Jet Ski

[WOOSAB]

Already have the boat and the kids want jet ski's this summer looking to purchase jet ski. Nothing crazy fast just something me and kdis can enjoy. Was thinking of the yamaha vx1100. Anyone have any experience with these. Looking for another bullet proof ski that doesn't take to much to maintain just start and ride similar to our boats. Thats what has me looking towards yamaha's again. Are there better brands or whats the most reliable brand?

 

[txav8r]

I can't answer your question Justin...just wanted to bump you back up in the batting order and get it another look!

 

[Scottintexas]

I've thought about buying a jet ski not only for family fun but a cheap (relatively speaking) insurance policy incase one of my boat motors blew. Where better to get a reliable motor with some history to plug and play!

 

[satovod]

Seadoo spark!

 

[MikeyL]

You ain't lived until you actually RIDE on a SeaDoo IBR 'ski (Intelligent Brake and Reverse). We LOVE ours. No problems. Stay away from the higher-powered models. Stick with a GTI 130SE and you'll be in love everytime you ride it. Or a Wake Edition.
Keep in mind 1 thing: I'm gonna get "hammered" for this post and frankly I do not care. Virtually everyone who is gonna tell you "how bad" SeaDoo is, has never ever ridden a SeaDoo IBR. Just TRY one out @ a Dealer and you'll see IMMEDIATELY for yourself.
PS - Stay away from the Spark. It doesn't provide the level of enjoyment I am speaking of here.
Good Luck - Mikey Lulejian - Lake Oconee, GA
PS - People do not read what is written frequently, so I am going to repeat myself.
A) Buy a NON-supercharged Seadoo.

B) And ask all of the people who are gonna crap on my comments 1 thing ! Have they have ever simply RIDDEN ONCE a SeaDoo IBR ski. Just once ! And allow me to CLARIFY further: I am talking about a Seadoo Intelligent Brake and Reverse (ie, "IBR) 'ski !

Simply take a TEST ride - on the water @ a dealer location - and THEN consider the different alternatives you have.
Best Wishes, Mikey Lulejian (PS - Happy satisfied DUAL SeaDoo owner for the past 6 years. ZERO problems and we put a TON of hours on our skiis !! They 'reside' in our backyard on lifts, 2 feet from the water).

 

[satovod]

spark ibr - $6500, cheapest other ibr model - $11000

PS - Stay away from the Spark. It doesn't provide the level of enjoyment I am speaking of here.

did you try it by yourself?

 

[MikeyL]

There is wayyyyyyyyy more than a $5K worth of total enjoyment between the two models.
Spread over 5 years, that's a $1000 a year to have the time of your ife. Do I sound prejudiced ? LOL !

 

[satovod]

5k difference in lets say 50 hours (1h every week) - $100 per hour difference.

OR you can buy one more spark for extra 5k. (remember that topic starter said that this jetski will be for kids)

once again, did you test drive spark before. I did.

 

[jdonalds]

The Yamaha 100 is a great ski. Super reliable. Top reliability is my most important factor.

Kawasaki and Yamaha reliability is head and shoulders above SeaFood.

 

[WOOSAB]

The ski's are just for my 2 boys this summer. I decided to go with the new Sea Doo spark. They are smaller and lighter like the older ski's. We rode them on tuesday and had a blast. Water was cold but had fun. They are same rotax motor in the boats just no super charger. We got the 90hp 2up model..even thought the yamaha's are 120hp these only weight like 400 or 420 pounds vs 700 something in yamaha. We owned the seadoo jet boat before had no issues with it. Just didn't like the fact had to rebuild the supercharger every 100 hours. Walked out the door with 2 of them and a double trailer and 2 covers for only $14,200.. Well i wrote the check i pick them up saturday.. For the price they couldn't be beat. They have lot's of low and mid range power top end maybe 50-52mph.. They were so light and easy to handle and slide around on.

 

[MikeyL]

Hey WooSab .......... Sounds like a great deal ! We LOVE our SeaDoo's. Highly reliable. Wishing you the same successful ownership. BRP is really a pretty neat company. My Best your way - Mikey Lulejian - Lake Oconee, GA

 

[jdonalds]

My son works at a Yamaha/SeaDoo dealer. He said SeaDoo is not making much money on the Spark and it is taking profits away because people are buying many less of the non-Spark models. They are apparently considering making some moves to limit Spark sales. No details were available.

 

[MikeyL]

My son works at a Yamaha/SeaDoo dealer. He said SeaDoo is not making much money on the Spark and it is taking profits away because people are buying many less of the non-Spark models. They are apparently considering making some moves to limit Spark sales. No details were available.

Well, as usual Jim is correct. To wit: First of all, some facts. SeaDoo is limiting a LOT of "Spark" items. SeaDoo tells each dealer how many they are getting on the Spark models. BRP sets the MINIMUM advertised Sales price, and wants the skiis sold at the price(s) THEY SET ! Most every serious SeaDoo dealer wants to become and remain a "Platinum" dealer. It's the only way things work out, sales and profits wise. But the REALLY BAD part is SeaDoo has priced the Sparks such that a dealer makes two (that's right ! ..... "2" !) percent profit gross. What does GROSS mean ? Well, the dealer must MUST pay for the 'ski, then there are the freight charges in to the dealer, the 'ski has to be rigged upon being delivered to the dealer, a battery must be installed, (NOTE: Dealers pay for the batteries !), ... and should we even at this point even consider counting in a normal selling commission ? LOL ! Yes, the SPARK line-up did "increase" somewhat "traffic flow" into the dealer, but by no means enough to make up for all of this.
What have some dealers done ?
A) Well, dealers who used to be "straight up" great selling dealers - Those they did NOT charge for freight, set-up, batteries, etc - on a 'ski sale, are now being forced to add that back in.
B) Where a customer who in the past would come in and spend in the $18000 to $22000 range for 2 'skiis and a tandem trailer, are now driving out for about $11000 to $11500 on average.
C) SeaDoo told the dealers they'ld sell more life vests, etc......... But hardly enough to make up for all of this malarky.

So where are we ? Well, the GOOD news, if there is any, is that SeaDoo could not manufacture all of the Spark model THEY wanted to, so dealers only were forced to take "so many" of them.
BRP "Changes? None that we could undermindedly (a word I just made up ...... LOL ) could un-cover.

But 1 thing for sure is this: There is most likely not a serious Platinum-level SeaDoo dealer in America right now happy with SeaDoo and the SPARK model program ! I was told this by 2 very serious and large(r)-scale BRP dealers.
Again, the BRP dealer network understand lowering entry-level models - which does have the effect on lowering GROSS cash margins - but to have a product line where the GROSS PROFIT margin is 2 percent ??????? That's CRAZY ! Especially in these more difficult economic-climate times we have been in the past 4 years.

There may be changes coming, but right now I'ld bet it is coming from the BRP dealer COMMUNITY, rather that BRP.
Glad to be back @ beautiful Lake Oconee, and hoping this helped further add to Jim's comments about the Spark above !
Mikey Lulejian

 

[WOOSAB]

I could Def see this. The 1st dealer we went to priced us $16k and change. Freight was 630 (2x) and 330(2x) doc charges. The other dealer only charged 330 total for doc and freight on both. But he was more interested in me owning a local insurance company and wanted me to send him claims/damaged.. boats and skis. While shoshopping around I got prices from 16,800-14ks. O