For the first time in 2 years, I went to a show. A show I’ve gone to for probably more than 40 years in the past, the NY Boat Show. (Yes, an in-person show with all Covid-19 restrictions in place.)
Near the entrance to the show at the Javits Center was the SeaDoo booth. You know them from their huge line of personal watercraft. But what was a pontoon boat doing there? Oh, that’s the new SeaDoo Switch. A spokesperson, Tim McKercher, explained that it’s actually a tri-toon. The center pontoon is based on one of the company’s Sea-Doo personal watercraft. That way the Switch can be speedy like a PWC, but with it much bigger payload and a stable cruise for the family and friends. The tri-hull hull is Polytec, said to be polypropylene reinforced with fiberglass.
The three models of the Switch use a Rotax jet propulsion systems ranging from 100 HP to 230 HP. Strangely, there is no steering wheel; the helm has a sophisticated handlebar instead. That way the captain will probably feel more like he’s piloting a PWC than a pontoon craft. One of the most unique features of the Switch is its modular deck setup. Tim described it as being like a Lego set. You can move everything on the deck around, except the helm. He also told me that SeaDoo’s “Brake” can stop the craft in a much shorter distance. The SeaDoo Switch starts at $17,999 (13′ foot model with 100 HP.) The top of the line is a 21′ Switch Cruise w/ 230 HP engine, $36,499. All boats come with a trailer to haul them and store them. Shipping very soon to the warm states like Florida. (This was written 1/2022.) By the warm weather, the Switch should be everywhere in the US.
Giz Wiz Video: https://youtu.be/dgyzFDIvyfg
SeaDoo Company Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd5fKmJoKew
