Jetski Advice
Submitted by Bruce on Sat, 2013-10-05 18:42
Hey guys,
in the next couple of months I will be looking at getting a Jetski, but I'm not really sure what to look for apart from wanting a 3 seater. Will spend up to $10k. Used mainly for watersports but want to be able to have a bit of a fish off it too. Which models are the better ones and what hp/year ski would be ideal for that budget? Also what maintenance is required apart from washing and flushing after use?
Cheers
psion
Posts: 424
Date Joined: 15/05/12
Let the war begin
Mate
i'd suggest you chat to the boys at Jetpower (check the website), they have rigged out 3 of us with skies.
Best Ski :- that is up to you, I don't believe there are bad ski's made. Seadoo, Kawa, jammy are all good skis, I have the 2012 jammy fx cruiser and can't fault it.
If you want a fishing platform-general purpose machine then i'd recommend the following:
engine:- 4 stroke engine, ( but not the turbo). A turbo tends to chew fuel.
Power:- anything over 120 hp will get you where you want to be.
Hull:- find one that is stable and can offer a dryer ride (no jetski will keep you dry, some are just better at it than others)
Also get the bigest ski you can, (for stability) Yamaha used to make an SUV up to 2004, but they weren't imported here. They were absolute monsters and ideal for fishing.
Age:- for 10000 your are looking at 2008-2010 model
Then make sure it is reliable with low hours.
anyway, my 2c worth.
chookc
Posts: 442
Date Joined: 07/01/10
CHECK OUT THE NEW SEAdoo spark.
jus t released and the three seater new is under 10000
Bruce
Posts: 527
Date Joined: 11/04/12
Cheers Psion yeah I don't
Cheers Psion yeah I don't know why but i'd prefer a Yammy or Seadoo for some reason. I have been on gumtree and have seen quite a few Yamaha FXHO's? and Seadoo RXP's around for the 8-10k range but will ask at the Mandurah Boat Show next weekend and hopefully get some (unbaised) advice from the Yamaha and Jetpower mob!
Chookc I think I almost fell off the chair when I saw that!! Have been on youtube and google they are quite light (200kg) and have a 90hp so I wonder how different the ride would be to a more standard ski around 350kg. Still going to check it out! Cheers
Shane O
Posts: 926
Date Joined: 22/01/10
Seadoo
Have got a seadoo GTI 130, you can get them for 16k brand new including trailer. It's a 3 sweater and has plenty of room in the boot for fishing gear, has a glove box. Plenty of room for rod holders etc. love it just waiting for the weather to warm up.
Fridays jet skis will be at the boat show, should pop in and see them.
Bruce
Posts: 527
Date Joined: 11/04/12
Yeah i could probably pick
Yeah i could probably pick up a second hand model but what i've noticed is there is so many different models with different horsepower configurations!
What top speed can you get with the 130? I will see the Jetski reps and see what they have to offer. Pretty keen to see the 2 seater Seadoo Spark with the 90hp HO that can get 80km/h, probably not the fastest you will see but may be a good deal with a trailer, rego, life jacket for $9700.
Shane O
Posts: 926
Date Joined: 22/01/10
80km
That's what I get would not want anymore than that anyway, fall off at that speed any your are in a bit of trouble..
psion
Posts: 424
Date Joined: 15/05/12
80km\h is more than fast
80km\h is more than fast enough, I start to get jittery at 70 and generally don't go over 55 unless it is really flat. (but then I'm an old fart)
Bruce
Posts: 527
Date Joined: 11/04/12
Yeah i suppose 80km is quite
Yeah i suppose 80km is quite quick and seems even faster then on land
A couple of these wouldn't be too bad. The first GTX looks the best IMO but the second would be quicker. From what i understand one is for cruising and the other for performance
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/leda/jet-skis/2010-seadoo-gtx-155-ibr-s3-hull-rotex-engine-ready-for-summer/1025703596
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/swan-area/jet-skis/seadoo-jetski-gtx-ltd-215hp/1029119125
My only concern is that every jetski I look at would've been flogged hard at high RPM and thats where problems arise (over time), but thats what they are for I guess.
