Caution - jetski content

[dangerousB]

I don't know whether there are any other fellow PHers who love the water and either have a jetski or thought about a owning one - couldn't really find a relevant thread (other than ones asking "should I buy this?").

I appreciate that they generally polarise opinions and I kind of know why - for some weird reason, we still have a system in the UK where you can go and buy any watercraft you want, put it in the water and use it without any regulatory need for training. Personally I think that's mad and that's coming from someone who believes in minimal state intervention over our decisions/lives.

A PWC/jetski (call them what you want, I call them a "ski") can be a cheap route to getting on the water and unfortunately there are a minority of morons that do this without any understanding of the responsibilities that come with that choice. Everyone who lives on the water has probably seen one, slip their ski, travel no more than 400m away and then rev the tits off the thing and basically annoy everyone within earshot. Frankly, tts.

I'm not like that and all of my mates who I ride with aren't either. Most of us are also boat owners.

Anyway, qualifying my position aside, I just put the first 1.2 hours on this beaut over the weekend:-



No other way to say it, it's absolutely fking brilliant! Even thinking about it puts a smile on my face

[harryz72]

Beautiful ski! Those fish seadoo's are something special. I live out in the states and have a RXPX. It does the same to me...just thinking about it puts a smile on my face

[Condi]

I had a share in a stand up ski for a while. Good fun, actually took some skill to ride and (IMO) was more engaging and satisfying than a sit down ski when you got it right. Nowhere near as fast - the supercharged engines in the sit down skis are totally nuts, but ummm, what do you do with a sit down ski aside from rag it around and annoy the tits off everyone nearby?!

[Smoggy XJR]

Am I imagining it did there used to be a jet-ski that was basically an aquatic motorbike with a water ski for a front wheel? I can't find any images.

[dangerousB]

harryz72 said:

Beautiful ski! Those fish seadoo's are something special. I live out in the states and have a RXPX. It does the same to me...just thinking about it puts a smile on my face

Very nice - that's the 300hp one isn't it? That must do a very good job of flattening your face as well I rode a mate's Riva tuned Yamaha SVHO last year and it was ludicrously quick. Huge fun.

Condi said:

I had a share in a stand up ski for a while. Good fun, actually took some skill to ride and (IMO) was more engaging and satisfying than a sit down ski when you got it right.

I'd love to have a go on a stand up - like one of the Yam Superjet's. I reckon they'd be an absolute blast in the surf and in that environment make a lot of sense (to me). Anywhere else though, I struggle to see the point, unless you want to race them on slalom type course on a pan flat lake. As a weekend toy I could see myself becoming very bored with it, very quickly.

Condi said:

but ummm, what do you do with a sit down ski aside from rag it around and annoy the tits off everyone nearby?!

well, quite. I take it you've experienced similar.

The serious, short answer is everything I do in my boat, but faster and with fewer people onboard!

The longer answer - inshore/offshore fishing (surveying/fishing wrecks & reefs prior to taking the boat out to the good ones highlighted by the recce's), tow sports, island hopping (if you've islands nearby), finding secluded coves for a day at a deserted beach, exploring the coastline and estuaries, finding dolphins and seals.

It's more portable than my boat (which is in a marina admittedly), but if I wanted to go and explore/fish a stretch of coastline 100 miles away I simply couldn't be arsed to either travel there in the boat, or tow it there by car. Absolute doddle with the ski.

The ski can be recovered at pretty much any state of the tide, not so most boats that you'd want to trailer/go to sea in.

During the summer, EVERYONE wants to come out on the boat when the sun's out. Problem is, they all want to do different things. What better than having a ski as well so we've covered all bases?

And all that's without mentioning the acceleration/speed & immersive experience of piloting a ski vs the same on a comparatively priced boat. I love my boat, but it doesn't make me smile like the new Seadoo does.

Blimey, I didn't mention the (unsupercharged with my ski) seductive howl of the 1630 ACE engine engine either. Totally addictive.

[Rubymurray]

Smoggy XJR said:

Am I imagining it did there used to be a jet-ski that was basically an aquatic motorbike with a water ski for a front wheel? I can't find any images.

As demonstrated by JB himself

[robm3]

Had an ownership stake in a BRP dealership for a while.
Always had Seadoo's as well. Great skis with good innovations. Used to love jumping the swells here, great fun!!

As maintenance:
Just make sure you 'fog' the engine bay to keep the salt away. We used to use Innox spray for this.

I'd also recommend flushing it with "salt away" or similar: www.saltawayproducts.com

Lastly, the factory covers let water into the footwells in either side (where it pools), we had some minor osmosis occurring on skis left outside. I'd recommend a waterproof tarp over the top.

Have fun....

[The Moose]

To add to the maintenance, if you have a dark cover on over the light seats and store it outside, use a towel between the cover and the seats. We used to clip the towel into the cubby at the front of the seat, pull back and then cover front to back.

[dangerousB]

Rubymurray said:

As demonstrated by JB himself

robm3 and The Moose said:

Helpful stuff to do with maintenance

Cheers - I'll have a look at that stuff. Fortunately I can store it indoors, but the info's appreciated

[Roaringopenfire]

Completely agree. I had two Seadoos before moving onto a Ribeye and hopefully can get a ski as well as the boat at some point as I do miss it. Great photo of yours.