SeaDoo...or alternatively, don't?

[Greenheart]

I'm probably at the rear of a very long queue, in wanting an answer to this.

Given that 'personal water craft' often cost as much as far more comfortable, infinitely more practical, equally rapid RIBs and speedboats...

...why would anybody choose a PWC?

I know that waterjets are safer - (slightly) - than propellers, if people are swimming all around. Then again, if one wasn't seated on the equivalent of a bucking bronco in the first place, safety for swimmers mightn't be a big issue.

Maybe speedboats appeal to convertible-drivers, while PWC riders prefer two wheels?

Whenever I see a PWC, I think of those teenagers' two-stroke, low-cc mopeds in France...

...they're all over the place, they make a horrendous noise, and they're most often used by persons whose brains operate at the opposite end of the rpm-range from their engines.

There are plenty of grunty, responsibly-used motorcycles on our roads, and they needn't be dull. As a pillion-passenger of many miles' experience round London in the 'nineties, I couldn't help concluding that the bike's principle benefit was speed through congestion.

But there's no heavy traffic at sea...so who would choose a vessel as petite as a PWC?

 

[[2068]]

Try having a go on one!
The short answer is: the sensation of speed.

For a short period of time, it's lots of fun.
Glad I never bought one, though.

 

[rafiki_]

Yes, great fun......................in the med....................or anywhere hot and sunny and warm clean water.

 

[STEVEDUNSTABLE]

if there is a model with warm n dry berths, head, shower, somewhere to cook, comfy seats, fridge (for special items!!!!!), room for more than 2 people, reasonable amount of protection from the spray etc etc then im 1ST IN THE QUEUE

 

[dabsolute470]

we got a 3 seater seadoo for fun and to use as a tender, seemed like a good idea at the time....
kids used is for a few weekend... blew the engine up, so now its with my other toys waiting repair, dont think i will rush to get it fixed until next summer though.
good fun as said but for a short time and a bit anti social.

 

[volvopaul]

I was talking to a guy in Bembridge last year, the one they had did over 70mph, they went out with crash helmets on!, it had an 1100 cc engine in it from a motorbike, it looked great from the beach, it was a flat calm day so it really suited it.

Not sure id want to fall off at that speed though.

 

[rafiki_]

I saw some really dodgy looking copies in Brazil a couple of weeks ago, made in China!!

 

[Chris_d]

But there's no heavy traffic at sea...so who would choose a vessel as petite as a PWC?

Same reason as a buying a race replica motorcycle and just using it on a Sunday to go nowhere in particular, just for the fun of it.

As others have said try one they are great fun but only for about half an hour, its like riding a motorcycle across a ploughed field while someone throws buckets of water in your face

 

[l'escargot]

I recently did my competency cert for jet ski because I like being able to handle anything that goes on water. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even though I'm not dashing out to buy one, I would certainly take up the occasional opportunity to go out again, especially in rough conditions. As FP says, have a go.

 

[Greenheart]

Thanks for your responses.

I'm fascinated to read that even those of you who enthuse about PWCs, wouldn't much want to own one, or even hurry to fix it when it goes wrong!

As I suspected - they're like beach-toys, fun for a very short while, but largely useless, and quick to exhaust their users' interest.

The top, 260HP Seadoo is currently £17,000.

How would you spend £17,000 on fun? I wouldn't even look at a PWC.

 

[AndieMac]

The top, 260HP Seadoo is currently £17,000.

How would you spend £17,000 on fun? I wouldn't even look at a PWC.

i guess you need to be 21 with a pocket full of disposable income, a need for speed and a tendency toward motorcross type riding.
Anti-social and dangerous in the wrong hands, but so are a number of things.

 

[AndieMac]

its like riding a motorcycle across a ploughed field while someone throws buckets of water in your face

I like this

 

[aquapower]

I have had 5 new Seadoo's since I bought the first one in 1995, I allways found them to be the best made and most reliable, from then they just kept getting bigger and more expensive until I sold the last one 18 months ago when I decided to give up, my last one was nearly £11,000 and when I saw that to replace it was to be £17,000 that helped make my mind up, we used to have a lot of fun, mostly on lakes but ocaisionly on the sea as well, like all things when you have done it for a long time you feel you need a change, I still have my Kawasaki 800 sxr which is great fun and allways enjoyed that more than the Seadoo, its a shame you cant still get them new as would consider updating mine.

 

[Essential]

Got to agree with ^

I sold my RXP earlier this year as basically i was getting bored with it. Great in a straight line but just too heavy to have decent fun on. If i could find a decent old XP i'd buy that again.

 

[Neil_Y]

£17,000 could get you one of these

not 70mph but over 30. (I race these from time to time)
No fuel costs, but you do get through some quite expensive string.
How do I do a video link?
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-Vuv_LpqAQk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

well it's here as well
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vuv_LpqAQk

 

[lovezoo]

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