Sea-Doo Switch launches in Australia: Jet Ski-powered pontoon party boat is here -

Two years after it went on sale in the US, the Sea-Doo Switch – a Jet Ski-powered pontoon party boat – has been confirmed for Australia.

The first two examples of the Sea-Doo Switch arrived earlier this month and a demonstrator model has already hit the water courtesy of JSW Powersports on the Gold Coast.

Australian customers will get their first look at the revolutionary watercraft at next weekend’s Sanctuary Cove Boat Show, where there will be one example of the Sea-Doo Switch on display and another on the water.

They are the first two examples of their type to arrive in Australia.

Watercraft Zone understands not all Sea-Doo dealers in Australia will sell the Switch, though a handful of outlets have already been appointed in key areas.

Although pontoon boats are not popular in Australia, they account for a large proportion of sales in the “party boat” market in the US.

The large flat floor means the Sea-Doo Switch can comfortably accommodate more passengers than most boats of a similar size.

In the US the Sea-Doo Switch is available in three lengths (13ft, 18ft, and 21ft) and with three engine power outputs (130hp, 170hp, and 230hp).

Seating capacity ranges from five to 10 passengers, depending on the configuration.

Initially, Sea-Doo Australia intends to only import the top-of-the-range 21ft Sea-Doo Switch ‘Cruise’ model with a 230-horsepower supercharged 1630cc three-cylinder engine borrowed from the brand’s performance personal watercraft range.

Despite being powered by a jet pump and operated via forward and reverse triggers mounted on a handlebar (just like a Jet Ski) Watercraft Zone understands the Sea-Doo Switch is approved for use on Sydney Harbour, where Jet Skis have been banned since October 2001.

The use of Jet Ski power delivers a level of low-speed manoeuvrability never before seen in the pontoon category.

Although the Sea-Doo Switch is primarily designed to operate in flat water such as rivers and lakes, the tri-hull design means it can also handle mild chop.

Australian pricing for the Sea-Doo Switch is expected to be announced in the lead-up to the 2023 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show.

The latest estimates peg the Australian price for the Sea-Doo Switch in excess of $110,000 because the local distributor has, for now, elected to import only the top-of-the-range supercharged variant and included some features that are options in North America.

More affordable versions of the Sea-Doo Switch may follow.

In the US, prices across the entire Sea-Doo Switch line-up range from $US21,799 to $US41,399 before taxes, options and a temporary “commodity surcharge” of $US1400.

When local taxes are included this equates to about $AU38,500 to $AU70,600 based on today’s Australian currency conversion rates, before shipping and handling.

As previously reported, the Sea-Doo Switch has endless deck configurations thanks to its Lego-inspired click-in and click-out seating layout.

Regardless of length, all examples of the Sea-Doo Switch are 2.4 metres wide, making them road legal to tow on a trailer in Australia (where maximum trailer width allowed is 2.5 metres).