[pgviper]

Anyone own jet ski's here. I rented one while on vacation and loved it. Awesome time. Started looking into them myself. I have a few questions though.

1) Pre-owned or new
2) Brand preference, most people prefer sea doo but yamaha has some quality products also
3) I live on LI, any one ride on teh north/south shores
4) Licensing and all that information.

I just don't know where to start and would like to hear about some first hand experience, advice and check out some of the wave runners that people own.

[Comet]

Bombardier (Sea Doos) or Polaris is what I recommend.. I hate Yamaha (pissing jetskies) and Kawasaki.

New is always better as you don't know how much care someone put into the maintenance of a pre-owned.
They are more maintenance than one might think. especially if you will be taking it out and putting it back in all the time
you have to hose it down thoroughly with regular water, start it once a month, blah blah blah.
But awesome fun and worth it if you will use it a lot. Otherwise, rent.

[pgviper]

Originally Posted by Comet

Bombardier (Sea Doos) or Polaris is what I recommend.. I hate Yamaha (pissing jetskies) and Kawasaki.

New is always better as you don't know how much care someone put into the maintenance of a pre-owned.
They are more maintenance than one might think. especially if you will be taking it out and putting it back in all the time
you have to hose it down thoroughly with regular water, start it once a month, blah blah blah.
But awesome fun and worth it if you will use it a lot. Otherwise, rent.

I would most likely be taking it in and out of water. But I live on an island so many options on where to go. I figured it was time to start taking advantage of where I live haha.

Ok thanks, i'll look into those. New def. has my interest more because I would want a warranty since the superchargers need to be rebuild every x hours or something like that. Was either looking at 2012 rxt 260 or 2013 gtr 215.

What about trailers though, how much do they go for usually. Any recommendation on trailers?

For someone who only went once, are these things like motorcycles where you should start out with something smaller or is it just jump on, have fun and be careful?

[KingOfJericho]

I'm sure others will say otherwise but I've been on a jet ski (waverunner) one time, and for about a week, and found it extremely intuitive and very easy to use - so essentially just jump on, have fun, and be careful. There is a ton of space on the Sound so you would amost have to try to hit something/someone.

[pgviper]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

I'm sure others will say otherwise but I've been on a jet ski (waverunner) one time, and for about a week, and found it extremely intuitive and very easy to use - so essentially just jump on, have fun, and be careful. There is a ton of space on the Sound so you would amost have to try to hit something/someone.

That's what I figured. I'll def take the NYS and suffolk county boating/safety course that's offered.

Honestly it was between this and a motorcycle. I'm leaning more towards PWC because a bike on LI is essentially suicide (from what i've heard).

[MDamman003]

i would go with anything yamaha. More reliable than most.

I have a Yamaha Superjet which are always a good time

don't mind the shocker freestyle sticker haha...i ripped that off first thing





the stand ups are like motorcycles in that there is a bit of a learning curve on how to turn and keep it stable...but the couches (sit downs) they are pretty much just sit and go...just have to realize they won't turn if you aren't giving it some throttle

trailers, it all depends on the condition and if it comes with the paperwork and are ready to go...try to find a package deal with a jet ski AND a trailer...best way to go usually

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by pgviper

Honestly it was between this and a motorcycle.

You'd have more fun on a bike. And probably use it more. More people to ride with, etc.

[pgviper]

Originally Posted by MDamman23011

i would go with anything yamaha. More reliable than most.

I have a Yamaha Superjet which are always a good time

don't mind the shocker freestyle sticker haha...i ripped that off first thing





the stand ups are like motorcycles in that there is a bit of a learning curve on how to turn and keep it stable...but the couches (sit downs) they are pretty much just sit and go...just have to realize they won't turn if you aren't giving it some throttle

trailers, it all depends on the condition and if it comes with the paperwork and are ready to go...try to find a package deal with a jet ski AND a trailer...best way to go usually

That looks awesome man. You should've kept the shocker sticker haha, its an extra 10 hp!!!!

I would def opt for a couch style one. I would want my gf to be able to come with me and even drive it.


As far as the motorcycle thing is concerned, I know I would enjoy it more but I have psyched myself out a bit. I'm going dirt biking for the first time in a couple months so i'll wait until then to see if I enjoy it as much as I think I will or if i'll just be thinking about all the accidents i've seen/heard of.

