PWC/Waverrunner Thread

[Rmsanger 10+ year member]

I'm in the market to purchase a new/barely used Personal Watercraft for the 2007 riding season. For those of you on this board that own one, can you give me your $0.02 on which model/brand to go with.

I've been doing quite a bit of research and am looking at 5 Models:

Yamaha GPR 1300 - 2 Seater 67 mph GPS'd stock with about a 120 mile range from tank capacity.

Strengths:

The smaller size and relatively less weight allows this No-turbo/SC engine to have a nice holeshot. The smaller size also helps for wave jumping and turns nicely on an edge.

Weaknesses:

2-Stroke engine thus it needs extra oil that is mixed into the fuel automatically. Open looped cooling system, meaning that the salt-water from the Gulf of Mexico will have a more deteriorating effect

Price - MSRP: New $9500 but I got a quote for $9000 out the door (includes shipping, prep, tax, tag, and title fees)

Yamaha FX Cruiser High Output - 3 Seater 62-63 mph GPS'd stock with a 250 + mile range from tank capacity.

Strengths:

The Lexus on Water or the most comfortable riding craft known to man. This 3 seater has enough HP for a nice holeshot, has the range for full-day trips (Think Tampa to Key West). Tons of storage space (extra cooler room for beer, place for fishing equipment, etc..). 3 seater so you can ski/wakeboard legally.

Weaknesses:

3 Seater with a dry weight of 800 pounds. So even though it is perfect for long rides on the gulf as it breaks through waves it will not be good for playing around or wave jumping. Doesn't turn on a dime //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif . Not as Nice looking IMO as the GP1300R but better than the Sea Doos. It's also expensive.

Price - MSRP: New $11,300 and I got a quote of $11,500 for (includes all fees mentioned on the GPR)

Kawasaki STX 15F - 3 Seater that clocks in at 65 mph on the GPS with a range of 150 miles.

Strengths:

Considered the best overall model in terms of speed, fuel efficiency, handling, ability in the chop and on glass. Has a great combination of features and looks great too. Being a 3 seater I can legally tow skiers and wakeboarders.

Weaknesses:

May be the best all around craft but it is not the best at any one thing. If you want a luxury/touring craft the yamahas are better. If you want pure straight-line speed the Sea Doos will kill it. If you want tight turning and wave-jumping the GPR1300R owns it. It looks plain out of all the models.

Price - MSRP: New $9,500 but I got a quote of $8300 (includes all fees mentioned on the GPR)

Kawasaki Ultra 250 - 3 Seater that is a brand new model. Current GPS estimates are in the 68-69 mph area. Range is estimated at 125 miles.

Strengths: 3 seater so I can pull a skiier/wakeboarder. It also will handle well in the chop as it is the heaviest PWC to date. This model is also the most powerful stock craft on the market with 250 hp. Most early reviews say that it is a RXP/RXT killer and that it handles almost as well as the 15F. This is the sexiest ski on the market as it is brand new and looks hot.

Weaknesses:

With this being the 1st year of this model there may be bugs/flaws in the design that have yet to be worked out. Weighing in at almost 1,000 pounds, this is the heaviest ski on the market. Thus wave jumping and playing in wakes will not be happening. The most expensive craft on the market.

Price - MSRP: New $11,500 but early quote I have seen at around this amount out the door include all previously mentioned fees.

Sea Doo RXP 3 Seater with a Super Charged engine rated at 215 HP. Range is estimated at 110 miles.

Strengths:

Fast as in it was the fastest stock ski on the top end in perfect condition up until this year. It's really a nice looking ski with a huge customer base (meaning that the service shops will be very familiar with the internals). Closed Looped cooling system, meaning that the salt water will have limited impact on the internals if properly maintained.

Weaknesses:

Reliability of the SuperCharger and Clutch seem to be a problem. This craft does not ride as well in the open water as the other crafts (vs. glass). It's a heavy craft and doesn't corner as well as the Kawi or smaller Yamaha.

Price - MSRP: New $11,200 and I got a quote for $11,500 out the door with the expenses mentioned earlier.

I’ll post pictures of the models soon. Thanks for your input in advance!

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[Rmsanger 10+ year member]

GP1300R

 

[Rmsanger 10+ year member]

Yamaha FX Cruiser High Output

 

[Rmsanger 10+ year member]

Kawasaki STX 15F

 

[Rmsanger 10+ year member]

Kawasaki Ultra 250

 

[Chevillac 5,000+ posts]

A really good person to ask about this is ramos.

But my .02. I only have experience with the Yamaha 1300. Fast as shit. Got it up to 74 or so on flat water in St pete. We took it out on the weekends, usually rode it for about 5 hours straight and still had gas leftover. what kind of opinion are you looking for? But that price seems kind of low. Id have to check the exact model. The model she had was $13000.

 

[Rmsanger 10+ year member]

Sea Doo RXP

 

[DeViOuSoNe 10+ year member]

Rxp, I hear they are easy to take care of, and are Super Fast.

