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-   Archive through May 25, 2007 (http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=455062)
-   -   PWC Purchasing advice (http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=450698)

n00b 05-20-2007 3:36 PM

Hello <BR> <BR>I'm thinking about buying a jet ski, can't afford a proper boat <IMG SRC="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/sad.gif" ALT=":-(" BORDER=0> so a jet ski seems like a best alternative just for buttering and goofing about with. <BR> <BR>So I'd like some advice please, anything I should look for and anything I should avoid? <BR>I'll have to purchase one second hand, I'll have a budget of about $7000. <BR>I've spoken to one or two owners and they said to look out for cracks or repairs to the hull, they also said that Sea Doo's have a habit of snapping their crank shafts. (pity I was considering getting an RXP) <BR> <BR>Any advice on buying, servicing and maintaining jet ski's would be greatly appreciated. <BR> <BR>Thank you guys.

iridelow1998 05-20-2007 5:15 PM

7k should get you a decent used pwc. We have 3 Yamaha Waverunners and have had relatively few problems over the years. We've got a 94 that runs like a champ, the first one we bought and we've had 4 others since then. Bought 2 more then traded them in for two new ones a couple of years ago. Never had any problems other than routine maintenance which compared to a boat is pennies. Just like a boat look for integrity of the hull, check the bottom to see if they have run on rock and inpsect the impeller. A solid pwc should be able to start on the trailer immediately for about 7 seconds with no problems. Make sure it has a good strong engine and kind of interview the people you will buy from. Are they 20 yrs old or 45? Just make sure they are capable of selling you a quality watercraft after all it is 7k not 1k.

99_slaunch 05-20-2007 6:36 PM

I have seen some decent boats for 7k. Put a tower on this and you're ready. <BR> <BR>Reply to: <a href="mailto:sale-332679608@craigslist.org">sale-332679608@craigslist.org</a> <BR>Date: 2007-05-17, 8:33AM CDT <BR>**WATERSKI BOAT** 1984 Correct Craft Ski Nautique - $7750 <BR> <BR> <BR>1984 inboard Correct Craft Ski Nautique 2001 model. V8-351 <BR>This is a great all around ski boat for slalom, wakeboarding, barefooting, tricking, etc. <BR>Only 650 hours. Very nice inside and out. Gelcoat's in great shape, and interior is very nice also. Floor is solid. <BR>Price includes trailer. <BR>Email or call 651-674-8426. <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/450718.jpg" alt="Upload">

xaggie 05-20-2007 8:45 PM

I second Aaron, save a little more and get your self a boat. You will be much happier in the end.

auto 05-21-2007 4:55 AM

don't do it, It's like kissing your sister.

committed 05-21-2007 7:26 AM

7G's and you can for sure get a boat. Big deal if it isn't a new Xstar, you can sack it out, and have total fun. <BR>You will be bored with the Seedoo in short time.

peter_c 05-21-2007 9:14 AM

Save some more and buy a Nauty 2001 or something. Kinda like the one posted above. Even better yet...find some people to ride with, kick down gas money, help clean up, and ride some really nice boats.

denverd1 05-21-2007 9:59 AM

whose SAN? if you have access to the SAN and don't care about hauling your friends and their gear around, the pwc might be what you need. especially if the skate is more your style. <BR> <BR>but, if you're just trying to get on the water and think the PWC is the quickest way to do it, then think about a direct drive boat. PWC really limits what you can do and who you can do it with. just make sure it meets your needs. <BR> <BR>no help on buying one!

shredhead 05-21-2007 11:31 AM

I would also recommend getting a boat. <BR> <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/searchresults.asp?Forsale=Yes" target="_blank">http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/searchresults.asp?Forsale=Yes</a>

n00b 05-21-2007 11:42 AM

Hey guys thanks for the responses, believe me I've thought long and hard about this and a pwc is my only option. <BR>I can not buy a boat as: <BR>1. my car is small and I'd need a new car to tow a boat (can not afford this) <BR>2. Storage, I could store a pwc in my parents garage, they've no room for boat. <BR>3. Fuel costs and maintenance, $7k is the limit of my budget, The nautique shown above is $7.7k before a tower. I couldn't afford the fuel and maintenance required for a boat. <BR>4. I'm a member of a wakeboarding club and ride behind a SAN 220 Team every weekend (and during the week if I have the time and money) <BR>5. I know the limits of a PWC and Have thought long and hard about this and I do want one. <BR>6. Few of my friends are into the sport and getting them to trek out of the city an pay $50+ (non member prices) for 15 minutes on the water is tough, maybe with a PWC and my gear I could get a few more into the sport. <BR> <BR>So again thank you for the suggestions but a boat is not an option so if anyone can help me with suggestions about looking after a pwc and what to look out for when buying one second hand please let me know. <BR> <BR>Thank you

rodltg2 05-21-2007 11:57 AM

i would spend 5K get a boat and use the rest of the money for gear/maintenence. how much more room would a 2001 nauty take anyway??