[kevinbahnz]

cool thread, Ive always wanted to ride one of these things but it sounds like a lot of work hauling it to and from the water.

[pgviper]

Originally Posted by kevinbahnz

cool thread, Ive always wanted to ride one of these things but it sounds like a lot of work hauling it to and from the water.

Agreed, maintenance seems to be key if you want to own one mostly trouble free. I found the link below as an example of what routine maintenance should be when using it

http://www.pwcforum.com/yamaha-jetsk...averunner.html

Also, there are several other checklists for 50 hour and/or 100 hour checklists.

I think when the time comes, I'm going to pull the trigger on a sea doo rxt260 (previous model year). This way I have warranty. I love the water and don't understand how I have lived on an island for my whole life and haven't gotten into water sports as much.


For those who know about jet ski's. Is it ok to go from salt water to fresh water and vice versa? If I were to buy one, would I be able to use it in the ocean and then for a weekend at a buddy's lake or river house and then bring it home without any problems?

Thanks.

[Bols]

Originally Posted by pgviper

Thanks.

They definitely need one maintenance every winter/year but that's mostly it. (Except from break-in period maintenance etc)

I have the 2012 gtr215 and a friend has the 2012 rxt260. Both are awesome, never have been a big fan of Yamaha. Whenever we go out it's mostly 80 to 90% BRP and then some other brands for good reason. They look great and imho are among the best machines out there. I'm not going to say they are unbreakable of course, take care! A lot of people don't understand the way water vehicles manoeuvre coming from land vehicles Throttle is key! The brakes (ibr) on the new BRP's are very effective and safe.

You need a (fairly easy to obtain) license all over Europe, can't say about the states.

Regarding salt and fresh water: This is no problem since it's a closed system. However when you've been to salt water make sure you hose it off and rinse the system every time! (if you love the machine that is)
In the back near the pump you've got one or 2 anodes. These protect your pump while laying (still) in salt water for prolonged periods. If you have it in salt water a lot you may want to replace these with every maintenance because they get eaten away.

oh and have fun! Can't go wrong with it You can tow inflatables, wakeboarders etc... It makes for a great day.

[pgviper]

Originally Posted by Bols

They definitely need one maintenance every winter/year but that's mostly it. (Except from break-in period maintenance etc)

I have the 2012 gtr215 and a friend has the 2012 rxt260. Both are awesome, never have been a big fan of Yamaha. Whenever we go out it's mostly 80 to 90% BRP and then some other brands for good reason. They look great and imho are among the best machines out there. I'm not going to say they are unbreakable of course, take care! A lot of people don't understand the way water vehicles manoeuvre coming from land vehicles Throttle is key! The brakes (ibr) on the new BRP's are very effective and safe.

You need a (fairly easy to obtain) license all over Europe, can't say about the states.

Regarding salt and fresh water: This is no problem since it's a closed system. However when you've been to salt water make sure you hose it off and rinse the system every time! (if you love the machine that is)
In the back near the pump you've got one or 2 anodes. These protect your pump while laying (still) in salt water for prolonged periods. If you have it in salt water a lot you may want to replace these with every maintenance because they get eaten away.

oh and have fun! Can't go wrong with it You can tow inflatables, wakeboarders etc... It makes for a great day.

Exact response I was looking for. Thanks for all of the info. Depending on how this following year goes I'm hoping to pull the trigger on one for next summer. Post up some pics of the jet ski's. Hopefully you have some action shots!!!!

