So you’ve thought about buying or selling a used personal watercraft through an auction. There are several ways to go about this, and many people don’t even think about auctions in the first place. Sometimes these can save you a fortune though liquidators and auction houses.
Buying or selling a jet ski at auction: worth it? 4
But yet, choosing to buy or sell a jet ski at auction can be dangerous in some ways. Today I’ll be detailing if it’s actually worth the risks involved.
Buying a Jet Ski at Auction
Going to an auction to buy a jet ski sounds very exciting. You can potentially find the machine that you’ve always been dreaming of…at a price you can actually afford!
That said, it isn’t always the best idea. Let’s look at some pros and cons.
Pros
You can get a real bargain, 10% to 30% off the normal market prices.
A chance to take the jet ski away that day without all the usual hassles.
Often you’ll have minimal competition as others are there for motorbikes, cars and boats, not jet skis.
Some auctioneers don’t know exactly how valuable the performance jet skis actually are, so you can flip one for a profit.
The jet ski has gone through a vetting process so you know it isn’t stolen.
So it does look like a good idea to buy one at auction, but let’s look at the flip side now.
Cons
You have no verifiable service history of the jet ski.
No warranty. If it breaks tomorrow, it’s all on you.
Other bidders might push you past your reserve price.
Often there might only be 1 or 2 jet skis at auction on the day.
The level of service you’ll receive is much less than dealerships.
This causes people to lose their confidence in the process of buying at an auction.
Selling a Jet ski at Auction
If you’re ready to part ways with your jet ski quickly, then an auction is a great idea. Often dealerships who get trade-ins actually use auction houses to move on with these used machines, so the dealership can concentrate on new toys.
Like buying a jet ski at auction, selling one via the auctioneers isn’t the best idea.
Pros
You can get money fast, often the same day or within a few days.
Won’t really need to have numerous people come to your house.
No need to list it on Craigslist and wait for the phone to ring.
Avoids the increased risk of identity theft when transacting.
No need to take photos as the auction house will do that for you.
If you need some dollars fast and without much hassle, then auctions clearly are a good idea. But let’s look at the downsides too.
Cons
You won’t get the best price possible. In fact, it will be really low.
Really no say in what price you’ll actually get. It’s up to the market.
No recourse – once it’s sold, then it’s sold. You can’t stop and say no.
You’ll be treated like a number in the system, as opposed to a human.
You might have to pay a commission or fee once your jet ski is sold.
This probably explains why you won’t find so many jet skis at auctions since most of them are actually on Craigslist.
Final Verdict on Auctions
Most people decide to buy or sell a jet ski privately, instead of going to auction. This provides the best opportunity for both parties without the middle man intervening.
The seller gets a great price while the buyer knows the jet ski has been looked after. This represents a great win-win situation.
Auctions are often best for private car collections or furniture. This is where the repair bills can be a lot less if something goes wrong.
Now if the seller needs money fast and the buyer wants to get a significant discount, then transacting via an auction is a smart way to go.
Something that most other personal watercraft enthusiasts don’t talk about is what are good ropes for towing tubes and skiers. This guide fills that gap.
There isn’t too much of a variety of ropes out there in the market. Some people even just buy a normal rope for camping or towing a car.
In this guide, I’ll showcase the best marine jet ski tow ropes so you can tow another jet ski, tube or skier. This features the BEST 4 available.
Now let’s go a little deeper.
What to look for with Jet Ski Ropes
Not all ropes are created equal. I would always recommend marine rope because they are more resistant to UV damage.
Some things to consider are:
The diameter of the rope. Is it wide enough for the weight being towed along?
How long the rope is. The longer is better, so you can cut it down to size.
If it’s actually designed for marine use. Most ropes are really designed for household use only.
What materials it is made from. Some materials such as cotton become brittle in the hot sun.
The certified tow rating of the rope. I would recommend 3000lbs / 1,350kgs minimum so you can depend on it at fast speeds.
Look at the stretch rating. Ropes that have high stretchability are great for 4×4 recovery and towing another marine craft, but aren’t so good for rider control when towing skiers or even tubes. It feels a bit unsettling to be towed behind any watercraft where the rope is stretching.