Cheers fellas
psion
Posts: 424
Date Joined: 15/05/12
My Jetski is classed as a
My Jetski is classed as a cruiser and not a performance ski. It will still do 90 km/h if it has to but is cheaper on fuel, depending on your technical ability I would look for one from a dealer who offers a 12 month warranty,
beau
Posts: 4104
Date Joined: 24/01/10
Dont worry about "cruiser
Dont worry about "cruiser skis" not being "performance" skis, on the water, they all go fast enough, some just get there quicker. Ive been fishing from my Yamaha FXHO 160HP for 5 years now and during summer we quite often put the skis in the water and just go for a fang around. We do A LOT of towing/skiing, mostly just pullin surfboards and bodyboards around. When we only had the one ski we sometimes had 3 blokes on the ski while towing two blokes behind. One of my mates bought a 260hp Seadoo, great rig for watersports, super quick, scary acceleration, tail whips like a beast, sounds awesome, but absolutely chews the fuel especially when you start towing someone out the back. I can pretty much fish where I legally can around metro and have not have to plan a trip around how much fuel i'll have left whereas with my mates supercharged you would have to plan your trips wisely.
Bruce
Posts: 527
Date Joined: 11/04/12
I get ya
Spoke to Stewie from Jetpower at the show, asked him heaps of questions and got recommendations. He said he something ideal for me would be a VX Cruiser (or similar). He likened it to a land-cruiser of Jetskis. 110hp will still do 90km/h apparently and will get 7 hours he said from a 60L tank. Supercharged like the FZ? will get 4 hours of use. He said if i wanted to do watersports the FZ doesn't have a tow point and is only a 2 seater. He also said the VX is ideal for fishing with its large platform out the back and showed me some pictures of his mates fishing off a ski too which was great. I am pretty keen on that second hand one from his yard in Wangarra.
http://www.jetpower.com.au/Content/ee790__vx_dlx_09 Also comes with 12 months warranty with is good
Seadoo spark is good for a toy but has nothing on the features of other skis like the dash, storage and size. I will stick with a bigger one like a Cruiser
Thanks
psion
Posts: 424
Date Joined: 15/05/12
Good Choice
My mate fishes of one, good ski
snuffs
Posts: 140
Date Joined: 06/08/12
sent you a PM Bruce. Have one
sent you a PM Bruce. Have one that would suit your needs that I am willing to part with for a cheap (less than market value) price. Just doesn't get used anymore. Let me know either way via email/PM.
Bruce
Posts: 527
Date Joined: 11/04/12
Does anyone know much about
Does anyone know much about Seadoo GTI or GTI SE particularly around the 2007-09 models?
Shane O
Posts: 926
Date Joined: 22/01/10
Rotax engine
Have a GTI 130 2013 has a rotax engine, uses unleaded fuel. No water gets in the engine, uses coolant to keep engine cool. Easy to maintain and clean.
beau
Posts: 4104
Date Joined: 24/01/10
My mate who owns a seadoo
My mate who owns a seadoo that I mentioned above has the same engine setup as OL YELLA mentioned. Hes just got it back from seadoo after somehow the ski started to pump seawater into the engine, absolutely killing it. 8k worth of damage luckily covered by warranty still. Now the ski has a tell-tale like the yammys do on the back where water squirts out while the motor is running. Not sure exactly what they've changed mechanical wise maybe give seadoo in Redcliffe a call and ask if they know anything about it and if its a common problem I think they were the ones that dealt with it
Moking
Posts: 1252
Date Joined: 30/05/12
You could have a look at
You could have a look at this Yamaha WaveRunner.
I'm not connected in anyway with the advert,but it looks in good condition,maybe make an offer on it.
They are good reliable ski's.
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/noranda/jet-skis/2009-yamaha-waverunner-fxho/1029752253
My Dad taught me how to Fish-Thanks Dad.(RIP)
Shane O
Posts: 926
Date Joined: 22/01/10
Older seadoo
Think the older seadoo models have a tell-tale, think you also modify the newer ones to do the same.