[Otruba_843]

I have been around boats and PWC's my whole life and am currently working on my captains license right now so I consider myself very well learned on the water. For boat engines, I will own nothing other then a Yahama. Their outboards pretty much own the market and they are nothing but the best. They are bullet proof and have never let me down. HOWEVER, when it comes to Personal Water Crafts (PWC's), I would only buy a Seadoo made by Bombardier. Right now, Seadoo has the best technology out their and I own a 2011 Seadoo RXT 260 IS right now. Seadoo's are faster than Yamahas and Yamaha's hull's don't even come close in performance or quality in comparison to Seadoo. Most of Yamaha's hulls are what they call Xcel hulls. They are not made out of fiberglass, rather a very thin composite material. They try to say that its lighter and is so great, but its not. They are a nightmare. Because its not made of fiberglass, you can't repair it and if it becomes damaged, you most likely will have to replace the entire hull. Also, because of its thin and lightweight construction, it rides incredibly hard in the chop and really beats you up. Because of Yamaha's design, they also ride front heavy and do not handle as well. Seadoo's S3 hull is fiberglass and has a step at the stern which creates and air pocket of water for better fuel economy, handling, and speed. Seadoo has their Suspension models out right now (IS & AS models) which I own and it is a great system. It absorbs most of the shock in the chop. You live in Long Island which can get pretty choppy so a suspension model would be a great option for you. You can power through the chop and take much less of a beating. If you are going to be doing your own maintenance let me warn you and say the suspension models are hard to work on because you have restricted access from the suspension deck that can be removed for more access. Other than that, the suspension models are awesome. Seadoo also has Intelligent brake and reverse (IBR) right now which no one else has. If this is your first PWC, it will make it very easy to operate. The throttle is computer controlled and starts off in neutral using the reverse bucket. You tap the throttle and it lifts the bucket so it slowly moves forward. You tap the IBR lever and it puts you back into neutral. Hold the IBR lever down and you do into reverse. While at speed if you hold the IBR lever down, you activate the brake. If you ride in salt water, don't EVER get a Yamaha. The Yamaha ski's use the salt water to cool their engine which is the last thing you want on a jet ski (its fine on a boat, but not on a jet ski). Seadoo cools their engines with Anti-freeze so it is never exposed to salt water. Seadoo only uses the water your in to cool the exhaust which is why you still need to flush it after every use. When you are flushing a jet ski, its always the opposite of a boat. Start the engine first then turn on the water and then turn the water off then turn the ski off. Also, never tow a jet ski, you will ruin it. If you are looking for speed and acceleration, you will want a supercharged model. Be aware that the supercharged models do require more maintenance no matter what brand. You have to rebuild the supercharger every 100 hours which consists of replacing the washers. The washer kit cost about $300-350. A dealer will charge you anywhere from $800-1200 to do this service. There is a moderator on greenhulk.com (PWC forum) who does this service for $75 plus the $300-350 for the washer kit. All you have to do is remove the supercharger (seems daunting, but its not) which is super easy as long as its not a suspension ski. With that being said, I would never buy a ski that wasn't supercharged. Of course the power is addicting, but its also nice to have a quiet ride at 45 mph where a naturally aspirated ski would be screaming at that speed. When I was looking for a jet ski, I was thinking Yamaha because I love their outboard boat motors, but after a few months of research and testing, I found Seadoo to be the right choice. If you are taller, the Seadoo is for you automatically. The Seadoo's have much deeper footwells than Yamaha's. Sorry if I sound like a fanboy for Seadoo, but I don't want you to make the wrong choice. Like I said, when it comes to boats Yamaha engines are the best, but PWC's are a whole different game. For salt water use Seadoo is the only ski I would buy. Just ask any of the mechanics at a dealer. I spend my summers up in the Barnegat Bay area and my Seadoo handles the chop great with the suspension. The S3 hull can keep up 60 mph in the chop with minimal cavitation unlike most skis. NEVER EVER buy a used Jet Ski. Think about it, most of the people who own jet skis are A-holes and treat them like crap and never keep up with the service. Almost anyone will tell you to never buy a used one. You need a boater's license to operate one in New York I think, or at least that's the way it is in New Jersey. Go to your local marina and Im sure they will have flyers for a boating safety class. In New Jersey you have to be at least 16 to take the 8 hour boater's safety class then you can operate a boat or PWC. In South Carolina, You can use your driver's license or if you don't have on, you can get a boater's license online if you past the test. It all varies by state. When I was ski shopping, I also realized that the components on the yamaha skis felt cheaper, such as the plastic. It felt like it was going to break. On my Seadoo, all of the storage compartments are gas-strut assisted so they open and stay open by themselves. Another nice touch that Yamaha doesn't have. Just don't even bother looking at a Kawasaki ski. They feel extremely cheap and consistently score low. I would also recommend getting a ski that has cruise control. I use it a lot. If it gets a little bouncy, its nice to set the ski as a certain speed and hold the throttle WOT and stay at a constant speed. If it gets bumpy, its pretty hard to hold the throttle in a precise spot. Anyways, sorry for this long post but I hope it really helps! Im interested to see what you get. These videos are very good.

