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2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 and GTI LE Specs and Review [Video]
The 3rd generation 2-stroke Sea-Doo GTI was introduced for the 2001 season. This model inherited its single-carb Rotax 717 engine from the ‘97-’00 GTI 720 but was built on an entirely new RX-based platform. It’s safe to say that this all-new GTI was specifically designed for tow sports!
If you want to learn all about this legendary machine, this post is for you.
We at JetDrift have compiled all you need to know into this 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 review!
2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 Review
2001 Sea-Doo GTI 720 Review
PWC manufacturers typically reserve their latest innovations for the flagship model. But in 2001, Sea-Doo instead decided to completely redesign its popular mid-range GTI line.
The new GTI hull was actually an extended version of the award-winning race-ready RX platform. But instead of being designed for high performance, the new GTI was tuned for comfort and large capacities.
Regarding dimensions, the extended platform measured 121 inches in length, 47 inches in width, and 41 inches in height. Thanks to this long fiberglass-reinforced hull and a large 2-piece seat, the new GTI could accommodate three riders.
Its semi-V design allowed the ski to easily get up on plane, and also provided amazing cornering abilities.
According to Boats.com, this hull offered a better riding experience in some ways than the flagship GTX family. It did a better job on rough waters, as the jet ski remained stable while very effectively cutting through waves.
The aggressively designed top deck of the new GTI was heavily influenced by the 2000 RX but was designed with tow sports in mind.
It was equipped with a large rear platform that provided plenty of space for reboarding and dealing with wakeboard equipment. What’s more, this platform had built-in footrests for the spotter.
When it comes to colors, the body of the ski was dressed in white, while the hood, gauge cover, mirrors, and seat had a unique “Cozumel green” color scheme.
The power source of the 2001-2005 GTI was a single-carb Rotax 717, carried over from its predecessor with some minor changes.This 718cc, 2-stroke, in-line twin had a tuned aluminum exhaust pipe, variable-rate oil injection, CDI ignition, open-loop cooling system, rotary valve intake, and a single Mikuni BN-40i carburetor.
To reduce engine noise, the GTI was also equipped with Sea-Doo’s exclusive D-Sea-Bel noise dampening system featuring acoustically insulated air intakes, a set of Hemholtz resonators, as well as a foam-coated waterbox.
Engine power was transferred to a standard Bombardier Formula Pump housing a stainless steel impeller. This large-hub impeller was designed to provide great low-end power, which came in handy on a tow vehicle.
Thanks to this propulsion system and the GTI’s 85 HP engine power, this jet ski could easily get an average-sized adult wakeboarder out of the water.
The only drawback of the ’01 GTI 720 was probably its moderate top speed, as this ski could only hit 43-45 mph in stock condition. In contrast, flagship runabout PWCs with 100-130 HP engines in the mid-2000s topped out at 55-60 mph.
Standard features of the ’01-’05 Sea-Doo GTI 720 included:- Handlebar-mounted start-stop button
- Reverse system
- Thumb throttle lever
- 15-gallon fuel tank
- 1.6-gallon oil reservoir
- Fuel gauge with low-oil warning light
- Rear grab handle
- Built-in spotter footrests
- 3-position fuel valve (ON, OFF, RES)
- D.E.S.S. (Digitally Encoded Security System)
- Overheating warning device
- Docking eyelets
- Bilge drain plugs
- Three storage compartments (bow storage, glovebox, under-seat storage)
- Large sponsons
The glovebox was placed right in front of the operator, and there was another removable storage tray under the rear portion of the seat. Like any other 3-seater runabout PWC, this GTI also had a large bow storage unit under the front hood.
2002-2005 Sea-Doo GTI Review
For the 2002 model year, the GTI 720 got the innovative Sea-Doo O.P.A.S.™ (Off-Power Assisted Steering) system.
This feature was intended to provide additional maneuverability in off-throttle situations, but it caused headaches for riders on choppy waters.
The system was controlled by pump pressure, which was easily fooled in rough water conditions.
Riding on the chop often activated the “O.P.A.S. fins,” which were small rudders mounted on the rear side of the hull. As you can imagine, this caused very bumpy rides!
Because of this, most GTI owners removed these fins from their skis.
Aside from the O.P.A.S. and the new purple/while color scheme, the ’92 GTI 720 was identical to the ’91 model.
Sea-Doo offered this base GTI 720 basically in the same form until the 2005 season, with the exception of the new color schemes.
2002-2004 Sea-Doo GTI LE Review
As the name suggests (LE = Luxury Edition), the Sea-Doo GTI LE came with more bells and whistles.
Compared to the base model, the GTI LE offered some unique features, including:
- Fold-down reboarding step
- Custom color scheme
- Footwell carpets
- Large dual mirrors
- Analog speedometer
The last model year of the carbureted GTI 720 was 2005. After this season, the manufacturer dropped its entire 2-stroke GTI line to make room for the more innovative 4-stroke GTI models.
