Apple CarPlay Could Soon Hit the Waves: Sea-Doo Eyes Marine Integration

In a surprising twist that merges high-tech automotive innovation with aquatic adventure, Apple CarPlay may soon make its debut on personal watercraft. Sea-Doo, a leader in the personal watercraft industry, has confirmed it is actively exploring the integration of CarPlay into future high-end models, akin to the iconic Jet Ski. While the idea of zipping across the water while enjoying your favorite iPhone apps sounds thrilling, the road (or rather, the waterway) to implementation is anything but smooth.

CarPlay on the Water: A Bold Vision

For those unfamiliar, Apple CarPlay is a system that mirrors select iPhone apps and features onto a vehicle’s infotainment display, allowing drivers to access navigation, music, messaging, and more with ease. Now, Sea-Doo is considering bringing this familiar interface to the world of personal watercraft, potentially revolutionizing how riders interact with their machines.

However, don’t expect to see CarPlay-equipped Jet Skis hitting the waves anytime soon. According to a report by Watercraft Zone, Sea-Doo faces a series of significant hurdles before this futuristic vision can become a reality.

The Current State of Sea-Doo Displays

Sea-Doo is no stranger to cutting-edge technology. Seven of the 15 models in its 2026 lineup already come equipped with a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen display, the largest in the personal watercraft market. This display is also featured on Can-Am three-wheel motorcycles, manufactured by BRP Powersports, Sea-Doo’s parent company. Interestingly, the Can-Am motorcycles with this display already support CarPlay functionality, hinting at the potential for similar integration in Sea-Doo’s watercraft.

Technical Challenges Ahead

Christian Comtois, Sea-Doo’s global product strategy manager, has outlined the obstacles standing in the way of CarPlay integration. One of the primary issues is that CarPlay is designed for road vehicles and faces limitations in marine environments. For instance, navigation apps like Google Maps and Apple Maps would offer minimal advantages over Sea-Doo’s current display capabilities, as they aren’t optimized for water-based navigation.

The most significant benefit of CarPlay on a watercraft would likely be access to music-streaming apps. However, Comtois acknowledged that this would require substantial development work, including the addition of a microphone to the watercraft and other modifications to ensure compatibility with the instrument cluster.

The Apple Approval Process

Beyond the technical challenges, Sea-Doo must also secure approval from Apple for this unconventional application. Comtois noted that obtaining Apple’s green light for “powersports and off-road applications” is particularly difficult. When asked about the company’s confidence in eventually receiving approval, he responded that it was feasible but would depend on customer demand and market evolution.

Comtois also pointed out that while consumers find CarPlay appealing due to its familiarity from automotive use, Sea-Doo needs to evaluate whether the feature is genuinely necessary for watercraft applications before pursuing development.

Timeline Remains Uncertain

As of now, Sea-Doo has not provided a specific timeframe for when Apple CarPlay might debut on its watercraft. The company is taking a measured approach, balancing customer desires with technical feasibility and development costs. As Comtois indicated, the feature would arrive if customer needs justify the investment required to overcome the technical and approval challenges.

For Apple users who enjoy both their iPhones and water sports, the prospect of seamlessly integrating their favorite apps and music services while riding remains a possibility. But it could take a few years.

Tags: Apple CarPlay, Sea-Doo, personal watercraft, Jet Ski, marine technology, iPhone integration, touchscreen display, water sports, BRP Powersports, Can-Am motorcycles, navigation apps, music streaming, Apple approval, technical challenges, customer demand, 2026 lineup, marine environment, instrument cluster, powersports, off-road applications, innovation, aquatic adventure.

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