Advice on jetski purchase

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Batman

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#279905 16-Nov-2020 12:07

Wife wants me to look at jetskis ... not sure if we can afford one but I think I'll research them things!

The 3 brands i keep seeing are See Doo, Yamaha, Kawasaki ...

I found a brand new yamaha (3 person) from a distant dealer (north of north island vs south of south island) for half the price of the local dealer (10k vs 20-30k) ...

Any advice on these things appreciated!

Many thanks

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#2604694 16-Nov-2020 13:04

The key question is what you want to do with it. Fishing? Towed toys? hooning? Sightseeing? Lakes/Rivers/Ocean?

I have never owned one, but have been on rentals a few times. That said I have done heaps of boating.

If you are new to boating, you might be best to do a coastguard course (day skipper & vhf operator?). Boating is good fun, but you can run into trouble if you don't know what you are doing.

BTW the small size of jetski trailers makes them harder to reverse than larger trailers.

Budget for:

Safety gear (Rope, Waterproof VHF, Lifejacket(s), Waterproof bag for cell phone, Anchor?, baler, waterproof touch)
Insurance (if you are going to insure it)
Fuel (& oil if two stroke). - Note that at full power some of the flagship jetskis (i.e. Sea-Doo RXT-X RS 300) can use in the area of 95L/hr of high octane petrol. That one has a 70L fuel tank, so obviously you get less than an hour of running at full power. Of course that ski also does 130km/h at full power, and slowing down to something more reasonable will dramatically reduce fuel burn.
Wetsuits, spary jackets etc.

Consider:

Do you need a road trailer (if you live at the beach and are after a lighter ski, a beach trolley could surface.
What is the speed rating on the tires of the road trailer. Some have tiny tires with less than 90km/h speed ratings.
Do you need a "bucket" on the jet outlet - this essentially provides the ability to idle, and reverse. Without it there is no clutch in the drive line, so if the engine is running the ski is moving.
Is their enough storage space for the gear you want to carry - especially if you want to carry an anchor for safety.
Range - has it got a enough range to do what you want - note that you can carry tote tanks if you want to do an unusually long run like the length of Taupo.
Do you need nav lights. (might come home in the dark or at dusk?
2 stroke vs 4 stroke.
Where are you going to store it.

Personally I wouldn't be too concerned about buying a better used one to keep costs low, or to get into a more desirable model.

hsvhel

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#2604698 16-Nov-2020 13:09

^^Covered most of it off above.

We two years or so ago bought a sea-doo GTX 155. Used for light fishing and mainly hooning around with the kids.

Key factor on the Sea-doo over the Yamaha was the ease of reverse and the closed loop cooling instead of sea water on the yamaha equivalent

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MikeAqua

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#2604699 16-Nov-2020 13:10

Go 4-stroke. Quieter, cleaner, less fuel as tend to be newer.

Jet-Skis get thrashed. It's what they are for. Get the engines checked out - compression test and thermostat test.

Definitely get a road trailer. One of the great things at jet-skis is that they are portable. It's also good for them to run freshwater (clears salt out of cooling system).

Security is important - highly steal-able item.

Mike

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#2604770 16-Nov-2020 14:51

Thanks all. I'm reading all the tips posted.

It's for Freshwater for hooning around.

Batman

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#2604776 16-Nov-2020 14:54

hsvhel:
^^Covered most of it off above.

We two years or so ago bought a sea-doo GTX 155. Used for light fishing and mainly hooning around with the kids.

Key factor on the Sea-doo over the Yamaha was the ease of reverse and the closed loop cooling instead of sea water on the yamaha equivalent

What makes the ease or reverse? Is it the clutch as mentioned by Scott3?

MikeAqua

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#2604781 16-Nov-2020 14:58

Also I would suggest buying a jetski that has predominantly been used in freshwater if possible.

Mike

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#2604802 16-Nov-2020 15:35

"Wife wants me to look at jetskis ..."

Wife sounds like a very cool lady.

Megabyte - so geek it megahertz

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Scott3

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#2604805 16-Nov-2020 15:38

Batman: What makes the ease or reverse? Is it the clutch as mentioned by Scott3?

Jet boat / jet skis pritty much never have a gearbox or clutch. As such if the engine is running the impeller
is turning. Reverse is done (If fitted) by a scoop placed over the jet outlet to redirect the outlet flow forward under the craft. Assume some brands do this better than other's (better user interface?).

Should note that plenty of jetskis seem to do fine with no reverse capability. Approach the Beach / jetty at low speed and kill the engine at the right time. Turn the ski by hand before heading out etc. Especually if launching from a beach reverse may never or rarely get used. Can only start the engine when over about 600mm water depth to avoid sucking sand etc into the impeller. And once the engine is started might as well start heading out.

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#2604810 16-Nov-2020 15:45

Can I also be a fun sucker and suggest before you use a jet ski you learn the give way rules of the sea (if you don't know them already).

They are different from the road.

Mike

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#2604816 16-Nov-2020 15:54

what @MikeAqua said and I would add if you are going to buy a Jetski please, please, please don't be a dick. When we had our boats we had countless close shaves with dicks on Seadoos.

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#2604830 16-Nov-2020 16:13

MikeAqua:

Can I also be a fun sucker and suggest before you use a jet ski you learn the give way rules of the sea (if you don't know them already).

They are different from the road.

And the 200m/5kt speed limit.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

hsvhel

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#2604832 16-Nov-2020 16:14

Batman:
hsvhel:

^^Covered most of it off above.

We two years or so ago bought a sea-doo GTX 155. Used for light fishing and mainly hooning around with the kids.

Key factor on the Sea-doo over the Yamaha was the ease of reverse and the closed loop cooling instead of sea water on the yamaha equivalent

What makes the ease or reverse? Is it the clutch as mentioned by Scott3?

There is no neutral as such, its a constant propulsion out the back when the jets engaged you are going to go forward, the bucket has two options. reverse the flow back under the ski for reverse, or out the sides for a "neutral"

It will also dump down as a sea brake if needed, that works extremely well.

Tides/wind etc all factor in of course

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shrub

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#2604837 16-Nov-2020 16:24

Yamaha 4 stroke 3 seater the way to go if you just want a good learner ski. Plenty of power and stable as.

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#2604843 16-Nov-2020 16:35

MikeAqua:

Can I also be a fun sucker and suggest before you use a jet ski you learn the give way rules of the sea (if you don't know them already).

They are different from the road.

definitely will do that regardless i think - handy thing to know

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#2604845 16-Nov-2020 16:36

1024kb: "Wife wants me to look at jetskis ..."

Wife sounds like a very cool lady.

tried to get me sky diving and bungee jumping in the early days ...

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