2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 Specs Chart
For your convenience, we’ve compiled the 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 specifications into these charts!2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 Dimensions
| 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 | Dimensions and Capacities |
|---|---|
| Number of passengers | 3 (refer to load limit) |
| Overall length | 307 cm (121 in) |
| Overall width | 120 cm (47 in) |
| Overall height | 104 cm (41 in) |
| Weight | 272 kg (600 lb) |
| Load limit | 243 kg (535 lb) |
| Fuel tank | 56.5 L (15 U.S. gal) |
| Impeller shaft reservoir - Capacity | 115 mL (3.9 U.S. oz) |
| Impeller shaft reservoir - Oil level height | up to plug |
| Injection oil reservoir | 6 L (1.6 U.S. gal) |
2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 Engine Specs
| 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 | Engine Specs |
|---|---|
| Engine type | Rotax 717, 2-stroke |
| Induction type | Rotary valve |
| Exhaust system | Water cooled / water injected |
| Exhaust valve | na |
| Lubrication - type | Oil injection |
| Lubrication - oil type | BOMBARDIER Formula XP-S synthetic injection oil (or equivalent) OR BOMBARDIER injection oil (or equivalent) |
| Number of cylinders | 2 |
| Displacement | 718.2 cm3 (43.81 in3) |
| Rev limiter setting | 7100 ± 50 RPM |
| Cooling Type | Water cooled, total loss type - Direct flow from propulsion unit |
| Fuel - type | Regular unleaded gasoline |
| Carburetor - type and number | BN 40i (diaphragm) Fuel accelerator pump Quantity: 1 |
2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 Electrical Features
| 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 | Electrical Features |
|---|---|
| Magneto generator output | 160 W @ 6000 RPM |
| Ignition system type | Digital CDI |
| Spark plug - Make and type | NGK BR8ES |
| Spark plug - Gap | 0.45 mm (0.018 in) |
| Starting system | Electric starter |
| Battery | 12 V, 19 A |
| Starting system Fuse | 5 A |
| Charging system Fuse | 15 A |
| Gauges Fuse | 15 A |
2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 Propulsion
| 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 | Propulsion |
|---|---|
| Propulsion system | Bombardier Formula pump |
| Jet pump type | Axial flow, single stage |
| Transmission | Direct drive |
| Pivoting angle of direction (nozzle) | ~ 20° |
| Minimum required water level for jet pump | 90 cm (3 ft) |
Vintage 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 For Sale
If you are considering purchasing one, you probably want to know where to find a 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 for sale. As this model vanished from the market in 2005, it’s already a collectible item, so finding one is not an easy task!We recommend that you start your research on dedicated Sea-Doo forums and Facebook fan groups. Aside from some good deals, you may find some valuable info there about this ski.
Besides these sources, you may also find some used Sea-Doo GTI 720s for sale on Craigslist, PWC Trader, and other dedicated jet ski swap sites.
Takeaway
As a takeaway, we’ve answered the most common questions about the 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720!What is a 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720?
The 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 was a popular mid-range, 3-seater, 2-stroke Sea-Doo.
What Year did Sea-Doo Make the 2nd Generation GTI 720?
Sea-Doo marketed the 2nd generation Sea-Doo GTI 720 from 2001 through 2005.
How Many People Could Ride a 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720?
The 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 was rated for three riders.
What Size was the 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720?
The 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 was 121 inches long, 47 inches wide, and 41 inches high.
How Much Did a 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 Weigh?
The dry weight of the 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 was 600 pounds.
What Kind of Engine Did the 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 Have?
The engine of the 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 was a single-carb Rotax 717 twin.
How Much Horsepower Did a 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 Have?
The 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 provided 85 HP at 7100 RPM.
Did the 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 Have Reverse?
Yes, the 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 was equipped with manual reverse.
What Size Storage Compartment Did a 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 Have?
The 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 featured a small glove box, a storage tray, and a large front bin, which translated to a total storage capacity of 33.8 gallons.
How Much Weight Could a 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 Hold?
The total weight capacity of the 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 was 535 pounds.
How Much Fuel Did a 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 Hold?
The 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 utilized a 15-gallon fuel tank and a 1.6-gallon oil reservoir.
How Much Fuel Did a 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 Use?
The 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 fuel consumption was about 8.8 GPH at WOT.
Could the 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 Tow a Skier or a Wakeboarder?
Yes, the 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 was specifically designed for tow sports.
How Fast Did a 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 Go?
The top speed of a 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 was 43-45 mph in stock condition.
Was a 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 a 2-Stroke Ski?
Yes, the 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 utilized a 2-stroke twin engine.
How Much is a 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720 Worth?
It’s hard to tell the exact price of a 2001-2005 Sea-Doo GTI 720, as it strongly depends on its year, condition, and location. But as a rule of thumb, the prices typically range from $1,000 up to $3,500.
