Considering PWC over boat for time being

[SkaterRace]

I recently posted here about what type of boat to get for the St. Lawerence river and got some good feedback on it. I have done some looking and thinking and picked out a couple of boats that seem ideal for my uses. For reasons that are beyond my control I am debating a PWC to go out on my own so I have something to get me on the water till I am ready to buy a long-term boat.

That said, what would everyone suggest for a PWC that is only going to be used for cruising the St Lawerence river by myself or maybe one other person though rare.

I was thinking of a SeaDoo Spark because they are cheap, small, and good on gas.

 

[airshot]

Save your money and get a real boat. Gonna be really cold ridin a jet ski here pretty quickly...

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, my speedboat is nearly as fast as a wave runner, and I can take 3 girls and a cooler.

 

[909]

Gee, my speedboat is nearly as fast as a wave runner, and I can take 3 girls and a cooler.

I'll have what he's having.

 

[909]

OP, consider getting a tender / inflatable / dinghy .

You're not on the water yet . This will at least get you on the water .

You don't need a trailer , or a place to park / store it. You can launch anywhere and don't need a ramp.

They're inexpensive and you can go pretty fast and still carry 4 chicks and a cooler .

 

[SkaterRace]

Save your money and get a real boat. Gonna be really cold ridin a jet ski here pretty quickly...

The idea would be to buy to use in spring/summer next year. I've decided I want to pay off the truck first and that has 3 years left on it.

 

[SkaterRace]

OP, consider getting a tender / inflatable / dinghy .

You're not on the water yet . This will at least get you on the water .

You don't need a trailer , or a place to park / store it. You can launch anywhere and don't need a ramp.

They're inexpensive and you can go pretty fast and still carry 4 chicks and a cooler .

Never been a fan of tenders and anyone who I know would want to go with me would be too scared to go on them.

 

[SkaterRace]

Gee, my speedboat is nearly as fast as a wave runner, and I can take 3 girls and a cooler.

I'd love a speedboat but not in the cards right now because of not many options around in my price range. Few decent ones but all have high-hour motors which I am too worried about because I've grown up with high-hour motors leaving me stranded more times than I care to count. That's even with getting them repaired over and over

 

[JimS123]

A PWC is a good alternative to a boat, but you need to realize that the season is shorter because of weather.

I've had a boat for over 50 years and eventually wanted to try a PWC. They are so much fun that now we own both.

First of all, get a 3-seater. There are times you will want to take a passenger, and the 2-seaters do not go well with a passenger.

Secondly, avoid the Spark at all costs. Their performance and longevity is poor. Some will dispute that comment for sure, so take it for what its worth.

Buy a later model Yamaha with a 4-stroke engine. They are just about bulletproof and the ease of maintenance will be appreciated. Sea-Doos are faster and more agile if you want to hotdog, but they are a pita to service. Yamis are perfect for cruising.

When we vacation on the St. Lawrence we always take a fishing boat and my Yami.

 

[SkaterRace]

A PWC is a good alternative to a boat, but you need to realize that the season is shorter because of weather.

I've had a boat for over 50 years and eventually wanted to try a PWC. They are so much fun that now we own both.

First of all, get a 3-seater. There are times you will want to take a passenger, and the 2-seaters do not go well with a passenger.

Secondly, avoid the Spark at all costs. Their performance and longevity is poor. Some will dispute that comment for sure, so take it for what its worth.

Buy a later model Yamaha with a 4-stroke engine. They are just about bulletproof and the ease of maintenance will be appreciated. Sea-Doos are faster and more agile if you want to hotdog, but they are a pita to service. Yamis are perfect for cruising.

When we vacation on the St. Lawrence we always take a fishing boat and my Yami.

Thanks, Jim, knew the Spark wasn't the best but was thinking it was because of the cost. Makes sense to avoid it if it has issues though. As for the service PITA factor, I don't care too much as I will never do more than put gas in it. I am mechanically inept and lack the proper time to learn enough to fix a motor or do regular maintence.

I've heard good things about the mordern Yamaha's, will take a look and see what I find. Good note on the 3 seater being needed for 2 people would not have thought of that one, was just going by the ratings which considering what I know with boats I should not have been. My old GT 185 was rated for 7 I think but 5 was the max reasonable.

