How to buy a jet ski: offers from sellers and owners
Engine hours matter more than the year
On a jet ski the condition is set not by age but by the hours the engine has run. Engine hours are the “mileage” of watercraft. Rotax engines on Sea-Doo, and Yamaha or Kawasaki engines, last a long time, but only with regular servicing and flushing after salt water. So a three-year-old jet ski with 40 hours can be better than a newer one that worked in hire.
How to search through BlaBlaPrice
Instead of scrolling through listings and checking each owner, you write one request. It is checked, and you are told what sellers still need to know. Dealers and private owners reply with the model, year, engine hours, price, photos and inspection terms. Sellers see where their offer ranks and compete for your choice. Your phone number is hidden. Details are in the “How it works” section.
What to put in your request
- Model — Sea-Doo, Yamaha WaveRunner, Kawasaki, Honda or a specific line.
- Year — exact or “not older than”.
- Engine hours — the maximum you accept.
- Power — in hp; the performance and fuel use depend on it.
- Number of seats — for rides for two or for the whole family.
- Kit — trailer, cover, life jackets, charger.
- Technical condition — running or after repair.
- Papers — registration, invoice, import papers.
- City and budget, if you want to state them.
Example: “I am looking for a Sea-Doo GTI 130 or Yamaha VX, 2018–2021, up to 100 engine hours, 3 seats, with a trailer and cover, with all papers. Vancouver, inspection on the water. Budget up to $13,000.”
Inspection and comparing offers
The first step is to start the engine and listen to it at idle and on the water. Ask to see the engine hours on the display and have them photographed. Check the compression in the cylinders, the condition of the hull, the bottom, the pump, the jet nozzle and the water level in the hull. Suspicious signs are corrosion, cracks in the fibreglass, a clogged jet pump and uneven engine running. Be sure to ask whether it was used in fresh or salt water and whether the system was flushed afterwards.
When you compare offers, check the kit: the trailer, cover and jackets may cost extra. Look at the papers too: registration and the licence to operate depend on the power, so find out the rules in advance. Ask whether the dealer gives a warranty and whether you can have it diagnosed at a service centre.
What the price depends on
The price depends on the model and power, the year, the engine hours, whether it has a supercharger, the kit and the condition of the hull. Models with a supercharger and high power cost more, but use more fuel and need closer servicing. For calm rides for two a simpler model is usually enough.
Common mistakes
Buying “the newest for the least money” without checking the engine hours. Taking a machine that stood in the water for several seasons with no care. Forgetting the costs of storage, transport and off-season servicing. Not asking about its hire history. For trips on the water also look at speedboats and yachts, and for an overview see the “Boats and watercraft” section.
