It’s a common complaint echoing from the bottomless pit of social media trolls. They cry, “Bring back the cheap skis” whenever the subject of the current asking price of today’s latest machines arises. Often, these same grievances are backed by the older watercraft enthusiasts who long for the woebegone days of oily slicks left by smoking 2-strokes and the sounds of Def Leppard cassettes clunking as they switch sides in the tape deck of their T-top Firebird.
Hilariously enough, the march of history has a way of clouding the facts and glossing over the harsher realities that were once our heyday. When properly adjusted for inflation, many of today’s top-of-the-line machines would price almost exactly inline with the then-current machines – if not cheaper! Don’t believe it? Let’s begin by considering one of Yamaha’s most iconic watercraft from the 1990s, the 1993 Yamaha WaveBlaster. When new, it fetched $5,999. When corrected for today’s inflation, adds up $10,470.
Comparatively, the modern equivalent, the brand-new EXR WaveRunner is priced at $9,299 in today’s dollars. When corrected for 1993’s prices, comes to $5,280. That is a staggering $710 less than the first edition WaveBlaster’s original asking price. And the EXR includes modern digitally-mapped fuel injection, Yamaha’s dual throttle RiDE brake and reverse system, it’s proprietary lightweight NanoXcel2 hull and deck material, and automotive-grade paint. In all aspects, the EXR is a steal!
But lets rewind the clock even further. In the Spring of 1988, the then all-new Sea-Doo SP carried an MSRP of $4,499. When corrected for inflation is $9,610. The closest-priced equivalent in today’s lineup is the well-equipped 2019 Sea-Doo GTI 130 at $9,799. Touting the industry’s first on-water brake (iBR), BRP’s Intelligent Throttle Control (giving you Touring, Sport and ECO modes) and a bevy of other standard features, the extra $189 sure gets you a heck of a lot.
But hey! How about for the performance lover? Well, back in 2007, the 215-horsepower Sea-Doo RXP 215 swung an asking price of $11,199. When we correct for modern inflation comes to $13,545. Although the current 2019 RXP-X 300 fetches a hefty $15,399 (in 2007’s dollars it was $12,410, a difference of $1,211), the 2019 RXT 230 is only $13,899, a paltry $355 difference. And what if the 2019 Sea-Doo RXT 230 was available in 2007? You’d be paying $11,198 – one dollar less than the RXP 215.
But, we get it. We’re just talking sitdowns and the standup guys are feeling left out in the cold. So let’s look at the 2011 Kawasaki SX-R. One year prior to its 2012 termination, the SX-R MSRP’ed at $7,899. When corrected for inflation is $8,820. Well, everybody knows that today’s SX-R 1500 retails for $9,999 – a good $1,179 over what a 800 would cost new in today’s dollars…
But what about a brand new, held-over unit? We went to Cycle Springs Powersports and priced out a new, unsold 2018 Kawasaki SX-R 1500 and found it discounted to $8,990; putting us $170 over the ’11 SX-R. And what if it was for sale in 2011? You’re looking at $7,880 – exactly $19 cheaper than the 800cc’s original asking price.
So yeah, when some old crow begins to bemoan that today’s skis are too expensive, just throw a little math their way. In a day when facts are left out of the conversation more often than we care to count, it’s nice to have irrefutable proof in your corner. And while you’re at it, consider all of the awesome features that come standard on today’s machines. Back in the day, you weren’t getting much of anything for the same price.
Well …. I am one of the “old crows” named above. There is no arguing with the cost inflation comparisons of this article. The absent subject is “simplicity” of older machines that make them easy to maintain, easy to understand, and easy to live with (allong with being lightweight). The best analogy to be made is that of VW beetles that stopped production in 1973, yet maintained strong popularity for decades beyond that because they were easy to maintain, understand, and live with. Were those VWs perfect? …. hell no. But they were a perfect stepping stone into the transportation world for many of the broke kids of the 80s-90s. In the same way, the simple, lightweight, mechanically forgiving standups of the 80s-90
-were the perfect affordable stepping stone into the maritime world.
Thank you for the comment, Harry! It’s great to hear from you. Per your analogy, how common are VW Beetles today? Despite being the single-most produced automobile in history, they’re scarcely found in operation. In fact, when was the last time you found one in a salvage yard? A kid today with an interest in building a car, are often pointed towards a mid-to-early 80’s pickup truck (much for the same reason you cited for the Bug – plentiful and simple to work on).
Thankfully, finding a JS550 or a Squarenose SJ is reasonable condition isn’t too tough, but prices are climbing quicker than they ought. (An original WaveBlaster is akin to seeking a ’63 split-window Corvette.) While I’ll never advocate for a kid to cut his teeth on a supercharged RXP 215, it is worth noting that what was “one man’s trash” in 1997 is not as prevalent today. The wheels keep on movin’.