Jet skis are the ultimate fun vehicle on the water. They’re guaranteed to make your time out there more exciting, whether you’re looking to spend some harmless leisure time or you’re an adrenaline junkie who’s always up for a thrilling adventure.
The thing about jet skis is, they don’t come cheap. Be it a brand new jet ski or a used unit, you should know what sort of life expectancy you’re investing in before you make a purchase.
After all, we’re talking thousands of dollars on the line, and that’s just the initial price. Maintenance costs can add up at least a couple of thousands of bucks to the total cost of owning a jet ski.
The good news is, jet skis usually don’t disappoint when it comes to longevity. In this article, we’ll be answering the common question “how long do jet skis last?” as well as discussing all the factors that can affect the average life of a jet ski and its engine hours.
How Long Do Jet Skis Last?
Generally, you can expect about 10 years of use from your brand new jet ski, calculated from when you first fire it up or from the date of purchase. This means you get an average of 300 hours of fun on the water, which can be prolonged given that you provide timely and efficient maintenance.
Keep in mind that these periods can widely vary depending on factors such as model, performance, care, brand, and frequency of use.
Factors Affecting the Lifespan of a Jet Ski
As promised earlier, we’ll now discuss in further detail the different factors that can affect the lifespan of your jetski.
Maintenance
Maintenance is probably the most critical factor that affects the longevity of jet skis. As one would expect, the better a jet ski is maintained, the more time it’ll serve you.
This factor is even more crucial if you’re planning on buying a used jet ski. While most people mainly check for engine hour, oftentimes looking into the unit’s service history is more important. Well-maintained jet skis will almost always be in better condition compared to newer but neglected models.
The major reason behind this is that taking care of a jet ski isn’t an easy task. Maintenance for such a watercraft should be regular as skipping even one winterizing or yearly service can ruin the vehicle.
Year of Production
The year of production is another important factor to think about when evaluating the lifespan of a jetski.
As a rule of thumb, the newer the model, the greater the durability of the jet ski’s engine and other components.
For example, older models equipped with vintage 2-stroke engines typically require more frequent rebuilds compared to newer models equipped with 4-stroke engines.
On the other hand, newer jet skis are packed with features and sensitive parts that are prone to malfunctioning, whereas older units are much more straightforward with fewer chances of something going wrong.
Manufacturer
As with just about any product out there, the manufacturer you’re buying from can make all the difference in terms of quality.
This is also true in the case of jet skis as some brands are superior to others when it comes to lifespan and can withstand higher hours better.
Model
The model of the jet ski can also play a huge role in how much time you can get out of the unit.
For example, it’s common knowledge that 4-stroke engines last a lot longer than their 2-stroke counterparts. As such, we can’t say that high hours on a 4-stroke jet ski are the same as high hours on a 2-stroke jet ski.
The model of a jet ski also differs in whether or not it’s supercharged. Typically, supercharged engines have a shorter lifespan than standard engines.
Not to mention, supercharged engines are a bit more demanding in the maintenance department. So, if you (or the previous owner) fail to keep up with proper maintenance, chances are you’ll experience performance issues even on low hours.
Attitude of Rider
The attitude of the rider and the level of care they put into maintaining the jet ski has a significant effect on the lifespan of the unit. If the owner doesn’t pay enough attention to the instructions manual and fundamental rules of operation, the condition of the jet ski will quickly decline.
The following are some examples of problematic behaviors and habits of owners that can damage jet skis:
- Forgetting to warm up the engine before riding hard
- Doing wrong flips in the water
- Repewared sucking of debris and ropes into the pump
- Using a too fast speed when towing a jet ski with a boat
- Not using a tow valve when towing
- Submerging the whole jet ski
- Doing too many stunts such as wave jumping
- Colliding into objects, docks, and the trailer upon launching
- Going over the jet ski’s maximum weight capacity
- Improper running of the jet ski outside the water
- Improper storage of the jet ski
Environmental Conditions
Finally, you should take into account the environmental conditions that a jet ski deals with during usage when evaluating its lifespan.
For example, windy weather and choppy water can wear out the engine, whereas exposure to salt water can cause corrosion. This is the reason that jet skis last for shorter periods when mainly used offshore.
Additionally, riding a jet ski in shallow water (depth less than 3 feet) or dirty water can damage its impeller, pump, and so on.
Wrap Up
So, how long do jet skis last? Generally, you can expect about 10 years of use from a brand new jet ski, calculated from when you first fire it up or from the date of purchase. This is equivalent to an average of 300 hours of fun on the water.
The lifespan of a jet ski can be extended if you provide timely and efficient maintenance. Keep in mind that these periods can widely vary depending on factors such as model, performance, care, brand, and frequency of use.