What is the most stable jet ski?
There's no question that the most stable stand-up jet ski on the market is the 4-stroke Kawasaki SX-R 1500. This ski is so stable that a small rider can ride it in a standing position with no-wake speed!
The biggest difference between them is that Yamaha has gone ahead and added a whole list of PWC models to their repertoire, giving the brand a much wider range of products on the market. This means that Yamaha stands a better chance of satisfying more market needs than just speed and performance.
It's much easier to fall from a jet ski than from a boat, and most watercraft-related deaths are the result of drowning, which can be prevented by wearing a life jacket. This is true regardless of your swimming ability!
The most reliable Jet Ski on the market is the WaveRunner FX. The WaveRunner is a model that is created by Yamaha, and it is technically not a Jet Ski. These terms WaveRunner and Jet Ski are often used interchangeably, but only the Kawasaki brand makes the Jet Ski.
Yamaha FX HO
The Yamaha FX HO is a luxury jet ski because it gives the most comfortable and high-performance ride out of all the models. We'll start with the engine first.
- 2022 Sea-Doo RXT-X / RXP-X. If you want a beast of a jet ski that can handle even 2 to 3-foot swell, then you're going to be spending quite a few dollars. ...
- 2022 Yamaha FX Cruiser SVHO. ...
- 2022 Sea-Doo GTX Limited. ...
- 2022 Yamaha FX HO.
As a rule of thumb, the 2-stroke jet ski engines last around 200-300 hours, while the 4-stroke jet ski engines last around 300-500 hours.
A sudden wave can easily turn your jet ski over, if there is too much weight on the ski. Passengers: Riding with passengers is always more difficult, which means more risks. Something as simple as a passenger who doesn't shift their weight correctly in a turn, is enough to cause your jet ski to capsize.
They are specially designed to float even when totally filled with water due to floatation foam built into their hull. Even so, gallons of water seeping into the hull can cause considerable damage, even if your jet ski doesn't totally sink! But you needn't worry because jet skis rarely sink.
Although it may be surprising, it's completely legal to ride a jet ski without having any swimming skills. It's not uncommon that many jet ski rental centers offer jet skis for customers who can't swim at all. Their staff usually educates the customers about the basics of jet ski operation, as well as safety.
Can a jet ski outrun a shark?
Jet skis are faster and can outrun a shark. The current fastest jet ski on the market can reach 70 miles per hour, with some can even hitting speeds higher than 80 mph. Compare that to the top speed of the fastest sharks in the world, shortfin Mako shark, which is 42 mph. So, there you have it.
The top speed of a jet ski can vary from 40 to 70 mph, depending on the model. The fastest a stock jet ski can go is 70 mph due to a gentleman's agreement with the US coast guard.

“This is to the jet ski what a hypercar is to a car.” The super-fast jet ski niche has a new contender in the Supermarine MM01, a first-of-its-kind “hyper-jet” that will cost an eye-watering $900,000.
Yamaha's Waverunners take home the trophy for the most reliable jet ski, but there are some good runner ups. Kawasaki and the now extinct Honda jet skis are both renowned for their dependability.
Nationally, personal watercrafts such as jet skis are the second most common type of vessel involved in recreational boat accidents.
Due to their design, 2-stroke engines burn oil continuously along with the gas. This means 2-stroke engines don't have as efficient a lubrication system as 4-strokes, so their internals wear out much faster. Moreover, 2 stroke engines are more powerful and run at higher RPMs compared to 4-strokes.
Don't turn too quick or sharp because jet skis can tip over! That means, you better be prepared to rock the jet ski back to an upright position before water starts to collect in the engine.
Yes, every jet ski can be used in saltwater, but beware that the smaller models with lightweight hulls are not recommended for marine use. If you want to regularly ride a jet ski in the ocean it's highly recommended that you choose a jet ski with a larger, deep V-shaped hull for better stability and more comfort.
The main difference between a jet ski and a waverunner is the driving position. A Jet Ski offers a more adventurous position than a Waverunner. That's because unlike the Waverunner, you'll most likely be standing up while piloting a Jet Ski. These Personal Watercraft (PWC) are also faster than the competition.
What is the best jet ski out there? For overall dependability, Yamaha waverunners like the EXR, Superjet, or FX Limited SVHO are tops. If you're looking for speed, try Kawasaki's Jet Ski Ultra 310LX or the Mansory Black Marlin 550. If you want an easy ride with storage space, look at Sea-Doo's GTI SE.
How long does a jet ski last?
