Buyer Research

2000 Sea-Doo GTX (947 2-stroke) — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $1,500–$4,000. There are 2 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.

Kestrel Take

A classic two-stroke Sea-Doo runabout — cheap, powerful for its day, and beloved-then-cursed for the Rotax 947 (951) engine's quirks. As a dirt-cheap lake toy it can be great, or a project. Compression, corrosion, and the notorious carbon-seal and rotary-valve issues are the whole story.

What we checked

No public record to reconcile against

We don't yet have a public record to check this one against. Boats and personal watercraft are not in NHTSA’s database — that is the Coast Guard, which publishes recalls but no owner-complaint record. What follows is our own write-up, and it has not been reconciled against an official record. Treat it as a starting point, not a verdict.

Known Issues for the 2000 Sea-Doo GTX (947 2-stroke)

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

947 (951) engine wear — carbon seals and rotary valveHigh — wallet impact

The 951 two-stroke is powerful but known for carbon rotary-valve seal wear and top-end issues. A compression test and knowing the rebuild history are essential.

Repair cost (estimate): $500-$2,000

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Salt corrosion and ageHigh — wallet impact

A 20-plus-year-old ski, especially in salt, can be heavily corroded internally and externally.

Repair cost (estimate): $300-$2,000

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Fuel system and carb rebuildMedium

Old two-stroke carbs and fuel lines deteriorate; expect a rebuild.

Repair cost (estimate): $150-$600

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Electrical (MPEM) and gauge failuresMedium

The aging MPEM module and gauges fail and are pricey to replace.

Repair cost (estimate): $200-$800

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗Low or uneven compression
✗Heavy corrosion
✗No rebuild history on a 20+ year ski
✗Dead MPEM

Good Signs

✓Strong, even compression
✓Documented top-end and seal work
✓Freshwater use, running electronics

Found a specific Sea-Doo GTX (947 2-stroke)?

This page covers what goes wrong on the 2000 Sea-Doo GTX (947 2-stroke) in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.