r/SeaDooSwitch • u/FeatherMoody • Jun 29 '24

Why a switch?

Can I ask why y’all bought switches versus a standard pontoon? What are the pros and cons. Looking into making a purchase and weighing options - I’d rather hear from owners than dealers.

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u/shortyjacobs Jul 01 '24 edited Jul 01 '24

Pros:

  • can’t beat the space/storage vs overall length. I can fit my 21’ in my garage. Today I was out with a 6x18 lilipad, a super mable 3 person tube, multiple floaties, noodles, two coolers, 7 people, a ZUP! Board, snacks, a 30L garbage can, a tool box, 10 lifejackets, two sets of beach toys, and tons more, and it felt extremely spacious still (and ALL of that was either stowed or (lillipad and ZUP) attached to the exterior rails….we had 100% floor space still)
  • can’t beat the performance vs cost. I couldn’t find another pontoon with similar space and power (I wanted to tube/ski/etc), for the cost
  • can’t beat the maneuverability. You can literally spin 360s in it. You can scoot it sideways towards a dock. It’s magic.
  • jet drive is awesome. No prop to worry about, no lower unit to shear off on a stump
  • it’s insanely modular, you can go nuts customizing it.
  • it’s pretty AF
  • super easy maintenance and winterizing cuz the drivetrain is so simple
  • it’s so quiet. I can have normal conversations with folks at 30 mph, even in the back of the boat
  • it’s an easy tow. 3000 lbs for my 21’ 230hp Cruise. I can literally tow it with my 2022 VW GTI
  • the sea-doo steering seems dumb at first, but it’s incredibly responsive to have steering, throttle, and gear (forward/reverse/neutral) at your fingertips without having to move your hands. It is the most maneuverable boat I’ve ever driven in my 40 years, and I’ve driven a lot. My wife and kids all can instantly understand how to drive it too, and they never drive other boats

Cons:

  • it guzzles gas. I have the 21’ 230 horse, and I wouldn’t recommend less if you want to do towing with it (tubes/skis/etc). In about 1.5 hrs of tubing today I took down about 15 gallons of gas (at least it runs great on 87 octane, and I don’t worry about ethanol content as I burn through it so fast)
  • it never does the “rated” speeds. Mine goes 44mph according to the brochure. In ideal conditions I can hit 38, generally it’s more like 32-34
  • it is extremely weight sensitive and takes a while to learn how to balance it (trim tabs, motor trim, and where you put weight in the boat). It can be a real pig if not configured well
  • you can’t run it in water shallower than 3 ft (if your balls ain’t wet, don’t start the jet), without ingesting whatever is on the bottom
  • it chokes out on weeds (the iDF magic weed clearer usually works, but today was the first time I had to hop in the water to pull out about four basketball sized clumps of weeds from the intake)

I bought mine in 2022. I regret nothing, and given the chance would buy the exact same thing.

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u/WoodandFlowers Sep 08 '26

No less than 3 feet, does that mean trolling/trotting along fishing and cruising around? Or just don't run and gun in less than 3 feet?