Lite mounts hold action cams in up to five locations.
• Optional Bluetooth audio system directs sound at the driver and becomes a portable system when at the beach.

Low Points

• Falls happen. Reboarding is still awkward, despite new molded-in handholds on the aft platform.
• Exoskeleton design eliminates bow storage. An optional add-on compartment detracts from the cool aesthetics.
• The Trixx plays best in smaller, calmer bodies of water.

Toughest Competitor

Yamaha’s JetBlaster ($10,899) combines an advantageous power-to-weight ratio with extras, including extended-range electric trim, leverage-enhancing handlebars and angled footwell chocks. Playful enough to spin, the Yamaha focuses more on power and uses its extended trim to leap out of the water or off wakes rather than do wheelies and tailspins. The three-passenger JetBlaster offers more fuel capacity and storage.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Sea-Doo Spark Trixx appeared first on Boating Mag.

Source: https://www.boatingmag.com/boats/2024-sea-doo-spark-trixx-boat-test/