Recommended used sit down ski’s and what to avoid?

[HarryConnolly]

I’m getting into this, the family also wants to but the lady doesn’t want to stand.

What’s your opinion on used sit down ski models?

I’m thinking of a late 90s spx or ultra150

There is a lot of deals on sit down ski’s. For example saw 3 late 90s seadoos for 2500. 94 xp, 95 and 96 gtx. We host a lot so I thought three is cool, I just don’t want paperweights that sit at the dock always broken when people come over

 

[Pro-pulsion]

Then you should avoid sea-screwed. One very important thing to remember with brp is that they obsolete everything that turns 10 years old which means no more OEM parts support. That 19XX ski has no more OEM parts availability as of its 10th birthday. Stick with Yamaha 4 stroke or non-exhaust valved 2 stroke WaveRunners. Many of the parts from the early 2000's are still available and the TR1 marine engine is still used. If I recall correctly they put that motor into the new JetBlaster. As long as you know which models use the parts you need, you stand a good chance of at least another 20 years of OEM parts support. Avoid the rest of them. Kawi from personal experience has never been great but they're at least a possibility and almost as good on parts support as Yamaha. BRP = BIG NO for me, Polaris stopped making skis in 2004, no new parts for them unless they're somehow available through the aftermarket, Arctic Cat stopped making skis (TigerShark) in the late 90's, definitely no parts that aren't used out there and Honda Auqatrax was only a thing for a few years back in the early 2000's and are no longer a thing. Yamaha is your best and most reliable option, then Kawi in my books.

 

[800750]

A Yamaha wave venture or wave raider with a 701 or 760. That way if they blow you can easily part them out to recover some money, and if you end up with a stand up you will then have more spare parts

 

[faceplant2]

My 96 and 97 GSX and GS Seadoos have been pretty reliable. I've just replaced normal wear items. Maybe I have been lucky though.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Avoid anything from Seadoo made before 96 like the plague, avoid Polaris and Artic cats as well

Seadoos with 720 and 787 engines are fairly reliable 951's not so much , Kawasakis are also reliable especially skis with three cylinder engines

Wave ventures and Waverrunner XL skis are reliable and reasonably fast plus there are tons of parts out there if something breaks

On Yamahas avoid 800 and 1200 Power valve engines , they can be made to be reliable but as they came from the factory they are ticking time bombs.

 

[faceplant2]

Curious. Not trying to hijack this thread but why are pre 96 Seadoos bad?

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Curious. Not trying to hijack this thread but why are pre 96 Seadoos bad?

Very simply anything before 92 was unreliable, they ate starter clutches and flywheels and top end because they came with too little piston to wall clearance , the ignitions were fragile , the 91 models all came with excessive rotary valve clearances and all those rotary valve covers across the board had to be re-machined or replaced.

92 models were decent machines with upgrades to the ignition, starter , flywheel , cooling system and better clearances, good machines but you are only looking at 60 HP , you are not going anywhere fast on one of those.

93 and 94 models the SP-SPX-SPI-XP hulls absolutely sucked and the 657 engines were probably the most unreliable engines that Seadoo ever made.

The 95 720 XP was probably the best recreational XP ever made , the 95 787 XP they still had some bugs to work out and it was a one year only ski, the 96 XP great ski with plenty of power. 97 SPX is a 96XP with different decals.

97 XP too much hull for the 787 to push effectively, I have one and I like it , the 951 powered skis were much better skis all around but the 951 was not particularly reliable and the first years of those skis had serious water ingestion issues , we replaced a lot of 951 top ends under warranty. .

96 GSX great all around ski , 97 ski the same , the 97.5 GSX is a one year only ski with a 951 and had lots of issues , see above.

In case you are wondering yes I know a little about Seadoos.

 

[HarryConnolly]

Avoid anything from Seadoo made before 96 like the plague, avoid Polaris and Artic cats as well

Seadoos with 720 and 787 engines are fairly reliable 951's not so much , Kawasakis are also reliable especially skis with three cylinder engines

Wave ventures and Waverrunner XL skis are reliable and reasonably fast plus there are tons of parts out there if something breaks

On Yamahas avoid 800 and 1200 Power valve engines , they can be made to be reliable but as they came from the factory they are ticking time bombs.

What years would power valves be?

