Steven in Sales has updated his go to guide for buying a new jet ski from a dealership. He lets us in on how to get a better deal on our next jet ski and it’s not like buying a car. Jet ski salesmen are laid back because they are selling a lifestyle. They know you don’t need a jet ski, so they tend to be less pushy than a car salesman. Though buying a jet ski may be a laid-back experience, you still need to get everything in writing.

Also, try to buy your new watercraft in the cooler months because prices rise and fall with the temperatures. Check out promotions before buying and only shop the three closest dealers to you. That way, the dealer is nearby if something goes wrong and they are more likely to care about your issues. Also, you won’t have to take your ski too far to get its vital first service. The first service is a necessity, and it is not included the price of your ski.

Don’t plan on a test drive unless the dealership is on the water or the dealer is offering special test-driving events. When you do buy, let the shop get the jet ski ready for delivery. Assembly is required so it is best to schedule a day for delivery. Check it out before taking it and have the salesman show you how to start and drive the watercraft. Keep the bill of sale with you when you ride until the state issues your hull numbers for your new watercraft. Don’t forget to buy insurance for your new ride and most of all, have a good time!

If you have any questions, be sure to check out the full-length piece on the Steven in Sales site. He will be happy to steer you in the right direction.

The northern hemisphere is thawing. The roads are clear. The ice covering the lakes has melted. Heck, in many spots, the grass is growing. And then there’s Florida. Yeah, we know. It’s like, a tropical paradise 24/7. Either way, folks are just preparing their personal watercraft for a much deserved season of fun on the water. And of all of the accessories that you could buy to increase the smiles-per-gallon that your PWC can offer, there’s no better than the Long Hauler Auxiliary Fuel System Kit from The Watercraft Journal.

Increasing the fuel capacity of your 4-stroke Yamaha WaveRunner, Kawasaki JetSki or pre-2012 Sea-Doo by over 12-gallons, the Long Hauler Auxiliary Fuel System Kit automatically siphons fuel from the rear-mounted tank all without any cutting, drilling or permanent modifications. It’s super-simple, designed for even the least mechanically-savvy to install, and has been proven over some seriously grueling testing.

The kit consists of  9 pieces: A special-designed stainless steel, powder-coated rack from Kool PWC Stuff; a stainless steel double-hooked turnbuckle; a USCG-certified 12-gallon auxiliary fuel tank featuring a ventilated locking gas cap, internal pickup and fuel level gauge; two ratchet straps; 11-feet of non-EFI 50psi-rated fuel line fitted with a brass 5/16-inch hose barb; and two zip-ties to secure the fuel line.

Florida resident and FL Ski Riders club member Mike Hall recently installed a Long Hauler Kit on his 2021 Yamaha FX Limited SVHO and had this to say, “I found this to be extremely easy to install and probably took me about half an hour to install. Once installed, I follow the directions as far as filling it and opening the vent. I took it out on the water and it worked exactly as it was supposed to. This is a awesome product. I also did some hot doggin’ around and it never moved a bit.”

Above: FL Ski Rider member Mike Hall was one of the first to purchase the Long Hauler Auxiliary Fuel System Kit, installing it to his red-and-black ’21 Yamaha FX Limited SVHO. Adding over 13-gallons (when filled to the brim), Mike had more than enough fuel to allow him a full day’s worth of riding on the open ocean.

And as Spring Break is a couple of weeks away, The Watercraft Journal just dropped the price of the Long Hauler Auxiliary Fuel System Kit by $50, effectively saving many within the continental United States the cost of shipping! Please click this link to go to The Watercraft Journal’s online store to purchase the Long Hauler Auxiliary Fuel System Kit today and increase your PWC’s fuel range by upwards of 85-percent in a matter of minutes! And also make sure to check out this tutorial on how to install your Long Hauler kit with a how-to video as well!

When Watercraft Zone’s, Joshua Dowling, published an article pitting the Sea-Doo Fish Pro against the Yamaha FX HO equipped with a FishSki package, we knew we wanted to bring it to our readers. We were able to glean valuable information through Dowling’s thorough review of both PWC.

Both skis are the largest three-seaters in their respective ranges. The Sea-Doo Fish Pro is built for fishing and you can take it straight from the showroom and directly to your favorite fishing hole. The Yamaha FX HO must be outfitted with the separate FishSki package, which is produced by FishSki.  Installation of the FIshSki package will take 15 minutes.

Each machine has enough power to quickly get you out to your secret fishing spot. The Sea-Doo Fish Pro is equipped with a 1630cc3 cylinder, 170hp engine. The Yamaha is powered by a 1.8 liter four-cylinder engine. On the water, the Sea-Doo Fish Pro is stable in small to medium chop.

The Yamaha FX takes on rough conditions like a boss because of its more rounded nose and flatter body. It handles more intuitively at lower speeds. The Sea Doo is equipped with a trolling mode, which is ideal for fishing. The Yamaha has a no wake mode and cruise control, which would be fine for fishing as well.

In summing up, the Sea-Doo Fish Pro is a turnkey solution for enthusiasts wanting to fish off a jet ski and who prefer fuel economy over power. The Yamaha FX HO is a great platform for a dedicated fishing Jet Ski after adding the aftermarket FishSki cooler and accessories. This PWC is great for riders who want more power and who spend more time in rough water.

You can’t go wrong when choosing either of these models. Both offer what you need to get on the water and get after the big one. It comes down to personal preference. Happy fishing!

