Maintenance on a Jetski

I really am keen to get moving, but I gues mates have been saying don't do it. Jetski's are a pain in the but they cost lots of money to keep going etc.

How much does it cost to keep your four stroke jetski going? Are the new four strokes reliable?

The four strokes are very reliable. Just make sure you put the battery charger on the night before you go out if you don't use it every weekend. The main cost is to replace the impeller of the jet unit ! try not to pump to much sand through them in really shallow water and they last a reasonable length of time. The Yamaha has a stainless steel impeller some of the others use plastic.

The cost of servicing them is no more than owning a four stroke outboard.

Cheers Hoot

P.S have caught Reds of the Jet Ski when we take them up to Fraser Island we launch in the surf gutters behind Waddy point and Indian head and fish the reefs 10k out in about 60 mtrs of water.

wow that is so cool i am so keen...........i am going out on a jetski hire this week end just for a blast

As many will attest to. The modern 4 strokes are definately reliable. The key is to keep them un-modified and service them in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. More use the better though. I have owned 3 x boats personally and growing up we had in excess of 15 boats. It will be a very long time before I purchase a boat again.

Yes jetskis used to be unreliable and cost people a lot of money but they were all 2 strokes that got used a few times over summer then parked up in the garage to corrode over winter then crap themselves after the first session back out.

Anyway whats the worst that could happen, if you buy a ski and don't get incredibly addicted and some what psycotic and struggle to wipe the smile of your face, you could always turn around and sell it.

And yes your mates will hate you because: you will be faster than their boats, use less fuel, go where they can't, cover more fishing territory quicker and quieter, launch and retreive quicker, wash down quicker on return home and catch more fish !!!!!!

Totally agree mate! I have half shares in a boat in Tauranga, and since I bought into it I have been able to use it once... people keep taking bits such as the 'bungs' our and not returning them... cant really go fishing without such parts!

My seadoo (although only had it a couple of months) seems very quiet and economical... agree that the 2-strokes would really need a lot of maintenance to keep working. I have heard that if you make it to 100hours you are doing well but looking forward to a complete engine rebuild in the near future.

The 4-strokes are only just getting 'run in' at around 50-60hours... and now Seadoo offer a 2 year warranty on their new rental craft... regardless of hours!

Seadoo recommend one service every year or 100hours... which ever comes first and will cost around $300. That has to say it all really!

I dont have a ski yet, I am waying it all up before I buy. I want fuel economy for sure, I am swaying more towards a yamaha now but dont want the VX i think lol. But also dont want a supercharger on it..............so looking looking ha ha.

I've got a 96 Kawasaki 750ZXI (2 stroke ) sometimes it may sit for 2-3 mounths without being started and all it needs is a bit of aero start and the battery charged and away she goes no probs.Apart from regular services (plugs fuel filter) it hasn't missed a beat.The only other thing I had to get done after about 8 yrs was to have the jet pump rebuilt as the alloy housing oxidises and distorts the stainless pump insert cost was only $900aus inc impella rebuild very cheep fun in my books even for a 2 stroke.Even when I raced a couple of 100k enduro's it wouldn't even use two 45ltr tanks of fuel.