2022 Boat Buyers Guide: Sea-Doo 21 Switch Cruise

Sea-Doo turned the pontoon market on its ear for 2022, building a pontoon boat that, in many ways, shares little in common with the rest of the market.

[@SethLT]

How do the LinQ components seem to hold up over repeated use? I'd be concerned with that little yellow tab snapping easily after some UV.

[@jimgunn4498]

Just FYI, my father has owned the 13' model with the 170 HP motor for about 3 months now (around 35 hours of use). In our experience, everything about the boat is very cheaply made, plastic, breaks constantly and takes weeks to months to get replacemet parts. The boat takes on water into the hull and has to be drained and cleaned rigorously and the ride is atrocous due to the very wide and flat hull. Not to mention, the deck of the boat gets scalding hot in the sun, so no bare feet onboard. I suppose if it were on a flat, freshwater lake, it wouldn't be a big deal, but as this one is being used in Pensacola Bay, Pensacola, Florida, all of the above make it a very bad boat for the area. Oh yeah, with 4 people on board, at least two have to be sitting/standing up front or the boat will not reach plane. He is already trying to sell his.

[@jh9992]

Thanks for this input. I jumped all over these ads when I saw it and I guess it is too good to be true. What a great concept but I agree, the product needs to be solid to last at least 20 to 30 years (if not more).

[@jameshigginbottom6512]

Thanks..I was thinking of buying one in Hawaii..no thanks....Pensacola sounds

[@jameshigginbottom6512]

Thanks..I was thinking of buying one in Hawaii..no thanks....Pensacola sounds

[@ECUCHRIS904]

Thanks for the review.

[@billkrill4656]

Thank You……I’ll pass now.

[@bryonslatten3147]

I just rented a Switch Cruise 21 with the 230 HP Rotax in Oregon. Slow, hard to get on plane, and slow turning with only two adults and five 8th graders, well below the 9-adult limit. There’s a reason SeaDoo and KZbin reviewers only show video with lightly-loaded Switch Cruises. They are sluggish even with a 60% load.

[@muthrfuqrjonz3530]

MOST people would NEVER load that small craft with so many people and expect it to perform as it does with 2-4 occupants. And just like with most liberals your expectations are completely unrealistic !!! If you want a pontoon boat for a huge group go buy a full size pontoon boat and pay $70k for a new one. This craft for myself two dogs and a gal would be perfect !!! I can tell that you’re a newbie to boating.

[@bryonslatten3147]

@@muthrfuqrjonz3530 nope. It should plane at full load.

[@jh9992]

Interesting. It really was the 230 hp? I am very interested in this boat and I would be loading 4 adults and 5 kids at certain times but on average it would be 2 adults and 3 kids. So it being sluggish as you described could change my mind. Are they poorly designed then for a 230 hp engine because a 230 hp should smoke.

[@bryonslatten3147]

@@jh9992 yes it was the 230 HP model. The problem isn't engine power it's people/gear loading sensitivity to balance. On one run we got it up to about 14 mph for a couple minutes when we had everybody stand near the driver. As soon as 2 kids sat in the front seats it came off plane and plowed while the jet pump threw an impressive but useless rooster tail. IMO pushing a 21' tri-hull with a jet pump designed for an 11' monohull doesn't work.

[@EC_ATV_Outdoors]

@@bryonslatten3147 is it possible the rental had a limited set?

[@Digiphex]

I can see this craft evolving into two detachable Sea Doo PWC's that link with the Pontoon. Then it would have massive power and also be everything to everybody.

[@4wheelliving132]

I live on a lake and one guy has one of these, but it's a little tiny thing, but I'm not sure of the length, maybe 14 or 15'? It's fast, but the deck is very high off the water and I'm not sure I would feel safe in it. I think Sea-Doo fixed a problem that didn't need fixing. I think I would rather just go with a 20-22' regular pontoon with a 40-60 horse on it. Not crazy about that steering and throttle setup either

[@BoatingMagazine]

You personal preferences are, of course, yours. We'd just like to note that the Switch is available in various lengths between 13 and 21 feet.

[@trammellstewart45]

These are such a great fit to an untapped market

[@Foxtucky]

What's untapped about the pontoon market

[@pickynicky2112]

Young people

[@TurdJesus]

@@Foxtucky well I have a 95 sportster and want to upgrade. Wife wants a pontoon and I’ve never like them. This thing is the perfect fit.

