Most reliable jet ski

dmaxfireman

dmaxfireman

'Can do' kind of guy
Apr 8, 2007
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Thinking about getting a jet ski. Something a few years old to keep cost down, prefer naturally aspirated to keep it more reliable and keep maintenance costs down. 3-seater. 4-stroke.

I know sea-doos are extremely popular but people always seem to be fixing them.

Pretty much whats the best bang for my buck and most reliable in stock form. Ski will not be modified. If I wanted to build a hot rod I would buy a hull and build my own motor. This one has to be able to take me across long island sound and home in one piece.
 
Jscherbs

Jscherbs

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Oct 27, 2009
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Honda 1200 3 seater, we have two of them, one turbo & one naturally aspirated. I wouldnt get rid of either. Neither of them have had mechanical issues and both can tow a skiier or wakeboarder (or 3 400lb people) across the lake.

good luck.
 
8

8100 Power

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I have a 04 GTX 4-Tec Supercharged that I bought new that has been nothing but flawless. Oil change every summer and it runs like new still.
 
Tank222

Tank222

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Feb 17, 2010
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Watch buying a Honda ski, I know during the 2005-2006 the dealer I was at had a lot of issues with them coming in full of rain/water.
Check out the supercharged Kawasaki, they are pretty bad ass. Ultra 300x
 
paint94979

paint94979

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Sep 18, 2006
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I have an RXP and GTX both are super charged... Nothing but reliable, one oil change a year and they have a closed loop cooling system vs. Others that use water from the lake.
 
Jscherbs

Jscherbs

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Tank222 said:
Watch buying a Honda ski, I know during the 2005-2006 the dealer I was at had a lot of issues with them coming in full of rain/water.
Click to expand...

darn hull plugs, they're so hard to figure out :D

The Doo gtx and rxp's are very very nice! put and chip on them to remove the speed limiter and they fly!
 
zacwht20

zacwht20

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Feb 4, 2011
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Loved my Kawi 12 3-seater... would do about 58 with two people on it and no problems mechanically, just routine maintenence
 
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03Tommy

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I have a 2000 Yamaha GP800 and love it. No issues. Close to 300 hours on it almost all put on by me. Runs close to 70mph. It is two stroke and no real experience with a 4 stroke.

Everyone I know has Yamaha's or Sea Doo's and no issues out of either.
 
paint94979

paint94979

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My RXP is an 05 so it is the 215hp model it will do 73-74 mph with me on it I weigh 155lbs. The new RXP's have 255hp IIRC they can go pretty fast :D
 
dmaxfireman

dmaxfireman

'Can do' kind of guy
Apr 8, 2007
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so i am leaning towards a 2003/4 seadoo gtx 155hp naturally aspirated

if you guys know of any for sale that have not been abused let me know. otherwise i'm gonna go for a very low hours model to try and weed out abused machines.

found a couple so far just waiting on return emails / phone calls.
 
8

8100 Power

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paint94979 said:
My RXP is an 05 so it is the 215hp model it will do 73-74 mph with me on it I weigh 155lbs. The new RXP's have 255hp IIRC they can go pretty fast :D
Click to expand...

Gain some weight...:D

My buddy had one, mine is 185HP and we would race from a standstill and he would barely pull on me at about 65MPH, otherwise dead even.

He just sold it for $5500, it was like brand new, used it maybe 3 times a summer for the past few years.

dmaxfireman said:
don't think i want the added maintenance of the supercharger though...
Click to expand...


Like what? I've never gave it no special attention.
 
paint94979

paint94979

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My GTX is an 04 and my RXP is an 05 I have not had one issue with anything but I have had them since new so i guess I understand the want for an N/A
 
dmaxfireman

dmaxfireman

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Apr 8, 2007
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i was told the chargers need a rebuild / refresh minimum of every 100 hours

either way i will keep my eyes open for any of them, when the price is right i wont be able to say no!
 
8

8100 Power

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dmaxfireman said:
i was told the chargers need a rebuild / refresh minimum of every 100 hours

either way i will keep my eyes open for any of them, when the price is right i wont be able to say no!
Click to expand...

I've got more than a hundred hours I'm pretty sure. No problems. I drive it like I stole it also.
 
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