The color of the jet ski rope. If you’re using your jet ski in dirty rivers and lakes, then you’ll want to visibily see the rope floating on the surface. Find a color which is fluorescent such as orange or yellow.
Pricing should be your last consideration. The cost of a high quality jet ski rope is very low, often for less than $20. For this reason, just about everyone can afford to spend up for the best.
One thing to think about is the use of the rope. Some people want to tow another jet ski, while others just want to tow the kids behind on a tube.
I would most importantly look at the manufacturer. You want something proven and reliable, by a company that actually knows how to make high-quality marine ropes.
Best ropes for towing other jet skis
If your aim is to tow another jet ski (or even a group of jet skis) then I would recommend the highest capacity rope around.
Most people tow a jet ski with another jet ski if one suffers a mechanical breakdown. Rental shops also tow their jet skis in a group formation to and from the boat ramps, even if they are operating just fine. Often their hire shops are located some distance from the closest launching spot.
Best ropes for towing tubes and skiers
Ropes to tow passengers on tubes and wakeboards behind jet skis can be a little lighter if you choose. This is because the breaking point is significantly lower, given that a person weighs at the most 300 pounds, while a jet ski can weight up to 1,400 pounds.
4 best jet ski tow ropes for tubes and skiers 10
The good news is that there is a good range of ropes from the waterskiing world that work well for jet ski enthusiasts. My #1 choice the brand Airhead.
Best ropes for strapping your PWC to the trailer
Some people search around for a good quality rope with no stretch in order to help secure their jet ski to the trailer. I actually wouldn’t recommend this.
The best way to strap and secure a jet ski to a trailer is with ratchet straps. This way you can control the tension and also spread the load without damaging the paintwork. I like to use 2 ratchets to in case one of them breaks while I’m towing my jet ski on the highway.
You might now need to source another anchor rope for your jet ski. My recommendation is just using the same rope that you use for towing a tube or a wakeboard. There is no need to buy an additional rope for this purpose.
Additional tow accessories
In addition to the rope, I would recommend a PWC shock tube. These are very affordable and you’ll find them for under $20 easily on Amazon.
4 best jet ski tow ropes for tubes and skiers 11
What do these do exactly? They stop the rope from getting caught up in your impeller. If the rope gets caught up there, it can be a very expensive repair bill and embarrassing tow back to the boat ramp. But hey…at least you’ll have some rope ready to use. 🙂
Summary
It’s not hard to find a good rope to use when jet skiing on the waterways. They’re very affordable and anything from the waterskiing arena works best.
Given the low price, I’d always recommend that you spend up for the best in class. Go for known brands that other jet ski users have in their storage compartment already and you’ll be set.
These include:
Airhead
SGT Knots
Seachoice
All of these will serve you just fine. See you out there on the waterways!
You’re in need of some parts for your personal watercraft. As an established eBay seller, let me teach you how to stay safe on the platform.
Buying parts for your jet ski off eBay can be very risky! You really need to do your research to make sure you’re looking at the real deal.
In this guide, I’ll help you through that process so you can buy with confidence.
Jet Ski Parts You Can Buy Off eBay
Before we begin, let’s have a look at what we can buy.
eBay has available all sorts of parts for jet skis, as well as accessories to have more fun out there on the water.
You can buy the following:
Replacement handlebar grips
New crankshafts for both Yamaha and SeaDoo
Jet ski air filters
Suction fishing rod holders (these are average quality)
Floating safety lanyards
Stickers and decals (won’t really improve the performance though)
Engine gaskets
Hatch cover brackets
Pistons and spark plugs
Full engine blocks
Cylinder heads
Crankcases
Throttle levers
New boarding steps
Engine impellers
Let’s have a closer look now…
Buying jet ski parts on ebay: worth the risk? 23Buying jet ski parts on ebay: worth the risk? 24
It’s fair to say that you can find most things on eBay for your jet ski. The main issue is that it’s a real hunting game. Often you won’t find exactly what you’re looking for, which really sucks.
How to Stay Safe When Ordering
When it comes to eBay, you’re really protected by their Money Back Guarantee. That said, you want to stretch even further.