[@marcoortega8458]

Is a great Sea-Doo but you're missing one accessory the fishing pole bracket which will be nice and bake well that you can move from place to place this is the great product that you should add to this Sea-Doo

[@suasokc]

they have pole mounts, fishing coolers, and ple nty of fishing focused accessories...very compelling from my view so far

[@jeffstrom389]

How will this boat do in 4 ft chop?

[@jon-4345]

Nice video but the double Bimini is NOT standard. The double is a add on.

[@WeimaranersAreTheBest]

Will I need a second mortgage to keep gas in it?

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

Nah, everyone knows that all powerboats are super efficient when it comes to fuel.

[@loveoneanotherasihaveloved8327]

I wish there was a nicer digital display

[@chrisao1987]

Now this is cool I’d like to have one

[@lanyburnett7966]

Just bought a 24 foot by 8.5 foot Tahoe tri-toon with a 200 horse Suzuki, and performance lifting fins, for 55K including the trailer, tax, and everything. I don't really see why people would by this for nearly 50K! That is crazy.

[@benjaminsaturday8300]

The most expensive one I found was 41k, and they have them for 21k

[@Warcraze13]

I can think of many reasons why I would prefer this sea doo switch over a traditional pontoon. You have a 200 horse traditional outboard that doesnt have the clearance or the agility of the switch. The weight of a pontoon is something else to consider as you need more towing power.

[@elimogenson3316]

I don't like the soft sides. And why is it so slow?

[@williamgleaton2992]

A big miss , no side door when at dock can't see jumping over the wall to get on boat ,and I've had several pontoon boats from 16' up to 24 ft.

[@karlaatherton]

You are right! I didn't even notice that. Yikes!

[@loveoneanotherasihaveloved8327]

Any feedback on if the commodity fee of $2700.00 is negotiable with the dealer. I think that’s really high even with the high demand and shortage of boats.

[@greygoose4x46]

Agreed

[@SuperJoeyyyyyy]

Mine wasn’t. Supposedly that’s going directly to BRP

[@alpine_brine661]

Looks cool..but there is a reason they dont make rough riding tri-hulls anymore.

[@bowensmith5078]

Fischer Price My first Boat.

[@marcrenaud6767]

Is the motor noisy? I had a seadoo challenger 180 and it was very loud inside.

[@TurdJesus]

They say it isn’t and it looks well insulated. Anything better than my 2 stroke screaming at me a wot 😂

[@Abanamat85]

Hey was the challenger practical? Hard to maintain? I'm considering getting a used one

[@marcrenaud6767]

@@Abanamat85 I had ot serviced by a dealer. The engine blew after 70 hours. Super charger failure. They are known to fail. Great boat though...super fast out of the hole.

[@daniloaraujo8468]

This Switch just Works in USA. Here in Brazil, it very expansive, almost USD 100.000 😮

[@FargoFlavio]

Okay but what if the platform could be detached from a jet ski?!? So you can anchor the platform in the middle of the lake or body of water & then detach the jet ski and be mobile in the lake.

[@jmoney5690]

I thought you could do that. Would be really cool

[@Peter-cx4ir]

They already make that. It’s called a WaveBoat

[@bigchungus1848]

The switch is fast for a pontoon. 40+mph with the 230hp supercharged motor.

[@andrewrae50]

@@debbiekonkin5768what? Same motors as a jet ski, mine is 15 years old! You have zero clue what your talking about

[@mikecr4916]

I don't see how to practically get in & out of it..

[@andyviking3155]

The idea is great but the material is CHEAPLY made. I might consider it once sea doo makes it out more durable material and add fishing pole holders.

[@kamalpreetsinghgill1396]

Then the boat will cost more. I think SeaDoo want to keep the price point accesible to as many families as possible. Thats why its light and plasticy.

[@JuanMartinez-df1lc]

Can you fish off those

[@chrismaggio7879]

You can fish off a floating door from the Titanic (and there was room for two on that thing!) so I guess you mean is it rigged for fishing? haha. I didn't see anything that made it a fishing-dedicated platform, like rod holders and bait boxes. I wonder if those accessories will be upcoming or If they are avoiding that segment of boaters?! I Don't know if standard rod holders would mount to the side rails as they seem to be "not round" like other rails.

[@jameswhittle2564]

It looks like there is no side door. How does a person who doesn't get around well board the boat?...thanks

[@nirichboys]

there sides are removable mesh and there’s a fixed front door, seems to be one of the most easily accessible boats around

[@10RRASK]

@@nirichboys not compared to a regular pontoon. Which appears to be the market they are going for.

[@bigchungus1848]

Sea doo isn’t marketing to 70 year olds.

