Tips To Help You Find The Right Jet Ski At A Good Price
Riding a jet ski is an incredibly exhilarating and freeing experience, and owning your own jet ski means that you can do this whenever you want, even in the winter when the tourist crowds have gone home and you have the cool ocean all to yourself. That said, buying your first jet ski is a big decision and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. It’s important to consider not just your budget and desire for speed, but also how many people you want to jet ski with, where you’re getting your jet ski, and how each particular model feels to ride. To help you make the right choice, we’ve put together five key tips to finding the perfect jet ski for you.
Solo, couple, and family Jet Skis
Jet skis come in a variety of sizes and number of seats. The skis you see on television are usually one or two-seaters. These are ideal if you plan to mostly jet ski alone or with your child or romantic partner. However, if you want to take group or family trips out on the water at high speeds, it’s important to make sure you’re looking at models with enough seats. Jet ski seats are always linear, with one grooved seat separated into one, two, three, or four individual spots that are easy to grip with your legs.
Check the price on red book if buying used
There are two ways to buy a jet ski, new and used. For the most part, first-time jet ski owners start with used jet skis because they are more affordable and are ready to take out onto the water immediately. Dealership jet skis may need to be put together and often come with a plethora of additional fees. If you do buy used, be sure you’re not being overcharged by the previous owner. Check with sites like Red Book to consult the appropriate ballpark price for the particular make, model, and year of the jet ski in question.
Know when engine hours matter (and when they don’t)
Engine hours is the number of hours a jet ski has been used out on the water. It is essentially the odometer for a vehicle that can’t count wheel rotations. It can be tempting to reject good deals because they have a high number of engine hours but often all this means is that the previous owner(s) really enjoyed the jet ski. The average jet ski lasts about 400 engine hours, and the average jet ski owner puts about 30 hours on their engine every year. For your buying strategy, this means that a jet ski with under 200 hours is likely to reliably serve you for another 5 years.
Always test drive
Never buy a used jet ski without a water test drive. Don’t settle for just sitting on the machine, actually take it out and discover how it feels to drive, how responsive it is, and whether or not it’s right for you. If you happen to be looking for a new jet ski, consider renting the models you’re curious about for test drives before heading to the dealership. Dealerships almost universally do not offer test drives and usually aren’t even on the water.
Test in the Summer, buy in the Winter
Finally, don’t forget about the law of supply and demand. Jet ski prices will inevitably go up in the summer when everyone is eager to jump on and take to the water. 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.
With winter upon us, now might be the right time to consider the purchase of your Jet Ski. Summer will be right around the corner. Let Ezilend help you with your Jet Ski Loan today.
