Jet Ski HELP Plz...

Wazdakka

Ok call it a Fit of summer weather madness if you want, But I was down by the sea on Saturday and Sunday, and I want one
I know nothing about the Jet-ski thing, Ive done it a few times and it was great fun, but thats about it.

Where is a good place to buy a second hand jet-ski?
I've tried all the usuals, Adverts, Ebay etc and cant find anything really worth looking at in ireland.
Buy and Sell has a fair few but, with no pictures...
Would it be worth importing one in from anywhere?

Do you need any license to ride them? (I've got my power boat rescue Level three anyway, so i should be fine)

Anybody have any advice on what to look out for?
How much I should be paying, Any particular makes or models good for certain types of riding?

I'm no stranger to the inside of a marine engine, so I dont mind any maintenance, Or even buying a fixer upper..

Cheers All.. Any advice appreciated

noby

Try apolloduck.ie
Other than that, I know nothing.

Wazdakka

Cheers Noby,

I found that site just after I posted the thread.
Seems to be a few on there allright.

Anybody else got any advice for me?
Im looking towards a Yamaha Wave Runner I think...

JamesM

It's a lot of money for just tearing around the place for a while - Unless people are actually racing them, it can get very boring after a while. Also know where you want to use it - a lot of places do not allow them - although the open sea should be fine. They are like jeeps and 4W drives - people can be very aggressive towards them - of course this is from a sailor
Jim.

Pigeon Reaper

They get very boring very quickly. I'd advise a RIB so you can do a few other things apart from buzzing around. They're roughly the same price for a small RIB too. Most jetski get thrashed so ensure the engine is good and that it has a service record. I've had to tow in more broken down jetski than anything else from the bay. No licence is required but I would advise doing a level 2 powerboat cert and get insurance for it. Budget at least €200 for wetsuit and bounacy aid.

Wazdakka

JamesM wrote: »

Unless people are actually racing them, it can get very boring after a while.

Good point.. I'm not too sure what it would take but there are a fair few of them around Dun Laoghaire so racing might not be a bad ideal..

Pigeon Reaper wrote: »

They get very boring very quickly. I'd advise a RIB so you can do a few other things apart from buzzing around. They're roughly the same price for a small RIB too. Most jetski get thrashed so ensure the engine is good and that it has a service record. I've had to tow in more broken down jetski than anything else from the bay. No licence is required but I would advise doing a level 2 powerboat cert and get insurance for it. Budget at least €200 for wetsuit and bounacy aid.

I've got my Level 3 and the wetsuit and bouanacy aid.
I was thinking about a rib aswell.. But they're more expensive for what I would want, And It would be a pain in the ass to store it. But.. I know i'd get Far more use out of it..

Im all confused now

Thanks all for your advice.

Pigeon Reaper

No one has setup a racing league for them but it's not a bad idea. It would get them more respect. A small rib wouldn't take up much more space than a jetski on the trailer and a 2.8/3 M with a large engine is always fun.

Slig

second hand jetskis are dodgy, its very hard to tell if they are damaged but it is very easy to capsize them or sink them. I think they are great fun but many other boat users wont like you (they have been banned on all inland waters in Westmeath). With a ski you can still tow a banana boat, ring or even a skier. passangers are a problem though and thats where a rib would be better, also you can stay dry in a rib (but if you do you are probably doing something wrong:D!)

scaldybelt

I've been out on jet skis many times over the years - but IMHO they're a short term thrill (as in hours - not months).
They're quite unsociable also if you don't have mates with them.

So if the RIB is too expensive, why not try a good second hand speedboat?
Something from 15-17ft with about 60-90hp outboard would be a roomy, and moderately efficient way (fuel isn't getting cheaper!) to have fun with your mates on the water without everyone having to have a wetsuit - like on a jetski.
Water skiing, cruising around the bay(s).....picnics...whatever floats your boat!

