What's the TOYOTA of jetski's?

[Yota Up]

I know absolutely nothing about jetskis.

I want to buy one this winter(prices are lower).

I want one that can take a beating.  It would be great if I could drive this thing right up on shore and scratch the hell out of it.  I want to be able to jump a wave and come down HARD.  And then I want it to keep on going...

Oh, and just like a Yota, I don't want to pay much for it either.

Any advice out there?  Price ranges, models, years I should be after?

(Someone please have an answer like:  1985 Toyota 4x4 : $1500-$2000)

[prang11]

With skis, the more you pay the more reliable it will be.  Jet skis are very tempermental, especially if they are modified.  The basic rule is find one with the largest motor (dont buy anything under a 650cc) in your price range and make sure to look the hule over very well.  Cracks in the hule are BAD!!!

[prang11]

Just buy a new Super Jet, man those things are awsome.

[Talon84x4]

Find a super jet, yamaha. We've got a 97 that was previously a race ski for 2500 if I remember correctly. It can go faster than you want to  . Jumps great and keeps on going, even on the hard landings, subs great too.

Don't think i'd run one up onto a beach, unless it was just sand, and even then i'd cut the engine before i got too shallow, otherwise you're going to dammage things, sucking junk into the engine and the impeller.

As well as watching for cracks, check seals too, if your hatch doesn't seal well and you flip it you could be in trouble. As well as the impeller housing, around the exhaust, etc. Ground wires have also seemed to be a good thing to check, could save you a lot of $ replacing things that aren't bad.

Hope this helps a little, good luck on your search.

[red]

i work at a powersports dealer (motorcycles, jet ski's, atv's) and there is one thing you need to know. nomatter which brand you go, get something thats older, mid-late 90's is the best year range to go if you want something that is cheap to maintain, easy to maintain, looks good, and cheap to buy.

you buy anything 2000+ expect it to spend more time in the shop than being used. even if you do the work yourself (polaris is a MAJOR pain in the ass) expect it to be worked on more than played, keeping great maintainance on the new ones takes quite a while, and like other mechanical things, you neglect it you pay for it big time.

main things to look for:
1. hull damage (duh!!)
2. if its a 2 cycle (all older ones are) that they put the 2 cycle oil into its reservoir, you'd be surprised how many people forget to do that (most jet ski's have their own reservoir for the oil and mix it so you dont have to)
3. ask if it has EVER been run out of the water, if so, how long? any more than 10 seconds (and thats pushing it) then walk away.
4. see if you can fire it up.
5. check the standard stuff. oil, air filter, look at the impeller (very important to check)

most jet ski's (i'm talking sit down style, not stand up) can make 50mph or higher, only way to go faster than that you will have to have perfectly calm water, no wake at all or expect to crash (alotta fun at that speed though).

[red]

1. yamaha is great but kinda pricy when it comes to parts
2. 90's era polaris's are not the fastest but reliable and decent price for parts. these are also not as big of a pain to work on. very user friendly on the water because the hull is almost flat, means a harsher landing and with hard high speed turns you will bounce across the water sometimes.
3. honda is cheap for parts, usually reliable, and easy to work on
4. sea doo, usually reliable, fast if you only have 1 person on it, decent prices on parts, not the most user friendly on the water (deep v hull for a jet ski) takes some time to get used to it but once you know how to handle it provides you with the best handleing.

[kneedownnate]

Don't think i'd run one up onto a beach, unless it was just sand, and even then i'd cut the engine before i got too shallow, otherwise you're going to dammage things, sucking junk into the engine and the impeller.

Ditto times 10!  People seem to think they can just beach them, but it's so frickin easy to suck crap in the jet pump, and very labor intensive to remove said junk.  I'd go kawi 550, or even look for a 440 with a bigger engine in it.  Sit down, can't really suggest one over the other, but steer clear of polaris.  Find a cheap honda, preferrably with the turbo, and ride the crap outa it.

[Talon84x4]

Is he looking at stand ups or sit downs. 

We had 550's first, what got us hooked, two and a trailer for $900. Were a lot of fun to mess around on. Especially for the price.

Now we've got a super jet, and two sea doos. All of them haul  . Jump great too. Guess the need for speed got to us. 

[kneedownnate]

I'd also recommend steering clear of cheap sea doos.  There's a good reason they're cheap. 

[Yota Up]

I think a sit-down would be best.  It would be pretty mean of my to make the girl struggle and hold onto the back of a stand-up while I'm on the gas.  She's already fallen out of my truck once, and has a 12.5" BFG MUD imprint on her leg for it...  Seriously, she's fine and we laugh about it.

A sit down it is.  I figure winter is a good time to pick one up, so I'll be looking around.  Thanks fellas.