Here is what I would be looking at:
How long the seller has been selling on the platform for
The volume of feedback that they have received (star rating)
Amount of jet ski products that they currently have for sale
How your ordered product will be shipped (padded box etc)
When you should expect delivery of the actual product
A detailed overview where they show the compatibility of such parts
Take for instance this graph that I found.
Buying jet ski parts on ebay: worth the risk? 25
Clearly this seller knows jet ski parts very well. The only thing is the lack of details regarding shipping, especially as he is located in Russia.
While it’s true that eBay has your back, their customer service team isn’t known for its high level of service. You can expect to do some running around to get a refund if the product didn’t live up to expectations and wasn’t described properly. This is why it’s important that you audit sellers first before ordering.
How To Know It’s Risky
How do we know when we should perhaps avoid a seller? That’s easy.
If they have less than 30 feedback, I generally avoid them.
It’s relatively easy to maintain 100% feedback, so any less should be avoided.
Look at the shipping times. You need the parts to get your jet ski working, so you don’t want to be waiting 2 months for it to arrive.
Have a good look at the photos. Are they all of the same background?
Check where the seller is actually located and if they sell other PWC parts.
The ‘Positive Feedback’ rating on eBay isn’t a representative of exactly how good someone else. It’s certainly a good metric to pay attention to though.
In the above example, I would choose redline-motosports who while not 100% in their feedback rating, actually has processed hundreds of thousands of transactions.
Alternatives Towards eBay For Jet Ski Parts
So what else can do we if we’re looking for jet ski parts but we want to avoid eBay? Well, there are a few options out there.
Head down to your local jet ski dealership. While they sometimes might not have the parts you want on hand, they can order them in and fit them in their workshop. This is generally the safest method, but it’s also expensive too, hence why so many people turn to eBay.
Use Amazon to find parts. While not as popular for PWC parts as eBay is, you’ll find some parts on Amazon that you might not necessarily find on eBay.
Head over to Craigslist. Jet skis have a short shelf life. After a few hundred hours it’s time for them to retire. Most often than not, the parts are mostly still good, so people sell parts locally through Craigslist.
Jump inside PWC Facebook groups. There are networking groups all over the world where people can help advise you on where you can locally source a part that you might be hunting for. Often mechanics are in these groups offering their services and might even have the parts you want on hand.
As you can see, it’s not just eBay where you can get the parts you want. You really should think outside the box, especially with Craigslist where it’s cheaper since you don’t have to pay for shipping.
Summary
It is worth it to order jet ski parts on eBay, provided you do your research first. You’ll also need the mechanical aptitude to fit those parts onto your jet ski.
For some people, it does get a bit too hard. The expensive option is using your local dealership, but this often solves the problem fast, so you can get back out there riding again.
eBay is a good platform. I continue to sell on there and ride my jet ski in my spare time. They have improved considerably over the years, but just make sure you get what you ordered.
It’s the dream of many to ride a jet ski to another country such as the Bahamas. Consider it an international expedition with a jet ski. The best part is that you don’t need to travel far from Miami.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: COVID-19 Restrictions mean that current information changes frequently. What was written 5 minutes ago may not be relevant now. It’s best to refer to government websites and media outlets in both countries before planning.
In normal times, you can easily travel by jet ski from Miami to the Bahamas in a day trip, but it will require some preparation. I’ll show you how (assuming we’re not in a Pandemic) in this detailed guide.
How to jet ski from miami to the bahamas (2022) 33
Let’s jump straight into it!
Preparing Your Jet Ski for The Bahamas
It all really comes in the planning stages. I’d recommend that you do the following:
How to jet ski from miami to the bahamas (2022) 34
Pack your passport! You will need it to get past customs on both ends. Some people forget that it has to have a few months worth of expiry left.
Exchange your US dollars into Bahamian dollar before you leave home. It’s harder to exchange dollars at most places, plus some places aren’t authorized to change money either.
Make sure your jet ski has had a recent service and is fully clean with no leaks. It’s
Check the weather! This can make the difference between fun and frustration.
Fuel up your jet ski to the very top plus check your oil levels too.
Double-check you have everything, including at least 5 litres of fresh drinking water.
Ask a buddy to join you, as riding a jet ski to the Bahamas is lonely to do solo. There are group rides that open to the public leaving Miami every weekend, as long as the weather is great!
