Other What 2ns ski would you buy SJ or Blaster?

[jloria]

Thinking about picking up a 2nd ski at some point before the summer for the girlfriend and friends...

help introduce them to the sport and get some surf riding in...

although I am comfortable having a surfing background and did ok picking it up, others are not

If you had to own a 2nd ski or had to do it over again, would you get a SJ or a Blaster as a 2nd ski?

I know that having a backup is nice but I'm mainly focusing on the other persons shoes...learning curve, ease of use etc...

Blaster would be cool for videos too...

Please chime in if it's just too much of a pain to own 2. I'm not pulling a couch either.

I am leaning towards a BLASTER...that's my vote

Thanks all!

 

[Scraggly]

i would go blaster, there fun to ride great for the GF and easier for first timers.
ive seen several get discouraged from 550's and sj's and just not ever try again.

keep it mostly stock and it wont be that much trouble, having to full mod ski's gets old pretty fast

 

[vshockey10]

My personal suggestion is to go superjet. I would rather have a SJ over every other stock hull out there. My girlfriend has her SJ and loves it over every other ski we have or has had the opportunity to ride.

 

[mydixiewrecked]

Is a x2 an option? We've had guys and girls pick it up pretty quickly. But then there's real athletic guys that can't figure it out. That'd ge my choice

 

[DAG]

I have a SJ and B1 and keep the B1 OEM. If you want more do a motor swap and keep the reliability

 

[Dustin88]

I guessing your main ski is a superjet? I wouln't buy a blaster, I love to ride mine but most of my friends can not get on it in deep water and most girls do not like them because they are unstable and hard to get on.

I have owned a vxr pro for the past two seasons, I actually hate riding it but my girlfriend loves it, its super reliable, gets good gas mileage, cost me $300 and if you ever need a part for you sj you can take it off the vxr pro!

So if you dont plan on riding it very much I would suggest a cheap yami or kawi sitdown, if you want to ride it alot buy a waveblaster!

 

[Matt_E]

Been there, done that - but I am considering picking up a 550.

 

[jetpilot808]

We've had many skis through the years, and still do and no matter what we bring to the lake and no matter who comes to the lake with us. The number one go to ski for all ages and experience is the " KAWASAKI SXR 800"!

 

[Vumad]

There's a lot of things to consider that you didn't mention. Given the limited info you gave, I would say buy a Superjet.

The B1 is much easier to ride in the surf. However, getting on the B1 is incredibly hard in the surf for an inexperienced rider. Inexperienced riders wont be side mounting the B1. If you girlfriend in 100 lbs, she can rear mount the ski easy, however, that heavy ski will get her thrashed since she wont be able to move it around. With the SJ, she can just grab the bars. The condition of the surf is a factor too. If you have rough choppy surf like we do in FL, both are very bad choices.

I just went through this same deal with Lisa. 5'4" 120lbs. She rides my SJ just fine. She rode the 3' waves at Daytona last year no problem. However, the 5' waves the next day got her ass handed to her. She wasn't strong enough to get the ski back under control in that big surf. In My area, our surf is like riding in a washing machine. It sucks. I struggle with my Stock SJ and I'm pretty skilled on it. I wouldn't have the problem with more mods, but if you're not going to invest in that power, or if she can't control it, it's a no go. There's been many times we've gone out that Lisa would not have been able to go if she had a SJ or B1.

I spent a lot of time looking for SJ, SXR, B1, B2 and GP boats. I wanted a SXR for her, but after going out on a really rough surf day, i realized she would never be riding with me on a SJ, SXR or B1. We ended up with a GP1200, and it was the perfect decision. She can ride her boat anywhere and enjoy it. It's a great boat to race runabout. We can wakeskate with it. We can go out in heavy choppy surf and she can come too. It is a worry free, project free boat that she enjoys and lets me enjoy my SJ.

I do vote to get a second ski, but buy what you need to find yourself a lady worth having around. Lisa is amazing and goes everywhere with me. Buying a SXR would have been a selfish decision. Who cares about my lazy broke friends, they can buy their own jet skis or sit at home.

You can go with a different hull, but if your conditions are like mine, I would suggest a B2 or GP boat. If you have more ideal conditions, I would suggest a SXR. It's much easier for a novice rider to operate, and you will have a freeride and a race boat. Lisa really liked the SXR at the lake, she handled my SJ very well, and rode the SXR effortlessly. However, in rough surf, it was the wrong choice.

