Jetski or Small Boat ?

[anthonyc4242]

Hey everyone, I just got my boater's license and I'm from New England, so it's time to get a boat! I'm torn between a small boat (like a 17' Hydra-Sports/Whaler) and a jet ski (like a decent Sea-Doo) with a budget under $10k. I feel like a jet ski might be more versatile, but I've heard they can get boring.

What do you think? Any advice or experiences to share?

[Josh-PA]

It depends a bit on what you want to do.
Jet Skis are fun for ~an hour then its kind of the end. If you get a Jet Ski, get a 3 person one so you have the option of tubing off the back with some friends (but they are waaaayyy less stable with a 2nd person on the back). With a jet ski you always get wet, and can't do much at low speeds, there just isn't much flexibility with them other than zipping around, hopping wakes.

With a boat, you don't get the same adrenaline rush as the jet ski, but you can do so much more. Want to go fishing - sure, want to boat up to a shoreline restaurant - sure, want to take a few friends out for a cruise - sure, want to tube - sure, want to water ski - maybe (if you have enough torque to pull your friends out of the water).

I will say in today's market - $10k for a boat is kind of scraping the bottom of the barrel. I have an '08 Regal 1900 that I bought in 2014 for $16k. It's worth more than that now. Ours is on one of the Finger Lakes in NY

When thinking about size, if you plan to trailer in / trailer out - think about all the crap you'll want to bring a long for a day on the water. Pretty much once you're out there, you arent coming back in until the day is over. Also in New England, think about how short the season is and how you'll winterize and store the boat for 6+ months out of the year. Budget $2k/year in maintenance, storage costs, etc.

[mjj]

10K won’t get you much for either. If you want to relax and fish, drink beer get a boat. If you want to zip around and land it on a sand bar - get a PWC.

I have both boats and two Yamaha Waverunners.

Save your money for a few years and then dive in. Better yet, you can rent either a boat or pwc first. Try them out and decide.

[2000cs]

Also consider salt vs fresh water use. If you’re going to be on salt water, make sure your boat and fittings are somewhat able to withstand the corrosion.

A small pontoon like the Seadoo Switch might satisfy the urge to go fast and play, while allowing some versatility for cruising and fishing.

We live on a lake and see lots of jet skis (mostly bigger ones, often pulling a tube), pontoons/tritoons with more people aboard, and fishing boats with huge engines zooming to that honey hole. Each has its benefits and compromises.

[GOLFFRR]

I agree with renting and comparing. You might quickly get your answer after you do that. Shoot you might even come to realize maybe you dont need a boat or a ski lol and just rent one when you want to go

[vreihen16]

Remember the old adage:

The two happiest days in a boat owner's life are the day they buy their boat and the day that they sell it.....

[cmyx6go]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

Remember the old adage:

The two happiest days in a boat owner's life are the day they buy their boat and the day that they sell it.....

And

Break
Out
Another
Thousand

Boating is fun, but it is not cheap. It's not just the cost of the boat.

[anthonyc4242]

Alright, so I have a Mazda CX-30 and I'm not planning to buy an X5 for this, LOL. I think getting a Sea-Doo would be a great choice.

Do any of you have experience with the Sea-Doo GTI SE 130 ?

I'm about to offer $3,000 in cash, but the seller is asking for $3,300. Any advice?

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

And

Break
Out
Another
Thousand

Boating is fun, but it is not cheap. It's not just the cost of the boat.

A thousand bucks probably wouldn't even buy a refurbished propeller these days. Lord knows that I broke a few of them on submerged garbage around Staten Island and NY Harbor over the years.....

[vreihen16]

<---- Owns an empty dock down yonder at our SC tree farm, with no plans to buy another hole in the water surrounded by fiberglass into which one pours money.....

[anthonyc4242]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

<---- Owns an empty dock down yonder at our SC tree farm, with no plans to buy another hole in the water surrounded by fiberglass into which one pours money.....

What about a PWC?

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by anthonyc4242

What about a PWC?

I used to own the only non-Rotax-powered formula car in my racing class. I'd sooner gouge my ears out with rusty ice picks than have to listen to a jetski engine between my legs.

Funny thing is that I have never once seen/heard a jetski on the lake when we've been down there. I truly believe that the local bass boat owners hung the last one in a tree in effigy as a warning for others.....

[anthonyc4242]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

I used to own the only non-Rotax-powered formula car in my racing class. I'd sooner gouge my ears out with rusty ice picks than have to listen to a jetski engine between my legs.

Funny thing is that I have never once seen/heard a jetski on the lake when we've been down there. I truly believe that the local bass boat owners hung the last one in a tree in effigy as a warning for others.....

I'd be taking mine in the ocean, I want a fish pro but they're like $20k..

[CTinline-six]

Originally Posted by 2000cs

Also consider salt vs fresh water use. If you’re going to be on salt water, make sure your boat and fittings are somewhat able to withstand the corrosion.

A small pontoon like the Seadoo Switch might satisfy the urge to go fast and play, while allowing some versatility for cruising and fishing.