It really doesn’t take that much more than a normal day of riding, apart from some additional preparation. The biggest one, of course, is the passport that you’ll need to pack in a dry bag. I know several riders who got their passports wet when riding, so don’t avoid that mistake.
Setting a Route to The Bahamas
There are multiple ways to travel by jet ski from Miami to the Bahamas.
Here are 3 routes that are quite popular:
Fort Lauderdale to Freeport (the longest route)
Miami to Bimini which only takes 1.5 hours by jet ski
Fort Lauderdale to Bimini (quite a popular route)
These are the more popular tourist spots. If you want something a little quieter, then there are numerous spots you can find but you’ll still need to clear customs at either Bimini or Freeport before going to have a picnic or stay overnight.
Returning to the United States
On the return to the United States, expect to be questioned by Customs as to what you were doing away. This is because they are very security-conscious about people doing the wrong thing between countries. You know what I mean.
I would advise that you aim to return long before sunrise. You or someone else might have a mechanical issue on the return which could require towing. Trust me: the extra sunshine hours will come in helpful.
The other issue is that often the boat ramp is busy in the late afternoon. Retrieving a jet ski at nighttime is a riskier process and it’s also not that fun being bitten by insects at the boat ramp.
Summary
Riding a personal watercraft to the Bahamas and back in a day is great fun! You can also combine it with jet ski camping or simply stay at one of the many beach-side huts. Their 24/7 security can mind your jet ski while you’re sleeping, or you can buy a PWC lock or set an alarm system.
How to jet ski from miami to the bahamas (2022) 35
Group riding is so much fun and often there is a support boat to carry extra gas. I do know of several people who have done it solo but it is riskier.
So you’re very excited about the notion of riding a jet ski, but that begs the question: Should you hire one or simply buy one outright?
Many people have this conundrum, including me. I’ve done both.
I’ve hired a jet ski and I’ve also bought a jet ski.
Each has its pros and cons. And because of COVID-19, there are shortages globally in new personal watercraft and parts, so it’s something to keep in mind.
Today I’ll drill down on which one you should do.
Jet Ski Hiring vs Buying
There is really no clear-cut answer initially. There are some things you might want to think about:
Your current starting budget including all gear, maintenance and registration
How often you’ll ride a jet ski, both annual average and peak season
The availability of where you can ride (jet ski hire shops aren’t everywhere)
Your current skills and experience in riding personal watercraft
Your current weight (since most hire shops just use rec-lite jet skis)
If you want to take passengers and do tow-sports such as wakeboarding
The storage capacity in your home for your trailer
How devoted you are towards cleaning/servicing a jet ski
Whether you’re OK in being restricted in your chosen routes
That really gives you something to think about. The person who buys a jet ski has a different thought pattern to someone who simply hires.
Jet Ski Ownership vs Rental Comparison Table
To make things easier, I’ve created these two helpful comparison tables where you can compare pricing information.
This is based on my data in my jet ski rental pricing article where I found that hiring a jet ski for 2 hours, on average, will cost $200.
As you can see, there isn’t much of a clear-cut answer apart from the financial benefits. Neither optional is good or bad, despite renters often being frowned upon. Some people like to ride and drop it off at the shop, whilst others want the feeling of full ownership. The tables also don’t account for re-sale value after the end of your jet ski loan is repaid.
Let’s drill down on each one.
Hiring a Jet Ski
There are dozens of jet ski hire shops across the world. In the United States, there are certainly plenty, as well as here in Australia.
Typically jet ski hire shops use the same models for tours.
Most of these will simply offer the opportunity of a jet ski tour, as opposed to giving you the opportunity to ride and explore yourself. Most people would prefer the solo adventure instead of being restricted to a bunch of new riders and a normal route.
Advantages
You don’t need to outlay a lot of money for a jet ski, trailer and accessories, plus registration and insurance
No need to worry about it being stolen. You ride it for 2 to 3 hours then return it.
Avoid the hassles, time, embarrassment and ques at boat ramps. The shop will launch it for you so it’s ready to go when you arrive.
You also don’t need to worry about cleaning, servicing or storage. It’s all taken care of for you.
