personal watercraft?

Looked at Yahmaha Waverunners today.
Anyone own one of these things, or Kawasaki or Polaris?
Are they great fun or does the fun wear off real fast? Is upkeep much work? Are they easy to learn to use? Are they safe or are they an accident looking for a place to happen? Who makes the best ones?
Reccomendations and stories appreciated.

k

 

I don't know much about them, but I had neighbors at one point that had a couple. They raced them on the weekends. It also seemed like they spent more time working on them than their cars.

Ox

 

I've never owned one but one of my neighbors swears by them. Personally I prefer a nice boat, you can take your friends along and have room for gear too. Plus if you enjoy river boating you can really go places. With a jet ski your range is really limited and so is the amount of gear you can carry.

Like any machine, used carelessly they can be deadly. If you get one wait untill you are finished riding for the day before you drink your beer.

 

As a guy I know calls them....water maggots.....I terribly dislike them. I too prefer a good boat and a calm lake to ski on, not one that has been churned up beyond recognition by idiots on their jet skis. Ya, I'm a little overzealous in my hate for them, but any waterskier can share in my distaste when they hit wake left by one. Go for a boat..unless you have no friends that you would want to spend time with. With new jet skis starting at anywhere from $4,500 to 10 grand...invest in a decent boat, you'll enjoy it more. Just my 2 1/2 cents.

 

My husband had a Polaris waverunner for several years. He only got rid of it after they (him & his brother) sold the boat. We were just getting into drag racing & starting a family so we never made it out to the water except maybe twice a year.

Anyways, we both loved riding that around on it. Sometimes I wish we still had it. When that urge hits we head to my sister's boat & hang out.

 

I have access to 'the family' late model Sea-Doo 3 man GTX

Nice ride, it's more of a toy than something that I'd use though.

It's fun but, I haven't even had it out in a year+.

RP

 

Working at a marina, I think I can offer (and back up) some opinions on PWC's. First, they're fun - if you're riding one. Everybody else will hate you - including every law enforcement official out there. Second, the fun lasts for a fairly short period of time because they're just not too good in rough water. (They are however a great way to loose those extra inches - from your spine.) Third, they have the approximate resale value of used tampons. Ever see what people do to those things? We stopped renting them 3 years ago after we picked one rental up (off the bottom of the lake) 4 times in one summer. Finally, they're an absolute pain to work on - no matter who makes them. So, do you really want on now?

 

I used to have one, had a blast until I got a ticket and sold it. But if you have the $, I would pick one up.

 

Do yourself a favor and get a Sea Doo. I had two of them for awhile and no problems other than normal wear and tear, plus they are quick. If you take it out into salt water, flush it out...things like that.

I know people with different manufacturers' skis. Yamaslows had a problem of being unstable and nosediving into the water. I don't know if they figured that one out yet. Three separate guys I know had engines replaced on the Kawacrappies. One guy is on his 4th engine. He had to take them to court about it and didn't have the ski for a long time. Another guy rode the ski for less than one hour before the engine blew. Also, my 94 SPX's (720cc) beat the 1100cc Kawacrappies every time.

Being a boat owner, jet skis and the people that ride them are real annoying. Always throwing up too much wake, never paying attention...blah blah blah

Being a jet ski owner, they are fun as long as you have somebody to ride with just like a motorcycle. And I am not talking about on the back of your's. You need to have a friend who has their own who can ride with you and then they are a lot of fun. I sold mine a a couple years ago but I would get two more in a second.

 

i have a '96 kawasaki, and im looking to get another pwc. personally i love them, but like someone mentioned, its a fun toy if youre by yourself, its not something thats good to go out with people (unless they have their own). i only have experiences with kawasaki and yamaha, and i can tell you first-hand that they are both quality pwc's (at least the ones ive owned...no trouble with either one in 8 years). maintenance is minimal, theyre 2 stroke engines so you just fill up the gas tank and the oil tank everytime you go out and youre good to go. as long as you take care of them and flush the engine after every use, they'll last forever. every now and then change the spark plugs and thats about all the maintenance they require. i love my pwc, BUT if youre looking for something to go out with and have fun with friends, then you would definitely be better off going with a nice boat. hope this helps, if you got any questions about them just ask

 

I purchased a 1994 Yamaha new, I still have it and love it. I always flushed the engine with fresh water after every saltwater use, spray the engine down with silicone spray after every use. Spark plugs twice a year, and some grease points every few months. It has never let me down or left me stranded, we use it at least two times a month (except in the chilly months). Still runs very strong. Only problem was a dried out oil line that I catched early before it blew (always inspect often for safety) and I got a new carb after 8 years, since it was getting a little hard to start after sitting three weeks.
My wife and I love to cruise around, picnic, eat at restaurants on the water. The fun has not worn off after 9 years.