You could easily pick up something that will have some engine history (quality of the engine is the most important thing - avoid 'projects') from up North or across the water if not locally. Budget 3-4k for your first one - you'll always have to spend a little more on odds and sods as a first timer.

I'm on my second and third currently (one for sale, one a fixer upper), and would never get something smaller as I enjoy the company when I'm out too much.

If storage is an issue at your house, ask a friend/family member with space - offer them some €€ each month. Last resort is try and find a secure compound to store it at.
The important thing is to get out on the water when the sun is shining!

Wazdakka

Thanks for all the replies guys..

I've done a bit more research and I think you might be right.
A Jetski is only going to be a short term thrill. So that idea has just officially been flushed.

I should have between 7 - 10 K to spend on either a Rib or a speedboat.

I'm from a sailing background, so I would be more familiar with a RIB, I have a few years experience driving for rescue ect..

But I can see the advantage to some of the creature comforts provided by a speed boat.. Like seats for everybody, for example

I have never really driven a Speed boat for any length of time on the Sea, I think I'm going to have to find somebody to bring me out for an hour or two before I can make a decision.

On the petrol note actually..
The sailing club used to pay for any juice i burned with the rib back in the day..
How much would you go through in a half day cruise?
50, 60 Ltrs?

Slig wrote: »

you can stay dry in a rib (but if you do you are probably doing something wrong:D!)

Heh.. Very True

scaldybelt

Well I have a 60hp 2 stroke on a 17' Dory (with cabin), and it can carry up to 5 people comfortably. On a recent trip in Waterford on the Suir, we travelled from upriver of the city down as far as Duncannon in Wexford and back (mixed speeds, but mostly planing along around 20-25mph), and we used approx. 45 litres of unleaded. I would guess 40-50miles (maybe someone else can confirm that mileage.
There was 4 of us onboard. A speedboat with a v-hull would be a bit more efficient - but then again, a larger engine would negate that.

So if you're ripping around a bay, that's a lot of fun - and 25mph is an average waterskiing speed FYI.

Morf3h

Pigeon Reaper wrote: »

No one has setup a racing league for them but it's not a bad idea. It would get them more respect. A small rib wouldn't take up much more space than a jetski on the trailer and a 2.8/3 M with a large engine is always fun.

More Respect?! You've got to be joking. Jet-skiers are the bane of Dublin Bay. The lifeboat released figures recently saying that over half of rescues are of jet-skiers who were retarded and did something stupid. A racing league?! Where is the world coming to.

To Wazdakka,

Definitely go for a rib they're so much more fun. If possible you could also go for a second-hand wake-boarding/water ski boat with one of those metal bars at the back for attaching the rope to. They're pretty fun. I think Dun Laoghaire Marina has a buy/sell folder in the main building you should check that!

Pigeon Reaper

If they setup a racing league it would prove that some jetskiers have some semblance of intelligence. It would involve insurance, rescue cover etc just like DBSC does. I've had to pick up numerous jetskis over the years and have towed two in the past week. Most suffer from ignorance which turns out to be less than blissful in the middle of the bay. Banning jetski won't help as it will undoubtedly affect other powerboat users, I'd prefer to see some overall body to help them self regulate. Not all of them are bad just the majority.

I agree with the RIB being more use and fun but I've also had more than a couple of incidents involving RIB's due to stupidity on the helms part. The majority of these where pleasure users without a clue. Traditionally RIBs have been work boats so the operators know what they're up to so they have a good reputation unlike jetski where the publics first exposure is the idiot going in circles by the slipway or wall.

For buying the RIB keep an eye on Apolloduck too. Also make sure you have an Aux engine on it.

Kavinsky

Is there anywhere in North Dublin (Howth, Dollymount, Sutton, etc) to rent jetskis, ribs, or even small engine dinghys? Thanks!

...stephen...

Get half decent one when your buying! Go to england a get speedboat maybe a bayliner! But understand your engines we usally go out on a speedboat which has a 4.3 v6 mercury engine! it drinks fuel! it will do about 5 mpg! a gallon for a decent ski! so watch out