Bruce
Posts: 527
Date Joined: 11/04/12
Cheers guys,I do like the
Cheers guys,
I do like the closed loop system but its no good if sea water starts to get in there. I'll ring up seadoo and see if they have any guidance or info on the GTI or GTI SE models because i don't want a supercharged ski like the RXP's etc. <2010 Yammys are too expensive for my budget unfortunately :(
I'm just trying to work out whether a 2007 jetski is considered 'old' and how many hours are acceptable on a ski of that age
I'll keep yas updated could pick up one this coming weekend
Cheers
beau
Posts: 4104
Date Joined: 24/01/10
Be intersting to know what
Be intersting to know what kind of hours you're seeing on the ~07-08 skis advertised? Ive just ticked over 300 in my 08 and still going strong
Bruce
Posts: 527
Date Joined: 11/04/12
As low as 33 and up to about
As low as 33 and up to about 120 hours. Having boats for as long as I've lived I know that's nothing for an outboard but a jetski may be different. I'm thinking only 30 hours over 6 years means lack if use and that's when problems may come. One major difference between yam and seadoo is the large platform off the back that yam has but seadoo doesn't. Makes it hard to put an esky or tackle on the back of the GTI.
theres a 2008 GTI Se 155 on gumtree with 89 hours for $8250 which includes tow biscuits and life jackets and after having a look around I reckon that's a reasonable price depending on its condition.
Grant Jones
Posts: 91
Date Joined: 17/08/13
I own a seadoo rxpx 260hp.
I own a seadoo rxpx 260hp. It's a supercharged model and as others have already mentioned if you are fanging around in sport mode it uses a lot of juice. Put it in Eco mode and it's extremely good on the juice. I fish off mine , it has a 60lL tank, it's more than enough fuel for a day out. Most of the time I hardly put a dent in it. The other issues mentioned with regards to sea water being introduced into the engine and a tell tale added at the back like a Yamaha is caused by inter cooler failure. Seadoos have a closed loop cooling system that cools the engine but seawater is used to cool the inter cooler and the exhaust. In the case beau mentioned, the inter cooler failed and had a small leak which would have introduced seawater into the intake instead if just cooled air. The tell tale you now see installed on that ski is actually a vent coming from the inter cooler. It has been put there to release a bit of pressure as well as aid with flushing and preventing an air pocket forming in the inter cooler after flushing, resulting in corrosion and eventually a leak.
That said, the rotax 4 tec engine has been around for a long time and is a good motor. Pic a 130hp without a charger or cooler if the previous stories scare you. I picked seadoos top of the range performance ski because at the end of the day it it a jet ski, not a boat. I'm glad I did, because once you see how much fun these things are you will love the power. I fish off it as well as play on it. However if I was to buy a ski for the sole purpose of fishing then a Yamaha cruiser would be my choice.
uncleben
Posts: 187
Date Joined: 06/01/09
my brother has a yammy for
my brother has a yammy for sale... not sure on specs but can find out if your interested. He is in bunbury.
Bruce
Posts: 527
Date Joined: 11/04/12
PM me through Fishwrecked
PM me through Fishwrecked the details when you get the chance
Cheers
chookc
Posts: 442
Date Joined: 07/01/10
Low hours on
Low hours on an older molder ski are not the best either as it means the ski has done a lot of sitting and not being used. If the owner doesn't take extra care in these case more harm than good can be done...
Ski needs to run to lube the internals. If the ski is not fogged before sitting for extended periods moisture in the engine bay can do all sorts of damage. Always store with the seat off or cracked open and front hood open so air can flow thru..
Bruce
Posts: 527
Date Joined: 11/04/12
Thanks for all the advice,
Thanks for all the advice, Just letting you know I just picked up a 2008 seadoo GTI SE 155 with 89 hours and tow tubes and is in great condition.
Thanks again :)
uncleben
Posts: 187
Date Joined: 06/01/09
you didnt even follow up on
you didnt even follow up on the lead I gave ya.