JETSKIS

N1KON

N1KON

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tamworth, west mids
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i am wondering wether to buy a jet ski or not...

i need to know some basic stuff such as:

1. how much is insurance for a medium sized single/double seat ski such as wetjet duo?

2. is there any licences required and how are they awarded?

3. are sit down jetskis or stand-ups better for a begginer?

4. what is the best make for a good match of speed, stability, reliability and economy?


thank you for your time helping me resolve this matter. glad you could help!
have safe and fun times!!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif <span style="color:blue"> </span> <span style="color:black"> </span> <span style="color:blue"> </span>
 
There are forums that deal specifically with jet skis. The closest a lot of us get to them is to curse them as they zoom through a quiet anchorage again, and again, and again.

There are people who do it properly and there is a federation or association that help people to learn responsibly - a representative was on these forums abt a couple of months ago, so if you do a search you may be able to find his link back to their organisation.
 
You'll get blasted for putting this on here !

Jetski and waterski world have a forum for all things jetski - google search should find it, as they also publish a magazine.

For whats it's worth I have a Seadoo 3 seater GTX supercharged - 185hp and find it absolutely fantastic ! Some will recommend the Yamaha has a better riding hull, but personally, I'm not convinced.

Anyway, getting off here as don't want to be the wrath of everyone on here !

Pm if you want more info.
PS I have a V42 so I''m not all bad !


Adrian
 
I dont know the answers to all the questions that you ask but I had a ride on one on the weekend And I nearly passed out at 70mph !

Its great fun but I am not sure I could do it as a long term hobbie?

I prfer to sit on my boat at anchor and fish !

Looks like a lot of money (10k) and fuel for litlle gain (Speed) with very litlle comfort !

Why not hire one and try out?

Tom
 
Steady, he was only asking for help. Maybe some of you need to go out to the med and see mobos, yotties and PWCs all existing in harmony.
 
Have you tried a few first, I would suggest hiring one a few times in varying conditions. I did and its like riding a motorbike across a ploughed field while somebody throws buckets of water in your face /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif ok for about 20 minutes then it gets a bit tedious, better to get a proper boat IMHO.
 
On reflection it does read somewhat more harshly than I had intended.

Perhaps you are lucky in the med, But there are bad skippers in all sorts of boats who tend to stand out and then become symbols for their type of boating when viewed by other boating types. It is unfortunate in recent years that we seem to have been afflicted with boatings equivalent of the football holigan, and this has undoubtedly coloured my perception.
 
1. Depending on where you keep it, how much it's worth, etc, expect to pay around £300-£400 for insurance.

2. No licence required, but the RYA do a training scheme with a certificate awarded at the end. To ride one abroad you'll need this. Good course, highly recommended.

3. Sit-downs easier for novices, stand-ups more challenging (and therefore more fun). Two-seaters easier for launching and recovery (smaller and lighter), three-seaters better for towing ringos, skiers, etc.

4. Difficult to say which make...all major manufacturers have big ranges of two and three-seaters, two-stroke and four-stroke, for different applications. The best mentalist ski is the Sea-Doo RXP, but there are numerous entry-level and mid-range craft available. Sea-Doo and Yamaha lead in terms of build quality. Most have similar levels of stability and economy, but race-spec skis tend to be thirstier and less stable than entry-level ones (as you'd expect). Avoid WetJets (are there still any out there?) like the plague.

Prepare to be vilified for being a Jet Skier...the fact that you're having more fun than anyone else on the water means that everyone will hate you. Stay away from busy beaches and crowded anchorages...it seems that not everyone appreciates the sound of a large displacement 'stroker "on the pipe". And security is paramount...these things get nicked the minute you turn your back.

Check out www.jetskier.co.uk for lots of useful info, and buy Jet Skier & PW magazine every month...it's superb (and I'm the new freelance Acting Editor on account of the fact that the existing one is off to Havasu for the World Championships and won't be back for six months).
 
