2014 Sea-Doo GTX Limited iS 260 Review

The industry's most full-featured watercraft

Though it’s no longer the most expensive personal watercraft on the market (Kawasaki’s Ultra 310LX claims that title in 2014), Sea-Doo’s GTX Limited iS 260 remains arguably the most full-featured watercraft currently for sale. From splashy extras, like Intelligent Suspension, to the smallest of details and extras, the Limited remains aimed at those who want the best of everything, and aren’t concerned about the price tag.

Longing to embrace your inner Richard Branson? This may be just the boat for you.

Separation…Without Anxiety

If there’s one item that truly separates the Limited iS 260 from the competition – as well as much of the rest of Sea-Doo’s lineup – it’s the craft’s inclusion of an “intelligent” suspension.

The GTX Limited iS 260 offers 5.5 inches of suspension travel, significantly cushioning the ride in rough water.

To understand the concept, think of separating the GTX into two distinct parts…literally. The hull that contacts and slices through the water is one component. The complete rider interface, including footwells, saddle and handlebars, is the other. These two individual parts are linked via a twin-arm suspension. Dampening the movement between the two is a shock absorber and central spring. Bounce up and down in the footwells on shore or on the trailer, and the movement between the two parts is obvious. The rider component moves up and down within the hull by about 5.5 inches.

COMPARISON: Read our review of the 2014 Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 310LX

It’s that movement clearly visible on land that softens your ride on the water. Hit a wave and, rather than feel its jolt transferred up through the boat, you instead feel a softened bounce. Suspension doesn’t totally eliminate the feel of rough water, but it takes out the spine-jarring component, resulting in a more comfortable and less-fatiguing ride. It’s also great for passengers, who are often unable to foresee and absorb shock like the driver.

Passengers, who may not see rough water ahead, will appreciate the suspension more than the driver.

The degree of suspension is calculated at startup, based on the weight in the seat. Should you want a softer or stiffer ride, you can override the system manually. Wonder how it affects handling? You can actually feel the suspension compress as you barrel into a tight turn, which both slightly lowers your center of gravity and helps absorb the force of the turn.

More Computer Wizardry

While suspension is the novelty, the Limited also gets Intelligent Brake & Reverse (iBR). iBR uses a reinforced reverse bucket to deflect thrust exiting the jet pump. Should you wish to rapidly slow out on the water, use it as a brake by squeezing the portside, handlebar-mounted lever. The onboard computer will drop the bucket down and redirect thrust forward and to the sides for stopping power. The design pulls the stern of the craft downward, while the computer prevents too much thrust from being applied. As a result, the bow won’t dive and you won’t feel as though you’re going over the handlebars.

Should you need to slow down in a hurry, squeeze the iBR lever and the reverse bucket will drop down and bring the GTX Limited iS 260 to a stop.

It’s the system’s low-speed control, however, that should be most appreciated on a daily basis. iBR allows a Sea-Doo to start in neutral, as it deploys just deep enough to redirect thrust for no real forward or backward movement. Choosing between forward or reverse is then just a matter of squeezing the throttle or the opposite brake/reverse lever. Hands stay on the bars, eyes stay on the water, and motion is quickly changed or arrested with a squeeze of the appropriate lever. iBR gives any Sea-Doo a degree of low-speed control that you won’t currently find on any other PWC.

COMPARISON: Read our review of the 2014 Yamaha FX SVHO Review

Like all flagship models, the Limited also gets electronic throttle, making possible both cruise control and a no-wake mode. Both take the “finger fatigue” out of controlling the throttle over extended periods, and cruise control will also quickly become a favorite of those who frequently tow skiers or wakeboarders. Sea-Doo takes advantage of electronic control to also offer drivers a choice of acceleration curves. Get the engine’s full fury in Sport mode, tame things down for a calmer response in Touring mode, or let the computer keep things most fuel-efficient in the ECO setting. This level of performance control is in addition to the continued use of dual safety/theft-prevention lanyards, one programmed for normal operation, and one that dramatically lowers top speed to govern performance for newcomers or younger riders.

The Good Life

Intelligent Suspension may have become the Limited’s true defining feature, but it’s the craft’s multitude of smaller items that round out the total package.

Sea-Doo envisions the Limited as the craft for a Branson-type, and as such it offers all the brand’s premier features aimed at delivering the best ride. One yet to be mentioned is high-performance variable trim, an electronic trim adjustment that features two preset “favorite” positions enabling a rider to quickly jump between the settings with a no-look, double-tap of the trim toggle. The craft also gets the many extras that its “Limited” name also implies. A plush, bolstered touring-style saddle is almost a given. Other items include a custom storage-and-towing cover, removable dry storage bag, safety kit, glovebox organizer, depthfinder and time and distance-to-empty calculations added to the fuel consumption display. The Limited also offers Speed Ties, built-in retractable mooring lines for quick and convenient tie-ups at the dock.

Retractable mooring lines make tying up at a dock fast and easy.

And, naturally, it gets a premium color, for 2014 a rich “anthracite” grey.

But pricey extras aside, it remains very much a GTX 260. That means it is powered by the 260hp version of Sea-Doo’s 1,494cc Rotax engine with supercharger and intercooler. Squeeze the throttle and it accelerates with force before topping out at an electronically limited 67 mph (in good conditions). It also handles with surprising agility, and with its deeper-V hull, is an excellent match for rough water.

The craft’s most notable drawback is storage. For a model with touring in mind, the Limited’s 16 gallons of storage is woefully lacking compared to the competition. Its strengths and unique features, however, will likely quickly make up for it in the eyes of most buyers.

Despite the many amenities on the Sea-Doo GTX Limited iS 260, storage capacity is limited to just 16 gallons.