Thinking of buying a ski
Submitted by rob90 on Thu, 2017-03-02 07:45
Hi guys just looking for any info/recommendations on a ski. As im always fishing from the yak i like the serenity of a small solo craft and just cant afford a big ol boat just yet. Questions how stable are they in a little bit of chop with all the gear on board? Am i dreaming with a $6000 budget? Whats the upkeep like on a ski. Any info is much appreciated.
Cheers
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Hi my name is rob............. and I'm a........... fishaholic
Bruce
Posts: 527
Date Joined: 11/04/12
I had the same line of
I had the same line of thought not that long ago. Was tossing up between a tinny and a ski. My only previous experience was a Seadoo GTI SE but from memory it didn't have enough room off the back to mount an esky etc...
The perks I liked from the ski was that it was quick and nimble, and in my opinion I'd much rather be out in the swell and chop on it, rather than in a 14 foot tinny. You have to be organised, there's not much room to carry much extra gear, but then again if you are currently fishing from a yak you'd already know. Super simple launch and retrieve makes it easy pretty much anywhere.
What I didn't like about it was the maintenance side of things, fairly expensive servicing, even for a non-supercharged ski mine was roughly $900 at Seadoo on Great Eastern Highway for a standard service, but when you need a few parts replaced it hoots up to well over $1000. Otherwise its pretty simple, start and run it periodically. Apparently the supercharged ski's can be more expensive when they need rebuilds, but the non-turbo 155 SE got up to 100km/h and that was plenty. Other points, I also was a bit OCD about going through big weed patches, it gets sucked up into the intake.
With a $6000 budget you can definetly get a worthy ski, but just keep in mind it will cost you $$ to set it up with the esky on the back, rod holders, you'll probably put a GPS in, transfer fees and stamp duty, ski and trailer rego, insurance etc...
I ended up going a tinny just because I like taking a mate or two when I head out, cheaper servicing costs and a bit cheaper than what I was looking to pay for a ski.
Others on here may have different opinions, but this was just my expenerience!
Shane O
Posts: 926
Date Joined: 22/01/10
Tinny
Dont bother with the ski, been there now have a boat and wouldn't go back.
Was sick if getting wet and cold even in the smallest chopin the estuary.
rob90
Posts: 1528
Date Joined: 06/02/13
Cheers for the replies lads.
Cheers for the replies lads. Guess a ski is a toy to have if you have a disposable income not just making ends meet. Bruce cheers for the info i figured it would be like the yak in terms of space but i dont wanna spend big bucks every year on servicing then the thought of suckin weed up while trying to troll would piss me off especially while a fair way out. Guess i wasn't all that clear on the ins and outs of skis so I'll just keep ploddin along in the yak. Its free and keeps me fit i guess.
Hi my name is rob............. and I'm a........... fishaholic
Bruce
Posts: 527
Date Joined: 11/04/12
Thats why I sort of steered
Thats why I sort of steered away from them in the end. Can service a boat for half of that which adds up year after year. Yeah, there is some tollerance with the intake, after trips I'd slide underneath the trailer and pluck bits of weed out but if you went through a massive clump it would be a bit iffy.
In an ideal world I'd have a ski and a boat, the feeling of drifting into a 180 spin is incredible haha!
OOH YEH
Posts: 399
Date Joined: 16/06/15
Jetski fishing !!!!,
I have had a few boats in my time From the tinny up to a 6m westerburg all were great but they were a pain to handle on your own . Now I fish off a ski ( seadoo RXT 260 supercharged ) I have a custom pod that fits around the exterior which is fitted out with two dry compartments a live bait tank two large holding tanks and a tackle tray box (jetskifishingmob.com)
l carry 4 rods on the rear plus two trolling rod holders on the either side ......
I find the ski quick to get out to the ground you want to fish on and easy to put on and off the trailer ( beach or ramp )
As for the maintance I have mine serviced every 50 hours and that is with Friday's seadoo in port Kennedy and it wasn't that expensive but my mate does his own service ....
The big down turn is that you are restricted to 5 nautical miles with all safety equipment ....
I hope this helps PM me if you want to know more about it.
Shane O
Posts: 926
Date Joined: 22/01/10
Fridays
there is a Mandurah marine and mechanical, they service jetskis for about half if what fridays charge. Up to you but for what u get from them u are better off saving your coin and getting it done somewhere else. Just my opinion not bagging anyone's buisness.
rob90
Posts: 1528
Date Joined: 06/02/13
Cheers for the positive side.
Cheers for the positive side. If i decide to bite the bullet I'll hit ya up
Hi my name is rob............. and I'm a........... fishaholic
cost-a-plenty
Posts: 10
Date Joined: 02/02/16
Buy what you need
JetSki fishing is fun quick and easy
I just got back from Bermagui not many will tow a boat across you hardly feel a ski behind the ute
Easy to launch and retrieve
You get wetter on a Bar Crusher and a Trailcraft
I go 25km offshore from Hillaries never had an issue I have all the safety gear and theirs heaps of space
I drop craypots I do free diving the list goes on and on
My biggest service cost was $300 and I service once a season at Friday's
Downside - stay the ,,,,,, away from seaweed.