[pgviper]

Originally Posted by Otruba_843

I have been around boats and PWC's my whole life and am currently working on my captains license right now so I consider myself very well learned on the water. For boat engines, I will own nothing other then a Yahama. Their outboards pretty much own the market and they are nothing but the best. They are bullet proof and have never let me down. HOWEVER, when it comes to Personal Water Crafts (PWC's), I would only buy a Seadoo made by Bombardier. Right now, Seadoo has the best technology out their and I own a 2011 Seadoo RXT 260 IS right now.

Thanks for all of the great information!!!!!! You reinforced everything that I have learned throughout the past couple of weeks plus some. When it comes down to it, I am pretty set on a previous model year RXT 260. I wouldn't need any of the suspension business because I would be doing all non warranty work myself and it seems like it will be easier to do so without the suspension. Also, I am young so I can handle getting beaten up a bit. S3 hull def looks like a must have and from everything I have read/heard, your comparison of sea doo vs yamaha seems completely accurate.

Supercharger -> 100%

Unfortunately I won't be able to pull the trigger on something until next year but now I am really excited to do so.

Again, thanks for all of the great information. I'll take a look at the videos when I get home (work computers block youtube/pandora etc...)

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by Otruba_843

I have been around boats and PWC's my whole life and am currently working on my captains license right now so I consider myself very well learned on the water. For boat engines, I will own nothing other then a Yahama. Their outboards pretty much own the market and they are nothing but the best. They are bullet proof and have never let me down. HOWEVER, when it comes to Personal Water Crafts (PWC's), I would only buy a Seadoo made by Bombardier. Right now, Seadoo has the best technology out their and I own a 2011 Seadoo RXT 260 IS right now. Seadoo's are faster than Yamahas and Yamaha's hull's don't even come close in performance or quality in comparison to Seadoo. Most of Yamaha's hulls are what they call Xcel hulls. They are not made out of fiberglass, rather a very thin composite material. They try to say that its lighter and is so great, but its not. They are a nightmare. Because its not made of fiberglass, you can't repair it and if it becomes damaged, you most likely will have to replace the entire hull. Also, because of its thin and lightweight construction, it rides incredibly hard in the chop and really beats you up. Because of Yamaha's design, they also ride front heavy and do not handle as well. Seadoo's S3 hull is fiberglass and has a step at the stern which creates and air pocket of water for better fuel economy, handling, and speed. Seadoo has their Suspension models out right now (IS & AS models) which I own and it is a great system. It absorbs most of the shock in the chop. You live in Long Island which can get pretty choppy so a suspension model would be a great option for you. You can power through the chop and take much less of a beating. If you are going to be doing your own maintenance let me warn you and say the suspension models are hard to work on because you have restricted access from the suspension deck that can be removed for more access. Other than that, the suspension models are awesome. Seadoo also has Intelligent brake and reverse (IBR) right now which no one else has. If this is your first PWC, it will make it very easy to operate. The throttle is computer controlled and starts off in neutral using the reverse bucket. You tap the throttle and it lifts the bucket so it slowly moves forward. You tap the IBR lever and it puts you back into neutral. Hold the IBR lever down and you do into reverse. While at speed if you hold the IBR lever down, you activate the brake. If you ride in salt water, don't EVER get a Yamaha. The Yamaha ski's use the salt water to cool their engine which is the last thing you want on a jet ski (its fine on a boat, but not on a jet ski). Seadoo cools their engines with Anti-freeze so it is never exposed to salt water. Seadoo only uses the water your in to cool the exhaust which is why you still need to flush it after every use. When you are flushing a jet ski, its always the opposite of a boat. Start the engine first then turn on the water and then turn the water off then turn the ski off. Also, never tow a jet ski, you will ruin it. If you are looking for speed and acceleration, you will want a supercharged model. Be aware that the supercharged models do require more maintenance no matter what brand. You have to rebuild the supercharger every 100 hours which consists of replacing the washers. The washer kit cost about $300-350. A dealer will charge you anywhere from $800-1200 to do this service. There is a moderator on greenhulk.com (PWC forum) who does this service for $75 plus the $300-350 for the washer kit. All you have to do is remove the supercharger (seems daunting, but its not) which is super easy as long as its not a suspension ski. With that being said, I would never buy a ski that wasn't supercharged. Of course the power is addicting, but its also nice to have a quiet ride at 45 mph where a naturally aspirated ski would be screaming at that speed. When I was looking for a jet ski, I was thinking Yamaha because I love their outboard boat motors, but after a few months of research and testing, I found Seadoo to be the right choice. If you are taller, the Seadoo is for you automatically. The Seadoo's have much deeper footwells than Yamaha's. Sorry if I sound like a fanboy for Seadoo, but I don't want you to make the wrong choice. Like I said, when it comes to boats Yamaha engines are the best, but PWC's are a whole different game. For salt water use Seadoo is the only ski I would buy. Just ask any of the mechanics at a dealer. I spend my summers up in the Barnegat Bay area and my Seadoo handles the chop great with the suspension. The S3 hull can keep up 60 mph in the chop with minimal cavitation unlike most skis. NEVER EVER buy a used Jet Ski. Think about it, most of the people who own jet skis are A-holes and treat them like crap and never keep up with the service. Almost anyone will tell you to never buy a used one. You need a boater's license to operate one in New York I think, or at least that's the way it is in New Jersey. Go to your local marina and Im sure they will have flyers for a boating safety class. In New Jersey you have to be at least 16 to take the 8 hour boater's safety class then you can operate a boat or PWC. In South Carolina, You can use your driver's license or if you don't have on, you can get a boater's license online if you past the test. It all varies by state. When I was ski shopping, I also realized that the components on the yamaha skis felt cheaper, such as the plastic. It felt like it was going to break. On my Seadoo, all of the storage compartments are gas-strut assisted so they open and stay open by themselves. Another nice touch that Yamaha doesn't have. Just don't even bother looking at a Kawasaki ski. They feel extremely cheap and consistently score low. I would also recommend getting a ski that has cruise control. I use it a lot. If it gets a little bouncy, its nice to set the ski as a certain speed and hold the throttle WOT and stay at a constant speed. If it gets bumpy, its pretty hard to hold the throttle in a precise spot. Anyways, sorry for this long post but I hope it really helps! Im interested to see what you get. These videos are very good.

