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.