[@mattderrick9964]

Lol I don’t know much about boats but when I saw sea doo switch I thought you would be able to dock a sea doo into a body of a pontoon lol I’m high af

[@nicholaslandolina]

Does it come elesctric

[@ilovesunoco]

Damn that throttle!! imagine the finger and joint pain..terrible

[@justinhill4572]

Rubber band

[@nirichboys]

comes with cruise control, shouldn’t be an issue at cruise

[@alexanderstephens1539]

Where's the Head

[@michaelcowan6254]

Nothing I see makes me want to buy it.

[@greggb557]

Only one major failing on the Switch, but its a massive failing. It does not have side entry gate/door. Having to scramble over the back or front is just ridiculous. How they did not think this though, only they know.

[@Mike-tt8wi]

It has a front entry door.

[@greggb557]

@@Mike-tt8wi exactly what I said. Boats are side-docked to jettys. The front door is all but useless. And having to scramble over the rear seats means anyone over 60yrs old would battle to access the vessel. Its a poor design. It needs side doors.

[@bryonslatten3147]

At 3:38 you can see that the rear quarter railing is step-over height.

[@greggb557]

@@bryonslatten3147 and 60yr and 70yr olds can get over there? And scrambling onto the back when 90% of docks are side-dock/jetty?

[@bryonslatten3147]

@@greggb557 probably not.

[@timshull59]

Seen what the those poly hulls do when then impact something at idle speed, no thanks.

[@Abanamat85]

What do they do? They sink?

[@timshull59]

@@Abanamat85 doesn't take much to crack them.

[@dern881]

Stop running into shit

[@dogshit2112]

Super Goofy Handlebars!!!! Cmon man someone change this!

[@eyecubed85]

I can’t believe they didn’t engineer this boat to fit in lower garages. Such a miss. The trailer itself is unnecessarily tall.

[@1SmokeyRider]

It’s like a floating island of plastic.

[@carltrano1325]

Seems cheeply made. Plastic and the sun don’t mix well. I will stick with a Traditional built Pontoon.

[@flacjacket]

I have a pair of sea doos (RXT-X 300 and RXP-X 300) and love them, but jet boats have a big problem: they cannot operate in shallow water. Running a jet boat in less than 3-4' of water is the fasted way to kill them. This is basically a 230 HP vacuum cleaner pointing straight down, running in shallow water kicks up debris with the jet and sucks it into the impeller where sand and rocks and wood get lodged and destroy the impeller and/or wear ring as well as the carbon seals on sea doos in particular. This isn't a problem on a PWC where getting wet is a foregone conclusion, you simply push the ski into deep enough water before mounting and starting and when you want to land you shut off on approach and coast in then lift the front end onto the sand (or better yet anchor), but that's not how people want to use boats. On a boat you want to put the nose up on the beach and you frequently have cause to run in less than 3' of water which is fine for a traditional outdrive or outboard motor but doesn't work with these. That said the modular deck is brilliant and the price seems very good. I imagine a 300 will be forth coming and ultimately it would be easy for BRP to build a twin or even 3 engined version. Imagine one of these with 900 HP (3 x 300) for around $80-85k. I don't doubt there is a market, especially for people with lake houses with a deep enough dock. I hope it makes sea doo a lot of money.

[@spok9180]

The girl 👀

[@loveoneanotherasihaveloved8327]

Creep

[@spok9180]

@@loveoneanotherasihaveloved8327 god made women beautiful, can’t blame me

[@yrock777]

$45k for a jet ski. Only a fool would pay that much money.smh

[@Aberamentho2010]

More like $25k according to their website.

[@yrock777]

@@Aberamentho2010 That's for a base model. No thanks

[@Aberamentho2010]

@@yrock777 Incorrect again. It starts at $21k. Top model is $31k. It's pretty clear on their website. Its nowhere near $45k. You're just flat wrong my guy.

[@romanfields7900]

​@Aberamentho2010 yeah, more like $47K for the 230 HP 21' Do some research.

[@romanfields7900]

@@yrock777 I got a big case of sticker shock from Blackbeard Marine on a blue one they had in stock.

[@hermankusters7608]

This video looks more like a "selling guide".. i have only heard positives. Not very honest..

[@ep3389]

The handlebars are dumb

[@coolgeorgiaboy]

Very cheapy made.... Don't do it! You've been warned

[@microtechmachineshop]

i always said win in win the lotto or inherit a ton of money im buying a new truck and boat but i know neither will ever happen lol

[@ericred3731]

Waaaay to many issues with these boats. Very cheaply made. Beware or at least lower your expectations.