Helpful Guides

Buying a jet ski is one of life’s best events, but what about the car towing your trailer? You have to make sure that is up to the job.

Some people think they can get away with using a hatchback as their jet ski tow vehicle. Some people even use convertibles! Is it worth the risk?

Today let’s have that discussion.

The Ideal Jet Ski Tow Vehicle

Let’s start off with the best tow vehicle to haul a jet ski.

It’s very popular to tow a jet ski with a 4×4, sedan, people mover or pickup truck. This is because you have greater control and stability when towing especially at highway speeds. When you go downhill, small vehicles feel like they are pushing the trailer down uncontrollably due to their lack of brakes.

Most jet ski trailers aren’t required to have built-in brakes due to their small size and size-axle nature. This rule does vary state-to-state and country-to-country so it’s wise to check with your local jurisdiction or simply phone your local dealership.

Consider Jet Ski Weights

The reason why most people decide to get a bigger tow vehicle is the weight of their jet ski once it’s on the trailer.

On average, jet skis weigh between 1,000 pounds and 1,300 pounds. Add in the additional trailer weight of 300 pounds and you’ve got a rig that weighs in at almost 1,600 pounds or 725kgs. In Australia the maximum weight of a jet ski trailer without brakes is 750kgs, so the average weight of a personal watercraft sits just under.

But even if you’re under the limits, it’s not wise to get a small tow vehicle. You’re really limited on various aspects.

Why I Say NO to Small Tow Vehicles

While I’ve shown you why the weight ratio between the tow vehicle and the trailer is too close, let’s look at other reasons:

1. You’re fully reliant on the minimum braking capacity of your hatchback when descending downhills.
2. Most hatchbacks have basic road tyres and aren’t designed to hold 1,600 pounds aka 725kgs on a slippery boat ramp.
3. It’s embarrassing to have such powerful jet ski being towed by such an ordinary vehicle. It just feels…cheap.
4. It’s also harder to find a compatible tow bar for such a small car, and most fitment centres won’t stock it so it will need to be ordered in.

What You Should Get

I’ve already hinted at the ideal tow vehicle for your jet ski.

Trust me – you need to get yourself something designed for towing. Something where the manufacturer has put the car up to the task, so you don’t slip back on the boat ramp.

The ideal vehicle happens to be most cars on the market today, so you won’t have to search too far. If your budget is limited, look at a used vehicle that is reliable and with a high towing capacity.

You don’t need a 4×4 to tow a jet ski at all. A sedan or station wagon will do the job just fine. The main issue is at the boat ramps, as some of them lack maintenance and are overgrown with moss and algae causing some traction issues. This is why people like 4x4s to tow any type of marine vessel.

Personally, I find it harder to launch and retrieve a jet ski with a 4×4. This is because of the reduced visibility behind you. Opening the tailgate is one good idea if you own a pickup truck.

If you don’t want to fork out the money, I would recommend contacting friends or family and borrowing a tow rig for the day. You could even take the owner out on the ski which I’m sure they will enjoy!

The Dangers of Jet Ski Trailers

The real issue is in the design of lightweight aluminum trailers. They just sway a lot, even if it isn’t windy on the highway.

Not only that, they are easy to bounce. You’ve probably seen an unloaded trailer jump up and down when it’s traveling along, even at 35 miles per hour. Imagine that happening at 70 miles per hour with a brand new jet ski on it.

At least with a solid tow vehicle, you are able to maintain some form of control. You can also weigh down your trailer with some accessories such as additional gas cans.

Summary on Jet Ski Tow Vehicles

It’s not worth the risk to get such a small tow vehicle. Remember that once jet skis are fully fueled up, they actually weigh quite a bit. A little car is going to struggle to control a trailer that is weighing almost as much as it does.

Also, consider using a pontoon storage shed. This way you can just keep your jet ski by the water’s edge for a nominal amount each month.

I love boats and I love jet skis too. But this is a website completely dedicated to jet ski ownership, riding skills, accessories and How-To guides.

For that reason, I’ll have to be a little biased today. But please know that I love sailing and motorboats too, and one day envision sailing around the world!

Today I’ll detail 9 reasons why jet skis are so much better, and completely win the Jet Ski vs Boat debate. Don’t worry – I still love boats!

It’s time to unpack this.

1. Jet Skis Are Cheaper to Buy

When you compare a performance boat that will cost $70,000+, spending under $15,000 on that new shiny Yamaha or SeaDoo at the dealership sounds much more lucrative.

It’s so much cheaper to buy a jet ski than compared to a boat. I’m not talking aluminium boats here as these can’t be compared, but as for performance boats, you’ll have to spend significantly more. Not only that, but boats are much more expensive to register, insurance and maintain than jet skis.

2. Much Easier To Store

It’s much easier to store a jet ski at home than compared to a boat. You don’t even need an entire single garage space, since you can sit a jet ski trailer in a tight space.