Most jet ski models have a lifespan of approximately 300 hours, but if properly maintained they can last much longer.
Find out just how much a jet ski might cost you in 2021. We list the prices for a variety of manufacturers including Seadoo, Kawasaki, and Yamaha. A new jet ski typically costs around $5,000 on the low end of the spectrum, but higher end jet skis can cost close to $20,000.
10-Foot Shark Takes a Bite Out of Man's Jet Ski - YouTube
The worst place to learn jet ski jumping is when the waves are beyond 4 feet. That's just too much for a novice.
Jet ski rider's terrifying encounter with a three-metre shark off ... - YouTube
As a general rule, anything over 500 hours is too many hours for a 4-stroke jet ski. If it's a 2-stroke jet ski anything over 300 hours is too many. A common trend I'm seeing when buying and selling jet skis is that most people will sell them before 200 hours and a lot will even sell with under 100 hours on them.
First off, your Sea-Doo can go on fresh water AND salt water, so you can alternate, depending on where you live, whether it be lake, rivers or oceans.
FAQ About Jet Ski Range
An average jet ski can run around 1-2 hours on a tank of gas, if you ride it at full speed. If you ride it at best cruise speed, you can expect to ride a jet ski for 4-7 hours before you need to refill.
- Best Jet Ski for Salt & Rough Water. The lighter jet skis in the recreational-lite range just aren't really capable to handle the rough waters of the ocean. ...
- 2022 Sea-Doo RXT-X / RXP-X. ...
- 2022 Yamaha FX Cruiser SVHO. ...
- 2022 Sea-Doo GTX Limited. ...
- 2022 Yamaha FX HO. ...
- In Summary.
Flipping The Jet Ski. What is this? Avoid abrupt movements: The most common way to capsize a jet ski is by making a turn too abruptly. Make sure to turn gradually until you get a good feel for how the jet ski handles.
Why do jet skis flip over?
A sudden wave can easily turn your jet ski over, if there is too much weight on the ski. Passengers: Riding with passengers is always more difficult, which means more risks. Something as simple as a passenger who doesn't shift their weight correctly in a turn, is enough to cause your jet ski to capsize.
Reckless Driving
Reckless or careless driving is the most common cause of jet ski accidents.
More often than not, when a jet ski sinks it's because the drain plugs are missing. Jet skis come with drain plugs so the water can be drained from the bilge once the craft has been brought out of the water. Sadly, owners sometimes forget to replace the plugs before launching their jet ski again.
Yes, you can take jet skis out in the ocean, as today's jet skis are much more stable compared to the vintage 2-stroke jet skis. But beware that riding a jet ski out on the ocean poses more dangers compared to riding on inshore waterways.
Riding a Jet Ski in Waves
Rough water is considered a much worse water condition, which typically means waves above 3 feet. However, the shapes and action of the waves may vary depending on several factors, so it's not only the size of the waves which can make this condition difficult.
Don't turn too quick or sharp because jet skis can tip over! That means, you better be prepared to rock the jet ski back to an upright position before water starts to collect in the engine.
Jet skis are easy to flip over if you don't ride with care and attention. Even the most experienced jet skiers fall off, so don't worry if that happens. Getting back on is as easy as swimming to the craft and hoisting yourself back up from the back of the ski.
Turn the engine off right away if the jet ski has been flipped (pull the lanyard off). Go to the back of the watercraft to see what direction to flip the jet ski back over. It's vital you follow the direction on the sticker. Quickly flip the jet ski over; the longer you wait, the more water will enter the hull.
If you fall off a jet ski and the safety lanyard was properly connected, the jet ski's engine will shut off and drift a little away from you. The jet ski will not come back to you, it's a dud until you get back on it.
Nationally, personal watercrafts such as jet skis are the second most common type of vessel involved in recreational boat accidents.
Will a jet ski sink?
A jet ski can sink when it's missing its drain plug. Without a drain plug, the jet ski cannot drain the water from the bilge. Water from the jet ski is drained when the jet ski is no longer in the water. If the water does not get removed from the jet ski, water enters the hull once the vehicle gets back to the water.
10-Foot Shark Takes a Bite Out of Man's Jet Ski - YouTube
Based on the USCG report, 600-700 jet ski accidents are reported each year, resulting in around 40 deaths, although this tendency has been declining over the past decade.
The latest statistics available from the US Coast Guard are from 2018. In these there were 4,145 accidents, resulting in 633 deaths and 2,511 injuries. Of these, 19% of reported accidents involved PWC and 7% of these resulted in deaths.