Jet Ski questions

[ebelizard]

Thinking about purchasing an older model jet ski, either stand up or sit down. I'm really looking for something that can get some speed. Any suggestions on an older model, relatively inexpensive model?

[lancehon]

I'd get a Kawasaki 750 stand up, way funner than a sit down if you want to just play with it. It's really fun if you get a couple of them and they're pretty cheap. Our local lakes banned 2 strokes though so we can't have them anymore.

[Thegerman618]

I have a couple of 07 Seadoo GTX supercharged limited. They do about 75mph, 3 seater, 255 HP I think is what they are rated at, could probably find them now for few grand.

[TeamAllen]

Tell us more of what you want to do with them? Where are you planning on riding them? Fresh or salt water or both? Ride it yourself or carry passengers? How fast do you want to go? What's your budget?

I've never had a standup and my experience has been all Kawasaki. For the sit downs, if you want a 4 stroke they start in 2004. You could choose a 12F (1200CC) or 15F (1500cc). For a 2 stroke, I would look at the 1100 STX (1100cc). Again, these are all Kawasaki, which have been my brand of choice and only experience owning. Any one of them should have enough power and speed for most situations and should be relatively inexpensive.

[IDBoating]

We have a pair of 2-stroke Seadoos (1996 and 1997). Both do about 60 MPH, one is higher performance while the other is a foot longer and better accommodates two people. We specifically picked these two models because they have identical engines that makes maintenance easier. They are surprisingly reasonable on fuel consumption, it's hard to burn through a whole tank in a day even for 2-strokes. These units are approaching 20 years old (we've owned them for less than 10) but there is a HUGE aftermarket of support for mid-90's Seadoos so I wouldn't worry one bit about buying one from that era. Hope this helps!

[Johnnymac]

Get an sxr 1100. Best of both worlds. Stand up with a 1100 engine from a Kawasaki stx 1100 sit down. There is lots around for sale.

[Bryan]

Had a 97 seadoo GSX limited.. Awesome machine.. 2 stroke, mixed its own fuel, would hit 70+ on glass. Loads of fun! I would highly recommend one. They're also getting old enough that they can be found pretty cheap but still in good condition.. I also upgraded my intake propeller and grate for minimal cash and it got even quicker..

[ebelizard]

Tell us more of what you want to do with them? Where are you planning on riding them? Fresh or salt water or both? Ride it yourself or carry passengers? How fast do you want to go? What's your budget?

I've never had a standup and my experience has been all Kawasaki. For the sit downs, if you want a 4 stroke they start in 2004. You could choose a 12F (1200CC) or 15F (1500cc). For a 2 stroke, I would look at the 1100 STX (1100cc). Again, these are all Kawasaki, which have been my brand of choice and only experience owning. Any one of them should have enough power and speed for most situations and should be relatively inexpensive.

Really just looking for something cheap, probably early to mid '90s that I can run around on when the boat is in service. (I don't really have a budget). I wouldn't mind a two seater, as I eventually would buy two. The house I bought has two jet ski lifts, and they sit empty which makes me sad. I'd like for them to go as fast as possible for that year.

We have a pair of 2-stroke Seadoos (1996 and 1997). Both do about 60 MPH, one is higher performance while the other is a foot longer and better accommodates two people. We specifically picked these two models because they have identical engines that makes maintenance easier. They are surprisingly reasonable on fuel consumption, it's hard to burn through a whole tank in a day even for 2-strokes. These units are approaching 20 years old (we've owned them for less than 10) but there is a HUGE aftermarket of support for mid-90's Seadoos so I wouldn't worry one bit about buying one from that era. Hope this helps!

What model seadoos?

[Bryan]

Don't know where your located, but if I were you, I'd be looking for something like this.. 2 stroke fun machines that look to be in good condition at a reasonable price.. Probly even some negotiation room there. The gsx is a couple years newer than mine was, but basically the same ski.. You'll love it. The gtx is a 3 seater so a tad bit bigger, but both of these will push 60+ mph easy.. This was just a quick search and I'm not even in the market, but if I was closer I might go have a peek at these two..

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/19...-RFI-102633973

[Coop]

I wouldn't look at just top end speed. My buddy has a pair of mid-2000's Kawasaki 15f's and my sister has some newer Sea Doos that are supercharged. They are all 3-person, but the supercharged Sea Doos are bigger/heavier.

