Need opinions on Speedboat or Jetskis

Sherardp

Well as the title says it, I need opinions on both. Im in the market for a new toy, and since Im surrounded by nothing but pretty beaches in Japan, Im ready for either a speedboat or two wicked fast jet skis. Seadoo seems to be pretty easy to get out here in Japan, so Im thinking either the speedster boat or some high performance model jet skis. In the process I have some questions in regards to ease of launching, which would be more fun, etc. My MV Agusta motorcycle is up for sale, as Im calling it quits with the bikes. Im sure I'll be back but riding in Japan has caused more headache and pain than anything else for me minus tracks. I've crash 2 bikes already, total losing 1 and walked away. Counting my blessings, so I figure I'll get out on the water and play a little. Any advice is highly appreciated. Here is the jet ski Im thinking

http://www.sea-doo.com/en-US/Products/Watercraft/Musclecraft/RXT-X/

and boat

http://www.sea-doo.com/en-US/Products/SportBoat/Musclecraft/Speedster200/

obieone

JUST a suggestion, but....Try renting a boat, and take the family waterskiing, then rent jetski's, and see what the family likes. (I don't know how old your kids are?)
I'm NOT a water sports person, just figured I'd throw that out there ;-)

Sherardp

I rented jet skis, and they liked it, but I have zero clue as to where to rent a boat out here, especially a speed boat. Kids are 8, and 6 so fun factor is what Im after. Im just having a hard time deciding which route to go.

MikeC78

I would personally think the jet-skis would be more fun, either way the fuel is going to $$$ you.;)

Sherardp

MikeC78 wrote: »

I would personally think the jet-skis would be more fun, either way the fuel is going to $$$ you.;)

Im hoping its not going to be that bad, If I go jetskis then I have to buy two of them. Im just curious how difficult it is to launch a boat, fun factor, etc.

MikeC78

I know a few guys that have jetskis, from what they tell me it's pretty painfull. You might want to ask around, because they won't even pull them out of their garage right now.

mule

speed boat =a lot of $$

yeah you can get one for under 100k but it is quite easy to go through 100 gallons per hour of fuel

but if that is in you meens then I would go for something like a sonic or if you could find an ultimate warlock that would be sick, if you like to go realllyyyy fast go with a douglas skater, but that a basically a race boat with not much room for gear.

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I never owned jet skis so I am not sure how much fuel they use, maybe 10 to 15 gph depending on how you run them.

MillerLiteScott

My vote would be a boat over 2 wave runners. The boat will be more comfortable for all and more family oriented. IMO YMMV.

I was riding a friends Seadoo 3 person wave runner last Wednesday with an assortment of his or my kids on with me. While yes it is fun and fast but the novelty of that was over for me within 10 minutes and I was ready to get back on the boat that we were using as home base. I was riding one that had 130 HP and it was to fast for kids to drive IMO so I cannot imagine what the 250 HP model is like.

Scott

MikeC78

I just got done IM'ing my buddy who's had both. Here is what he had to say...

He had a 23' cabin cruiser, and would easily go through $250-300 in fuel for the weekend and that was when gas was $2.50 a gallon. That's not including the fuel in the truck to haul it either.

Jet-ski's, he said they suck gas even worse!! Suck gas and oil, they are a mix. He would go through 30 gallons easy, so you do the math.

Speed boat?lol He would go trough 50 gallons in a weekend, then fill the truck to haul it also. I wouldn't even do the math on that one!:eek:

Good luck, I wish I had the dough...

madmax

I guess I'd have to say speedboat. For me personally I'd probably want an older one that someone built up themselves with their own version v8, open pipes etc. (Just because I've seen some and thought they were cool, and probably cheaper too).
madmax

ND13

I'd stay away from being a boat OWNER. Everyone I know that's had one, regrets it in the long run. Jet-skis are a different story.

I-SIG

You know what they say about watercraft owners:

"The 2 happiest days owning watercraft are the day he buys it and the day he sells it."

Personally, I think boats are probably the biggest money holes around between depreciation and cost-of-ownership.

Wes

Poee7R

I'll toss my vote towards the jetboat, they are great.

I havent personally owned one, but living in florida for a good while I had few friends that did. I think the intensity factor is greater and its more versatile than a jet ski. My brothers have had a few Seadoo's with the Rotax 800, cant remember the ski models, but they were yellow 2 seater's meant to fly, and they did. Also a Yamaha or two, which were nice but they were the larger 3 seater's and didnt handle quite as well as the Seadoo's.

But all in all everybody had a better time in the boats. More of a social thing where everyone can share the same experience. Not saying it cant be done on ski's, yet my vote is towards the boat.

And wow 430hp in a 20ft boat that ways 2800 pounds. That would be sick, and absolutely worth the extra gas.


Dave

NotaSuv

I-SIG wrote: »

You know what they say about watercraft owners:

"The 2 happiest days owning watercraft are the day he buys it and the day he sells it."

