A List of Notable Jet Skis

N

numer0us

Location
Chico, California
I would like help compiling a list of jet skis that are worthy of mention for their unique performance. This list does not consider aesthetic uniqueness and does not discriminate brand A vs brand B. Please help with any additions.

Yahama Super Jet - Most popular stand-up. Reliable tried and true 701 2 stroke engine. Small enough hull and light enough weight to do barrel rolls off boat wakes and other fun introductory tricks and turns. Versatile stand up that performs well in many conditions. Has an engine and drive line that is cross-compatible with other aftermarket hulls. Holds value well. Massive amount of aftermarket parts and a vast used market.

Yamaha Waveblaster 1 -

Kawasaki X2

Sea-doo XP/XPS 800 w/ X4 hull, 95 - 96 -

Sea-doo XP Limited 950 98 - 02 -

Kawasaki SXR - A large, heavy and fast standup that handles well in rough conditions. It is the most powerful ski of the mainstream standup class. A wide stable hull and large tray makes it more stable and easier for beginners to ride. The hull is also strong and durable. Overall this ski is well designed and reliable. Can jump well in surf.

Kawasaki STX second gen (stx-r, stx-12f, and stx-15f) - excellent race hull, underpowered stock



What else?
 
Last edited:
mikidymac

mikidymac

Location
California
The X4 is from the 1995 XP800 to the 1999 SPX.

If we are including couches I would add the Seadoo XP from 1997-2004 since it had the spring seat and was the most futuristic of the decade.
 
smokeysevin

smokeysevin

one man with a couch
Location
Houston
Couch wise, Kawasaki STX second gen (stx-r, stx-12f, and stx-15f)

The hull was the basis for basically every custom closed course race hull from 2001 to 2010. Zapata used to stick them under rxp top decks.

The bottom deck is still being made unchanged today on the new STX (2001-2020+).

Biggest letdown was power, 125 and 160hp for the 4 strokes with no updates when everyone else was making 215-310 just made it easy to miss.

So much so, that people bought sparks and VX's for more than a STX...

With 250hp it will run 75, with 300hp it will run 78. With 430 its a true 85-90mph boat even locked down for max cornering and acceleration.

I am 1000% biased though, I currently have 3 of them.

Anyone want a STX-R or STX-12f? I need to make space.

Sean
 
Last edited:
N

numer0us

Location
Chico, California
smokeysevin said:
Couch wise, Kawasaki STX second gen (stx-r, stx-12f, and stx-15f)

The hull was the basis for basically every custom closed course race hull from 2003 to 2010. Zapata used to stick them under rxp top decks.

The bottom deck is still being made unchanged today on the new stx.

Biggest letdown was power, 125 and 160hp for the 4 strokes with no updates when everyone else was making 215-310 just made it easy to miss.

So much so, that people bought sparks and vxs for more than a stx...

With 250hp it will run 75, with 300hp it will run 78. With 430 its a true 85-90mph boat even locked down for max cornering and acceleration.

I am 1000% biased though, I currently have 3 of them.

Anyone want a stx-r or stx-12f? I need to make space.

Sean
Click to expand...
Why the STX over the ultra 150? More room for upgrades?
 
smokeysevin

smokeysevin

one man with a couch
Location
Houston
numer0us said:
Why the STX over the ultra 150? More room for upgrades?
Click to expand...

STX got a 4 stroke or 2 stroke. I am a 4 stroke guy so that was an easy choice.

The 4 strokes were based on the zx12r and lots of the parts swap over. Those motors are stupid reliable if cared for. If you throw a supercharger or turbo on it, 400+ hp is not uncommon.

The 2 strokes were the 1200 STX-R or Ultra-150 motor, the Ultra 130 di motor, or the older teal triples (900 or 1100) I am just not really a 2 stroke person but they were damn good motors.

Handling wise, the STX is much better in rough water and more stable in general. For a bigger ski relative to the ultra 150, it still handles well.

The ultra is similar to a modern x2 while the STX was more of where the future has been.

Sean
 
S

Storbeck

Location
Minnesota
I've though about starting a "history of aftermarket hulls" thread to go through the timing and evolution/development of aftermarket hulls. Seems like it would be cool info.
 
Sanoman

Sanoman

AbouttoKrash
Location
NE Tenn
Even if l,have a very biased opinion,a -4.3 SuperFreak is a great ski.Lots of people copied the unique design of the bottom of the hull.After 10 years,still my favorite
 
Pro-pulsion

Pro-pulsion

Location
Ontario, Canada
It may sound silly but I have good memories of how incredibly easy, light and fun to ride the Kawasaki JS300 was. I remember being able to get the most mini-wake jumping air from that ski between it and the old 650sx. The 650 was much heavier making it hard to get any decent air from small 14 foot glass boat wakes. That 300, for a single cylinder engine machine, it was a great beginner ski. I learned a lot of little tricks and balance/skill setting ways on my old 300. I would be hard pressed to find a better beginner ski for the 8-14 year old range.
 
M

Mentzel

Location
Ak
2003 Polaris MSX 140 (another game changer)

So much R&D went into this ski. FICHT fuel injection.. which is now BRP etec. Which now is getting sold off to who knows? BRP purchasing FICHT killed Polaris watercraft production. Too bad because the MSX 140 is a nice ride which now has a “cult” group of followers.
 
Pro-pulsion

Pro-pulsion

Location
Ontario, Canada
Mentzel said:
2003 Polaris MSX 140 (another game changer)

So much R&D went into this ski. FICHT fuel injection.. which is now BRP etec. Which now is getting sold off to who knows? BRP purchasing FICHT killed Polaris watercraft production. Too bad because the MSX 140 is a nice ride which now has a “cult” group of followers.
Click to expand...


FICHT was originated by OMC (Outboard Marine Corp Johnson/Envinrude) back in 1999. Polaris adopted it in early 2000 and implemented it in the first Genesis. FICHT was an outright nightmare of a fuel injection system. We had to do numerous software updates that continued to never work on a 1999 90hp Evinrude. The only fix they finally found for it was to make the injectors look like spark plugs having a standoff bridge for the fuel charge to hit and fan out to properly vaporize. Without that the injector just dumped raw fuel into the cylinders wrecking the extremely expensive at the time spark plugs within hours. I believe it was in December of 99 when OMC sold out to both BRP and Mercury Marine. Where the FICHT system went from there I do not know but I believe the original injection system version was scrapped and redesigned. This was just after 2003 when Polaris pulled the plug on their watercraft line and dropped it entirely. Polaris also had serious issues with 3 cylinder watercraft crank shafts almost constantly getting thrown out of phase...for how easy it was to throw one out of phase I have to wonder if Polaris was making those crankshafts out of chocolate :rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom