New to the sport

[jaygel320]

I'm looking to buy my first waverunner, and I was wondering if anybody had any suggestions about what to look for. I'm looking for something used, maybe 1995-2000, to break into it and then maybe look to upgrade sometime down the line. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[fesenjoon]

Re: New to the sport

I have a pair of '99 Yamaha GP760s and I think they're great for the first-time jet skier.

Plenty of power, seats two, comfortable, they handle well, have a few bells and whistles, but not too many, and you can find them for pretty cheap.

Yamahas have been known to last for basically ever, especially in saltwater. Maintenance is easy, and likewise, servicing them is also easy.

As with anything, though, the newer the better. Look for something with low engine hours, and make sure to check the engine compartment for signs of corrosion or exhaust leaks. While these are not inherently bad, they can be signs of future problems.

Also, after every ride, make sure to connect a hose to the valve, turn on the engine, then turn on the water, let the engine run at idle for about 3-5 minutes, disconnect the water, and then cycle the throttle for about 15-20 seconds to get all the water out of your cooling system.

Finally, after each ride, spray down the inside of your engine compartment with WD-40. It keeps everything in tip-top shape, prevents corrosion, and keeps it looking shiny (e.g. helps resale value!)

Have fun!

 

[jaygel320]

Re: New to the sport

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it!

 

[Rob454]

Re: New to the sport

Look for a yamaha or kawasaki. Sea doos are problematic and Polaris and Tigershark are no longer selling jet skis so parts are gonna be harder to find.
yamahas tend to run forever but so do kawis. i prefer yamahas. No real reason I jsut liek them better. Look for stock or near stock skis. modified ones can be trouble unless you know how to work on them. Usually stock skis dont give you the problems modded ones do.
You can look for Waveventures Raider or GP series. The GP series handle way better than the Raiders but the Waveventures handle really well and if you get the 1100s they run good and have plenty of power Whichever you buy one thing I can suggest is buy the biggest CC motor you can afford. Youll want the extra power later on if you go for the entry level then even if you mod them youll barely get the performance the bigger 1100-1200 motors offer and if you mod a smaller motor youll over work it and end up with a ski that needs constant maintenance.
Rob