Things you should know before owning a jet ski

Here are a few quick tips to think about before owning a jet ski:

1. Storage - Do you have somewhere to store the ski when its not in use. A large four-seater is going to take up a fair bit of space.
2. Trailer - Don't forget that if you don't live right next to the beach your going to need a trailer to transport it. So you will need to budget for it and also have room to store this too.
3. Safety - Make sure the craft has a lanyard, which will turn the ignition off should you fall off during use. All modern jet skis should have a lanyard as standard.
4. Maintenance - Do you know everything about maintaining a jet ski? A jet ski should have a regular checkup to keep it running well. A good article to read is Good to Go by Jasmine Basha
   

See also - Types of Watercraft, Buying a jet ski on eBay

News: Jet ski safety reviewed

Due to a major increase in jet ski accidents in Queensland waters the government asked for a review of the regulations surrounding the use of personal water craft.

Currently the QLD laws are quite strict and have recently included reductions in speed limits when within 60m of people, anchored or moored boats, and structures such as jetties, pontoons or boat ramps.

Read the full article here

Buying used jet skis

Buying used jet skis can be a great way to save money as these water craft can be reasonably expensive new. In saying this, buying used jet skis can also cause much heartache if when you get it home it has some major problems which were overlooked. There's nothing worse than feeling like you've made a bad purchase. The following tips will help you through this process:

1. Check for major dents or scratches - these could be signs that the ski has been in an accident. Ask the seller for any background on major dents to the body of the craft.
2. Check for corrosion - be sure to look over the engine and other mechanical parts of the craft. Any major rust or corrosion could end up being quite costly down the track. Ask the owner if they mainly skied in fresh water (lakes) or salt water (sea). If saltwater is the answer there is a greater chance that the jet ski will have some form of corrosion. Also, some skis use an open-loop cooling system which pumps water an outside source (i.e. seawater) into the engine to cool it, so if it has been ridden in salt water and not properly cared for there could be some major signs of corrosion.
3. Check for rust - although most jet skis are made from a rustproof material it is always a good idea to keep an eye out for this.
4. Ask for all papers and receipts relating to the craft. Any history relating to the jet skis maintenance and repair will give a better insight into the current condition of your prospective purchase.
   

By the end of your examination you should have a "feeling" about the jet ski, and have an idea to whether the seller has maintained the craft in good condition. After examining a few skis you should be able to get to know which is a good purchase and which will cause you years of grief.

Review: Yamaha FX Cruiser® High Output 2007

Rating: 4.5 (out of 5)
Pros: Reliability and comfort
Cons: Can struggle when pulling heavier accessories
MSRP*: US$11,299
*Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price

See specification and manufacturers website

The Yamaha FX Cruiser HO is a great family Waverunner and it will seat 3 comfortably. The ride quality and cornering of this machine is very good. It scores slightly low for performance due to it struggling when pulling heavier accessories e.g. 3 passenger tubes and slowish acceleration. It can take some time to gain thrust, even with the trim being used. Its max speed is around the 60 mph (95 kph).

Overall the Yamaha FX Cruiser HO is a very comfortable, high quality, great rough water ride. Its fuel efficient yet plenty powerful, dry, very stable at any speed, with above average handling.

Find New & Used Yamaha FX Cruiser's on eBay

Jet Skis For Sale On eBay

One great place to find jet skis for sale is on the eBay website. You can find both new and used water crafts here but there are a couple of things you should watch out for when deciding to purchase your eBay ski.

Firstly, eBay strongly recommends NOT using Western Union, MoneyGram or any instant cash payment method when purchasing your item. When your spending over $1000 for an item the best idea is to pay in person.

Be sure to ask lots of questions using the "Ask seller a question" link at the top of every listing. Questions you may wish to consider:

1. How old is the jet ski?
2. How much use has it had. i.e. Has it been used every weekend, once a month, infrequently?
3. How much maintenance has been done on the engine?
   A good question if the ski is more than 5 years old.
4. When was it last serviced?
5. Ask the seller to provide more detailed photos of the engine, handlebar panel, underneath and end of ski.

Another idea is to ask for the seller’s phone number and give them a call.

Lastly, remember to always research the item your going to buy thoroughly before committing to a purchase. Know everything about the type of water craft you have your heart set on, and be sure to know the history behind any used ski.

Find New & Used Jet Skis on eBay

Tips for buying a Jet Ski - Types of Jet Skis

So you've decided that the time has come to enjoy one of the most exhilarating past times of our times and buy a jet ski. Ok I exaggerate somewhat, but not by much. So what do you need to know before you buy one? Well if you've rented one you probably have some idea of what your after. Here we will cover what types of skis are on the market.

Stand-Ups

A stand-up, also known as a solo craft, has no seat and the rider must stand while riding them. The two main contenders are Kawasaki SX-R and Yamaha Super Jet (picture below).

Stand-up personal watercrafts are for the ultimate thrill-seeker. They are highly maneuverable and light. This style of jet skiing is called "freestyling" and is mainly done on Yamaha super jets as they are lighter and smaller than that of the Kawasaki SX-R

Kawasaki was the first manufacture of the Jet Ski, which they own the register trademark for. Their motto is "The original stand-up and still the best".

Seated

The other type of ski is one with a seat. These can be anything from a one rider version, right up to four seaters. In general, the more seats the ski has the more stable it will be to ride but with stability a loss to maneuverability will be noticed.

1-2 seater skis like the Yamaha GP1300R WaveRunner (pictured on left) are built for speed. This ski is great for sport enthusiasts and power racing.

The Kawasaki STX-12F is a 1-3 seater Jet Ski® and is fun for the whole family. It has better stability than a 1-2 seater and is ideal for towing water skiers or wake boarders.

The best idea is to try the various types of Jet Skis and find the one that best suits you and your needs.