 

[HarryConnolly]

Then you should avoid sea-screwed. One very important thing to remember with brp is that they obsolete everything that turns 10 years old which means no more OEM parts support. That 19XX ski has no more OEM parts availability as of its 10th birthday. Stick with Yamaha 4 stroke or non-exhaust valved 2 stroke WaveRunners. Many of the parts from the early 2000's are still available and the TR1 marine engine is still used. If I recall correctly they put that motor into the new JetBlaster. As long as you know which models use the parts you need, you stand a good chance of at least another 20 years of OEM parts support. Avoid the rest of them. Kawi from personal experience has never been great but they're at least a possibility and almost as good on parts support as Yamaha. BRP = BIG NO for me, Polaris stopped making skis in 2004, no new parts for them unless they're somehow available through the aftermarket, Arctic Cat stopped making skis (TigerShark) in the late 90's, definitely no parts that aren't used out there and Honda Auqatrax was only a thing for a few years back in the early 2000's and are no longer a thing. Yamaha is your best and most reliable option, then Kawi in my books.

Thank you so much for your post

I’ll be buying Yamaha

 

[Stavissimo]

Get a Yamaha gp760, bullet proof 760 motor.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

What years would power valves be?

Any year 800 engine and any 1200 past 98, some 1300's also had power valves and all 1300's are fuel injected , I will second the GP 760 reccomendation

 

[Myself]

Lots of good info already here. Let me tell you..........ANY used machine better be examined by somebody that KNOWS the machine. I see customers get ripped every season. Most older 2 strokes need 600-1k worth of work EVEN IF THEY CURRENTLY RUN! Find a nearby shop with good reviews and pay to get them checked out BEFORE buying. OR, just plan on spending to whip them into shape. LOTS of false info floating around on certain model or make of ski. MANY of the Seadoos sitting around with issues are because nobody ever maintained or updated the known issues BEFORE it quit! Same with Polaris machines EXCEPT, the Polaris machines with RED colored domestic engines. They ALL have electrical issues, avoid them. The ones with blue Fuji built engines can be a great bargain and are easily repaired and updated to run like a bat outta hell! The SL skis with Fuji 780 are some of the more powerful and playful skis from the 90's! Avoid anything Ficht injected and Seadoo 951 Di unless you are very knowledgeable with fuel injection and electronic systems. Also don't leave out the mid 90's Wet Jet. A lot of those ran Yamaha setups and are very quick and reliable.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

I mainly said avoid Polaris and Artic cats because once you buy those they are your problem, nobody else wants to work on them, I know it is a rare case that I will repair one for a customer , I agree on your Polaris assessments with one caveat , all of the Fugi engines had one flaw, the crankshafts twist easily and get out of phase , it isn't an issue unless you get water in the engine then it's a major issue.

We have a local thrift store here that gets in a lot of older watercraft and they price them ridiculously high , just like you said all of the Seadoos need fuel and oil lines replaced, carbs rebuilt, new batteries and new jet pump wear ring installed, they are priced so that even someone like me could not buy them , resell them and make a profit , honestly only the skis that are outright given to me are worth fixing and reselling and thats only if they don't need engine repairs or I happen to have an engine already here.

 

[HarryConnolly]

What are people’s thoughts on the wave blaster 2? I see a bunch for sale in the 1-3k range

 

[Quinc]

b2 would be perfect. Small enough to still be fun and parts are cheap and easy to come by.

 

[Brad Mondun]

I have a 96 Seadoo XP . I like it but it will beat you to death on rough water. For someone new to riding they probably won’t last long unless it’s smooth water. The wave raider and wave runner are reliable but ride like crap, I jumped one before and I almost got thrown over the handlebars.

 

[kevbo]

I mainly said avoid Polaris and Artic cats because once you buy those they are your problem, nobody else wants to work on them, I know it is a rare case that I will repair one for a customer , I agree on your Polaris assessments with one caveat , all of the Fugi engines had one flaw, the crankshafts twist easily and get out of phase , it isn't an issue unless you get water in the engine then it's a major issue.

We have a local thrift store here that gets in a lot of older watercraft and they price them ridiculously high , just like you said all of the Seadoos need fuel and oil lines replaced, carbs rebuilt, new batteries and new jet pump wear ring installed, they are priced so that even someone like me could not buy them , resell them and make a profit , honestly only the skis that are outright given to me are worth fixing and reselling and thats only if they don't need engine repairs or I happen to have an engine already here.

Most $5000 Superjets are in no better condition.

 

[tobyfred]

I have a pair of blaster 2's I would sell

Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

 

[WFO Speedracer]

Blaster 2 is a great machine but it's just a bigger blaster with a bigger pump and more HP , it's defiantly not the machine for everyone.

 

[bored&stroked]

The wave raider and wave runner are reliable but ride like crap, I jumped one before and I almost got thrown over the handlebars.

Raider is awesome if you learn how to ride it.
Venture is easy as hell.

OP- Get something Yamaha or Kawasaki. Beyond that its all riding preference.