Hello all,

Been reading some posts here and there about different PWC's and what not, and I've decided I WANT ONE!!

I know this is a Yamaha biased site, but I wanted some input on what you all think would be a good purchase for a first timer. (I'm a PWC virgin! lol)

Anyway, the first thing I started looking at was a Sea-Doo *prepares to dodge tomatoes do they really have THAT bad of a reputation for being unreliable? What else is wrong with them? Anything good about them?

I haven't heard much about Kawasaki.. what's up with those things?

Brands aside, I'll let you know what I'm looking to do with it, and I'll let the flames fly (so to speak)

I live on Pompano Beach, FL (A1A, and few blocks away from a boat launch) and own a Mazda Protege (yes, lowered and fat tires as someone else posted earlier ) and I'm looking for something for my girlfriend and I to take out onto the ocean and have some fun with a few boater friends of ours (starting to feel left out ) We're not looking for anything super fast (or expensive), but want to be able to get to where we want to go quickly. I was originally thinking about buying a used one but I wouldn't have the first clue on what to look out for. Then someone mentioned to me about one company offering a leasing program for PWC's which I thought was a great idea (seeing as how most PWC owners ditch their ridesa year or so due to loss of interest, or high maintainance issues, etc.) But I haven't been able to find any information on that kind of program.

Any suggestions?
p.s. Sorry for being so newbie-ish. lol.

Dude...your kidding right?
How far did you say you lived from Riva?

I'm with JetEd on this one.............get over to Riva, they are right there!!! They can hook you up. What are you waiting for???

Here's their address:
RIVA YAMAHA HONDA
3671 N. Dixie Highway
Pompano Beach, FL 33064

[ 05-22-2002: Message edited by: SuzanGPR ]

I agree. Riva has a wide selection of new and used boats to choose from. What do yu plan on spending$??

Riva is the place to go for Yamaha! If you are looking for Doo's I would say PPG.

I have only owned a Yamaha XL and a GPR so my experience is limited.

I will say Yamaha products are well built and very reliable. I think the two skis in the Yamaha line worth considering are the GPR1200 (2 seater) and the XL1200 (3 seater). A used 2000-2001 GPR or XL 1200 would be great. If you are going to ride two up in the ocean a XL1200 would provide a more comfortable ride. A GPR, like many other skis, has a tendency to porpoise (wallow up and down) with two people on board in heavy seas. In rough water a GPR tends to be a better one person craft, though it is plenty big enough for two. The GPR is about 100 lbs lighter and it will be more nimble and faster than a XL. Both are very stable skis.

A GPR 800 is same ski as 1200 with smaller motor - may as well get the 1200. The older GP series skis (1999 and older) probably not the best for two people in heavy seas.

From what I have read some (not all) of the seadoos have real reliability problems, including water ingestion issues - so you have to be careful which ski of theirs you select.

Kawasaki Ultra wouldn't be a good ski for the ocean - poor rough water handling.

quote:

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Originally posted by Philip_GPR:
I have only owned a Yamaha XL and a GPR so my experience is limited.

I will say Yamaha products are well built and very reliable. I think the two skis in the Yamaha line worth considering are the GPR1200 (2 seater) and the XL1200 (3 seater). A used 2000-2001 GPR or XL 1200 would be great. If you are going to ride two up in the ocean a XL1200 would provide a more comfortable ride. A GPR, like many other skis, has a tendency to porpoise (wallow up and down) with two people on board in heavy seas. In rough water a GPR tends to be a better one person craft, though it is plenty big enough for two. The GPR is about 100 lbs lighter and it will be more nimble and faster than a XL. Both are very stable skis.

A GPR 800 is same ski as 1200 with smaller motor - may as well get the 1200. The older GP series skis (1999 and older) probably not the best for two people in heavy seas.

From what I have read some (not all) of the seadoos have real reliability problems, including water ingestion issues - so you have to be careful which ski of theirs you select.

Kawasaki Ultra wouldn't be a good ski for the ocean - poor rough water handling.

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Thanks Philip! That's pretty much the type of answer I was looking for. I mean, I was already planning to head over to Riva eventually, I just wanted some people's opinions ahead of time, ya know?

Any other feedback would be GREATLY appreciated! For instance, would my car be okay for launching and retreiving my ski?

Since you are only planning on buying one ski for both you and your girlfriend to ride, my first recommendation is: No matter what brand or model, buy a 3 seater. You will find a 3 seater is the most comfortable ride with 2 people for most riding conditions. Since you'll be riding in the ocean most of the time, a 3 seater will handle the conditions better too.

With that said - I know you said not too expensive, but give the 4 strokes a thought cause they appear to be the most comfortable ride at the moment. Both Sea-doo and Yamaha's 4 strokes are good skis. The only down side to both is they are first year skis and may have bugs that need to be worked out still.

If you have even an ounce of competitive blood in you and think that maybe someday - "faster is better", then the best ski for you to get would be the Kawasaki STX-R. Its a race bred 3 seater that is a great recreational ski too. By far, the best 3 seater on the market today. Not the fastest ski made but can be made to go faster if you want it too...