Many people are able to store their jet skis at home instead of a storage yard, leading to enhanced security to prevent theft. It also means you can take your jet ski out 24/7 instead of waiting for the local storage place to open up.

3. You Can Go Much Faster on a PWC

Most jet skis can achieve speeds of 70 miles per hour. Some performance skis can exceed 90 miles per hour. Even at 70 miles per hour, it’s an incredible speed to blast across the water.

Now compare this to a boat. To achieve such speeds you’ll need twin high-performance Yahama or Honda outboards to push such a large boat that will still struggle to achieve 60 miles per month.

4. Tow Sports and Fishing is Still Possible

Who doesn’t love towing tubes and going fishing? It used to really be just for those who owned more expensive boats, but now even a recreation jet ski such as the SeaDoo 130 GTS can tow doughnuts and water tubes, or even pull a water skier.

You can easily go jet ski fishing with a cooler and fishing rack setup. As opposed to many people to buy a jet ski to have fun, some people do like the serene nature of taking a jet ski out for a day of fishing. No need to buy an additional boat!

5. You Can Fit 2 Jet Skis on 1 Trailer

Narrow jet skis now allow 2 skis to fit on 1 trailer, which means you can go on a jet ski adventure with a friend or 3. It also creates more towing stability.

Now this ties in well with the storage space. It doesn’t require much additional storage space to store a dual jet ski trailer than a single trailer. Some people buy 2 jet skis for themselves, one for performance and one for casual fun on the water.

6. No Need to Find a Dock or Mooring Ball

With a boat, you’ll often need to find a dock or mooring ball if it’s too big because there is good potential to damage the hull. Boats are really expensive to fix up too, so owners are cautious.

Compare that now to a jet ski when you can ride straight up to a beach. You can get what you need and go. No need to mess around with buoys, ropes, anchors or anything else.

7. Quick to Launch and Retrieve

At the boat ramp, jet skis are super easy to launch. You can drop in or pull out your jet ski in 10 minutes. Boats, on the other hand, can take up to an hour to do it properly, leading to hostile or embarrassing situations at the boat ramp. Plus, you’ll probably need someone else to help you with everything.

The time you waste at a boat ramp is less time you can spend having fun on the water. When our time is already so limited work with and responsibilities, the more we can spend actually having fun…the better!

8. Can Be Used for Jumping and Tricks

Try to jump with a boat and you risk serious damage to your hull, electrics and every person on board. They aren’t designed for fun apart from some high speeds.

Jet skis are really designed for fun. You can go wave jumping with a jet ski, race your friends around rivers and lakes, plus even do some tricks. You’re going to have a bigger smile on your face with a personal watercraft than a boat.

9. Don’t Need Friends To Still Have Fun!

With a boat, you’ll want to take some friends out to have fun otherwise it’s so boring. You’ll have this big maritime vessel all to yourself.

I routinely go jet skiing with just myself. Sometimes it’s good to meet up with others out there on the waterways but it doesn’t need to happen. I can rock up to the boat ramp solo and still have a great day on the water without talking to anyone. Perfect for introverts!

Summary: Boats vs Jet Skis

Jet skis are much better than jet skis, for even more reasons than what I’ve detailed here. You’ll have more fun for a lot cheaper, and your kids can still join you.

It’s a bit harder to take your dogs on your jet ski, but it’s still possible. Smaller dogs can fit in a motorcycle dog pod that you can strap on to your jet ski, but you’ll have to ride much slower. That said, leaving your dog at home for a few hours isn’t really an issue.

Boats still have their advantages. They are more comfortable to ride in, let you take a group of people and provide superior sun and rain protection. I love sailing and large cruising yachts, so don’t think I’m a hater!

Sure, boats have their good stuff but if none of that matters to you, then get a jet ski and have an endless smile on your face. 🙂

So you’re looking at buying a jet ski and you’re not sure whether you should go to the dealer or look up Craigslist. Let me show you the way forward.

The age-old debate of new jet skis compared to used jet skis always creates an interesting discussion. Today I’ll show you which one is best.

Through this, I hope that you can spend less time thinking about it, and get closer to the dream of personal watercraft ownership. Let’s begin!

Jet Skis: New vs Used

Now there is nothing wrong with either choice. Everyone has a different budget and desires. Both have their pros and cons. In fact, I’m going to unpack each.

New Jet Ski

At a glance, I’ll show you my perspectives.

