2009 Sea-Doo Wake 155/Wake Pro 215 Review

Tow-specific models from Sea-Doo

For 2009 Sea-Doo is offering a lower-priced alternative to the Wake Pro 215 – the Wake 155. Tow-sports, as Sea-Doo calls them, have gained in popularity and the Canadian manufacturer saw a demand for a tow model in a lower price point.

The tow boat of choice for many Wakeboarding enthusiasts, this year’s Wake 155 will make more economical sense for the not so hard core wakeboarding population. At a reasonable $9,999 the Wake 155 trumps the Pro version that busts the price scale at around $13,000. It is even 100 pounds lighter than the original Wake Pro 215.

Based on the GTI SE family of watercraft, the Wake 155 is powered by the awesome 1,494cc Rotax 4-tec engine that boasts 155hp. This also includes Sea-Doo’s legendary direct drive propulsion system, as well as learning keys for the novice riders and “Wake” it up keys for the more experienced.

A retractable ski pylon with ergonomic grips and footrests make for a more comfortable ride for the spotter.

Having room for a driver and spotter is nothing new to the Wake family but having a retractable ski pylon for the spotter will give them not only something to hold onto but it will enable the tow point to be higher. The tow rope will also be more securely attached to the craft with this ski pylon. Ergonomic grips on the handholds will make the hours of towing more enjoyable for the spotter, while footrests will provide the spotter with grip and foothold, as well as provide some stability should the driver get carried away with the throttle. This model includes a reboarding ladder, which is spring loaded and remains under the bump rail until needed.

Another key feature of the Wake 155 is a removable wakeboard rack that mounts to the side of the craft, making it easy to haul your board out to the ride site. Also, a large capacity stowage compartment up front under the “hood” lets you take all the goodies with you. It is water tight and removable to be loaded at the truck and brought down to the craft. Adding wide convex mirrors to the Wake 155 makes it easy for the driver to keep an eye on what’s going on behind him. These mirrors add 32% more visibility over the standard mirrors offered on the GTI models.

Wake Pro 215

This is where things get kicked up a notch or two. The Wake Pro 215 is built to pull wakeboarding skimmers to new heights. This 215 horse power supercharged intercooled Rotax provides plenty of fun. The package that brings this version to life is very different from its Wake 155 counterpart. This model in the Wake family is built on the luxury GTX platform.

More serious wakeboarders should consider spending the extra money on the more powerful Wake Pro 215.

When looking at the Wake Pro, the first thing we noticed was the huge ballast system on the rear. This allows you to modify the amount of wake you can create by adding water to the ballast – it adds up to 200 pounds to the rear of the craft when filled to capacity. This will allow you to control the size and shape of the wake you create. Integrated handholds in the ballast system and a reboarding ladder make getting back on the watercraft much easier. For those who would rather ride what wakeboard, the ballast system can be removed.

Another key feature in the Wake Pro is the high performance variable trim system. This allows the driver to modify the wake shape as well as get the acceleration they desire. Wider handlebars offer better control and maneuverability. Also, the same great footwells for the rear-facing spotter found on the Wake 155 are offered here along with the removable board rack to make haulin’ the goods easy.

The retractable ski pylon allows the tow rope to stay high, while the ballast provides additional wake.

So where do we stand on the Wake and Wake Pro? Wakeboarding is a growing sport and the engineers at Sea-Doo have done a good job fitting into that niche. However, Sea-Doo may have to do some fine tuning for the 2010 models and beyond.

A removable wakeboard rack is perfect for storing your board when you’re not riding.

In the sunny seas of Pensacola Bay we observed time and again the attempt to get a great wake experience from a boarder. It seemed that even though the awesome power of the supercharged 215 hp Wake Pro was being pushed to the max, a heavier wakeboarder is going to have trouble getting up into waking bliss. The Wake Pro grunted as the driver and spotter watched several attempts from the wakeboarder to get up into his railing position. This is not to say the Wake cannot make it happen, but it did struggle at times. For the lighter boarders, however, the Wake series of personal watercraft from Sea-Doo provide a huge amount of fun on the water.

Related Reading
2009 Sea-Doo GTX Limited iS 255 Review
2009 Sea-Doo RTX iS 255 Review
2009 Sea-Doo GTI 130 Review
2009 Sea-Doo GTI SE 130/155 Review