If you break-down when riding, that’s not your problem. The jet ski shop will sort that out.
Gives you a chance to gain some experience riding a jet ski before buying your own
You have that ‘safe’ feeling of knowing that someone else takes care of everything.
You’re given some guidance on where to ride and where to avoid before departing.
Depending on the jet ski shop, they might also include a GPS so you can find your way home.
Disadvantages
Most jet ski shops only have a basic fleet of rec-lite jet skis for their public riders. These are lightweight and not very powerful.
You might have to pay a PWC rental bond. Depending on your country, this could be $1,000+
Once you’re done riding, you have to return back to base by a certain time.
Other riders will fly past you because you’re on a donkey of a jet ski.
Quite restrictive on where you can go. Often you’re only allowed in canals, lakes and rivers and not the open ocean.
No wave jumping! Very few of any jet ski hire shops allow their riders to jump waves, otherwise, you risk your entire rental bond.
Also restricted on when you can ride. I like to ride at sunrise and most jet ski shops open from 9am onwards when it starts to get busy on the waterways.
No refunds if the weather gets bad. Often you just have to suck it up.
As you can see, fairly balanced. Hiring a jet ski is better suited towards the occasional user (i.e. 1 ride per month) who also don’t want to do anything crazy, mainly just cruise around for a while.
Buying a Jet Ski
When I go into a jet ski dealership, I feel like a kid in a candy shop. There are just so many great jet skis, both at Yamaha and SeaDoo dealers.
It’s often much more fun to buy your own jet ski – think of the fun you’ll have!
Buying your first jet ski will be one of the best decisions you ever make. That said, they are expensive so it’s always best to start with hiring unless you can afford one outright.
Advantages
It’s your own jet ski, so you can add decals and ride anytime you want.
Fully unrestricted on where you can ride too. Maybe even try some jet ski camping and enjoy some overnight trips in the wilderness.
Unless you buy a rec-lite jet ski (like the SeaDoo Spark) then you’ve got more power on hand. More power = much more fun!
You can go wave jumping anytime you want, but that takes practice too.
Keeping up with other PWC riders should be no problem at all.
Children can join you out on the waterways with tube sports and wakeboarding.
You don’t have a feeling of being watched or tracked, so you can ride anywhere.
No fear of damage. If you hit a submerged rock, then that’s on you to sort out.
Zero requirements to tag along on a jet ski tour. In fact, you’ll often overtake others out there on tours.
Can join in with group rides. Join your local jet ski clubs for details.
Instead of buying a boat, you can go jet ski fishing!
Jet ski fishing is one activity that you just can’t do when you hire one of these machines.
Disadvantages
You’ll need to outlay thousands of dollars for the ski, safety equipment, trailer, registration and insurance.
Will require a place to store your PWC at home or another safe place.
To maintain its condition, you’ll have to properly clean your jet ski after each ride.
Good risk of theft. Thieves love jet skis so you become a target, but there are ways to stop them (Read more: Security devices for PWCs)
You’ll also need a tow vehicle capable of handling your jet ski at highway speeds without swaying.
If you ride on weekends, then expect a queue of people at the local boat ramp. You’ll also need to learn how to launch and retrieve.
Depreciation: your jet ski is losing value each and every week (plus clocking on additional riding hours too)
You might not feel confident enough yet on the first few riders to join with other riders.
Lots of time spent researching on where to ride and potential hazards.
If you live in an apartment like me, you’ll need to spend money to rent an additional car space.
The additional cost to have a towbar fitted to your vehicle.
Again, a pretty fair outlay. I’ve done both hiring and renting and certainly jet ski ownership makes better sense if you’re riding often (more than 2 times per month).
Summary
There is nothing wrong with hiring instead of buying. As I’ve detailed, each has its pros and cons.
Hiring gives you the chance to learn as you go, either with an organized tour or self-hire option. It’s much less hassle for a few fun hours on the water.
On the flip side, owning your own jet ski is one of the best feelings in the world. The chance to ride when and where you want cannot be replicated with jet ski hire shops.
If you’re unsure, I would recommend hiring first. This way you can discover whether the sport of jet skiing is an enjoyable activity for you and the family, without spending a large chunk of capital.