We live on a lake and see lots of jet skis (mostly bigger ones, often pulling a tube), pontoons/tritoons with more people aboard, and fishing boats with huge engines zooming to that honey hole. Each has its benefits and compromises.

This is huge.

It all depends what you want to do with it. Putt around a lake? Go on the ocean? Big difference depending on what your plans are.

I live in CT and have my boating license. To me a small boat with an outboard seems to be a good mix. Not too hard to maintain, you can have a few people on it, pull some water skiers, go fishing, etc. Salt water becomes a bigger deal because what seems like a big boat on a lake is a tiny boat on the ocean. I love jet skis, but they can be even more of a PITA to fix than an outboard, and also everywhere you go people seem to think you are an a-hole buzzing around them. I don't currently own any boats but have had a few and fixed even more of them as a side hobby for family/friends.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by anthonyc4242

I'd be taking mine in the ocean, I want a fish pro but they're like $20k..

My insane younger brother rode his jetski about 75 miles down the Hudson River, did a lap of the Statue of Liberty, and then abother 75 miles home.

I can tell you the story about the open water crossing that I did in my old 19-foot boat in 4-6 foot seas from Sandy Hook NJ to Coney Island NY. I didn't even want to go to Coney Island, but the old parachute ride tower was the only thing visible over the waves even when I was standing. I followed the coast west to the Verrazano Bridge from there, and then did a lap of the sheltered side of Staten Island to get back to my marina in NJ.

Some people like riding dirt bikes and ATVs and jumping over dirt piles. I am not one of them.....

[zx10guy]

I'm normally an adrenaline junky. And always thought I would love having a jet ski. I'm glad I took the step of renting one for an hour before buying one. Because at the end of he rental, I was meh on buying a jet ski. Ended up buying a 28.5' sailboat. So I suggest you do try renting one first.

The other thing is if you do decide on a jet ski. You can get one of these extensions to attach a jet ski to make it into essentially a boat.

[Maynard]

I'm gonna suggest that you attend at least a one day HPDE with one of the local BMW clubs. That may help you find a better way to dispo the 10k

[Tambohamilton]

Why don't you just set fire to $10k in a BBQ or something, and save the hassle of getting wet?

To each their own...I'd never buy a boat.

My experience (father was a langoustine fisherman, I lived on a narrow boat on a canal for 1.5y, friend owns a rib now) is that they're not very enjoyable when theyre in motion after the first hour, and they're stupid money to maintain. Something is always broken. Oh and they drink fuel like it's going out of fashion, unless you're just chugging along at walking pace in a canal boat.

[anthonyc4242]

Originally Posted by CTinline-six

This is huge.

It all depends what you want to do with it. Putt around a lake? Go on the ocean? Big difference depending on what your plans are.

I live in CT and have my boating license. To me a small boat with an outboard seems to be a good mix. Not too hard to maintain, you can have a few people on it, pull some water skiers, go fishing, etc. Salt water becomes a bigger deal because what seems like a big boat on a lake is a tiny boat on the ocean. I love jet skis, but they can be even more of a PITA to fix than an outboard, and also everywhere you go people seem to think you are an a-hole buzzing around them. I don't currently own any boats but have had a few and fixed even more of them as a side hobby for family/friends.

I live in RI, so we're the ocean state - I want to drop it in the ocean and just go all around the bay..

[Nuckle]

Originally Posted by anthonyc4242

Alright, so I have a Mazda CX-30 and I'm not planning to buy an X5 for this, LOL. I think getting a Sea-Doo would be a great choice.

Do any of you have experience with the Sea-Doo GTI SE 130 ?

I'm about to offer $3,000 in cash, but the seller is asking for $3,300. Any advice?

We have a GTI SE 130 as well as a GTX 300 Limited. The 130 is a great cruiser, will do about 50 and has decent acceleration. Wife and daughter like it, it’s a 2023 so it has a stereo and that is what they really care about. I would think it will be a reliable machine since it doesn’t have a super charger. It is an entry level machine.

I never ride it but it’s because I am addicted to the 300. You don’t know what you don’t know so I would say got for it and then upgrade next summer. Your price to enter is really low. How old is the one you are looking at? Seems like a great deal unless it’s pretty old.

[anthonyc4242]

Originally Posted by Nuckle

We have a GTI SE 130 as well as a GTX 300 Limited. The 130 is a great cruiser, will do about 50 and has decent acceleration. Wife and daughter like it, it’s a 2023 so it has a stereo and that is what they really care about. I would think it will be a reliable machine since it doesn’t have a super charger. It is an entry level machine.

I never ride it but it’s because I am addicted to the 300. You don’t know what you don’t know so I would say got for it and then upgrade next summer. Your price to enter is really low. How old is the one you are looking at? Seems like a great deal unless it’s pretty old.

It's a 2006, but it's not bad tbh.. you tell me what you think -
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...ssenger_banner

[Nuckle]

Originally Posted by anthonyc4242

It's a 2006, but it's not bad tbh.. you tell me what you think -
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/989646956236817/?referralSurface=messenger_lightspeed_banner&refer ralCode=messenger_banner

Price is not bad but I do think it will give you issues. Can you work on it yourself? You will most likely need to.