Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 14, 1993 TAG: 9306140570
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Some examples are the Sea Rayder, the Sea-Doo Explorer and the Bayliner Jazz.
They are agile and acrobatic; versatile and affordable. Best of all they are fun, the happy marriage of a personal watercraft - those jet-ski type water bikes - with a family runabout. The result is a boat with the kind of end-swapping performance that rivals a personal watercraft, yet with room enough to take along a companion or two, keep them dry, store their gear and even pull one on skis.
We tested two on Smith Mountain Lake, the Sea-Doo Explorer, built by Bombardier, a Canadian manufacturer of personal watercraft, and the Sea Rayder, a product of Sea Ray boats, a major manufacturer of quality runabouts and cruisers.
Both are generating "Wow! Look at that!" type comments.
"When I pulled up to a marina to get gas this morning, I gave out five business cards," said Debbie Naff of Lynchburg Kawasaki-Yamaha, who was displaying the Sea-Doo Explorer.
The Explorer is a bit like a personal watercraft that has successfully eased into the runabout market, while the Sea Rayder is a runabout that has nudged toward the personal watercraft field.
One thing that has made them both possible is a powerful, yet reasonably quiet, jet engine. The jet gets an incredible bite on the water and offers high-performance thrills. Instead of a prop, a jet boat is propelled by a big nozzle blasting a stream of water out the back. That means quick turns, a shallower draft and no propeller to create hazards.
As for cost, each of the craft sells for less than $9,000, and that includes engine, matching trailer, registration numbers, a tank of gas and probably some life vests thrown in. You just add water for fun.
So who are these boats attracting? Is it the newcomer to boating looking for something with an affordable price, or is it the established boater searching for a second boat that is lightweight, sporty and fun to handle?
"I think it is going to be the person who already owns a boat," said Dick Arnold, of Smith Mountain Yacht Club, a Sea Ray dealer.
The Sea Rayder really hasn't been around long enough to tell for certain who its local fans will be. But Arnold figures typically they will be lake dwellers who own a large runabout, cruiser or pontoon boat, but who also want a sporty craft to take a spin in just for the fun of it, one that is easy to store, can be towed with the smallest car and is highly attractive to the youngsters in the family.
The challenge Arnold faces isn't who will buy, but how to keep up with the demand. "The problem, Mercury can't make engines fast enough to supply Sea Ray," he said.
Arnold received two Sea Rayders the other day. Almost before they were off the delivery truck, dealers in Florida, where demand is high, were trying to trade them away from him. Sea Ray headquarters was on the phone requesting Arnold to send one to Tidewater for a water festival.
A Sea-Doo Explorer could be easier to locate, but not every dealer who handles Sea-Doo personal watercraft will have the Explorer, said Naff. "We are the exclusive dealer on this unit," she said.
The Say Rayder (much the same can be said for the Bayliner Jazz) is a wedge-shaped, 13-foot minirunabout with a heavy sting of power in the form of a 90-hp engine. The beamy cockpit is open and uncluttered. It affords a big-boat feel despite the short link, but the legroom is cramped when a tall driver sits behind the console. It is advertised as a four-person boat; however, it best fits two.
One of the first things you notice is the quick, Indy-car style steering, which carves fast, sure turns. In fact, Sea Ray dealers require a buyer to watch a 20 to 30 minute safety video on the boat before any sale is completed.
The Sea Ray's modest size makes good use of storage space, with a forward compartment for an anchor and fire extinguisher, and room in the engine compartment for life jackets and a 12-quart removable ice chest.
While the Sea Rayder has contoured seating and a side console, the operator of a Sea-Doo Explorer sits astride a motorcycle-type seat and operates the craft with handlebar-type steering and thumb throttle.
Passengers ride on a pair of seats at each corner of the transom or on a padded storage compartment at the bow. The seating capacity is five, but as with the Sea Rayder, anything over two or three can cause a strain on space and performance.
The design of the Sea-Doo Explorer gives it something of a James Bond look, said Naff. In fact, don't be surprised to see enforcement officers aboard these craft in the future. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is expected to replace some of its river-type johnboats with the Explorer for warden patrols on streams, and they also should be ideal for enforcement work in shallow areas of lakes.
The hull and inner deck is framed of fiberglass, and has the looks of a personal watercraft, but it is surrounded by an inflated rubber tube, which accents stability and spaciousness. The 60-hp engines is mounted amidship.
What you have is something of a cross between a personal watercraft and an inflatable boat. Boaters strong on performance enjoy the personal watercraft aspects, while those who like stability are comforted by the big, inflatable sides. For a personal watercraft operator who wants to draw every ounce of performance out of his craft, the inflatable sides could seem a bit like training wheels on a bike.
The Sea-Doo Explorer, unlike the Sea Rayder, can be expected to enjoy serious use on larger streams, such as the James and New rivers, where it could be ideal for angling. It also should make an excellent diving boat.
Most any way you look at them, both craft are destined to add fun to the summer months.
by CNB