The Sea Doos have a higher top end (60 mph vs 70 mph or so, I think), and they track better at speed, but in my opinion the Kawasakis are more fun. Better hole shot, more maneuverable (for tight 360's, etc.), and easier to jump off wakes. If I was in the market, I'd pay more attention to those issues than the top end.

[IDBoating]

What model seadoos?

1996 XP and 1997 GSX. The XP is a legend... its hull was some sort of magical combination of factors that racers really loved. It is a real sportscar on the water. The GSX is the bigger machine, comfortably seats two, and still amazingly high performance. There are times I prefer it over the XP when I'm looking for a slightly more stable ride to cruise around. But if you want a serious crotch rocket, the 96XP is THE machine!

[IDBoating]

in my opinion the Kawasakis are more fun. Better hole shot, more maneuverable (for tight 360's, etc.), and easier to jump off wakes. If I was in the market, I'd pay more attention to those issues than the top end.

I agree, except to mention that the sponsons can be interchanged for different performance. Our 96XP came from an ex-racer who had installed racing sponsons and the thing corners like it's on rails. You have to really grip with your hands and thighs or it can and WILL throw you right off in a tight turn. Haven't ridden a Kawasaki so can't compare directly, but the 96XP's light weight and 110HP allow it to holeshot completely out of the water if you go WOT.

I suspect you can dial performance on any of the top brands to do anything you want.

[IDBoating]

My buddy has a pair of mid-2000's Kawasaki 15f's and my sister has some newer Sea Doos that are supercharged. They are all 3-person, but the supercharged Sea Doos are bigger/heavier.

Jet ski owners have a name for those later models - "couches" (as in big, wide, long, heavy pieces of furniture). Once they went to 4-stroke, they had to go bigger displacement and super/turbochargers to regain the performance loss due to thrust-to-weight losses. The result are giant monsters.

To each his own, but I prefer small, tight machines that you can throw around rather than big ol' couches that border on small jetboat lengths (and weights!). If you want something as big as a boat, buy a real boat. If you want fast little roadster sportscar for the water, you don't want a couch.

[Coop]

I agree, except to mention that the sponsons can be interchanged for different performance. Our 96XP came from an ex-racer who had installed racing sponsons and the thing corners like it's on rails. You have to really grip with your hands and thighs or it can and WILL throw you right off in a tight turn. Haven't ridden a Kawasaki so can't compare directly, but the 96XP's light weight and 110HP allow it to holeshot completely out of the water if you go WOT.

I suspect you can dial performance on any of the top brands to do anything you want.

Yes, and I didn't mean to compare brands necessarily. I was focused more on just size and maneuverability generally. The 3-person supercharged models I have seen are beasts.

One other point on the number of seats. If you plan on doing any towing behind them, you'll need three seats (at least that's the case in CA and AZ) -- for the driver, observer, and the rider once they're down. We actually end up towing behind them more than expected. The kids love to take them out for quick wakeskate or even tubing runs when the water is choppy and/or the boat drivers are resting. We have also used them to teach kids wakeboarding. The kids are sometimes less intimidated by the Jet Ski compared to a boat, the wake is much smaller once they get up, and you can swing around for multiple attempts much more quickly. Just a thought -- may not apply to your situation.

[IDBoating]

Carry a rope in the jetski equipment box, too. I've lost count of the boats I've towed off our lake. The best one was a Mastercraft owned by a buddy of mine. Brag, brag, brag about his Mastercraft. Treated it better than his own children. He and several other families with lots of teenagers were headed out to our lake one day... he's late, nobody knows why. Finally we see him struggling across the lake. I zip over there on a jetski and it appears his battery is dead. I hook him up and tow him in shame across the lake behind my itty bitty 96XP. He runs off to buy a new battery, installs it, and he's on the lake - and nobody wants to be on his boat. They all want to be on OUR boat (this is back when we had a jetboat, not the Tige). All he would allow was formal waterskiing behind his boat, while we were screaming all over the lake tubing, boarding, doing braking maneuvers (unique to jetboats), and just generally raising a ruckus. He finally parked his beautiful but ignored boat at our dock for the day. The look on his face was priceless, one of my fondest lake memories.