NEW PWC	Pros	Cons
Power	More power to play with since jet skis get better each and every year. You know the power hasn’t been tapped out yet.	The jet ski hasn’t been run in yet, so it’s likely that you’ll have a few issues. You also can’t go blazing fast right away.
Warranty	You get a 12 or 24-month warranty from the factory	The warranty has limitations and won’t cover everything such as user-induced damage.
Pricing	Can sometimes get a dealer discount depending on the time of year.	Massive depreciation. Most jet skis lose $2,000+ the day they are taken from the dealership.
Modifications	You can ask the factory to add in additional mods and accessories which are made by the manufacturer	If you add in your own modifications, then this can be a breach of warranty, especially if it relates to the engine.
Condition	Brand new! You know this machine is totally MINT.	You’ll be afraid to scratch it on the sand or river beds.
Group rides	You can keep up with just about anyone else on a group ride (Except if you’re riding a Spark that is)	Might create some jealousy when you rock up to the boat ramp with your shiny new toy.
Theft appeal	There aren’t many other identical others who have the same ski as yours, so recovery is easier	Greater resale value on the black market makes your new jet ski a real target for thieves.

Most people never really sit down to draw out the advantages and downsides like this. I hope this is useful!

Used Jet Ski

On the flip side, let’s have a look at the used market. PWCs here have both advantages and disadvantages too.

USED PWC	Pros	Cons
Power	The jet ski has already been run in so you know that you can twist to full throttle and ride into the sunset.	You don’t know just how much abuse the previous owner put your used jet ski up to.
Warranty	Generally used jet skis don’t come with a warranty so you can do any modifications you want.	If you need a top-end rebuild or additional parts, you’ll need to pay out of your own pocket.
Pricing	The cheapest way to afford a high-quality jet ski.	Harder to obtain finance on a used jet ski.
Modifications	Many used parts are available on eBay to increase the performance and make your jet ski go faster.	Some go overboard with modifications on used jet skis which could lead to fires or engine destruction.
Condition	You know that it’s already been used, so you won’t cry the day you put a mark in the footwell or on the hull.	The previous owner could be hiding superficial damage or a repair job from a previous crash.
Group rides	You’ll fit in well with most group rides since 70% of riders have used jet skis.	Might not be able to keep up so well, so you’ll be near the back of the group ride.
Theft appeal	Thieves are less likely to steal a used jet ski because the hours are higher.	There are so many others who have a jet ski just like yours, so finding it once stolen is harder.

Overall, most people do choose to buy a used jet ski with low hours over a new one. The scope of what you can do and the money you’ll save is worth it.

Summary

Both the used market and the new jet ski market serve people just fine. When you look at a new jet ski vs used, you soon realize that both are excellent options.

If you’re on a budget, I would recommend a used jet ski. In fact, I would recommend a used recreation jet ski over a new rec-lite jet ski, because you’ll just get better performance.

In recent years, jet skis have become more reliable with longer engine hours possible. Some hire shops reach 2,000+ engine hours on one PWC before replacement, and I’ve even met one who never cleans out their engine bays! If you’re curious…they were using the Yamaha EX models.

For that reason, buying a used jet ski is a wiser choice if you’re new to the personal watercraft market. After 6 to 12 months of riding, you can make that decision as to whether you should upgrade.

I’ve also done another comparison post on renting vs buying:

Jet Ski Hire vs Buy: Which is Better in 2022?

See you out there!

Some people have asked me the difference between the PWC and jet ski terminologies.

The term “Jet Ski” is actually derived from Kawasaki’s first PWC model. Everything was called personal watercraft in the early years of the industry.

Today the industry has really evolved from the days of unreliable marine vessels.

Often Sea-Doo and Yamaha will use the term PWC formally because they have to.

They (loosely) do refer to their own watercraft “jet skis” especially when you go into a dealership.

They can’t use this word in their marketing materials though as this could lead to a lawsuit.

Meanwhile, Kawasaki has full ownership of the USPTO trademark.

Let’s be clear: this is the singular word “JETSKI” as opposed to the two words jet and ski.

Jet Ski Vessel

Unique characteristics of a jet ski include:

• Designed and manufactured by Kawasaki for 40 years
• Was designed in the early days for stand up jet skis only
• Today is used as the standard word globally to described PWCs

Personal watercraft

Unique attributes:

• Is the technical term given to PWCs from any manufacturer
• Has no trademark and the name cannot be trademarked
• Refers to stand-up and sit down machines globally

What is Really a Jet Ski?

A jet ski is really a stand-up Kawasaki personal watercraft used for tricks and jumps.

A stand-up jet ski holds only one person because you will be standing up with it. Quite often they have much less stability than a sit-down jet ski.

One key difference is that a stand-up jet ski will have a very small fuel tank. The smaller footprint and capacity result in less storage space.

Fact: While you will have a preferred style of riding, either sitting down and cruising or standing, you are often still referring to it as a jet ski.

It will be known as a jet ski when hiring, touring or competitively racing.

It has become the norm to call jet skis any marine vessel produced by Yamaha and Sea-Doo.

