Does anyone still do stand-up jet skis?

[Slamons]

I picked up a couple of old standups for my daughter to ride. The plan is to tow them behind the boat to the sandbar and then let them mess around on them while we relax. That way we aren’t being bugged to go tow them on a tube every 15 min lol. The first one is an 87’ Kawasaki JS 440 that had been in storage for over 20 years. I spent a couple days passively working on it and got it running; it has 130 compression in both cylinders. The next one is a 92’ Kawasaki 750 sx.

 

[Marvin willis]

Isn’t towing them gonna get water forced into the motor? I get my wife to ride my jet ski when I drive the boat.

 

[anmut]

A guy could rig up some sort of backwards "hitch" to the rear platform of the boat, and then tow them with the jets up and out of the water.

 

[Slamons]

I’ve plumbed in a ball valve on the inlet side of the water lines. We will just have to remember to open it back up once we get to where we are going.

 

[AZMark]

I have a 550 which is the same size hull I think. They do not tow well at all. You’ll have to go painfully slow or rig something up to keep the nose up and keep it from trying to roll. I’ve used a couple of the long fenders in an emergency.

Edit: I actually have a 650 now but I’ve towed all three at least just cruising the lake and they’re all difficult.

Those 750s are my favorite. Really nice to ride. The 440 is going to be pretty squirrelly.

 

[Slamons]

Thanks for the advice. I guess I didn’t think about how they would tow. I’ll let you know how it goes. We will be out on the Colorado river this Saturday.

 

[Slamons]

My daughter and wife have been having a blast with these stand-ups. The newest one is a Kawasaki 750 sx. This is the go to” ski, it starts every time and isn’t easily flooded like the Js 440. I have yet to get up on one them lol. I might need a bigger ski at 6’4 and 275lbs.

 

[AZMark]

Awesome!

Cant wait until my little guy is old enough.

 

[JW5055]

Yes I was always curious if anyone rigged anything up to the stern to be able to have a smaller stand up towed or stowed.

 

[I_squared_r]

I rode stand up jet skis for many years .. only in the surf. I had a 750sx, 08+ superjet, pre 08 superjet, WDK ROK with sxr800 motor.. And I quit some years ago when I bought the boat. I have back problems, also most of my friends have knee and back problems. If I ever get back into it, it will be the new 4 stroke superjet. Some of my friends have moved on to them and say they're not a surf ski, but they're tons of fun, and are infinitely more reliable. Exactly what I need lol You can't tow these behind the boat. Somebody has to be sitting in the tray or else it will immediately sink. But I've seen people build winches & racks that sit on the swim platform. Not sure if that's really worth the trouble

 

[Billtex2000]

My son just bought a 1990 "Square Nose" Superjet as a project. The sucker fires right up every time and runs strong.
He's making some improvements and hopes to be on the water soon!

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

I do it a little differently though

 

[Slamons]

I picked up a new one, 2023 Kawisaki SX-R 160. I had to get something that I could ride. I took it out on the lake to try it out, 65 degree air temp and the water had to be in the high 50’s. Still a blast though! So glad I picked it up.

 

[ahenderson432]

I picked up a couple of old standups for my daughter to ride. The plan is to tow them behind the boat to the sandbar and then let them mess around on them while we relax. That way we aren’t being bugged to go tow them on a tube every 15 min lol. The first one is an 87’ Kawasaki JS 440 that had been in storage for over 20 years. I spent a couple days passively working on it and got it running; it has 130 compression in both cylinders. The next one is a 92’ Kawasaki 750 sx.

If needed try Jet Ski Unlimited. A long drive across town for you but may be worth it for repairs out of your wheelhouse.