Drive round in a big circle really fast, wow. Then drive round in a big circle really fast again, still exciting but not so good as the first time. Drive round in a big circle really fast for a third time, starting to get a bit dull now .... Have you noticed how many nearly new jet skis are for sale on e-bay?
 
Round In Circles

But you are probably pretty intelligent and can recognise when you are getting bored. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
...you missed the bit that when you are bored with circles, go as close as possible to moored yachts. If your wash does not p them off, the engine which sounds like a castrated wasp certainly will.
 
And I'm the skipper of the F43 in your last edition, great mag, and a great day out filming with you all, thanks for that.

With regard to insurance be very careful as when I bought the Yamaha 800 Waverunner for our lads at SIBS last year I had no idea that the usual suspects only offer insurance if the Ski is to be driven only by over 21's, is to be bolted down when not on the water, and in a brick built nuclear shelter if unattended.

In fact they nearly all refused to quote until we came up with the fact that it was to be used on occasion as a tender to Damn along with the Jetrib, (Jetdock on end of pontoon allows us to swap them over), then it was all ok and insured as a £50 extension onto main F43 insurance ????? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Sorry...my mistake. It's obviously nowhere near as interesting as snowboarding (go to the top of a mountain, slide down, go back up, slide down, etc) or surfing (paddle out to sea, get pushed back in to shore, paddle back out, etc). As an ex-motocrosser I'd have thought you'd be a fan of riding in big circles realy fast. But you don't like Jet Skiing, so obviously it's rubbish.
 
Re: Round In Circles

And then when they get really bored they can start cutting under the bows of passing MOBO's. Next time one does that to me I will not try to avoid the little fxxxer!
 
Re: Round In Circles

Have to say I felt exactly the same way as you some time back and posted here about the little gits on occasion. However have to say that my attitude changed dramatically about this time last year when I happened upon the Solent Skiers Club on their annual Round IOW charity event. Was mightily impressed with the care and attention everything from safety to route planning, courtesy etc was dealt with.

Have since got more involved and as posted earlier have purchased a "ski" which have to admit is great fun, plus have learnt that the skiing fraternity, just like us lot on here are very keen to ensure their sport is not maligned by some idiots.

Obviously Skis are a budget entry into getting onto the water so attract total novices and thus what we might class as idiots, however if you come across a "dick" do try and get the datatag number off the ski, be assured the clubs and authorities can trace the offender and will read them the riot act which includes confiscation of ski as I understand it. Very rare a ski will not have a number on the side, eg. AE45362 as the insurance co's virtually insist upon it.

The retailer where we bought ours was, I have to say, far more conversant with RYA training courses for PWC's, what safety gear one should have onboard and safety edvice than ever the dealer was from whom we bought our first Searay! In fact he insisted that my lads produce their PB level 2 certs before allowing us to take ski without booking an RYA PWC course, very good strategy we thought.

Only other advice I would add to all above is buy some Gecko helmets if you are going a distance, not to clever a Co on delivery etc, but fabulous product and fantastic for driving on the flybridge when things get a bit wet too!! P
 
Of course my post was a bit tongue in cheek, I do have a jet rib on the back of the boat, but I can't believe how quickly I get bored of just driving it round fast. The difference with all the other sports you mention is the degree of variation - different mountains, drop offs, bigger surfing waves, tougher mx tracks, but flat water is just flat water and there's so little you can do on a jet ski except go fast. IMHO there's also very little skill to it, whereas something like surfing (or dare I say it sailing) takes months or years to learn, and is therefore more rewarding.
 
ye thanks for ya help. one post on here has been usefull thank you to masaccio.
its been intersting reading the replies and now i see that war is declared between jet skiers and motor boat owners. i own a 22ft diesel powered channel islands 22. they are a nuisance yes but we all get our kics one way or another. i ski aswell yes it is good. i also scuba dive, excellent also but i wanna try something new.

called variety!
thanks
 
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