Paragraphs are your friend. This is very hard to read in one gigantic block of text.

[Bobble]

Been around Jet skis since day one, used to be affiliated with the original Manufacturer via dirt bikes. Rode the original prototypes and everything in between since Circa 1975.
All manufacturers have pluses and minuses. I ride only Kawasaki because of said connections above.
If you buy used only buy from original owner and with all service docs and a PPI.
Seadoo's have more required maintenance, Yamahas tend to overheat (yep my opinion but I have literally close to 1000 hours on them, over 300 on my personal one and have seen plenty of waverunners in limp mode).
Hulls I like are the more narrow more nimble ones. Are you doing ocean open water riding or lakes and rivers? If open water the bigger and deeper the hull the more stable, Like I said I prefer the opposite but I ride the Colorado river almost 90% of my time and prefer to be able to lay it down into turns rather then steer thru. Visually check out the ride plate, pump and impeller for nicks and heavy wear. The will be a good sign of care.
Trailers if salt water galvanized only, walk boards are nice on tandem trailers as are boxes and trays for gas cans. Check the wheel bearings and/or bearing buddies for care and wear, if at all concerned change the bearings nothing worse than seized bearing when towing to your destination.
Check local laws for waterways for what's legal, in Cali a lot of places restrict two strokes, but you really can't buy a 2 stroke new.
Every manufacturer is coming out with some beasts right now, FI motors and more power than you can imagine. I for one run an older 1200, stays up loses out over long runs due to top speed but I can carve and stay with them due to experience and use a lot less gas (which is expensive if you need to refuel on the water). I'd personally rent a few more times and really see if this is what you like, way too many for sale with next to no hours for cheap so if you buy new make sure you use it.
BTW I've had countless hours in salt and if you flush every time right after pulling it out there's no issues. We flush our skis right at the boat ramp and wash them off as well. We are in the ocean every weekend we are not at the river, same skis both over 300 hours nothing but Oil changes, plugs and 1 valve adjustment.

