Waverunner: questions and concerns

I own two Sea-Doos and enjoy them. However, I live on a lake. I don’t know if I would use them much if I did not have a lake place. I also don’t like riding on the back of one while someone else drives. This means that I would rather take it out on my own and then let the next person drive it. Unlike a full size boat, it is hard to spend the day out on one without having a place to relax and sip a drink. (Remember any carbonated beverage will be shaken up to the extreme if stored on the boat) As a result, I feel it is almost a necessity to have a base on the lake to really enjoy them. They are called personal watercraft for a reason.

Your family’s enjoyment of the boat may also depend on the conditions of the lake where you are planning to use the boat. If the water is very rough then those with a back condition may not enjoy the experience. I know that many Sea-Doos have two key types with one being like a valet key which will not allow the boat to exceed a preset speed. I don’t know if other manufacturers offer this feature, but it is very good to have for kids and inexperienced riders. It is my understanding that most accidents happen within the first few hours of a driver’s operation of a PWC. PWC’s are not dangerous, but because of their perceived ease of operation and their maneuverability, inexperienced drivers can get themselves in trouble quickly. Also owners who would be reluctant to let a novice take out their $50,000.00 ski boat have no problem handing over the key to their PWC with little or no instruction on their proper use. The biggest problem is that people like to ride them close to other PWC’s or other objects and when you combine this with the fact that when an inexperienced rider gets in trouble their natural reaction is to get off the gas. The problem with that is that the boats turn via the trust of water exiting the nozzle in the rear. When people get off the gas and turn the handlebars nothing happens absent the thrust which is necessary to turn the boat and they usually coast right into the object they are trying to avoid. Drivers need to know that gas is their friend.

I suggest that before you buy one find a location near your area and rent one. If you are going to buy only one and share it, then rent only one and see how it works out. My Sea-Doos are 8 years old now so they are not really reflective of the current product, especially the newer heavier 4 cycle products. In the past many recommended the Yamaha products because of their reliability and others liked the Sea-Doos due to their design and performance. Because many people buy them with great expectations of use and then finally sell them when they realize they are not using it as much as they planned, you should be able to find a PWC with low hours.

They can definitely be a great deal of fun and I would highly recommend a PWC to someone who understands both its advantages and its limitations. Good luck.

 

I have only rented them and they are a blast. It is interesting to read this thread after just hearing about the Patriots player that just died in a jet ski accident.

 

He died down here in Lake Ponchartrain. He wasn't wearing a life vest. You need to always be wearing them on the PWCs. That lake can get rough really quick as it is pretty shallow. I've seen it change in ten minutes from almost still to being really rough.

 

I have been knocked silly a couple of times where I cant find the surface and just let my life jacket pull me to the top I will never go without one on a jet ski. A wave runner is easier for beginers, but I still rock my jacket when im on them. Stand up style pwc's are really the way to go in my eyes, but for a the whole fam to use, id say go with a wave runner.

 

Have fun Mike!

Here is a thought for you - buy a dock in Racine Wsiconsin! A dock runs about 15k, and its less than 45 minutes away. Much better than hauling the jetski around each weekend. My wife and I were thinking about doing this. They are building million dollar homes and condos all over the waterfront here, but dock prices haven't moved.

In regards to liability, doesn't your home owners/umbrella coverage cover you???

 

I've owned Jet Skis and Sea Doos off and on for the last 10+ years, and agree with most of what you've been told. I'd worry more about finding a ski that's been cared for, than the total hours. I'd agree that a 3 seater is the way to go if you're going to use it for a whole family (or 2). Also, don't discount the danger factor. I was riding mine on Sunday at full throttle, and hit a wave that threw me so high that I closed my eyes coming down. I knew it was going to hurt when I hit, and it did. I was so stiff that night that I could hardly climb stairs! 50 mph is VERY fast on the water.