Just need to pay attention and watch around you. Keep a safe distance from eveybody else. Use common sense. We also have a 99 Boston Whaler with a Yamaha outboard. Yamaha knows their marine engines, I would not by anything else (except MAYBE Honda).

My Boat Insurance is $250/year for the Whaler and $900 / year for the Waverunner. PWCs are kinda pricey like motorcycle insurance.

Check here for some info.
http://www.pwccentral.com

Some pics of my toys.

 

Thanks to all who have replied so far...

GASGUZZLER007...How the heck do you get a ticket on such a craft?

The thought at the moment is this...my friend and I each are thinking of getting one, so it would be the two of us running around.

The nearest water is the ocean, and Santa Monica Bay isn't exactly the smoothest so that would have to be taken into consideration. (About 6 years ago my assistant...a young wild kid...used to ride his pwc from the Palos Verdes/Long Beach area to Catalina Island. That's 26 miles through some seriously choppy water. Everytime I mention this to folks familiar with PWCs their jaws drop. ) With that in mind - and being in the middle of a midlife crisis and thinking of doing such foolish things - the bright idea of getting a pwc has been in my head since spring. Sounds like it may be no fun in the ocean waves though....
Will have to give this serious consideration (especially since my friend is even older than I and not especially fond of discomfort...he even bitches about the ride of the L on the freeways)

 

I can tell you that being in the ocean is scary. We normally ride on the Intercoastal waterway on Barnegat Bay. Barnegat Bay is over 20 miles long and real shallow. The deepest parts are near the inlets and only around 15 feet deep.

When you get in the ocean, you quickly realize that you better not fall off this machine, because getting back on is real tough. There's something to say about how deep it is and the current that would carry the machine away. Last year a bunch of friends took our machines in the ocean and rode close to shore where the waves were breaking. We would point towards the ocean and just before a wave was going to break (when it was at it's largest), give it throttle and jump it. The entire machine would be out of the water and perpendicular to the water. When the machine landed, it would land the same way, the rear end into the water first which cushioned the landing. That was prolly the sickest thing I've done on one. I don't know if I would have the ***** to do that anymore. When the day was over nobody could believe what we had done because it was not planned at all. I just wish we had a camera.

Good Luck!

 

Take it from someone in a boating family, they are great. We have had tons of boats, which are great for piling a bunch of friends in and going out for the day, but if you buy a jet-ski, bringing 10 of your friends with you should not be your motive. I dont have problems with people hating me, but then again, I ride 500 ft away from boats...some people get way too close. I agree that they are MORE fun with people. Having buds that own ski is a ball, you can chase each other around & wake-whip the sanity out of them when they fall off. BUT, if ya got alot of fe-male friends, its a great girl magnet. When I go out around here, I call a few girls I know & just say, "Goin' to the lake, if you & your friends get bored, c'mon out & we'll ride". Next thing you know, five girls show up in their bikinis and lay out in the sun, while you take each of them for a ride one-by-one.. LOTS of fun to be had there... Not to mention while I was out alone I have been pulled over by boats and had girls I dont know ask..."Can you take me for a ride?.." So always bring x-tra life vests.. In the long run, boats do rock, but jet-skis have PLENTY of benefits.. When was the last time you wiped out on your boat, and had to swim around with the girl your with and then "help" her back on.... yup, definetly worth it... plus just laying out on them & soaking up sun is fun too, and big water ROCKS! And you can take them shallow places that boats would need to get towed out of, allowing some really great scenery, and calm waters since those "annoying" boaters cant go there...lol...j/k..good luck dude, & be safe...


PENELOPE & "THE WETSPOT"

JUST "THE WETSPOT"

 

I have a Yamaha GP1200 and I love it!!!

My hubby has an older and slower Sea Doo XP

We love them!! If you have a place to take them, they are a blast!! I would never give mine up!!!


Good luck