[Sara]

Jeff@TopGearSolutions

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Let me start buy saying what I've owned and what I've driven and what I've found through the years with Jet Skis.

Owned Myself:
2001 Sea Doo XP
2005 Yamaha GP1300R
2005 Kawasaki 12F

For those who know jet ski's the above are all kinds of different Jet Ski's in terms of ride type, size, power, reliability ETC ETC

Driven / What Friends have:
2003 Yamaha XLT1200
2011 Sea Doo GTR 215
2010 Sea Doo RXP
2005 Kawasaki 15F
2005 Sea Doo GTX

A few various other older skis.

I'll preface by saying I'm a big fan of agile jet skis. I like to jump. I like the jet ski to feel light. I like to have good stability and control. I also prefer a ski that can be easily modded and do it at a low cost. There are some jet skis that can go fast for very little modification and practically no engine work.

I recently picked up a 2005 GP1300 R. It's a 2 stroke. The hull design is second to none even for it's age. Anyone in the industry knows the GP1300R is in it's own class. Reliability, modability, hull design, weight. It's the perfect ski for almost anyone looking to go fast and do it fairly inexpensive. Out of the box it did 63 MPH (GPS). It's now doing 67 MPH and I've only changed the ride plate, stepped the sponsons, and intake grate. (Also D plate / Cat Delete). <-- A must in any 2 stroke jet ski. I plan on doing a prop and maybe EFI controller to get it up to 70 MPH (GPS).

You will notice i say GPS a lot of because all Jet Ski speedo's are incorrect. If its not verified by GPS Speed it's not legit.

My 2 previous skis I lost in Sandy. Thanks Sandy.

My Sea Doo XP was my favorite ski. It was extremely light. I had a Prop and intake grate and she did 62 MPH (GPS). However, it's intention was never for top speed. It was very nimble. I could duck dive or simply pop straight up and down out of the water. Turned on a dime. The 0-30 acceleration time was unbeatable by even todays 4 Stroke supercharged jet skis.

Typically sea doo are unreliable especially the new supercharged models as they are costly to repair and maintain as they get older. This sea doo xp however was very reliable and it is known the jet ski world as it's own class. There is a strong following of these jet skis because of how strong the engine is and the hull design in general.

I rebuilt this jet ski after a long and hard 250 Hours. I rebuilt it for no reason other then maintenance. It's better to rebuild a 2 stroke earlier then to wait for it to blow in my opinion.

We also had a Kawi 12F. What a pig. Heavy and under-powered. We called it the cadillac. It maybe did 48 MPH (GPS). The hull is actually great for modification and I would imagine with a ride plate and a few other bits it would probably get up to 51-52 MPH but it's still slow. It's intention was for family. It's a big 3 seater and very comfortable and stable. 4 Stroke was reliable and good on gas.

Buying New:

If I had to buy a new ski I was leaning towards the Kawi 300R or the Sea doo RXT 260. The price tag all said and done was not appealing to me. I could by 3 of my GPR1300 ski's for the price of one of those and I could keep up with them on the water for little money. Granted a new ski is nice and a warranty is great but at nearly $17000 out of the door with tax tile and registration it was not worth it.

For someone who buys a new jet ski I would say keep it until warranty is over. Keep in mind these new jet skis are "boats" to me. They are big, bulky, they sit deep in the water. They are not as "fun" to me. I've driven a few of them over the years. They are quick. But they are almost boring too in a sense that I dont feel like I'm driving a Jet ski but a small boat. I guess it depends on the person of course. I'm not trying to disuade anyone from getting one. IF you have the money and want a brand new ski that's fast out of the box, get it. They are still awesome. But for me I was shopping on a budget and trying to find the last agile mod friendly jet ski so I got the GP1300R instead.