 

[Vumad]

Is a x2 an option? We've had guys and girls pick it up pretty quickly. But then there's real athletic guys that can't figure it out. That'd ge my choice

I would suggest against a G1X2. I have a G1X2, it's been my ski and avatar for years. I still have my X2 and it should be done and back in Daytona again this year. The problem with the G1X2 is the very very poor hood seal. They are notorious for taking on water, ingesting water and sinking. Every X2 I have ever seen does, and yours will be no exception. The X2 was discontinued in 1995 and most have not been very well cared for, so yours will likely need a lot of maintenance. It's almost as hard to get on as the B1, the girl wont be able to just sit on it unless you buy her pontoons.

An X2 is a project, nothing more. I love my X2, I think they are great and people should enjoy them, but it will not meet your needs. You need low/no maintenance that she can just enjoy and you don't have to worry about. The X2 does not meet this criteria.

My Sj is my boat. The GP1200 is hers. The X2 is my toy I tinker with. It's fun to ride, but I don't count on it. Well, in a few weeks, it will be pretty impressive, but there's no way you will mod your X2 to the extent that I have modded mine.

 

[227]

Most beginners would be pretty happy to ride what ever you provide so I personally went with what would be the most practicle for me. Instead of buying an expensive aftermarket hull, I have two Superjets set up identically. If SJ 1 breaks down I can always ride SJ 2 while repairing SJ 1. Or I can even rob parts from SJ 2 to keep SJ 1 running. And if both SJ 1 & SJ 2 happen to be running at the same time, then a beginner may even get an invite to ride. If they don't like the Super Jet then they're probably not the person I would want to ride with anyways.

 

[Jpass]

my main ride is a modded B1. backup ski is a 650sx. i prefer the the B1, but still enjoy my old skool 650. As for your question, either would make a great backup ski. i personlly like having both a standup and sitdown.

 

[Vumad]

The bottom line is this...

If you have a freeride boat, and want a race boat too, buy a SXR to go with your SJ.
If you want a second 'spare' freeride boat, invest your money in your primary boat so you never need a spare, and don't buy a second boat.
If you need a boat for your girlfriend, buy what's best for her, Only upgrade when asked and put the money into your boat.
If you want a second boat so you can have a friend come, buy the cheapest thing you can find that runs, and spend the rest on your boat.

It doesn't make any sense to spend a bunch of money on a 'spare' boat so you can have a plan B. If you have a really good plan A, your Plan B is much less important.

 

[BlessedYamahaSJ]

I have a Seadoo XP for friends to ride. I could care less about if they run into something (as long as not a swimmer or another boat). I ran the oil pump delete kit, so i run the same gas in that as i do my super jet. Makes it a little wasier when you can use the same gas can for both ski's. it is a turtle shell of a ski, but the people who have never ridden before have a good time, thats all that matter right???

 

[97superjet]

I would pick up an fx-1, dont really care if my friends cant ride it just want one as my second ski

 

[davy87nj]

Something stock and reliable, you dont want a ski that everytime your friends are riding it the thing breaks and you gotta wrench on it. 550's and Blasters are a little tricky to ride. I would go 650sx, 750sx, or 650 SN. You can pick all those up fairly cheap and from my experience they all want to run. 550's, not so much, but I still have 2 and I like them.

 

[aytee]

^^ that's that I did.. picked up a 650sx for $150 and it came with a trailer.. needed a new engine though.. another 500 for a rebuilt 650.. hull could use some new paint but for me thats minor, since I run a body shop, slap some left over paint on it and run it.. had too many friends (and people i don't know) want to ride my 2012 sj.. and I knew the guy that had the 650, joking around one day I told him I'd buy it, he turned me down until there was snow in the forecast, then he changed his mind... if my friends don't like it then they can buy their own, I don't run a rental operation...

 

[SkiDiggity]

I have 2 sn's set up pretty much the same one i just way more reliable because it's been in the family since i was 6 so it's mainly stock except for a prop, b-pipe, waterbox, and the normal bolt on's. great ski always runs and is awesome to watch the gf go flying past you for the first time cause she doesn't realize when the pipe is going to hit and when it does she takes off haha.

I had a B1 too but too hard for my friends to get back on after falling off and my old 650sx even with mods was too sketchy in the surf for an inexperienced rider.

 

[shaunsteezy]

i just picked up a SXR for others to ride, i hope i can get my chick on it this summer! only down side is none of the parts are interchangable with my sj and now i have to start a new collection of junk

 

[GSXRchris85]

blaster, then you can use is urself towing ur standup places, and have 2 boats to ride.