Just look at it..lol

 

[Rmsanger 10+ year member]

A really good person to ask about this is ramos.

But my .02. I only have experience with the Yamaha 1300. Fast as shit. Got it up to 74 or so on flat water in St pete. We took it out on the weekends, usually rode it for about 5 hours straight and still had gas leftover. what kind of opinion are you looking for? But that price seems kind of low. Id have to check the exact model. The model she had was $13000.

Well I'm not looking for anything specific from people's opinions just general reactions or personal experiences. I don't have enough experience with them to differentiate all of these crafts just by going to the dealers. Because unlike cars you just can't show up and test drive them. So you either have to ride with other people that own them or go off other people's opinions and reviews.

The 13k mark is probably with trailer, life vests, wet suit, anchor, extended warranty, insurance, etc.. The prices I listed weren't for the complete package either just for the unit (tax, tag, title, setup, and delivery).

74 is from the speedo, which are extremely inaccurate. No stock crafts do above 70 mph it's a deal between the goverment and the manufacturers to govern the top speeds under 70. To tell the real speed you need a GPS or radar gun.

Thanks for the input man, I'll PM Ramos!

 

[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

Dont know much about waverunners and such, but that gp 1300 Yamaha looks tits! I was supposed to get one this up coming spring with my dad, but I have a kid on the way and my dads job went to shit. Ok, well it was my moms, but hell we dont talk about that much, lol!

 

[HitManSE 10+ year member]

Id say the Kawasaki STX 15F.

As for why?

Jack of all trades, plus the cost is less then many of the ones you listed.

All depends what you'd be using it for most.

 

[Rmsanger 10+ year member]

Id say the Kawasaki STX 15F.
As for why?

Jack of all trades, plus the cost is less then many of the ones you listed.

All depends what you'd be using it for most.

I live in SouthWest FL so I've got the Gulf of Mexico (2-3 ft. + chop) and the backwater for rivers and intercoastal riding. I'd like something fast and nimble but the ability to take it for intermediate distances if I wanted to do touring/trip.

Some of the guys in Miami take their Yamaha FXHO Cruisers to the Bahamas for weekend trips. They can pack almost a light suitcase on the back and stay in a hotel on the island for the weekend and ride back sunday. Sounds perfect to me.

But you're probably right about the 15F as the best all around + least expensive option. I can always mod it later with a stage 2 or 3 to get in the mid 70's.

 

[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

I live in SouthWest FL so I've got the Gulf of Mexico (2-3 ft. + chop) and the backwater for rivers and intercoastal riding. I'd like something fast and nimble but the ability to take it for intermediate distances if I wanted to do touring/trip.
Some of the guys in Miami take their Yamaha FXHO Cruisers to the Bahamas for weekend trips. They can pack almost a light suitcase on the back and stay in a hotel on the island for the weekend and ride back sunday. Sounds perfect to me.

But you're probably right about the 15F as the best all around + least expensive option. I can always mod it later with a stage 2 or 3 to get in the mid 70's.

You guys actually take trips with these things? I mean I could see riding on a lake or the coast for a few hours, but shit what happens if something breaks on them and your out in the middle of like nowhere just sailing. That would ****! Like I said I dont have any experience, but was in the market at what time in purchasing one, but shit hit the fan. But that was just to take it on small lakes. Just wondering is all I suoppose. Still like that first one.

 

[Chevillac 5,000+ posts]

Well I'm not looking for anything specific from people's opinions just general reactions or personal experiences. I don't have enough experience with them to differentiate all of these crafts just by going to the dealers. Because unlike cars you just can't show up and test drive them. So you either have to ride with other people that own them or go off other people's opinions and reviews.
The 13k mark is probably with trailer, life vests, wet suit, anchor, extended warranty, insurance, etc.. The prices I listed weren't for the complete package either just for the unit (tax, tag, title, setup, and delivery).

74 is from the speedo, which are extremely inaccurate. No stock crafts do above 70 mph it's a deal between the goverment and the manufacturers to govern the top speeds under 70. To tell the real speed you need a GPS or radar gun.

Thanks for the input man, I'll PM Ramos!

Fa shizzle, I didnt buy it so I dont know much about the package and all that, I just remember talkin to her about it a lot, was considering buying it from her. I have a pic on my computer somewhere. Yup 74 was from the speedometer.

edit: its a Yamaha GP 1300R, so yeah same one.

 

[Rmsanger 10+ year member]

You guys actually take trips with these things? I mean I could see riding on a lake or the coast for a few hours, but shit what happens if something breaks on them and your out in the middle of like nowhere just sailing. That would ****! Like I said I dont have any experience, but was in the market at what time in purchasing one, but shit hit the fan. But that was just to take it on small lakes. Just wondering is all I suoppose. Still like that first one.

Well they bring satellite phones with them in case plus they ride in groups with tow ropes. I think the trip 1 way can't be more than 150-200 miles so the trip is a good 6 hours at cruising speed each way.