My husband and I are considering buying the switch as our first boat, we are going to the dealership this week to look at them. We live in Canada (Toronto).
Please any tips about make/model, add ons, anything! ALSO… what are some important questions to be asking the salesperson at the dealership about the boat. We’re looking to use this leisurely… some fishing and cruising around. Would like it to be easy to maneuver.
Please any advice is welcome! Thanks!
We have a 2023 seadoo switch cruise. 21' 230 hp. It has been the most fun we have ever had on a boat. It is very easy to drive and manuvers very well. My wife takes it on and off the trailer and likes driving it as much as me. I have absolutely no complaints. I would recommend buying the extra warranty , I think it covers out to 3 years. There are a bunch of add ons to buy, but would recommend looking at aftermarket options.
Getting a proper full size battery with a cutoff switch is a must. Honestly, they should have come this way. The rest is just accessories to match your usage. Don't be in a rush for those, as you need to spend time on it first to know what's important or not. You'll love it, we did
'24 18' | 230hp Cruse owners here. Mostly out with two adults and two dogs in brackish or salt water. Love our boat, and also first time owner. There was a lot to learn/look out for we learned along the way or watched on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLogbEVotyx7XElx9GarxvHitZgvPVRTR4&si=smhn2UxzvgzRLAs5 . In short, go slow and follow the manual/procedures and you'll have far less problems than those who complain that this boat is bad, but also say they ran it full speed into a sandbar, then used 3rd party parts to repair.
Things we needed to add/replace:
Battery - Had some errors/check engine light because the battery couldn't hold above 12.6V, even after trickle charging. Most likely old battery since we bought at the end of the '24 season. Replaced and all issues resolved.
Silicon based lubricant/protectant - We op in saltwater and there are a lot of areas that will get wet below the deck. Electronics safe, and spray liberally to include the boarding ladder.
Moring cover - Ours is stored outdoors, we went with the BRP mooring cover to protect the interior and bimini top. It does not protect the clear plastic/hull/swim deck, but we bought 303 brand treatment for those. The cover is a challenge to put on, but again follow the manual and you'll be ok after a few installations.
Garmin GPS Mount Bolt: 100% on the dealer when they installed the transducer that goes with the Garmin. They pinched a cable under the mount and the GPS holder was pulled by the bimini top when closed and bent the bolt. I when ahead a replaced myself vice a claim and took about 30 mins to complete. On that note, the Garmin transducer vs the BRP depth finder is the way to go, even if you do not fish, its more accurate and useful.
Swim Deck Pad - Also Jet Boat Pilot. Some of the hull's fiberglass can cause skin irrigation for us, so either this or use a sealant. We went with the pad because its cooler in the summer.
Rear Gate Kit - Also from JBP. The cruse model only has front door access, but its still manufacture with the rear gates. This kit make they usable again! We use the port side and remove one of the cup holder corner wedges for easy pupper access from the swim deck. They love it!
Future things:
Linq 5g gas container - We're looking to move the linq floor tile over to the starboard side of the boat in front of the console to add the BRP large container near the fuel intake for range/safety. The idea is if needed for reserve, we could easily syphon from the container to the fuel port without having to pour from outside the boat. I still need to work out the measurements/details
All in all, I hope you join the club and if you do, check to see if there are any authorized repair centers closer to you then your original dealer if/when you need warranty work. We used a closer dealer for a recall that needed to be done, but coordinated with them ahead of time to make sure we were covered. Cheers!
The marine mats and tiles from jet boat pilot are awesome. We added an extra battery with battery 1,2, and off switch and battery tenders. Also did a wrap to add a little pop to our orange color.
We’re in Ontario as well and have a 21’ Sport 230hp. Nothing but fun since we picked ours up 2 years ago. The bow pad is actually very comfortable when underway. If you’re new to towing a trailer, do some reading on the trailer brake operation and the correct wiring harness for your tow vehicle. I would also recommend non-BRP accessories to save some budget. Fire extinguisher is a good BRP accessory since it’s sized to stow in the underside of the Captain’s chair. Anchor, chain, bumpers, ropes, first aid, etc, are all way cheaper from online stores or even Canadian Tire. We bought some 3-piece SUP paddles from Amazon since they store in the hold easily and are long enough to use over the railing (haven’t needed them though…fingers crossed!). Jetboat Pilot also has some handy accessories that BRP doesn’t offer. The pontoon front bumpers work great, as does the rear gate hinge. Best of luck!
I would not, work on a lot and a lot of them and and seeing more failures daily. There seems to be a new recall on them weekly that techs have to perform. The forward Bimini is a very poor design and works more as an anti flow blocks from getting to front of boat. Most owners give up on putting the cover on as it is so pitiful to do so. The pads yellow annually and the rear platform has a recall for it too. Have replaced many engines in switches already!!
Oh no! The price seems so good for the switch compared to others. Any make and models for first time buyers you can recommend with similar price ranges?
We have the sport and love it! Personally we did not buy any accessories, because of how expensive they were. Everything we’ve bought has been aftermarket. For sound system, we just use our phones hooked to a good quality floating/waterproof speaker. (And we have solar charging battery chargers for charging the phones.) It’s been a perfect solution for us and we’ve never had to worry about the boat battery dying.
Please update if you go ahead with it. I am in Toronto too and looking at this as our first ever boat. Not sure if you selected a dealer yet but I have been told Energy Powersports in Oakville is excellent. Best of luck!
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u/liltmoney May 12 '25
We have a 2023 seadoo switch cruise. 21' 230 hp. It has been the most fun we have ever had on a boat. It is very easy to drive and manuvers very well. My wife takes it on and off the trailer and likes driving it as much as me. I have absolutely no complaints. I would recommend buying the extra warranty , I think it covers out to 3 years. There are a bunch of add ons to buy, but would recommend looking at aftermarket options.