Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.The new 2026 Sea-Doo RXP-X isn’t just fast—it’s borderline absurd. With a supercharged 325-horsepower engine, a claimed 0–60 mph time of 3.4 seconds, and race-inspired handling, Sea-Doo’s latest flagship PWC feels more like a Ferrari for open water than a typical jet ski.I tested the RXP-X on Lake Havasu expecting a quick adrenaline rush. What I got instead was one of the most violent, thrilling, and surprisingly refined rides I’ve experienced on the water. The deep-V hull corners like it’s on rails, the launch control hits like a roller coaster, and the new 10.25-inch touchscreen adds luxury-car levels of tech and convenience.AdvertisementAdvertisementAt $20,099, the RXP-X isn’t cheap—but if you want the fastest, most advanced Sea-Doo ever built, nothing else comes close.Meeting the BeastThe first thing I recall anyone telling me about the 2026 Sea-Doo RXP-X was that “it shouldn’t be legal to sell to the general public.” This was right before I climbed aboard one on Lake Havasu, which also happened to be the first time I’d been on a PWC (personal watercraft) in about 10 years. When I asked what the RXP-X had done to earn such a reputation, the same gentleman shrugged and told me he “wouldn’t want to spoil the fun.” See, you expect certain things from a jetski…er…“PWC” in the case of Sea-Doo. You expect to have fun, go fast, get wet, and maybe throw off a passenger or two in the process. Gloss carbon bodywork is your first warning sign that this ski means business.Courtesy ImageWhat you don’t expect, however, is to jump onto a bone-stock machine that any one of us can go out and buy without a background check or mental health consultation of any kind, and go from 0-60 mph, on the water, in 3.4 seconds. Make no mistake: the 2026 Sea-Doo RXP-X should, most definitely, be illegal to sell to the general public. AdvertisementAdvertisementAnd yet I’m surprised to find that after spending a day aboard one myself, I desperately want one in the garage anyway. If you’re anything like me and haven’t been on a jetski— PWC, I mean—in awhile, here are a few of the surprises that await you on Sea-Doo’s latest and greatest. It’s Beyond FastIn retrospect, sunglasses would have been a smart idea.Courtesy ImageWe’ll start with the fun stuff, and by that I mean the RXP-X’s massive 1.6-liter three-cylinder engine. For perspective, that’s the same size motor you’ll find in your average four-door commuter car, but this one happens to sit inside a fiberglass hull, which means the whole production weighs in at just 778 pounds. Sea-Doo then goes a step further by bolting a centrifugal, gear-driven supercharger to the crankshaft, which spins at a mind-blowing 100,000 rpm at full tilt. The result is, and I kid you not, a 325-horsepower off-shore missile that redlines at 8,250 rpm. Bearing that in mind, it should come as no surprise that the RXP-X is the fastest accelerating PWC money can currently buy. And, because all PWC manufacturers share a “gentleman’s agreement” to electronically limit the top speed of their machines to 69 mph, the RXP-X also shares the highest top speed on the market.An adjustable hydraulic steering damper keeps things from getting squirrely when you’re staring down 70 mph on the open water.Courtesy ImageReading that information is one thing, but actually experiencing it is quite another. There’s a reason Ski-Doo builds this machine with a steering damper and an adjustable seat that wedges you tightly into the cockpit, and it’s the same reason NASA doesn’t ask our astronauts to simply “hold on to something” before they blast them into space. AdvertisementAdvertisementOne moment you’re grabbing a handful of throttle, and the next you’re glued to the back of the seat, fighting for dear life while the wind tries to force its way behind your eyelids and into your skull. To put this into perspective any red-blooded American can appreciate, in sport mode with Ski-Doo’s “launch control” feature enabled, the RXP-X will cover the full length of a football field in five seconds flat. It Handles Just as WellStraight line speed is great, but the RXP-X is no one-trick pony. Sea-Doo designed this particular ski to excel out on the race course, and I’ve never ridden anything quite like it. The ski’s deep-V hull and aggressive sponsons (those little wings that hang off the sides) are specifically built for maximum stability and bite in hard, hairpin turns. In other words, the only limit to how hard, fast, and tight you can corner on the RXP-X is how tightly you can cling onto it. Sea-Doo’s