Looking for reliable pwc - please comment

[Nate]

Hi,

Going to get my first PWC for the family (& me). Thinking about a 3 seater so I can tow, go shallow and have fun. I've got a shallow launch close to my house. Just looking for some advice.

Got my eye on a couple late 90's 3 seater Yamaha's. I've been told the 700 and 750 2 strokes are very reliable, true? Should I be more worried about the jet drive?

Also was also thinking about a 96? twin speedster. Sounds like a lot of fun but I don't want to burn a lot of gas and 2 motors/drives sounds like twice the problems.

I found a good used shop and guy will start and show the compression for the motors. Is there any other things to be looking for? Drive issues, how?

Thanks in advance,
Nate

 

[MikDee]

Re: Looking for reliable pwc - please comment

Hi Nate, Welcome to the forum. IMO those yamaha jet ski's are bulletproof, the general consensus is yamaha, & kawasaki, are the most reliable especially of the older models. Honda is a relative newcomer to the game, I don't know how good they are personally, but we all know honda quality. I picked up an old 96' yamaha waveventure 1100 3seater a few yrs ago, and I'm pretty happy with everything about it, and it has held up well so far, but it is a bit hard riding, it will beat you up in rough water, unless you just plod along, and you've gotta hold on tight at full speed, or it'll wanna toss you off in a chop.
If you're gonna be riding 2 up, or more, I'd suggest an 1100 or bigger motor, and a 3seater, rather then a 2 seater, By the way, the most important item when buying used is good compression, & even numbers across the cylinders. Good Luck Mike

 

[Nate]

Re: Looking for reliable pwc - please comment

Thanks for the reply Mike! Sounds like I'm on the right track with the Yamaha, but a bigger motor is a good idea.

 

[eaglejim]

Re: Looking for reliable pwc - please comment

I have a yamaha 650 "94" (I think) the manual says it is a 2 seater but mrs eagle and myself say it a 1 1/2 seater But like mikdee says it is a great engine.our is as strong as an ox

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Looking for reliable pwc - please comment

i totally agree on Yamaha, stay away from sea don'ts.

 

[ejnichol]

Re: Looking for reliable pwc - please comment

I have to agree on Yamaha. Great motors.

I have a '91 WRIII 650. Just rebuilt carb because of dying out after long idle thru canals. Fortunately it fixed problem. I don't know how long this motor is suppose to last before rebuild, but this ones been impressive! Always used best oil and try to run fuel out of carb before prolonged off time. Remember to change fuel filters and plugs regularly. THis is not the most comfortable hull design for 6'3" guy but it fun on short trips and pulling tubes. Have had to replace steering cable, choke cable and throttle. The reverse cable finally died this weekend. It was overdue as it was rusted thru exterior vinyl casing.

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Looking for reliable pwc - please comment

yami or kawi hands down
they have the best dealer networks around

 

[liquidlew]

Re: Looking for reliable pwc - please comment

I concur with everyone previously. Yamaha is #1 on the water! I own 3 mid 90's Waventures and they are tons of fun and super reliable, never had a breakdown, unlike many Seadoodoo's. I don't like to gloat or rag on anyone who owns one of those but I can't count how many times I've assisted or towed some poor sap on a Seadoo, and I'm not making it up! Plus, I have a brother in law who has a 96 XP and a 97 GTX. He always has trouble with one or both, usually only one wants to work at a time, and 3 years ago the GTX blew the motor for no apparent reason (actually some wierd part broke and killed the whole motor) and it only had around 120 hrs. at the time. I have 2 701 cc's and one 1100cc. I love the power of the 1100, but it gets mighty thirsty, and with gas at over $4 a gal., well, you better go water that $ tree in your back yard, cuz it's pretty hard not to ride that thing WOT, and the 1100 will get you 1.1 hrs at WOT compared to 1.5 hrs. for the 701. Food for thought. Also, the Ventures have 13 gal tanks, your model may or may not be larger.

 

[flipjoe]

Re: Looking for reliable pwc - please comment

i have two kawi a 95 and 99 they have been very reliable never let me down i would recommend them, i have heard alot of bad things about seadoos.

 

[enginesilo]

Re: Looking for reliable pwc - please comment

I've owned Seadoo's, and friends owned Yahama's. If I had to buy again I would probably shop Yamaha. Something about them I like, and they are rock solid.

 

[11dingleberies]

Re: Looking for reliable pwc - please comment

I had a seadoo 2 stroke 2001 gti 85 hps for 4 years which i bought used. didn't know how many hours when i bought nor when i sold it. Cleaned it well changed jet pump oil three times. never left me stranded I use to ride it from port everglades Ft lauderdale to South beach 30 mile trip one way at least twice a month and never had a problem. rode my friend 4 stroke yamaha the other day got the same speed but the difference was a saturn to a lexus. what a beatiful ride made the seadoo feel like crap when comparing

 

[Nate]

Re: Looking for reliable pwc - please comment

Thanks guys!

I ended up getting a 95 yamaha wave venture, I actually split on a matching pair with a buddy. It's only got 140 hrs on it (if that's true??) and is in pretty decent shape. I bought some marine tex and patched up a couple bumps below the water line.

It's got the 701 motor, which I hear is rock solid and is in a lot of different models. The motor has 145 psi on each cylinder and seems to run pretty good. I'm having some cavitating issues, but I'm going to start another thread about that.

 

[liquidlew]

Re: Looking for reliable pwc - please comment

140 hrs. is just getting broken in, and thats probably accurate if the display hasn't been changed. I have a 95 and a 96 WVT 701s, both solid and reliable, approx 340 hrs. on the 96, still going strong. 145 compression in both cyls is excellent. Stock psi is 150 on the 701 in the Venture.