Buying used:
This is a very tricky thing to buy used. There are a lot of things to know about Jet Skis in general and the platform you are buying. For instance I bought a 2005 GP1300R. Apparently the 2006 are bit better as there was a hull design change in the pump tunnel as they were prone to cracking. Just one random thing I didn't research enough of. I'll roll the dice though. What I'm trying to say here is if you are buying a used jet ski research the year and research the problems they have. They all have some problems and they are usually quite common for the same platform. You will normally see the same complaints.

For instance out of the box the GP1300R was notorious for porpoising and chime walking. It also had a lot of cavitation out of the hole shot and the Catalytic converter was prone to clogging. $60 D plate and $200 worth of mods in the ride plate and pump seal fixed all of that. I got rid of the porpoising by stepping the sponsons (free mod) and the ride plate helped a bit too. They also picked up my speed another 4 MPH. (That's a lot for not touching the engine).

Before I bought the ski the first thing I did was go under it. The seller was a little surprised. First thing I checked out was the propeller. It was mint. Sharp. Shiny. (Look out for dull, bent, not sharp, and pitting). This is a sign of cavitation and/or age.

I then checked the wear ring. This is part of the pump. The wear ring should be as close to the edge of the propeller without touching and mine was nearly perfect all around.

I then checked the compression on the motor. It came out with 130 PSI across the board. Perfect.

The hull in general was mint. Minimal damage all around. Paint looked fresh like a brand new jet ski. When I brought it home people thought it was a brand new jet ski. It's actually 8 years old though. It was a great buy. The previous owner lied or didn't know it had a Cat Delete. I found that out later on when i went to do it myself. Other then that it has a bit of a oiling fixation at idle. I will be fixing that this week as it seems the oil cable is just not adjusted correctly or not on at all. On this particular jet ski this causes it to run in fail safe and just dump oil. Better safe then sorry.

/ RANT

If you know your budget and know what you want out of a Jet Ski I can help.

I can go on forever about my other skis, and other skis I've driven but I feel none of that information is relevant.

IF you are buying used stick with a newer 4 stroke. If you want to roll the dice you can go with a used supercharged model but you will can run into some expensive head aches depending on the hours on the ski. I would still say avoid Sea Doo unless they are new with warranty. Therefore I always recommend newer yamaha or Kawi.

[Otruba_843]

Originally Posted by pgviper

Thanks for all of the great information!!!!!! You reinforced everything that I have learned throughout the past couple of weeks plus some. When it comes down to it, I am pretty set on a previous model year RXT 260. I wouldn't need any of the suspension business because I would be doing all non warranty work myself and it seems like it will be easier to do so without the suspension. Also, I am young so I can handle getting beaten up a bit. S3 hull def looks like a must have and from everything I have read/heard, your comparison of sea doo vs yamaha seems completely accurate.

Supercharger -> 100%

Unfortunately I won't be able to pull the trigger on something until next year but now I am really excited to do so.

Again, thanks for all of the great information. I'll take a look at the videos when I get home (work computers block youtube/pandora etc...)

Buy in September or October right after the season ends. I got 3k off of the ski and got the trailer at half price. Just get a standard galvanized trailer. You don't need a fancy trailer for a Jet Ski. The Seadoo I-Catch trailer is a rip off and many skis have fallen off of it. Just rinse the trailer down after every use and keep and eye on the buddy bearings. Don't buy a jet ski without the extended warranty. I paid 16k out the door on what would have costed me around 20k if I had bought it in boat shopping time. After every salt water ride, you want to lightly rinse down the engine, then apply Sedoo XPS spray protectant to all exterior metal surfaces and coat the entire engine with it. This alone will greatly extend the skis life. Make sure you get a bilge pump installed ASAP when you get one.

Originally Posted by Jeff@TopGearSolutions

I recently picked up a 2005 GP1300 R. It's a 2 stroke. The hull design is second to none even for it's age. Anyone in the industry knows the GP1300R is in it's own class. Reliability, modability, hull design, weight. It's the perfect ski for almost anyone looking to go fast and do it fairly inexpensive. Out of the box it did 63 MPH (GPS). It's now doing 67 MPH and I've only changed the ride plate, stepped the sponsons, and intake grate. (Also D plate / Cat Delete). <-- A must in any 2 stroke jet ski. I plan on doing a prop and maybe EFI controller to get it up to 70 MPH (GPS).

