Best value for a Jet Ski

jeepinmatt

jeepinmatt

#1 WEBWHEELER
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Mar 24, 2005
Location
Stanley, NC
Thinking about getting a play toy for the summer. Looking to keep it around $4k, and have no idea where to start. I've seen the Yamaha GP1300R's in this price range, but I'm sure there is other stuff out there. Biggest things I'm looking for are:
1. Reasonably quiet
2. Reliable
3. Seats 2+
4. Fast (doesn't have to be the fastest thing out there, just not slow)

Learn me some stuff.
 
I've had both Yamaha and Kawasaki skis. For me the Yamaha is by far the most reliable I've had and the most quiet. That's just between the two that I've had, other makes may have similar qualities. You may want to look at the new sea doo Spark. It's right around your price point. I've been burned and seen others get burned on used watercraft. You really need to check out the mechanics of a used craft.
 
My boss runs a jet ski junkyard. If you have any specific questions I can ask him. Gp1300rs are pretty nice imo. From what I see him deal with the only pwc I would buy would be yamaha 4 stroke n/a. He says the seadoos and kawasakis have better hulls but the kaws all have locked up jet pumps and the seadoos are all blown up. You could probably get a seadoo xp blown up for cheap and put a SBT motor in it and be under budget with a warranty. Won't be the fastest thing on the lake though and not great with 2 people.

I hate jet skis. As soon as you get one send me a pic so I can post in the DB thread.
 
My brother in law had a late 90s yamaha, don't remember if it was a 1000 or 1200, 2 stroke that lived at my house for several years. It was insanely fast (70+ on smooth water with my 230lbs on it) but was loud and beat the crap out you on rough water. It was reliable though, several years of nothing but battery replacement.

As with most powersports, the time to buy is in the fall and spring is the time to sell...
 
I had a GPR years ago, Nice ski, a lot of fun but more of a 1 person ski and not legal to tow anyone, if that matters. I would take a Yamaha over a seadoo any day.
 
What about the Honda Aquatrax 1200?

Wife's family has a lake house that we go to 3-4 times and year, and maybe once or twice a year when we go to the beach, so use would be fairly limited, but probably about as much as most people who have these things. I'm not too worried about pulling people or stability, but more of "i'm tired of you people so I'm gonna go ride my water dirtbike".
 
We have 2 vx110 waverunners. Pretty easy to work on, 4 stroke, EFI, and seat 2 easily. I've got about 3k invested in each one. Speed is about 52mph tops but I usually just cruise at 35-40 mph.

Had a Seadoo 2 stroke first. It was a lot lighter and more fun/maneuverable but nowhere near as easy to operate as the EFI 4 stroke.

No experience with the honda. 99% of rentals seem to be waverunners and the ones for sale by those places have a million hours on them. That sold me.
 
I have a 2000 and 2001 set of Sea Doos I'll be selling soon since I bought a boat in the fall. I bought them because they are cheap to maintain and run good. The older 2 stroke rotax engines run for a good bit if you maintain them. The problem is most people don't fog them when they put them away. I'll probably list my (2) for 6K and take a little less so deals are out there so if you look around and take your time you can pick something up nice. The thing I like about Sea Doos is up until the most recent models you couldn't really tell how old the skis are. Here are my two for example. They don't look like 15yr old skis.
IMG_0980.JPG
 
Yeah a buddy bought 2 sparks and a dual trailer for 8k. I hear they are decent a ski, they look cool too.
 
all the 'newer' machines are like couches!

look for kawi zxi 1100; especially if you are going the 'older' route; same hull as the 900 but more moar...
 
My folks have had good service out of their '01 FX140 Yamaha. Runs pretty quick, seats three, I love the RPM's from that 4-stroke, and it'll tow if you need it to. Just don't "play" with it, like trying to spin it around. It gets thirsty quick when not up on plane.
 
im another for seadoo. but im an old mx guy. so to me the 2 stroke seadoo is more nimble and funnier to ride. i feel like i might as well b on a boat when i get on the huge couch 4 strokes. with that said , i do have a 3 seater seadoo as Abadjeeper posted. used for taking the family out. could ride me, the wife , and 1 of the grandchildren no prob. but i prefer my xp,xpl, and hx. the hx is a true single seater, but its like riding a crotch rocket on the water. depends on how many people are on the lake if i take out the xp or xpl. i had an xp out during july 4th week and i felt like i was riding a skipping rock over to our land. the xpl has the engine in the ft and will stay in the water running 60 even if there is some chop. if you want a nice sport ski. i have a clean xpl i will let go. im a hoarder, so sitting on 4 xpls, and 2 parts ski/spare hulls. also have a kawi zxi 900 with a brand new long block
 
I beat on my used sea doo xp like a redheaded step-child, with no problems. Only bad thing was that it was a one seater with me on it. Wife would ride her friends around on it w/o any problems. Only sold it because we moved away from the lake....
 
we have crammed 3 on an xpl. the pyscho x and her 18 yr old daughter. both were fairly skinny . my body by coors didnt help much. and there was no sitting still.
 
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