2015 Sea-Doo GTI Limited 155 Review

The king of Sea-Doo's GTI family

Once aimed at the new or cost-conscious buyer, Sea-Doo’s GTI series has proven a versatile platform enjoyed by enthusiasts of all skill levels and budgets. The GTI Limited 155 takes this fact to the extreme, giving the once second-fiddle to the GTX series a tricked-out version of its own.

Here’s what to expect.

Hello GTI 155

Look past the Limited trappings and you’ll see the obvious – a GTI 155. This same hull has carried the platform for years now, showcasing its shallower 16-degree deadrise for a somewhat looser, more playful feel. That means the GTI feels somewhat old-school, able to be skidded on occasion, or just flicked back and forth with relative ease. That shallow deadrise, however, doesn’t sentence the craft to a lifetime of looseness. Shift your body weight and slide your outside foot back to help lock in the stern, and you can carve a race-like turn with ease. It’s a versatile combination, as different audiences can get what they want out of the hull. Beginners can feel confident and stable, while experienced riders can push the boat aggressively.

The GTI Limited 155 is the flagship of Sea-Doo’s GTI family.

Above the bondline, the deck aids in each pursuit. The saddle is sculpted hourglass-style toward the middle to not push your thighs wide and allow your legs to take much of the load when turning. Canted footwells complement this approach, allowing you to use your legs without placing excessive torque on the knees. Their continually flowing shape front-to-back also keeps a rider’s foot constantly in contact; there are no abrupt angles to avoid. The tiered, touring-style saddle also helps lock the driver into position, while adding valuable back support for extended rides and keeping passengers perched slightly above the driver for a more enjoyable ride.

COMPARISON: Read our review of the 2015 Sea-Doo GTX Limited 215

It avoids any entry-level looks as well. Redone several years back, the style is every bit as upscale as the GTX series, with a cool flowing, faceted design and solid fit and finish that make the craft perfectly at home with $16,000 flagships.

Boasting many features found on higher priced models, the GTI Limited 155 doesn’t look out of place next to the top-end GTX series.

Will it run with those flagships? Not quite. As Sea-Doo no longer claims, but the name still implies, this is the 155hp version of the Rotax 4-TEC. That means the Limited 155 will run very comfortably with other midrange models, delivering plenty of acceleration to get those skiers out of the water and topping out around 58 mph when ridden on solo speed runs. Use the fast-responding electric trim to lower the bow for acceleration or raise it to enhance top speed. Sea-Doo’s trim allows riders to pick two favorite positions, and reach them quickly with a double-tap of the trim button in the appropriate direction.

Feature Rich

A sculpted seat places passengers slightly higher than the driver.

As a GTI 155 at its core, expect the familiar Sea-Doo amenities. Intelligent Brake & Reverse remains one of the star attractions, even if it has now matured into just another standard feature. The system redirects water flow exiting the pump to provide not only significant stopping power at speed, but also to allow the craft to start in a neutral mode at the dock and be shifted into forward, neutral, or reverse via the handlebar-mounted throttle and iBR lever. It’s intuitive and works exceptionally well. Just be prepared for a slight amount of bow drop should you engage iBR at full speed.

COMPARISON: Read our review of the 2014 Yamaha FX Cruiser HO

Electronic throttle control also makes possible varying acceleration profiles. Touring is the tamer choice, and suitable for all audiences. Sport puts the engine’s full power at hand for those who wish to ride more aggressively. Activate the ECO mode and the onboard computer will tailor speed to conserve fuel. Electronic throttle also enables cruise control and no-wake mode. Use cruise for extended rides, as it allows the driver to set the speed and then simply hold the throttle fully squeezed. No-wake requires no throttle input and holds speed at about 5 mph.

Cruise control and no-wake mode are accessed on the right switchgear.

Other features include a new radio-frequency design for the Digitally Encoded Security System (D.E.S.S.) lanyard. A secondary lanyard limits speed. You also get the full-featured instrumentation, wide-angle mirrors, and fold-down reboarding step.

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

As to the actual Limited package that sets this boat apart from the GTI SE 155, it includes a custom storage cover, removable dry storage bag, safety kit, and the addition of a time and distance-to-empty feature to the display. This year’s color scheme also reflects the Limited theme, with a rich Anthracite Grey complimented by the occasional Manta Green accents.

To Limited, Or Not To Limited

The obvious question for the interested buyer is whether the $12,199 Limited is worth the additional cash over the $11,199 GTI SE 155. Aside from the cool paint scheme and few Limited accessories, consider the addition of the Limited high-performance trim. It makes a significant difference, both in terms of the aforementioned performance benefits but also in terms of tailoring the ride for multiple passengers or varying conditions. It’s probably the most significant difference between the two craft.

But, hey, that’s being practical. Some buyers will simply appreciate the fact that the Limited is the most full-featured GTI you can buy. And it is far, far removed from the once entry-level model that spawned it.