My experience with all 3 brands (having had all 3), is they all experience their fair shair of problems...Sea-Doo did have a problem with their 951cc motor equipped skis between 98-00 but that has been solved and their current failure rate is no worse than other brands - I don't have actual stats to prove that but I doubt anyone actually does...

Good luck with your search - you'll have a great time - I took the plung nearly 9 years ago sight unseen and haven't looked back yet...

enjoy

On the car issue, getting a trailer with a longer tongue may help ensure the front tires stay out of the water. Make sure you use a good ramp. (ideally not to steep and paved or concrete)

Ok guys,

I got up early and went over to Riva today to talk to a salesman. He was very helpful in answering all my questions (trust me, I had a lot of them )

We decided that a 3 seater would be the most comfortable option (as also stated by Ray and Philip here)in the ocean and for pulling wakeboards. We began looking at the XLT1200 and the FX140, as well as the Honda skis.

Yamaha is running a nice promotion on financing right now (3.9% till march of 2003 and then 11.9% after that) and I'll get $500 worth of accessories for purchasing an Fx or 1200. That'll pay for the trailer, right?

So, unless Honda has some great reason for me to buy one of those.. I'll probably end up with a Yamaha..

So, I guess it's a toss between the 1200 and the FX... I figured the FX cause if everyone's going four-stroke, the resale value would be higher in the future, right? (not to mention better gas milage) But then I was considering the 1200 cause of the few more horses and the greater aftermarket for parts (if I decided to go that route in the future) But then I'm sure there'll be an aftermarket soon for the 4 stroke.

I dunno, what do you think?

Buy the $%&$ boat and get on the water, what are you waiting for - a kick in the butt?

This month one of the PWC magazines just did a review of all 4 strokes - get a copy and see if that helps.

I think you are right, 4 strokes are going to be the future for recreational skis.

I would buy the fx140 over the xlt. Go for it!

There dosen't seem to be much good being said about the XLT here. I have the XLL (99 model), and have nothing but good to say about it! It is now modded quite a bit, but has never let me down, or dissapointed me. In my opinion, barring the 4 strokes, it is the best 3 seater out there.

I've riden the FX140.
go for the XLT if you want to go fast.
FX140 if you don't mind chugging along.

We upgraded from a '98 XL1200 to the FX140. We have about 15 hours on it and it is great. It is not a racing 3-seater in accelleration but its top speed is reasonable, mid-50's (GPS'ed at 54.1 a couple of times at about 4 hours). Its great on gas and no oil. Aftermarket parts aren't there yet. The XL was a good boat as well with no problems while we had it.

quote:

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Originally posted by JetEd73:
I've riden the FX140.
go for the XLT if you want to go fast.
FX140 if you don't mind chugging along.

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Are you kidding? I just took my FX140 onto the Connecticut River today and I'll tell you what...The FX140 is just about the same speed as any stock XL1200 ANY DAY! I have BOTH skis and their really is very little speed difference. If you want my opinion the FX140 is a much nicer craft than a XL1200...talk about smoooooth...aggressive handling. Ha you make me laugh…Chuggling around…yeah ok. Anyway, Inimical its only my opinion but if I were you I’d fork over a little more cash and grab a FX140…I promise you will have a grin from ear to ear. Cheers and see ya on the water!

Your riding the 98 XL with 135 hp....5HP LESS than the FX.
I'm on top of a 99XLL...15hp more than a FX and 20 more than a 98XL.

I guess chugging is the wrong term...sorry.

I have posted many times on this that the FX will make a GREAT cruiser.

Inimical,

Be careful when launching in south FL. The ramps tend to get algae groth at the base and in particular during low tide when the algae becomes exposed at the lower end of the ramp, this stuff is super slippery and virtually invisible. My Ford Explorer ended up in the New River Canal in Ft. Laureldale due to this and there was absolutelly nothing I could do about it. Just try to avoid the steeper ramps if you possibly can as there gravity takes over and you're pretty much screwed specially with a heavy boat on a little car.

Hi Mario - we have that problem at every ramp in Okinawa cause of the severe tide change. At low tide, what I do is back the 4WD down until the front tires are just in front of the slippery stuff and then use a rope to lower the trailer the rest of the way. Chalking the wheels helps too. My buds without 4WD have to stop a little further up the ramp.

I did a lot of night spear fishing from boats in Okinawa and one night, we were going to launch a friends boat. We were behind schedule and he neglected that "rule" to stop above the slippery stuff and we forgot to chalk the wheels too. After we undid the winch line and started pushing the boat off the trailer, we were surprised to see the trailer moving too as we pushed and in an instant realized the whole **** thing - boat, trailer AND van were moving into the water. Though we tried to stop it, there was nothing we could do and within a few seconds it was floating until it sank up to the roof within a few minutes. That really sucked, especially for my bud of course. What made it worse is we knew better cause we'd seen it happen to others before but got in a hurry...

I guess the bottom line is - I felt your pain...everyone should follow your advice and be careful at the ramps...