Last issue we we looked at buying a jet ski for £3,000. This month we are looking at buying 2-stroke jet skis that are good value for those of you looking to buy a second hand jet ski. Marcel Diner gives us his opinion on what’s good value and what to look for when buying your next used jet ski...

Is there a difference in 2-stroke sitdowns? Oh yes there is. Each model of jet ski, even with the same engine, rides differently. Some with a sporty or flighty feel, some with a stable, more predictable ride, some sedate, some aggressive and everything in between. When looking to buy, your budget is obviously high on the list, which will usually dictate the age and condition of the jet ski. Secondly the size and type of jet ski will be dependant on your physical size and use. For instance, a family will benefit from a less powerful but stable and easy to ride jet ski such as a Sea-Doo GTI. Don’t forget that the more powerful the craft, the more juicy it will be on fuel, as economy may have a bearing. Handling is a factor too.

Top guns for speed and sportiness are the Yamaha GP1200R and 1300R and the Sea-Doo XP Ltd. Both top 60mph but are capable of more by adding some tuning goodies (some 1200R’s have been mod’ed to top 80mph!). Both can feel a little unstable at times but both are good for family use and are 9ft long. There’s less seating capacity on the XPL but it can be a slightly smoother ride on chop with the suspension seat. Both are good wave-jumpers, both ‘bite’ on turns, not spinning out easily but turn sharper. I f nd the GPR seats a little wide and prefer the XPL handling. Expect to pay £2500-3500, or more for the 1300.

The best fast stable ski’s are the Yamaha XLT1200 and Sea-Doo GTX Ltd. Both can seat three, both top 60mph. You could fi sh off the back of either or take to choppy water at speed. Plenty of storage in both, ideal towing machines for infl atables etc. , stable enough for family rides but powerful enough for a good blast. Good all-rounders- expect to pay £2-4k.

For those on tighter budgets, some of the older skis come into play. The most flighty skis like the two-seater Sea-Doo XP96/ SPX97 can be bought for £1500-£2000, but beware when the price goes down and the age goes up, more problems start to show, and some can be very costly. The older XPs have 8ft hulls, are very light and they take to the air very easily. They are very nimble, with the 110hp ‘96 having quick acceleration and will do up to 60mph. They are not ideal for larger people as they tend to tip at slow speeds. They are very good on fuel with less weight.

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So you did your PWC training course several years ago and would now like to take take it one step further or perhaps you took it recently and are so excited by the prospect of passing on your new found knowledge that you want to become a trainer yourself. So for those of you interested in becoming an RYA Personal Watercraft Instructor we asked Candi Abbott, RYA PWC Instructor Trainer, to give us the low down on what’s involved.

There are numerous RYA PWC schools across the UK, many of which offer the three day RYA PWC instructor course, visit www.ryatraining.org to find a RYA training centre near you.

If PWCs are your passion, you want to have fun and help others get into the sport or increase their level of knowledge, then this could be just the thing you are looking for! After all, who wants to be in an office when they can be playing on the water?

Though there is a fair amount to take induring the course instructor students are constantly surprised by how much they enjoy it. Both the learning aspects along with the opportunity to spend three days playing with PWCs!

To give you a better idea of what is involved here is a brief summary of the structure of the training course and how it is usually run:-

Day 1

The day starts with a course outline and aims, information on the instructors role, RYA schemes and how to structure and plan sessions. This is then followed by on-water sessions, starting with a ‘model session’ run by your trainer so that you have a practical picture of a perfect session. This is then followed by an opportunity for you to have a go at running a few sessions under the careful guidance of your trainer; during these sessions you will be teaching the other instructor students on your course.

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K38 is the ultimate PW course. It is physically demanding, life-saving and rescue training for PW professionals who work in challenging conditions. Started in the US it is now here in the UK. It is not for the faint-hearted. Dana Barry and Sue Baggaley report...

Last winter after experiencing the worst wipe-out of his career It became clear to professional free rider Taylor Curtis that you are only as safe as the people you are out in the water with. He quickly realised that things happen so fast that if you don’t have the proper training someone’s life can be in danger in a matter of minutes. Taylor made a call to fellow rider, friend and K38 instructor Shawn Aladio to find out about the boat safety courses that she runs.Taylor knew this would not only benefit him but also the people he is out sharing the waves with.

Shawn Aladio is the Boating Safety Instructor and a professional IJSBA racer with a long list of PWC credentials under her belt. Shawn has also been an avid watercraft rider for 20 years.The three-day course that Taylor took covered riding and rescue techniques for a single operator. The course incorporated hands-on training of multiple skills with mock rescue drills and rescue board techniques, as well as PWC retrieval.

To read the full article pick up the Sept/Oct issue of JS&PW or subscribe here

Thinking about your next weekend away with your PW? Fancy trying somewhere new? Bit of a weekend warrior? Each issue we are going to give you an idea for a new location to try.

Plymouth has been at the forefront of world maritime exploration for many hundreds of years. Overlooking one of the world’s great natural harbours, this vibrant waterfront city has a maritime heritage and a lively cultural scene. As the regional centre for culture in Devon and Cornwall, Plymouth hosts the Summer Festival. The imposing National Marine Aquarium on the waterfront of Sutton Harbour is definitely worth a visit. River cruises, historic houses and gardens and outdoor lido provide loads for all the family. The Pavilions entertainment complex with ice skating and swimming pool and the Theatre Royal should both be on your agenda.

Location: Plymouth, Devon

Public Slipway: Mount Batten Slipway, 70 Lawrence Road, Mount Batten, Plymstock, Plymouth,
Devon PL9 9SJ

Slipway details:
Type – Wide, concrete & stone
Access – All states except LW springs
Local information – 8 knot speed limit heading out of Plymouth Port
Ownership – Plymouth County Council
Launch fees – Nil
Parking fees – £5.00 per car and £5.00 per trailer for 24hrs @ Mount Batten centre, includes the use of shower and changing facilities for 1 person.
Local facilities –The Mount Batten centre offer a day pass to use the toilets and showers for £3 per person.
Visit www.mount-batten-centre.com for more information.

To read the full article pick up the Sept/Oct issue of JS&PW or subscribe here