Steven in Sales has put together another a useful article. This one is full of great tips on how to figure out how much you should pay for a used jet ski and what to look for in a used jet ski. The handy guide will help you avoid getting ripped off and from buying a boatload of problems.

You will want to begin by learning what a fair price for a used jet ski should be. Knowing the year, model, and manufacturer is the first step. Check the KBB Watercraft and NADA Watercraft for the current values of used PWC. The “Typical Listing Price” is a good starting point. From there, you will want to check out real-world prices on sites like PWC Trader, Craigslist, and others to gauge what the market looks like. Prices will also vary based on location.

You also need to know how to find jet ski issues or problems. It’s a good idea to know if the model you’re looking at had known issues. Greenhulk.net is an excellent source of information on to get some good intel.

Once you know what the price should be and have the known issues in hand, you’re ready to check out some used jet skis. Placing your eyes on a ski and assessing it for damages is the best way to ascertain whether it is the machine for you. Knowing the cost of fiberglass repair and the jet ski’s service history will go a long way in negotiating a fair price. Keep in mind that jet skis are always priced higher in the summer and cheaper in the winter. A dealership will have higher prices as well because they usually take care of any needed repairs before the PWC hits the floor.

Check out the Steven in Sales article for the full rundown on purchasing a used jet ski.

According to an article in Watercraft Zone, Australia may soon have an electric Jet Ski available to the public. An obscure boating store in Kima on the south coast of NSW is experimenting with Jet Ski engine swaps. They are replacing gas motors with pure electric power for an estimated cost of $10,000-to-$12,000.

The company, EClassboats, has already swapped out at least six two stroke engines with electric outboard motors. They are now working on bringing electric power to PWC by replacing combustible engines deemed to expensive to repair. They are beginning with a 2008 Kawasaki Ultra with a blown 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. They started this project in early February. They pulled the engine and fuel tank and dropped in a 10kWh battery pack and a 50kW electric motor. The lithium-ion battery pack weighs 154 pounds, and the electric motor comes in at close to 84 pounds. The battery pack weighs as much as full tank of fuel and the battery is half the weight of the Ultra’s engine.

EClassboats hope to have this machine in the water for testing by the end of March. If they are successful in this endeavor, they will give Europe’s fully electric Narke Electrojet, a run for its money. Right now, Narke doesn’t have any competition in this arena. Also, EClassboats will be offered at a much lower and affordable price point than the Narke’s $80,000 cost. EClasstboat’s PWC will cost between $10,000 and $12,000.

For now, electric jet skis are considered niche products and the big three; Sea-Doo, Yamaha, and Kawasaki are researching electric motor technology and how it may work with personal watercraft. No plans to move forward have been announced.

By early Friday, the weather reports weren’t looking too hot. Sure it was going to be cold out on Lake Havasu – being uncomfortably cold was part of the “endurance” part of the world’s longest continual race – but the purported wind gusts of up to 35-40mph was going to make things so much worse.

True to form, Saturday’s conditions were looking brutal. Winds whipped the lake into an opaque tundra of pale green and churning white caps. Even those seasoned by years of offshore racing were looking at waves upwards to 4-to-5 feet on the far end of the lake – and it was only getting worse.

Of course, that didn’t deter a trio of Lake Havasu City locals, Jake Tobin, Ryder Bliss, Logan Blanchard, who had all signed up for the 17th annual Mark Hahn Memorial Havasu 300. Although relatively new to the sport, the boys grew up around jet ski racing (how could you not in Havasu) and felt they had a better than decent shot at the Ski Team class.

Aboard a slightly modded Kawasaki SX-R 1500 stickered up with a few sponsors like IPD and TC Freeride, the three charged hard into the surf, battling against some seasoned riders from teams like Kommander Industries, Broward Motorsports and Klipper 212 – all the way to the end. That’s right, after six brutal hours, the boys came out on top in their class, and that’s something to celebrate.

We at The Watercraft Journal have been big fans of the Bopenski Kickback chair since it’s early development several years ago. In fact, we tested prototypes for the team when they were working out some final design bugs. And it’s been our honor to help beat the drum to get other folks just as excited about it.

Recently, Bopenski dropped a Kickback chair in the hands of internet-famous consumer reporter “Gadget Jeff TV” who took it out for a spell around Seattle back in September 2020. Making the best of an 80-degree day, Jeff and crew found a secluded spot and set up the Kickback to well, kick back. 

Gadget Jeff TV wrote, “The Bopenski Kickback Chair is an amazing new personal watercraft accessory that allows you to hang out and relax in comfort and style. Easily attaches to Sea-Doo, WaveRunner and JetSki models in under one minute! Available on Amazon”

Whatever model of sit down personal watercraft you’ve got, Bopenski has a Kickback chair for you. Check out Bopenski’s Amazon store to score some killer pricing and have that Amazon Prime box on your doorstep in a matter of hours!

Most folks have developed a bit of a routine when it comes to cleaning and maintaining their personal watercraft. Unfortunately, for many, these routines are sorely incomplete and leave much of the sensitive components unprotected from the elements – particularly if said PWC is used in salt water in any sort of regular interval.

A little over a year ago, Jet Ski Camping provided this useful (although a little excessive) tutorial on how to properly and thoroughly wash and detail your prized watercraft after a long ride out on the salty sea. The tips definitely are worth the watch and although many may not apply to the casual freshwater enthusiast, they are pretty spot on to ensure the longest life from your PWC.