	Sit Down Jet Ski	Stand Up Jet Ski
Technical terminology	Personal watercraft	Jet Ski
What we call it	Jet Ski	Stand Up Ski
Riders	Up to 3	1
Fuel tanks	Large	Small
Allows for tow sports	Yes (if powerful enough)	No
Can do jumps	Yes	Yes
Pricing	More expensive	Cheaper
Manufacturers	Sea-Doo, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki	Kawasaki only

Why Call It That?

We have to ask: “why does the general public call it a jet ski?”

“Can it not just be known as a personal watercraft in the industry?” I’ll tell you why we don’t use the proper name.

It’s easy – people like short and simple words. I personally like that we call them jet skis today.

See: lots of syllables are used when using the word “personal watercraft” in conversations, whether that be online or offline.

Humans are naturally lazy and we would prefer to be out riding the waves and cruising the coastlines!

It is simply easier for people to just say “jet ski” and get on with discussions. It’s nice and short plus easy to remember.

As you go to a dealership to buy some accessories, the salesperson will likely use the term ‘jet ski’ in their communication. The word loosely describes all personal watercraft.

Summary

I have been doing some research to get more understanding in this field.

Through this, I can see Kawasaki as the rightful owner of the trademark with the US Trademarks and Patents Office. Everyone uses the word “jet ski” to describe any personal watercraft on the market.

The most popular manufacturers such as Yamaha, SeaDoo and Honda are being careful in their marketing materials. I have seen copyright infringement with other brands.

In years passed, this term referred to stand-up jet skis only.

The industry did start 40+ years ago. The marine industry today is much more evolved. Many people forget just how much the world has changed.

A common mistake that beginners make is using the word “personal watercraft” with other riders.

Expect a blank look if you ask about someone’s personal watercraft at the boat ramp.

See – no one really uses that technical term in casual talk.

Not only that, but very few people are using the PWC term during active verbal or online conversations.

I have seen this as quite rare.

My experiences are that if you ask marine enthusiasts about their jet ski, they are much more likely to understand you. It really avoids the confusion!

That’s about as clear as it gets! I hope this is valuable to you! 🙂

Here at Jet Ski Advice, we do recognize that we don’t own the trademark “Jetski” which belongs to Kawasaki.

We are simply an online advice site for PWC enthusiasts. Our name is in the non-formal (plural) sense of the word as it is colloquially known worldwide.

I’ve built a solid following here at Jet Ski Advice, especially on buying and selling jet skis in the used marketplace.

In this guide, I’ll be showing you how to get the best price with a Jet Ski Trade-In. If your old PWC is ready for replacement, then read on.

Chances are that you’re wanting to not lose too much in the depreciation. Dealerships are notorious for low-balling offers, so let’s look at ways you can prevent this from happening.

Jet Ski Trade-In Strategies

If I were trading in my jet ski at my local dealership and wanted the best price, I would prepare with the following:

1. Fully clean your jet ski inside and out. It should be spotless inside and out so they can’t complain about anything. Expect this to take you a few hours to get done properly.
2. Use some marine wax to make it look almost new! There are some great tutorials on YouTube for this.
3. Get your paperwork in order. Find your registration and insurance papers for both the jet ski and the trailer. Also any logbooks and service history, plus receipts for modifications that you’ve bought.
4. Be prepared for them to lowball you. Jet ski dealers aren’t in the business in offering high prices for used PWCs because they want to make a profit.
5. Have a price in mind and stick to it. If they offer you less, then walk away. It’s really that simple. People on Craigslist or Gumtree will almost always pay more!

Probably the BEST tip I can give you is to talk about the jet ski you want to replace it with and that you’re ready to take one home today. If it’s from their dealership, they will be more welcoming to give you a good price for your current jet ski. They don’t want to lose a potential sale as they make their best money from the sale of new jet skis, especially if they purchased with finance.

Best Alternatives To Trade-ins

If you want the best price for your used jet ski, then I would avoid the dealership completely. The private selling market is the best place to begin.

Dealers don’t really care about how well you’ve maintained the jet ski or that you’ve used it only in freshwater. On the flip side, a private buyer would love to hear about this.

In my experience:

• The first place to start is with Craigslist. I’ve written an extensive guide on how to get the best prices on Craigslist. This is a website where most used jet skis are sold today, often to 1st-time users.
• More and more people are using Facebook Marketplace to sell their used jet ski. It’s great as you’re dealing with a real person with a photo and history on the platform.
• Another one you might want to consider auctions, both online or offline. You can set your own auction on eBay or send your jet ski to an auction house. Unfortunately, you won’t get a good price here, but you’ll get some quick cash.

Next Steps

Start with preparing your jet ski for sale, then decide if you need the money fast or slow. If you’re trading in your ski for a new one, then it’s a good idea to use the dealership as you can tow your old one there and bring the new one home….all in the same trip.

With a new jet ski, you’re sure to have a new smile on your face.

See you out there on the water!