Learn me PWC

The wife likes the idea of a new SeaDoo Spark. We live on the ICW and have a dock with boat lift (but no boat). I know little to nothing about jet skis. I have never even ridden on one, but there are local places I could rent one to try it out. I know someone on here is a jet ski expert. Let me hear it. What do I need to know? What to watch out for if buying used? How soon will we get tired of cruising up and down the ICW before the novelty wears off? Will our 40ish out of shape bodies get tired before the novelty wears off?

I'd hit it. If you enjoy water toys its like a motorcycle you ride on water. Living on the intercoastal is a bonus because no trailering. May want to consider a boat though ,if you have a lift, IMHO a boat is more versatile.

TRoglodyte wrote: I'd hit it. If you enjoy water toys its like a motorcycle you ride on water. Living on the intercoastal is a bonus because no trailering. May want to consider a boat though ,if you have a lift, IMHO a boat is more versatile.

I disagree that a boat is more versatile. For 2 people looking for fun, nothing beats a wave runner. Personal opinion.

A three seatter will allow you to pull tubes or a skier/wakeboarder. (One for driver, one for spotter, one to pick up the person being dragged around) Of course the big ones command a small fortune.

My buddy had two two seatters and they were lots of fun over the 4th of July, but everyone and their dog wanted to ride them. And they rarely knew the laws/rules and usually didn't know how to treat them with respected. There is a correct way to roll them over when you tip them over. If you don't do it the right way, water gets into the engine compartment. My buddy sold them since it was a pain to keep them maintained and full of gas just to let a bunch of other people beat them up. Oh, but they were great fun.

we figure a pontoon boat would be great for our needs (to have family out on the water and be out all day, bring a small propane grill and a couple coolers) but man it would be awesome to get home from a long day at work and just go ride the jet ski for an hour to unwind. we're about 20 minutes away from a very large lake.

failboat wrote: we figure a pontoon boat would be great for our needs (to have family out on the water and be out all day, bring a small propane grill and a couple coolers) but man it would be awesome to get home from a long day at work and just go ride the jet ski for an hour to unwind. we're about 20 minutes away from a very large lake.

The problem is that it involves 40 minutes of driving, 5-10 minutes at the boat ramp, and $25-$50 of gas for an hour of riding.

Now, that changes if you live on a lake/river, or are 5 minutes from the boat launch.

Personally not a fan of pontoon boats. I'd much rather have an 18 foot runabout open bow, although I'm not sure I would grill on most of those.

Damnit, now I am looking at boats.

They can make really surprisingly good fishing rigs, too. Look up Jetski Brian. I've considered getting an older one, but things I've read about the ones I was looking at (mid 90s) scared me off for the moment.

Good grief.. I grew up living on a lake.. The novelty of a PWC wears off fast. Please don't do it.. They are fun but these days you might as well have a boat. Some of those damn things are 13ft long.. 220 hp.. whatever.. Basically a boat with handlebars..

For me if it isn't going to be an old school standup, and therefore something that is an engaging sport.. Count me out. I simply just don't see the fun in it anymore.

I have done it all.. from an insane jet boats to barefoot waterskiing.. 80mph jet skis.. ect.. NOTHING has provided more lasting entertainment and educational value than one of these. (mine is the 'blue' one)

I have spent some money on that one, but it sits mast up at the lake ready to go. I can ride a motorcycle to go play. It burns no gas... and racing it is a constant source of challenge.

Oh... And I can pull skiers with it too.

This on my buddies boat from last weekend..

Interesting ronholm. That was sorta what I was thinking. I'd hate to spend a good pile of money for a toy that we will soon tire of and ends up becoming something that gets used/abused when we have house guests.

Maybe I'll keep an eye out on Craigslist and see if any good deals come up, that way if/when we are bored with it, I don't have as much money sunk into it.

I have a former co-worker who as a single guy bought two JetSkis. He told me that the insurance on the second unit was outrageous. Being single, clearly he could not ride both at the same time so the insurance was smart enough to realize that the second unit would often be in the hands of someone inexperienced, non-owner, and priced it as such.
For the OP, being married this may not be an issue but fodder for further investigation and insight for others.

ronholm: Super-sweet Hobie!
Seeing you are in KC, the sailing community can not be that big out there...do you know Jeremy Kaufman? I think he campaigns a Thistle in KC. When not home in KC, he often gets flown up to Chicago to work bow on big boats like Santa Cruz 70's. This year for the Mac Race, he'll be racing one-design Ben 36.7 "Soulshine"
http://www.cycracetomackinac.com/the_race/by-section/

He and I did some racing together before he moved to KC and I still race with his younger brother and father.

I am only familiar with the intercoastal in Florida. To narrow for sailing?

A common boat ownership adage that we can likely include PWC into is that you will keep your first boat for 18 months.
In that 18 months, you will find you love it and want "more" boat or that you do not like it (do not have time for it, too expensive, etc) and will get out of boating all together.

