Reno, MN - Personal Watercraft For Sale - PWC Trader (2024)

FAQs

What is the most reliable personal watercraft? ›

In much the same way Kleenex has became synonymous with facial tissue, a PWC is often referred to as a Jet Ski, WaveRunner or Sea-Doo—which are all known name brands of personal watercraft manufacturers including Kawasaki, Yamaha and BRP, sequentially.

The first thing to look at is the overall condition of the Jet Ski. Do this on land, preferably on a trailer where you can get sufficient access to the hull. Run your hand over the surfaces and look for imperfections. The rubber bumper should be relatively intact, and you don't want to see cracked or missing pieces.

Personal Water Craft (PWC) have become a major force in boating, accounting for a significant portion of new boat sales annually. There are more than one MILLION PWCs in use today.

What Is the Most Reliable Jet Ski to Buy? In the GTI series by Sea-Doo, models 170 and 130 are known for their stability and reliability.

Yamaha consistently tops the list when it comes to low-maintenance jet skis. Known for their exceptional build quality and reliability, Yamaha jet skis are designed to withstand the rigors of frequent use without needing constant care.

WaveRunner has a broader range of model options to cater to beginners and pros alike than Jet Ski and Sea-Doo. Sea-Doo is the favored PWC alternative for affordability and for beginners, but it's been known to fall behind WaveRunner and Jet Ski in performance and features.

Unlike organic materials that decompose over time, jet skis do not degrade naturally in the environment.

“Jet Ski” is a brand name trademarked by Kawasaki for their line of personal watercraft. Similar to Waverunner, the term Jet Ski is sometimes used colloquially to refer to any PWC, regardless of the brand.

How to get a good deal on a jet ski? ›

Test in the Summer, buy in the Winter

However, if you spend a summer taking test drives, then wait to buy your jet ski when it's cold and the tourists creating all that demand are gone, you're likely to get a much better price from both current owners and jet ski dealerships.

In late autumn and early winter, dealerships are looking to sell off their current inventory before the upcoming season, and owners might be more willing to give you a good deal on a used watercraft.

A fire extinguisher and emergency signaling devices must be aboard every personal watercraft, in addition to a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). These safety items are essential and mandated by the Coast Guard for the event of an emergency on the water.

The top five known causes of accidents in California were: operator inattention (32%), operator experience (25%), excessive speed (15%), machinery failure (11%), and passenger/ski behavior (7%).

A good indicator of how old the Jet Ski is or how much wear and tear you should expect is the number of hours a Jet Ski has been operated. Jet Skis operated for less than 50 hours tend to be in better shape than Jet Skis operated for 150 hours or more. The average lifespan of a Jet Ski is 300 hours.

Whether you're looking to buy a new Jet Ski and wondering how long it'll last or deciding if it's worthwhile to purchase a used one, generally speaking a 2-stroke engine lasts around 200-300 hours, while a 4-stroke should last around 300-500 hours.

Winter – A Mixed Bag

That said, the used PWC market thrives in the winter, as many owners sell off their old PWCs to make some money for the holidays. If you're budget-conscious and don't mind a used PWC, winter could be the best time to buy!