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Buying your first jet ski and what you need to know before you do it

How many times have you been to the lake or ocean and seen many people whizzing around on jet skis having the time of their life, wishing you were there with them? They’re very fast and maneuverable, and there’s always plenty of splashing action to keep you cool on a hot day. They’re probably the number one serious rental toy on the beach in most resorts around the world, and for good reason. They are fun to drive!

There are many different types and models of jet skis (also called jet skis), and I am going to go over some of them. Personally, I have owned a Sea-Doo GTX for several years and may be a bit biased, but I consider it to be the best and most popular selling brand. The company definitely knows how to market, and today they have the bulk of the sales. Sea-Doo have been around for quite some time and have a great reputation in the industry for their ease of use and that they are also extremely easy to care for and maintain. Any problems associated with Sea-Doo are often relatively minor and can generally be inexpensive to fix. Of course, with any large piece of machinery there are always exceptions, and you want to treat it the best you can to continue to enjoy the benefits of being on the water for years to come. Seriously, I’ve seen people go out and wreck a new jet ski just because they want to push it to the limit each and every time in their quest for fun. These are the people who will probably end up selling that same jet ski within a year or two because they have abused it so much that it doesn’t work as well as it used to, so when buying a used jet ski you better really learn all you can. about its history.

Speed ​​and maneuverability aren’t the only reasons to buy a jet ski; the larger models are also ideal for long trips or all-day excursions. They are incredibly stable and some will have plenty of dry storage space for picnics, clothing, or other items you may need when you stop. That has become one of my favorite reasons to own the GTX now, it’s just being able to take off and see where your day takes you, knowing that you have everything in store for any eventuality. The first years that I had the jet ski I used it a lot in the Gulf of Mexico and salt water, and I can’t begin to tell you the things I have seen and the experiences I have enjoyed with that jet ski! Imagine yourself an hour or so from sunset lying on your jet ski with the engine off enjoying life and all of a sudden a pod of 30 dolphins comes up and chases fish! That has happened to me a few times, and it is just one of the memorable occasions that I can say that I have had with my saltwater jet ski. More recently, I have used my Sea-Doo mostly on freshwater lakes around the Atlanta area, and I can tell you that while some of the lakes tend to get very crowded on the weekends, it is also a very enjoyable experience! On a hot summer day, nothing better than hitting the lake with your jet ski to cool off and swim. I found that one of the main differences with crowded lakes compared to the open ocean is that you will have to keep your head in a much longer turn to avoid collisions with other boats or people. On a busy day, there are also a lot of waves caused by the wakes of other boats and water skiers and you will need to keep an eye on them as well.

The difference between salt water and fresh water jet ski can also be found in boat maintenance, and salt really wreaks havoc on exposed metal parts, especially on your trailer! As you can expect, you are fully submerging your trailer in salt water every time you put your jet ski in the water, so after each use you will have to thoroughly wash both your watercraft and your trailer to try and get this done. as much salt as possible. Even with that, you’ll still get a fair amount of rust on the trailer, but that’s nothing to worry about. Just do your part after each use, and it should take care of you for years to come. Remember to also grease the ball bearings in the wheels every year or two (any certified shop can do this for you), because repeatedly soaking in salt water can remove grease over time. If you use your jet ski mainly in fresh water, the maintenance is much less. The maintenance shop I use suggests giving it a good wash once or twice a year, and not worrying about hosing it down after every trip, unless it’s really dirty. Fresh water will no longer cause rust, but of course it is recommended to grease the ball bearings at least twice a year. If you live in an area where it really is winter and you won’t be able to use your jet ski year-round (anywhere other than Florida!), Then you will probably need to have your battery recharged again in the spring as well. because it tends to lose its charge for a couple of months if not used, unless it is kept plugged into an outlet continuously.

Other brands of jet skis that are also very popular are Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda and Polaris. Polaris is probably the smallest company in the bunch, and you will rarely see these machines. Yamaha is a very popular rental jet ski, and you will see them quite frequently in lakes and bays. Many people will have their first experience with a jet ski from a rental company, whether it be on a nearby lake or on a week-long trip to some exotic location. This is a great way to “get your feet wet” so to speak, but understand that these rental companies will always have a governed version of the jet ski to slow you down so no one gets hurt or hurt by others. Top speed in the rental industry will rarely exceed 35 or 40 mph, and Sea-Doo even has two owner keys specifically for that reason. They have a “learning key” that has a top speed of approximately 35 mph for beginners and rental companies to use. Once the owner has mastered this speed, they can advance to the normal key, which can have a top speed of up to 70 mph or in some cases even higher! However, anything over 60 mph can be a really insane ride, and you don’t want to fall or get thrown off the jet ski at that speed! Imagine hitting concrete at those speeds, that’s like water going really fast! So be careful!

As long as you take care of your new jet ski and maintain it properly, there is no reason it should not provide many, many years of fun and enjoyment for you and your family. With the purchase of a new jet ski, you at least know what you are getting in terms of a good machine. There will be a factory warranty, and sometimes you can also buy a good extended warranty, and you probably won’t have any initial problems with it. However, with a used model, you really don’t know what you’re getting and you’ll want to do your homework to make sure the owner hasn’t abused or damaged it in any way. There are many possibilities of damaging the machine in waterways, including running aground on sandbars, operating in very shallow water, hitting rocks just below the surface, colliding with other boats or people, or even road traffic accidents. It might be best to have it checked by a certified marine mechanic before you buy, just to be sure. However, there is a big price difference between the used machine and the new one, so if you can find a used machine in good condition, you will save a lot of money between buying a new machine.

I hope I have covered some useful information for those of you interested in buying your first jet ski, and maybe I have given you some things to think about to make sure you are choosing the right one. Also, to give you a good idea of ​​the general maintenance involved and to stay away from the many urban legends about how to own a jet ski is a bad idea and you will come to regret it. I loved every minute of my Sea-Doo, and I consider the purchase an impulse purchase, but a great idea that I had for years of enjoyment, both past and future! So have fun everyone and I will see you on the lakes and roads of the world!

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