rodltg2 05-21-2007 6:13 PM

here you go get somehting like this indstead! much better . <BR> <BR><a href="http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/331963441.html" target="_blank">http://sacramento.craigslist.org/boa/331963441.html</a>

longlakerider 05-21-2007 6:20 PM

im kindof in the same boat as you( no pun intended) my dad doesn't want to shell out for a boat but says mabye to a jetski, take a look at bthe sea doo wakeedition. im not sure how much it costs but it has a pylon and board racks stock

phatboypimp 05-21-2007 6:49 PM

I would suggest posting on another site, I do not think you will find anyone here (especially those that have owned PWC's) that will answer your questions. <BR> <BR>We are always trying to recruit new boat owners, please do not hold that against us. As boat owners and lovers of butter we do not like PWC's, not even a little bit.

tanner 05-21-2007 6:59 PM

Personally, I say get the PWC since u already have access to a boat. PWC's are really for the most part bulletproof. I'm partial to Sea Doo myself. <BR> <BR>You'll see alot of guys here gripe about PWC's and tubers. <BR> <BR>Personally I love both. Wakeboarders don't own the lake or the water. If they want butter, go to a private lake. I'll be up at 6am boarding, and tubing around 7 or 8. If they don't like it, go find another side of the lake. <BR> <BR>The only thing I hate about PWC's is the guys who try and jump your wake and get right up on you, and then the guys who don't watch where their going. <BR> <BR>Don't let someone else talk you out of something you want just b/c they don't like it.

rodltg2 05-21-2007 7:08 PM

funny you mention the guys who follow you and jump the wake. i had a guy on saturday doing that. i slowed down to make a nice big wake for him. he ate sh*T and the ski kept going straight. the river had a nice current going too. he must have swam for 15minute trying to catch it ..maybe more<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/rofl.gif" border=0>

auto 05-21-2007 7:20 PM

tubing at 7 or 8, what the hell is the world coming to?<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/angry.gif" border=0>The reason most people here dislike is the disregard for common sense and etiquette. I would rather share lake/river with a fisherman than a tuber or lake lice.

jaytique 05-21-2007 7:29 PM

as far as maintenance and fuel costs, they are going to run pretty close, unless you spend enough to get a 4 stroke. And pwcs use quite a bit of fuel, without giving you room for people or sizeable wake. but they are nice for flipping around quick and pickin up again. So do what you would like, But don't expect low maintenance.

bobbynipper 05-21-2007 7:48 PM

Jet Skis get very boring. Need more than one to go in a group. Depreciate like a rock. Some of those 7000 dollar boats will still be worth 7000 dollars in a year or so. My opinion. I have two kawasaki's and a Supra.

n00b 05-21-2007 11:51 PM

Hey guys thanks again for all the suggestions. <BR> <BR>But I'm not getting a boat it's just not an option, I already have a boat to ride behind, I damn good one too. :D <BR> <BR>I will of course ride the ski nowhere near any other boarders, I like most people here have been pissed upon by fools on pwc's before. It's rude and ignorant and I won't be stepping on anyones toes or putting anyone in danger while I'm out on it. <BR> <BR>I realise now that phatboypimp is right I may have to look else where for the info I need. <BR> <BR>Thank you again to those that replied and any further info you guys can give will be greatly appriciated but stop trying to convince me to get a boat, it just not gonna happen.

dh03r6 05-22-2007 7:13 AM

I thought i would love a pwc after i had one for a month or so was very bored. I then sold it and lost my ass on it. buy a truck mooch off your friend for a year then buy a boat next year. pwcs are only fun for a short time.

hal2814 05-22-2007 7:17 AM

Now be honest, Philip. A boat <i>is</i> an option. It's just not an option you're interested in. My first two boats combined didn't cost $7K. You just want a jet ski. That's cool. A lot of the responses you're getting saying, "Buy a boat, dood!" are in response to your claims of why you <i>can't</i> own a boat and providing counterarguments as to why you <i>can</i>. Your own line that you "can't afford a proper boat :-( so a jet ski seems like a best alternative" is what brought all these comments on you. <BR> <BR>Now moving past the premise and onto your question, most jet ski buying tips also apply to boats. The first thing to consider is where you'd have to go to get your jet ski serviced. Our Yamaha dealer has the best service in town from what I hear so if I were buying a jet ski, that's probably the way I'd go. Talk to some of your jet ski owning friends and see what they think about the local dealers. <BR> <BR>Stay away from 2-stroke engines. I don't think that's really an issue with a $7K budget but the list of lakes that prohibit 2-stroke engines is only growing and they just suck down gas. The little bit of extra maintenance required for the 4-stroke is very worth it. <BR> <BR>Speaking of $7K, that's a good budget for a jet ski. Jet skis are designed to have the poo beat out of them but some people take that to extremes. In my experience, significantly older jet skis will have more problems than boats of similar vintage. <BR> <BR>As a personal rule, I don't buy jet skis from people who have teenage kids. I was a teenage kid once and I'd feel sorry for anyone who bought a jet ski that was treated like I treated jet skis at the time. <BR> <BR>Winterizing a jet ski is pitifully easy compared to a boat so most people do it on their own. That means you won't tend to find service records for that. And unfortunately, a lot of people don't do it right (especially making sure the block is drained). Try to get a feel for if the current owner is doing proper winterization. I usually just ask point blank what they do to winterize (feigning ignorance on the subject) and see if they show me what really needs to be done. <BR> <BR>Good luck on your jet ski purchase.


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