I have a house on a lake, and I see Sea Doo's 2 to 1 over any other brand. Maybe 3 to 1. I don't know if that's any kind of endorsement, but all those people can't be wrong.

 

A seadoo is a good pwc and so is a yamaha. How much horse are you looking for as well as speed? Seadoo makes a great supercharged 3 seater as well as many other pwc's. Are you gonna use it for skiing, tubing, and other water sports? I have been thrown off at 60mph and yes it does hurt the water feels like a brick wall at that speed.

 

I have a house on a lake in PA and currently own 3 jet skis - 2 Sea Doos and a Honda. They are both good brands. One previous poster mentioned that he sees Sea Doos 3-1 vs other brands and I'd say it might be even more. For that reason, it is easier to find a mechanic with experience working on Sea Doos than any of the other brands. Regarding the hours, don't worry about the hours, but just be sure they've been taken care of. These things get thrown around, thrashed and abused, but almost never die. They are very dependable with minimal maintenance.

As with most fun, fast toys, common sense can avoid a lot of danger. Curiously, common sense seems to be very uncommon with jet ski riders. In Pennsylvania, you need a boating safety certification card in order to ride a jet ski. That is NOT a requirement to drive a boat, by the way. There's information value in that fact. I'd say definitely get one, learn the rules of the water and take a safety course if you're not already a boater, use the Sea Doo Learning Key (limits the RPMs electronically - great feature with young riders too) until you get comfortable handling the craft, and then have fun. The really are great machines.

Disclosure: I am a very experienced rider, but accidents still do happen. I hit a big wave a bit off angle, was thrown off the ski, and it landed on my head necessitating 8 stitches. Always wear a life jacket. Lost a darn nice pair of Oakleys in that incident too! Have fun, be safe, use common sense. -Brian

 

I hope you had the kill switch lanyard attached to your wrist when you were thrown. A PFD, I believe, is mandatory in our State.

I'm sure you know this but, as a word of caution to others, Jet Skis have little or no steering without power. Never shut down to avoid collision. Power down and steer away.

Everybody should take the safe boating course from either USPS or Coast Guard Auxiliary regardless of boat type, power or use. We've already lost two very foolish people on the Susquehanna already this year.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to horn in on your post.

 

Is that not the law in LA? If not, it should be.

 

Yeah, each person must wear a flotation device to be legal but not all people do.

 

Thanks, Ike. Either the LA police are not doing their job or the offenders should memorize the theme from M*A*S*H, "Suicide Is Nice." No educated and qualified boater would ever condone not wearing a PFD on a PWC.

 

I bought a Kawasaki ZXi 750 as a college graduation present for myself years and years ago. I found myself not using it as often as I thought that I would (in Michigan you are never really that far from water). It sorta got to be a pain in the butt putting it in and taking it out. The second year that I owned it I split well rental with a friend of mine at a local marina. That was easier as I didn't have to put it in and take it out all the time, but keeping the slime off the bottom of the hull became a much larger pain. I sold it after the third season of ownership and bought a motorcycle...ain't summer toys great.

Bottom line, if I had a place on the lake with a PWC lift I'd own one again. Until then I'll remain PWC free.

 

Thought that the title was "Suicide is Painless".

 

I was just at the local BMW/Kawasaki dealer getting a new tire for a Beemer. I noticed that the posted labor rates for PWC are about 20% higher ($110/hour) than for motorcycles.

 

I think you is right!

 

I would say a perfect jetski for you is a late model Seadoo GTX limited. They come with 215hp but for the older ones that dont have an intercooler they came with IIRC 185hp. It is a supercharged machine so a smaller pulley to make it go faster wouldnt be that much work. IMO it would be alot funner to have one 2 seater such as a XP DI and a 3 seater like the GTX. We have owned many different kinds (Honda,Seadoo,Yamaha,etc) but IMO the Seadoo is the nicest but they are all great machines. What ever one you will pick you will love, they are just to much fun.