Ok guys, pardon once again an ignorant posting from a newbie... I will be making my first ever PWC purchase this June when my house closes on the sale. The only PWC I have ridden is a rental 2004 Yamaha 800 or 1200 (not sure which one) which I rode for about four hours. I had a blast on it but know there are better PWC's out there. I am learning the specs and terminology, but I figured turning to you guys is the best way to go to get the best "real" information, not just sales speak.

I was considering the 05' SeaDoo Wake but now I have pretty much made up my mind to get an '05 RXT. The price of the Wake is more appealing, but the RXT just seems to shine everytime I look at it and the specs. A few questions for you all since I have seen a few conflicting comments on boards and in magazines:

1) RXT and Turning: Some say it is great to ride, others say it turns slow but is fast and smooth on the straight-away. While others I have heard say it turns great, only if you know how to ride hard. For me, being a new rider, will this RXT turn fine and such? I don't expect to ride circles around other PWC's, but I would like to know I can actually do a circle in a somewhat tight radius. Can you give me some details on how well it performs, stock, as far as manueverability goes? I will be mostly riding around boat wakes, hoping the waves (not going vertical, just jumping from crest to crest so to speak) and zig zagging all over. I am not worried about overall speed as much as I am about being able to turn and go where I want to go. Granted, I love speed as much as the next red blooded guy or girl, but I want manueverability as well, not just a dragster!

1.2) Does the lack of trim controls really hurt a PWC? I am pretty much lacking any knowledge of how much the trim affects PWC's and if it is a big deal not to have it. Unless I am wrong, the RXT does not have trim controls correct?

2) I already got the answer here on if the tow pylon can be added, has anyone else seen, or done, towing of kneeboarders/tubers on the RXT? Is it overkill to use an RXT for this, or would it make it that much more fun and enjoyable having the extra HP?

3) My main riding will be off the coast of Daytona Beach and the intercoastal waterways of Florida's ocean coast. Periodically I will be on lakes and rivers, but let's say the ratio is 75/25 for the ocean. Anything better suited than the RXT?

4) Maintenance: Some (mainly Yamaha owners) say SeaDoo's are not reliable, they break down in a year, etc. How is the maintenance from your perspective on any Sea Doo as a brand? I know the RXT runs the same engine as the RXP, has that engine been fine so far in the RXP?


Thanks for any and all answers. I want to get as much info as possible before laying a chunck of cash down on a PWC. The last thing I want to hear is my wife saying I wasted money if I end up getting the wrong PWC and not being happy with it!