 

[airshot]

Thanks, Jim, knew the Spark wasn't the best but was thinking it was because of the cost. Makes sense to avoid it if it has issues though. As for the service PITA factor, I don't care too much as I will never do more than put gas in it. I am mechanically inept and lack the proper time to learn enough to fix a motor or do regular maintence.

I've heard good things about the mordern Yamaha's, will take a look and see what I find. Good note on the 3 seater being needed for 2 people would not have thought of that one, was just going by the ratings which considering what I know with boats I should not have been. My old GT 185 was rated for 7 I think but 5 was the max reasonable.

If your not prepared to repair and do regular maintenence, you might cinsider another hobby. Boats are nothing but repair and maintenence !!! Or...you will need deep pockets to pay others to do it for you !!

 

[SkaterRace]

If your not prepared to repair and do regular maintenence, you might cinsider another hobby. Boats are nothing but repair and maintenence !!! Or...you will need deep pockets to pay others to do it for you !!

I wrote out a long-ish post but seemed like an ass in it, to sum it up, it comes down to time and the fact I never have enough to even enjoy boating much let alone repairs. If I did boat repairs I would get out on the water 1-2 times in a whole year. For me the cost of time vs money, the money to repair a boat is cheaper than the time to repair it.

 

[JimS123]

Thanks, Jim, knew the Spark wasn't the best but was thinking it was because of the cost. Makes sense to avoid it if it has issues though. As for the service PITA factor, I don't care too much as I will never do more than put gas in it. I am mechanically inept and lack the proper time to learn enough to fix a motor or do regular maintence.

I've heard good things about the mordern Yamaha's, will take a look and see what I find. Good note on the 3 seater being needed for 2 people would not have thought of that one, was just going by the ratings which considering what I know with boats I should not have been. My old GT 185 was rated for 7 I think but 5 was the max reasonable.

If your buying a PWC to save up for a "boat", you need to do "maintenance" yourself. The dealer will price gouge you for sure. Then you have to rely on the dealer's service department to not screw up.

I don't do fixin' either. But winterizing and such does not require a master mechanic.

Draining a little oil, greasing some zerks on the pump and removing the battery are so simple that my wife could do it. The manual shows pictorials. You need to remove the battery for Winter storage and routine charging.

On a Yami the battery is held with 2 rubber bands. The wires only need a simple screwdriver. The SeaDoo requires that you remove the seat brackets and disconnect the front half of the engine (exaggerating a little) because its way down there.

For what the dealer would charge you for annual maintenance, you could do it yourself 4 times.

 

[SkaterRace]

If your buying a PWC to save up for a "boat", you need to do "maintenance" yourself. The dealer will price gouge you for sure. Then you have to rely on the dealer's service department to not screw up.

I don't do fixin' either. But winterizing and such does not require a master mechanic.

Draining a little oil, greasing some zerks on the pump and removing the battery are so simple that my wife could do it. The manual shows pictorials. You need to remove the battery for Winter storage and routine charging.

On a Yami the battery is held with 2 rubber bands. The wires only need a simple screwdriver. The SeaDoo requires that you remove the seat brackets and disconnect the front half of the engine (exaggerating a little) because its way down there.

For what the dealer would charge you for annual maintenance, you could do it yourself 4 times.

Cost isn't a factor to me with annual maintenance. My time is more valuable than the cost it is. I simply don't have the time to do it, I have very limited free time anymore and spending it on boat repairs and maintenance to me is a waste of that time. I can afford to pay someone. The reason for not buying a boat now is not financial but other reasons.

 

[briangcc]

14-16' aluminum tiller boat with 9-20hp outboard. You'll find other uses for it besides fishing.

 

[JimS123]

Cost isn't a factor to me with annual maintenance. My time is more valuable than the cost it is. I simply don't have the time to do it, I have very limited free time anymore and spending it on boat repairs and maintenance to me is a waste of that time. I can afford to pay someone. The reason for not buying a boat now is not financial but other reasons.

I hear ya. Personally, I do my own maintenance for 2 reasons.

First, I am sure it is done right. Second, the routine stuff only takes half an hour. I can give up the half hour, but I can't stand the boat being in a repair shop lot for 3 weeks.

Nothing worse than finding the time to go boating, only to have it in the shop.