I need some help with buying a jet ski for 2 or 3 passangers.?

Question

I have never owned one. What are the things i need to know and what are the requirements in GA if any?

Answer 1

I live in Atlanta and sold boats for JOA Marine. Our main jetski was SeeDoo. If I were to buy one today, though, I would also consider the Yamaha. Honda and Kawasaki are good units but have not kept up with the design of SeeDoo or Yamaha. Definitely buy a 4 stroke due to oil restrictions, noise, and smoother ride.
If you buy a NEW unit each manufacturer has its on dye in their oil (two stroke engines) so service departments can tell if you used another oil (the oil is expensive and goes quickly) and void your warranty. Also, SeeDoo, and I think Yamaha, has an oil cut-off should you flip the boat the oil stays in the oil box. Important, because if the oil runs into the engine you cannot crank until serviced.
SeeDoo has a 3 cylinder, 4 stroke (140hp and up) and, if I remember, Yamaha (110hp and up) is the same. SeeDoo has the heaviest hull of any, I have actually taken a 215 hp SeeDoo at 50 miles an hour and turned so sharp I would have flip on others, but not SeeDoo just to demonstrate its safety. SeeDoo in comparison to Horsepower cost more. Yamaha's 110 hp is the only 4 stroke in this catagory and cost around $7,200 +/-. SeeDoo's 110 2 stroke is around $8,000. SeeDoo does offer the most horsepower with their 215 hp unit, and this will fly about 78 mph. If I were going to buy one today it would be the SeeDoo 185 SC (SuperCharged). This unit will MOVE also at about 68 mph. If you are looking for a superb unit but do not have the cash for a SeeDoo buy the excellent Yamaha 175 or as a good entry level Yamaha's 110 4 stroke.
Remember the trailor is extra and normally runs $500 to $900 depending on when you buy, i.e., boat show, used trailer available.
Oh yea, all SeeDoo's are ocean ready. Yamaha has a kit that can be installed for about $700. Consider this also in the pricing if going to the ocean. Basically it is a stainless steel exhaust versus steel.
Georgia requires single operators to be at least 12 yrs old. Life Jackets are required. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources can send you a book on laws. Good boat stores will have these available also. When you buy new the dealer, just like a car, will order the registration to put on side of jetski. You will go to your local tag office to get the trailer tag, about $15 max.
BUY INSURANCE.

Answer 2

I worked for a Sea-Doo dealership in Georgia a few years ago. If you want to use the watercraft as a tow boat you will need to buy a 3 person watercraft as that is required by state law. You must have a driver, a spotter, and a seat available for your skier. Both Sea-Doo and Yamaha make excellent machines. Sea-Doo's GTX has long been a favorite for people seeking a 3-person watercraft as it has plenty of power and all the bells and whistles people usually want. Their less expensive but still a good machine is the Sea-Doo GTI. The thing I like about Sea-Doo is they have a reverse gear so you can manuever better at slow speeds. Yamaha has some good 3 person machines as well. A 2 person watercraft is a good choice if you are looking for some powerful, light machines that manuever quickly. Both Sea-Doo and Yamaha offer turbo charged machines that pack around 250 horsepower. In flat water you can hit around 72 miles per hour with the standard machine without any upgrades. The people I worked with who bought new machines every year would always get one 3 person machine and one 2 person machine. This way they could always pull skiers or a tube and just horse around on the other.

Answer 3

Georgia requires that all ski's have mirrors and be 3 passenger capable to tow a tube or skiers. They also require that a spotter be riding backwards when towing a tube or skier. SEADOO has a Wake Board Edition that has mirrors, Ski tow bar and handles for the spotter. It is a fiberglass(stronger than plastic) boat that can carry 3 adults and has either 155hp or 215hp. It also is a 4 stroke engine that requires as little maintenance as your car! Go to seadoo.com and check them out!

Answer 4

SeaDoo is absolutely the best. I had a 185 hp Seadoo and traded it in for the 215 HP. It tows easily with little drag. We used to have a boat and were bored with it and sold it for the jet ski. They aren't cheap but are a lot of fun.

Answer 5

buy a boat you have more room less money good used ones go cheep bucks boats in alabama