Personally, I think boats are probably the biggest money holes around between depreciation and cost-of-ownership.

Wes

Having owned many a boat...finally realized it was much better to have a friend with a boat...they are a money pit in the ocean.....I would go the rent them when needed route....

mrmusicman

Since your kids are that young go for the boat...in a couple years if your family is still into watersports than grab a jet ski to go along with the boat.I'd go for the 400hp version and install a kickarse system to go with it
Whats the price of fuel in Japan?The boat has a 45 gal tank:eek:

Sherardp

All great replies, gas in Japan is around 4.06 since I get the gas on the military bases here. If I buy off local economy it's around 1.60-1.77 a liter. I was thinking about the resale value of both as well. I'd hate to splurge the cash and all of a sudden everyone is bored with it etc. I know that jetski I posted will fly, as I have seen it firsthand here. Allot of the guys I work with have boats also, but the ones they have are either like house boats, or those similar to yachts. I dont think Im ready for something like that, hence the need for speed.

treitz3

I would advise not getting a Sea-Doo with an incredible amount of power. Your knees and forearms will thank you. I have ridden one that was so insanely fast that if you turned just a hair too much, you would get thrown off the craft no matter how hard you tried to hang on. Plus, with a craft that powerful, safety becomes a a MAJOR concern and hand fatigue sets in pretty quick from just trying to hang on.

Now....I mentioned the knees, right? When you have a craft that powerful you can jump waves and wakes to get some pretty awesome hang time and air. That's not the problem. The problem comes when you land. One weird **** wake or three waves that come together in one spot [which may very well happen right where you are going to land] can yield disaster for your knees because that's the first thing that hits the craft that magically slows down to next to nothing.....meanwhile, you are still going 60+ MPH.

Not a good scene. Trust me, I know.

Sherardp

my knees took a serious beating while I was in the Marines. Though I have rented jet skis I never seem to have problems with the knees. So I maybe good there for now. The boat would be more of a family oriented thing perhaps. Or I could snag the boat and one jetski and call it a day.

treitz3

After years of boating on all different kinds of watercraft, our family has decided that a large party boat and a ski boat were the most fun for the $$$. This was decided about 10 years ago and 4 boats later, we still have the same thing [they like to trade up often].

I have to say that the family does things more with this setup then when we had two ski boats and three Sea-Doo's. Back then, we were always asking "where'd so-and-so go?". Now we ask each other if the kids want to go tubing or if they want a beer. Plus, one other benefit. We don't have to go scouring the lake because one of the kids forgot to look at the fuel level. I don't miss that at all. Especially when a big storm is on it's way.

Dennis Gardner

A couple of thoughts from an owner of both.......

The boat requires a full size pickup to pull, the PWCs can be hauled with a car.

PWCs like waves, (ocean is good)....20 ft boats like smooth water (ocean is bad). Riding in a boat on rough water is like going off-road in a Jeep, most of the fun is for the driver.

PWCs may be age limited for 6-8 year olds almost anywhere, and I don't want to be on the water if your 6 year old is at the helm.

A boat is like a car, its a great place to kickback, rest, relax for passengers. A PWC is a motorcycle on the water, most passengers hate riding them. Would you choose a car or a couple of bikes to go on a trip?

Regardless of what you purchase, you will use the hell out of it the first year, half as much the second year and rarely after that, since your kids will be old enough & be too busy to do the family water thing.

$30k can buy many years of great vacations in exotic places each year while the kids are young and return none of the heartache of ownership/responsibility.

Payments on any watercraft during the 9 months of nonuse are a ****. The only boat/PWC IMO is a paid for one.

Just my opinion/experience.......an yes, I can see my boat as I type.

mule

treitz3 wrote: »

The problem comes when you land. One weird **** wake or three waves that come together in one spot [which may very well happen right where you are going to land] can yield disaster for your knees because that's the first thing that hits the craft that magically slows down to next to nothing.....meanwhile, you are still going 60+ MPH.

Not a good scene. Trust me, I know.

Ha Ha !! we call that a double up!! When you are pulling a wakeboarder you drive straight making a wake, then you turn a rather gentle 360 degree turn so that you cut through the wake you just made when you were driving straight, you want to hit the wake traveling at a 90 degree angle, when the bow of the boat splits the origonal wake it sends a really big roller and the wakeboarder will edge towards it building speed, if you are good and time it right you can boost 15 to 20 feet off the water, it is awsome!!

heres what it looks like, its kinda hard to find in all the white water...

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TNRabbit

I have a SeaDoo jetboat; it's great fun but not particularly trouble-free. I'd vote the HONDA turbo jetskis....extremely powerful, dependable, run on regular gas (4 stroke). SeaDoo has spotty reliability but are fast. Incidentally, the Honda wave-runner type will do over 60 mph...