5 Mistakes Every New Jet Ski Buyer Makes (And How to Avoid Them)
You've decided: it's time for you to buy your first jet ski. You're so excited by the prospect that you're about to rush through your front door and throw money at the first jet ski you see.
We're here to tell you that this is a bad idea. Before you go and lay down thousands of dollars on a jet ski, you need to stop and think about a few things. Failure to do is a surefire way to make a mistake.
Wondering which mistakes you should avoid when you're going to buy a new jet ski? Then read on. We're going to discuss them at length.
1. Buying With No Jet Skiing Experience
One of the biggest mistakes that first-time buyers make is buying a jet ski without possessing any jet skiing experience. In doing so, they're going into the process blindly, choosing features and specs that they know nothing about, which is a recipe for disaster.
The problem is, you need to buy a jet ski before you can use a jet ski, right? Not at all. Jet skis are available for rental all across the United States.
Before making a purchase, you're advised to rent out and try a few different models. You need to know how different types of jet skis perform in different types of conditions before you can determine which type will suit you long-term.
2. Foregoing a Test Ride
Just as you should test drive a car before buying it, you should also test ride a jet ski before buying it. And by test ride, we mean test ride. Don't only turn it on and listen to the engine; Get a feel for how it rides on the water.
Taking a long ride on a jet ski not only allows you to garner a feel for its performance, but it also gives you ample opportunity to check for construction flaws and comfort.
3. Failing to Think Ahead
One of the big problems with impulse buying is that it doesn't take the future into account. Some individuals get so caught up on the idea of owning a jet ski that they buy the first affordable one they can find. This has the potential to create several functional problems.
So, when buying a jet ski, you must think ahead. In particular, you must consider the following.
Number of Riders
Some jet skis are for solo riders. Other jet skis can hold up to 2, 3, or even 4 people. While you may intend to use your jet ski for only yourself, plans could change in the future.
For this reason, you need to think long and hard about how you'll use your jet ski. Are you going to be making trips to the lake by yourself, or will you be bringing friends and family along with you on occasion? This factor could affect the size of the jet ski you require.
Transportation
While jet skis operate in the water, they aren't always in the water. At some point, you're going to have to remove your jet ski from the water and transport it on land.
Do you have a way of doing this? Can you afford the transportation needs to successfully transport a jet ski? If not, a jet ski probably isn't a wise purchase.
Storage Capabilities
Not only must you have a way to transport your jet ski, but you must also have a place to store your jet ski. Whether this is your garage, a rental garage, or otherwise, you need to keep your jet ski secured during the offseason.
4. Not Doing Research
Perhaps the biggest mistake that buyers make when purchasing a jet ski is failing to do their research. Jet skis are expensive and complex water vehicles and come with a wide variety of safety and performance features. Failure to read up on your prospective jet ski could put you in a hole financially.
When researching your jet ski (whether it be new or used), there are two things to consider: its features and warranties. We'll get into both below.
Features
The features your jet ski possesses will affect every aspect of its performance. Everything from its engine to its safety features to its construction features will have a large impact on its comfort and functionality.
Warranties
Jet skis come with a wide range of warranties. Whereas some have 1-year warranties, others have 4-year warranties. You'll benefit from having a longer warranty.
5. Overlooking Maintenance Costs
A jet ski is a vehicle, like a car, dirt bike, or go-kart. As such, it's going to need maintenance over the years. So, before going out and paying thousands of dollars on a jet ski, you need to consider if you're able to afford its upkeep.
Jet skis require oil changes after every 50 or so hours of use. These oil changes can run anywhere from $175 to $500 a year.
You'll need to change the battery every 3 to 5 years. These cost around $100 apiece.
You'll also want to keep your jet ski protected when not in use. Protective covers and accessories can cost you $200 to $500.
And this doesn't even count repairs. Should your jet ski encounter any mechanical problems, you could be out anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
These are not small costs you should overlook. You don't want to save thousands of dollars on a jet ski only to find that you can't keep it running after buying it.
Ready to Buy A New Jet Ski?
Now that you know what to avoid during the purchasing process, you might be ready to buy a new jet ski. If so, you're in the right place. Holzhauer Pro Motorsports has a huge selection of jet skis to choose from.
Peruse our selection of jet skis now!
