The Do’s and Don’ts of Buying a Used Jet Ski

Times are tough. Whether it’s the 10% spike in your home’s electric costs, higher prices at the gas pump or an increasing grocery bill, stretching a dollar these days is even more difficult than it was a year ago. Which is why buying a used jet ski could be an ideal solution for water sports enthusiasts who aren’t able to afford to buy a new one. But as the old adage goes, “let the buyer beware.” Getting a quality used Jet Ski at a fair price means doing your homework. Here are some Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind if you’re considering buying a used Jet Ski.

Do ask for at the number of hours a used Jet Ski has been operated. A good indicator of how old the Jet Ski is or how much wear and tear you should expect is the number of hours a Jet Ski has been operated. Jet Skis operated for less than 50 hours tend to be in better shape than Jet Skis operated for 150 hours or more. The average lifespan of a Jet Ski is 300 hours. But usage alone isn’t the only factor you should consider when buying a used Jet Ski. A well-maintained Jet Ski that’s seen 200 hours on the water could be in better shape than a poorly maintained Jet Ski used for 30 hours. If you come across a Jet Ski with a low number of usage hours that looks pretty beaten up, this could be a red flag that the owner didn’t perform the necessary maintenance to keep his or her Jet Ski in peak performance condition.

And speaking of maintenance, Don’t buy a used Jet Ski without asking to see its maintenance records. This is the best way to see a Jet Ski’s history and whether or not it’s received the proper upkeep, required a rebuild, any other major repairs or been in any accidents. As the current owner if he or she is the only owner. If the Jet Ski had more than one owner, make sure the current owner has the records that show the Jet Ski’s entire lifespan. Conscientious Jet Ski owners will have this information and it shouldn’t be a problem. If it is a problem and they don’t have all the records, keep shopping.

They say you can tell a lot about a person by how well they take care of their things. Do keep this in mind when examining a used Jet Ski for wear and tear. Used Jet Skis are bound to have a few scratches here and there, but while you’re inspecting a Jet Ski’s wear and tear be sure to check out how the seller was storing it. Was the Jet Ski sitting out in the sun? Or was it setting out in the shade? Did the seller have a cover on it? Over the long term, the elements can be damaging to a Jet Ski and the ones that are stored in a garage or shed away from direct sunlight are the ones that will be in the best shape.

Finally, Don’t buy a used Jet Ski without having a mechanic check out the engine. A trusted mechanic will see things you may not see by simply inspecting the exterior of a Jet Ski. Mechanics will be able to tell you if there is a leak or any other problems. If a seller won’t let you have the Jet Ski checked out by a mechanic before you buy it, then that Jet Ski is the one for you.