PWC Advice Please

Jeremy T

Seaman
Joined
May 26, 2011
Messages
59
I am looking into purchasing my first ever Jetski. I have only been on one once so im looking for something beginner friendly that can ride two people easily. It will have to be used because i cannot afford a new one. My question is. Which brands and year would be the easiest and cheapest to work on and find parts for. I am mechanically inclined so all work would be done myself. There is a local business here that has all kinds of used SeaDoo's So they are plentiful in my area i just know nothing about them. Any advice would be extremely appreciated.
 

artificialreef

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 21, 2009
Messages
504
Re: PWC Advice Please

My opinion Yamaha first, SeaDoo second. For the love of *** if you are mechanically inclined like you say you are, do a compression test before purchase. Sea trial if possible.
 

Bamaman1

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
1,895
Re: PWC Advice Please

Any independent boat shop that works on PWC's will work on any brand. In the early years, PWC's were all 2 stroke machines, and they really didn't last forever without maintenance. I have a SeaDoo that's 21 years old that still runs great. My neighbors have gone through 2-3 2 stroke PWC's in the same time.

Now, virtually all PWC's are 4 stroke machines-- the slowest of which is 53 or 54 mph. 4 stroke PWC's get wonderful fuel mileage, and every brand, every model just runs great. The days of 450 lb. PWC's are gone, as 3 man machines are more like 900 lbs with fuel. They're not easy to get on and off a trailer, and pushing them around your driveway is even difficult. A quality aluminum trailer is mandatory.

The biggest selling PWC on the market by far is the Yamaha VX series, and I bought a new 2010 VX Cruiser model a year ago. I have not had mine in the shop--choosing to do maintenance myself. I have a 120 mile cruising range, and find myself running the watercraft about 30 mph. 2 man PWC's are seldom even sold.

The SeaDoo's also are very nice machines, but performance is not really up to the Yamaha in acceleration and fuel mileage. The Kawasaki's are getting better, but they lack of a quality dealer base. Honda's have a hard ride, and serious PWC riders shy away unless they can buy one for $6k or a bargain basement model leftover price.

Boat dealers of every kind are dropping like flies in this O'Bama economy, and a quality PWC dealership is very important. I would first go for a solid, long time Yamaha dealership, but would also consider a SeaDoo if they had a great dealership. Yamaha's are slightly less expensive than comparable SeaDoo's.

I bought my ski @ LakeHillMotors.Com NE Mississippi--the largest Honda dealer in the U.S. People come from all over the South to buy from them, and I'm 50 miles away.

One thing I wouldn't do is buy one of those $12K-$14K 68 mph supercharged PWC rockets--and put a 14 year old kid on one. I consider high performance PWC's like putting a kid on a Suzuki Haybusta. Nobody can afford to buy a Ferrari, but everyone can afford a rice rocket or fire breathing PWC. And, 68 mph PWC accident can easily kill you or someone around you. The standard PWC models run just fine--and provide enough thrills for just about anyone.
 

rogerwa

Commander
Joined
Nov 29, 2000
Messages
2,339
Re: PWC Advice Please

Form my own experience, my 97 Yamaha is a breeze to work on. Pretty simple system and easily accessible.
 

Jeremy T

Seaman
Joined
May 26, 2011
Messages
59
Re: PWC Advice Please

Thanks for the replies. Im starting to lean toward a yamaha now. I have owned plenty of yamaha ATV's and have had few problems from them.
 

Leardriver

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Oct 7, 2008
Messages
373
Re: PWC Advice Please

Having ridden all of them, the Hondas are in a league of their own quality-wise. The turbos have breathtaking performance and excellent fuel economy. The Yamahas are well made, and the Kawasakis are close behind.
The Sea-Doos have great styling, but struggle greatly with build quality and reliability. Look at the ads and see how many relatively new machines are already talking about having new engines. You can't give away a 7-8 year old Sea-Doo, and I wouldn't put my family on one and get too far from the ramp. Stay Japanese and you can't go too far wrong.
 

vickipwc

Recruit
Joined
Jun 11, 2011
Messages
2
Re: PWC Advice Please

We purchased a 1996 Yamaha Wave Runner from the original owner with 80 hours on it...we love it and have only spent about $300 on maintenance in 5 years...
 

Ithica DB

Seaman
Joined
Apr 19, 2011
Messages
62
Re: PWC Advice Please

I have a Honda and after 3 years still loven it and cheap on gas.
 
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