Top executives at Sea-Doo have revealed the company has made hidden improvements to the strength of ST3 hulls over the past two years – to stop mysterious cracking near the bow area – and has made further changes for 2027.
However, Sea-Doo has not given a timeline for a full redesign, even though a complete makeover was originally due next year.
Using history as a guide, Sea-Doo typically runs a platform for nine years before replacing it with a new top deck and hull.
The Sea-Doo ST3 platform was launched in 2018 – so a new model was due in 2027 – however the company has not indicated when a replacement is coming.
There is a lot riding on the Sea-Doo ST3 platform – today it underpins the most models in the Sea-Doo line-up including:
- Sea-Doo GTX 170
- Sea-Doo GTX 230
- Sea-Doo GTX 300 (US model)
- Sea-Doo GTX Limited 325
- Sea-Doo Wake Pro 230
- Sea-Doo RXT-X 325
- Sea-Doo Fish Pro Sport
- Sea-Doo Fish Pro Trophy
- Sea-Doo Explorer Pro 170
- Sea-Doo Explorer Pro 230
In an interview with Watercraft Zone at Sea-Doo’s annual global dealer conference in Orlando Florida USA last month, product strategy manager Cristian Comtois said the ST3 hull still has plenty of life left in it.
“The ST3 platform is the most stable boat in the personal watercraft market … in terms of what it offers versus the Yamaha FX and Kawasaki Ultra.
“We are in the right spot right now, so there is no emergency for us to go changing for the sake of changing.
“Keep in mind we have made many improvements and added new models to this platform since 2018, so it has been continually evolving.
“We have introduced models such as the Fish Pro and Explorer Pro, we have added more power and technology to the RXT-X and Limited models, so we feel like we are in a good spot for the coming years with the ST3.”
When asked if the successor to the ST3 platform would adopt a Polytech hull material – as per the company’s cheaper models – or remain with the high-gloss finish of CM-Tech as used today, Mr Comtois told Watercraft Zone:
“Both materials have their advantages and we need to determine what is the best technology for the customer.
“CM-Tech brings a premium finish and visual appeal. Polytech has proven to be very dependable but it has a different finish (a coarse surface).”
The senior product planning executive also said Sea-Doo has been making continual improvements to the construction to the ST3 hull (near the bow area which has been prone to cracking) however the changes are not visible to the naked eye because they are embeded into the hull material.
“In 2026, the ST3 hull was reinforced in the bow area and the pump tunnel area,” Mr Comtois told Watercraft Zone.
“The bow area and the pump tunnel area is now thicker.
“We did a big step in 2026 and another big step for 2027.
“You won’t see the changes as it’s inside the material, but there has absolutely been an improvement.”
In a separate interview with Watercraft Zone, Sea-Doo’s Director of Product Strategy, James Heinz, was tight-lipped about what might come next for Sea-Doo ST3-based models, however he did acknowledge the company has been listening to customer feedback.
“Since its launch in 2018 we have made continual and significant refinements and improvements to the ST3 platform, and rolled out additional models such as the Fish Pro and Explorer Pro.
“With all that said, we know there are elements we’d love to update on that platform and we think our first opportunity is the hull.
“The development of the ST3 hull was the biggest challenge we’ve ever given to our hydro-dynamic team.
“We said ‘All right, guys, this is what we need you to build: a three-seat offshore performance model in the RXT-X, we need a GTX 170 for a family on a lake and, by the way, we need an extended rear deck to put a large cooler box on. Oh and design a windshield for the front so we can create an Explorer model and not get our customers wet’.
“The amount of constraints that we put on the team (was like saying) this needs to kind of be a Swiss Army knife.
“So it was a huge challenge and we’ve learned a lot.
“We have done a lot of testing (with the ST3 platform) but nothing beats the experiences of 100,000 customers on the water.
“We believe there are some great opportunities to update the ST3 in the future, but right now we are proud of the improvements we’ve made over time and how well it is still being received by customers around the world.”
When Watercraft Zone asked James Heinz if the design of the next ST3 hull was as simple as taking the bow and other characteristics of the highly-regarded RXP-X hull (pictured below) and stretching it to ST3 size, the executive said:
“The T3-R hull on the RXP-X has been incredible. But the other hull that has been great is the GTI Polytech hull.
“I’m not saying we’re going to take a Polytech hull and put it on the next ST3 platform.
“What I’m saying is we’ve learned a lot from the shape of those hulls, so that we’re inspired for the future.”
When asked if the next ST3 platform will adopt Polytech material for the hull – or continue with the high-gloss CM-Tech finish – James Heinz said:
“I am a firm believer that you need to use the right tool for the right job. And we are incredibly lucky to have two incredible technologies in our hands.
“We have Polytech Gen 2, which has been absolutely stellar. The reliability, the ability to make it very consistent across thousands of units being produced in the factory has been incredible.
“But CM-Tech, with our acrylic process, is also an incredible technology. And it has a premium look about it.
“So, I can confidently say that I absolutely see a future where CM-Tech and Polytech continue to live in harmony together.”
When Watercraft Zone asked James Heinz if the Sea-Doo ST3 replacement was delayed due to the high cost of development – or because the current model was still selling so well – he said:
“When you’re working for a company of this scale, with the breadth and depth of product lines that we offer from on-road to off-road to water – and then consider our vast accessories and parts business – the management of that portfolio and the investments required are significant.
“So across the business we’re always looking at which product line needs the most support at any given time.”
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