aggressive deep-V hull cuts through even the choppiest water with loads of stability. Courtesy ImageThe sensation of digging into a turn on this thing is hard to put in words. You brace for impact, dig your knees into the seat, whisper a short prayer, and then just give the throttle and bars absolute hell. The ski whips onto its side, the G forces pile on, and just when you’re sure you’ll flip and go tumbling across the lake like a ragdoll, the RXP-X comes out the other side with grace and composure.AdvertisementAdvertisementIn other words, the RXP-X isn’t built to drift, spin, or do tricks. It’s built to go and turn faster than anything else on the water, and the only thing slowing it down is whoever happens to be sitting on it. It’s More Than Just PerformanceSea-Doo’s massive 10.25-inch full color display leads the industry in size and functionality by a wide margin. Courtesy ImageBecause no Ferrari analogy would be complete without a few luxurious touches, I’d like to take a moment to appreciate some of the RXP’s surprising refinements. Don’t get me wrong, this ski feels like a pure race rig at heart, but it also happens to be a nice place to sit and spend a day. For example, Ski-Doo now offers the RXP-X with a massive 10.25-inch full-color display, the very same unit I first experienced aboard the Can Am Origin electric motorcycle. This particular version is custom-tailored to life offshore, however, and includes built-in GPS, ride tracking, power modes, nautical maps, control of the vehicle’s variable trim system, and music.Between the sizable front compartment and the one between your knees, the RXP-X manages a full 40 gallons of storage.Courtesy ImageSpeaking of music, I’ll also note that my test unit for the day included Sea-Doo’s 100-watt Bluetooth audio system, which can be controlled entirely from the handlebars rather than pulling out your phone out every 10 minutes. Should you need to access your phone, however, there’s also a handy waterproof compartment tucked away in the cockpit storage box that includes a USB port for charging. AdvertisementAdvertisementSea-Doo also managed to shoehorn a whopping 40 gallons of storage capacity beneath the RXP-X’s sleek carbon-adorned exterior. That’s more than enough space to stash anything and everything you might need for a day on the water from lifejackets and docking gear to food, water, and emergency supplies. Should You Buy One?They say money can’t buy happiness, but I’m here to let you in on a little secret. If you’re sad and have $20,099 laying around, I’ve learned that it’s physically impossible to frown from the seat of a 2026 Sea-Doo RXP-X.Of course I’m no doctor, and quite possibly the least qualified person on the planet to be handing out mental health advice. Still, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that a few years of Sea-Doo ownership is cheaper than a few years of therapy, and that boat insurance is a hell of a lot cheaper than health insurance nowadays. The tech package costs extra, but going fast without loud music just isn’t as fun.Courtesy ImageThat being said, the RXP-X isn’t the only big dog out there if performance is your main concern. Kawasaki’s Jet Ski Ultra 310X, which makes 310 horsepower, can be had starting at $19,199, as can Yamaha’s supercharged GP SVHO, although the Yamaha is about 100 ponies shy of the RXP-X’s 325 horse peak last time I checked.AdvertisementAdvertisementI’d wager most folks would be willing to pay a $1,000 premium in exchange for bragging rights to the fastest rig on the water, and I’d also wager that most folks would be surprised to find that such a brutally quick machine also offers such an impressive level of comfort and refinement. The size, sophistication, and features included in the RXP-X’s full color touchscreen display are also unlike anything you’ll find on the competition, and while you’ll have to pony up for the full $1,900 tech package to get it, I can’t imagine living without it. In other words, if you want the absolute best of everything, there’s only one game in town, and yes, it should absolutely be illegal to sell to the general public. 2026 Sea-Doo RXP-X SpecsEngine: Rotax 1630 ACEHorsepower/Torque: 325 hp/tk lbs-ftDisplacement: 1,630 cc0–60: 3.4 secondsHeight: 44 inchesWeight: 778 lbs (dry)Fuel Capacity: 18.5 gallonsPrice: From $20,099AdvertisementAdvertisementFrom $20,099 at Sea-Doo DealersThis story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the Gear section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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