Shane O
Posts: 926
Date Joined: 22/01/10
crap
you get wetter on a trailcraft
u are only allowed 5nm offshore on a jetski legally and safely aswell. the only thing i can agree with it is the launch and retrival...
Rob H
Posts: 5806
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Funny, cant recall the last
Funny, cant recall the last time I saw a jetskier who WASNT wearing a wetty or boardies and rashy
Next you'll be saying "people dont get annoyed when I drive flatout though anchored boats and they hoot and wave when I do donuts around them..."
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
Shane O
Posts: 926
Date Joined: 22/01/10
funny
nah i do like jetskis and always will, just dont agree with going 20km out to sea on a vessel that small..
makoshark
Posts: 86
Date Joined: 31/12/14
Jet ski
Hey my two cents worth.
I have had big boat, with the ski i roll it out of the shed and off i go, light weight easy to tow. getting to and from the fishing grounds is half the fun.
I have a 2016 FXHO yamaha with a 80lt whitey box, 1.8 motor. More reliable than half the motors i have seen on some boats. If i break down i am the same as any other boat.
Its the same type of ski that NZ and the easten states use they can go miles and miles with out any drama. Unfortunately for some reason WA is more restrictive.
I travel to the 100m mark and the wreaks around the back of Rotto. I go to Shark Bay and travel from Denham out the front of Steep point .... The craft has a range of over 220km flat out. I carry all the safety gear required.
travels well in all sea conditions. launch and reteival is easy. I wear Bourke water proof bib and brace and carry a top if it gets carried away. I am always dry at the boat ramp.
Servicing cheap, storage is easy, the Weed issue is easy good pair of polarised glasses and watch were you are going.
grab a sea anchor and drift along
best fish so far is a 19 kg dhu
yes some ppl give skis a bad name but, us fisherman we are sensible
Chase the sun and living the dreams
rob90
Posts: 1528
Date Joined: 06/02/13
Cheers for another positive
Cheers for another positive reply, sounds like you use your ski alot. I guess its something you adapt to and ofcourse the size of a ski is alot easier than a 6m boat to store and launch. It's an awsome feeling pulling good fish from a small craft, and a 19kegga thats epic. Cheers again hopefully catch ya on the water one day
Hi my name is rob............. and I'm a........... fishaholic
Rob H
Posts: 5806
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Hey Mako, I have never owned
Hey Mako, I have never owned a ski but just out of curiousity on a choppy day can you safely open the engine cover at sea to do a repair?
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
makoshark
Posts: 86
Date Joined: 31/12/14
Hi Rob HFirst of its like all
Hi Rob H
First of its like all things, practice and you will succeed. I can only comment on the FXHO Yamaha. I have practiced jumpstarting my ski at the back of rotto. The craft is very stable but i agree if you are an overweight unfit person you could struggle but thats like all crafts.... Then there is the question who is experienced to fix modern motors.
If its broken and i can't fix it i ring the shop for advice or the closers VMR and make a donation for their help.
just a side note i am an advance sea kayaking instructor and qualified to take ppl kayaking anywhere in advance weather conditions that could be 100km of shore if I really want and i deem it safe. The stranges thing is by the law i am not meant to go 5nm from land on the ski. Obviously different skis have different limitation and abilities.
why can NZ and the other states allow their jet ski fisherman venture to favorite spot... Are WA skis different... No
I was watching a show last week when a guy fishing on his own fell overboard and his boat kept going leaving him for dead no pfd nothing. I fall off, my ski stops dead and i just climb back on... I also have a pfd on that aids me and i have my PLB in the pocket of my Pfd.
This is the specifications of my ski its very stable for me... heading out of steep point on a big swell the rebound of the cliffs and reef was making the water like a washing machine there was no wind i new get past the crap it will be smooth sailing. I had no trouble getting out to the 70m mark and had a great fishing session.. other boats trying to get out turned around and went back... have confidence and gain experience is the key... Not all ski riders are bogans.
obviously if you are not confidence in the sea then jet ski fishing may not be for you.
Rob C
EngineEngine Type4-stroke, 4-cyl DOHC, 16-Valve, High Output Marine EngineDisplacement1812.0 ccBore x Stroke86 x 78 mmCompression Ratio11.0 : 1Cooling SystemLow-maintenance. Open Loop CoolingPump Type155mm High-Pressure Axial FlowLubrication SystemScavenger Pump Assisted Wet SumpFuel ManagementElectronic Fuel InjectionFuel Tank Capacity70.0 LDimensionsLength3560 mmWidth1230 mmHeight1230 mmWeight376 kgStorage Capacity126 LRider Capacity3Chase the sun and living the dreams
Rob H
Posts: 5806
Date Joined: 18/01/12
thanks
great answer thanks mate, modern motors, agree for sure but its more for say a broken wire, leaking water fitting (as happened to one of the FW regulars), dodgy sparkplug etc.
If I couldnt safely even open the hatch to see what was wrong, Id be pretty hesitant.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.