So, buy something that is easily remarketed, you will not keep it for long.

T.J. wrote: Interesting ronholm. That was sorta what I was thinking. I'd hate to spend a good pile of money for a toy that we will soon tire of and ends up becoming something that gets used/abused when we have house guests. Maybe I'll keep an eye out on Craigslist and see if any good deals come up, that way if/when we are bored with it, I don't have as much money sunk into it.

I wouldn't get bored with it, but I have only been out on big water (Green Bay and Lake Michigan). I could certainly see getting bored on interior lakes and rivers/canals.

JohnRW1621 certainly has the 18 month rule right--buy something that is fully depreciated, otherwise when you get 2footitis or realize you're not meant for the water, you'll take a bath. When we bought our first boat, we'd been around boats for a long time, so knew what to do--and we still wish that we had bought a wider boat. Ours isn't small enough to make us get a new one, but it has kept us looking for the past 6 or 7 years (we've had it for... 13?)

Ok, sounds like a plan. I will get a boat at some point in the future. Currently saving up for one and pondering which car(s) to sell since I barely drive anymore and have three cars. Off to Craigslist to look at the boat section.

JETJON LOL - saw this on the first page of boat ads. A combination of a jet ski and a jon boat. I could get a boat and a jet ski all at the same time with this baby.

How hard are these things to tinker with? Are the engines accessible or are you working through little hand holes?
2001 Yamaha waverunner - $1500

Nice picture even for Craigslist standards. Wonder what the real story on this one is. Could just need a battery and a tuneup, but it could be a mess. I'd almost rather spend $4-5k and get something that is ready to go than to have a project.

Waverunners are fun for 30 minutes or so...afterwards I find I get bored with them. I would much rather have a small boat that can do a little bit of everything, like a Boston Whaler.

Also, Hobie cats are a blast but they are not for everyone. Surprisingly there are a large amount of Hobie owners/sailors on this board.....GRM Regatta?

Wouldn't riding a PWC on the ICW kind of negate what they are usually used for.

Running in circles.

I'd be happy to...

Oh, wait... You weren't talking about the SCCA Pro Racing Pirelli World Challenge?

Nevermind then...

Well, I will be the voice of dissent. I have a PWC and I love it. Why? Because I can tow it behind a car, get in and out of the river quickly, and I never have to worry about crap like packing sandwiches. I don't fish. I don't waterski. I just want to blow off some steam on a hot day after work. It's akin to motorcycling instead of riding in a car...you see, feel and smell a lot more on a PWC so the ride is the fun part. Boats are usually anchored somewhere while the owner fiddles with the carb or drinks beer. Not me, I wanna ride!

The limitations are riding at night (No can do. No lights) and the fact that you will arrive wet. For you and the SO, a pair of skis would be awesome. If there are kids down the road, then you get a boat.

As far as what to look for, the only problems I have ever had are related to fiberglass damage and wear. I dream of a small, affordable PWC made of plastic with removable panels...oh wait! The Spark! Looking forward to a test ride this summer.

I grew up on the lake and honestly, I would 100% buy a boat first and then buy the jet ski later on. The jet skis are great for 15 to 30 minute rides, but if you want to leave in the morning and stay out on the water all day the boat is the only way to go.

And the ting to remember about jet skis is that it's just like taking a piss; men stand up and women sit down.

A different buddy has a little Sea-Doo jet boat. All of the fun of a jet ski, but you will probably be the only one driving it and there is room for 4-5 people and a cooler. The rotax engines can be finicky, at least in his mid-nineties jet boat. And as someone pointed out, spending all day on a Jetski is not really doable, but on a jet boat it's like riding on a normal boat until the driver decides it's a jet ski for some antics.

In reply to T.J.: If that wave runner is a 4 stroke it would be hard to mess up. Same as a motorsickle check for watery oil and compression? Thats pretty cheap but those things depreciate VERY quickley. I guess you could chew up the jet impeller by running rocks thru it? Look for a beat up hull.

In reply to TRoglodyte:

Thanks. I may check that one out.

In reply to others: I have no illusions of being out for the entire day on the thing. I have a dock and boat lift in my backyard. I'm thinking more of 15-30 minutes of buzzing around playing with someone else's wake, doing circles around the channel marker, etc. then back to the dock.

I'm building a kayak and hopefully eventually a small day sailer to spend longer time (at a slower speed) on the water.

I sail. Sailing feels (to me anyway) like an inclusive activity where everyone aboard has a job and is involved in the activity.

Speedboats and pontoons seem an awful lot like "going for a ride with dad" whenever I've done that.

PWCs though, basically dirtbikes on terrain that never really changes. And they have the added penalty of being owned by yobbos who wear their flat brimmed ball caps backwards.

My opinions, your experience may vary.