You will notice i say GPS a lot of because all Jet Ski speedo's are incorrect. If its not verified by GPS Speed it's not legit.

My Sea Doo XP was my favorite ski. It was extremely light. I had a Prop and intake grate and she did 62 MPH (GPS). However, it's intention was never for top speed. It was very nimble. I could duck dive or simply pop straight up and down out of the water. Turned on a dime. The 0-30 acceleration time was unbeatable by even todays 4 Stroke supercharged jet skis.

Typically sea doo are unreliable especially the new supercharged models as they are costly to repair and maintain as they get older. This sea doo xp however was very reliable and it is known the jet ski world as it's own class. There is a strong following of these jet skis because of how strong the engine is and the hull design in general.

Buying New:

If I had to buy a new ski I was leaning towards the Kawi 300R or the Sea doo RXT 260. The price tag all said and done was not appealing to me. I could by 3 of my GPR1300 ski's for the price of one of those and I could keep up with them on the water for little money. Granted a new ski is nice and a warranty is great but at nearly $17000 out of the door with tax tile and registration it was not worth it.


IF you are buying used stick with a newer 4 stroke. If you want to roll the dice you can go with a used supercharged model but you will can run into some expensive head aches depending on the hours on the ski. I would still say avoid Sea Doo unless they are new with warranty. Therefore I always recommend newer yamaha or Kawi.

The superchargers in the skis right now are great if you keep your ski on a proper maintenance schedule. If you are riding a supercharged ski, just make sure you let off the throttle if you do get the back end out of the water. If you don't do this, over time your supercharger will start to slip and lose some performance. My RXT 260 has never failed me or given me any trouble at all and I ride in the ocean. What was your 0-30 time? I'm getting a 1.7-8 0-30 on my RXT 260 IS. The Seadoo speedo's are now using GPS for speed. I could get my ski up to around 80 with a new ride plate, intake grate, and a tune but the extended warranty is the last thing I want to void.

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Originally Posted by Otruba_843

Buy in September or October right after the season ends. I got 3k off of the ski and got the trailer at half price. Just get a standard galvanized trailer. You don't need a fancy trailer for a Jet Ski. The Seadoo I-Catch trailer is a rip off and many skis have fallen off of it. Just rinse the trailer down after every use and keep and eye on the buddy bearings. Don't buy a jet ski without the extended warranty. I paid 16k out the door on what would have costed me around 20k if I had bought it in boat shopping time. After every salt water ride, you want to lightly rinse down the engine, then apply Sedoo XPS spray protectant to all exterior metal surfaces and coat the entire engine with it. This alone will greatly extend the skis life.


The superchargers in the skis right now are great if you keep your ski on a proper maintenance schedule. If you are riding a supercharged ski, just make sure you let off the throttle if you do get the back end out of the water. If you don't do this, over time your supercharger will start to slip and lose some performance. My RXT 260 has never failed me or given me any trouble at all and I ride in the ocean. What was your 0-30 time? I'm getting a 1.7-8 0-30 on my RXT 260 IS. The Seadoo speedo's are now using GPS for speed. I could get my ski up to around 80 with a new ride plate, intake grate, and a tune but the extended warranty is the last thing I want to void.

Never did an accurate measurement of 0-30 other then actually racing other people.

You are right about the new models and the GPS speedo. Those actually say GPS on them too. I was referring to older models.

You are lucky to be able to go in the ocean. For me it's too far of a trip as the nearest inlet is about 30 miles on water.

I wouldn't say the Sea Doo are prone to failure but they dont have the most stellar reputation once they get older. A lot of this could be attributed to poor maintenance for all we know.

I dont think my Ski would do too well at 80 MPH. It's not heavy enough to stay in the choppy waters were I live. There is a guy with a 89.5 MPH GP1300R but he's out in the Bayou or something on the flattest water I've ever seen.

[jfiore13]

I own a sea doo rxt260 ... Great motor lots of power and fun... Def recommend a sea doo because they require the least service and are most reliable.

[boostedTIAG335]

Jeff hit the nail on the head. My collection includes a Superjet, GP1300R and a FZR. I'll only ride Yamaha because they've been great machines to me.