How much does a jet ski weigh?
When you compare the most popular jet ski models from the three leading manufacturers mentioned above, you get an average jet ski weight of roughly between 300 and 950 pounds. That is a lot of variation, so it is important to look at your jet ski manufacturer's manual or instructions before loading it into your truck.
The weight of two stand-up jet skis and a trailer start from 1,100-1,200 pounds, while two average sit-down jet skis with a trailer weigh around 2,000 pounds. But if you're looking for the flagship jet skis, two of them with a trailer can reach 3,000 pounds!
Jet Ski Weight – Average, Min, Max
A jet ski weighs between 375 and 1,089 pounds. The average jet ski weight is 732 pounds. The lightest standup jet ski is the Yamaha SuperJet at 375 pounds. The lightest sit-down jet ski is the Sea-Doo Spark 2up at 410 pounds.
The lightest personal watercraft (PWC) currently on the market is the Sea-Doo Spark, which weighs around 420 pounds (190 kg). Other notable lightweight PWC models include the Yamaha EXR, which weighs in at 540 pounds (245 kg) and the Kawasaki Jet Ski SX-R, which weighs approximately 550 pounds (250 kg).
How Much Weight Can a 3-person Jet Ski Hold? If you're looking for jet skis with the highest weight capacity, you should take a look at the bigger, more-seater models. An average 3-person jet ski can hold 500-600 pounds of weight depending on the make and the model.
Depending on how experienced you are you can pull the jet ski onto the trailer with a rope, or you can even drive it onto the trailer. If you are a beginner, it's not recommended that you drive the jet ski directly onto the trailer as you can easily damage the ski if you do it wrong.
Most cars, even compact 4-cylinder ones, can tow a jet ski and trailer. Most cars can tow at least 1,500 pounds, so they can handle a single jet ski with trailer. Some cars can tow double jet ski trailer and skis depending on their weight.
Sea-Doo Spark series — 400 to 500 pounds. Kawasaki SX-R — approximately 503 pounds. Yamaha EXR and EX series —500 to 600 pounds. Sea-Doo GTI series, Wake 170, GTX 170 — 600 to 800 pounds.
Kawasaki SX-R 1500 | Dimensions and Capacities |
---|---|
Overall Height | 840 mm (33.1 in.) |
Curb Mass | 250 kg (551 lb) |
Dry Weight (lbs) | 228 kg (503 lb) |
Air Draft (1) | 604 mm (23.8 in.) |
Falling somewhere in between luxury and rec-lite in terms of size, these boats weigh anywhere from 800-900 pounds. A great example of a recreation craft is the Sea-Doo GTI SE.
Can a jet ski fully sink?
It is possible for jet skis to sink, but not totally because their hulls are designed with floatation foam built into them. So, the bow will stay afloat above water, even if the jet ski fills with water. However, if a substantial amount of water seeped into the hull, your jet ski can be damaged in multiple ways.
Contrary to popular belief, jet skis aren't designed to run in shallow water. This is because their pumps are prone to sucking up objects from the bottom like rocks, sand, or trash. Because of this concern, manufacturers recommend that you not operate a jet ski in water shallower than 3 feet.

The shortest jet ski is the SX-R 1500 with 104.5” length, while the LX and the Ultra Jet Ski series have the largest hulls, at 132.7”.
There must be enough seats on board the watercraft for three people - driver, spotter and the person being towed. That means only one person should be towed behind your Sea-Doo. Most Sea-Doo models will come equipped with a tow eyelet at the back of the seat or a ski pylon attached to the rear deck.
So finally, in most states, you'll need a 3-seater jet ski for towing a tube legally. But if your state requires only mirrors on your jet ski, it means you can pull with a 2-seater jet ski legally! Furthermore, if you have a 4-seater jet ski, you can even pull 2 or 3 tubers legally.
Yes, you can leave a jet ski in the water overnight if it's unavoidable. Alternatively, it's not recommended you leave it in the water for a longer period, as it may incur different form of damage! That's why every owner's manual recommends you remove the jet ski from the water every day.
The most hassle-free method of international transport for a jetski is to have it transported on a trailer. A jet ski on a trailer may be transported aboard in the same way as a vehicle or a big boat on a trailer. Make sure the trailer is road-worthy before deciding to transport your jetski on it.
You can load a jet ski onto a truck bed in many ways with lifts/hoists, loading ramps, or even by hand. Moreover, you can find special electronic truck bed lifts on the market, which are expensive, but they make loading and launching much easier.
Whether you're looking to buy a new Jet Ski and wondering how long it'll last or deciding if it's worthwhile to purchase a used one, generally speaking a 2-stroke engine lasts around 200-300 hours, while a 4-stroke should last around 300-500 hours.
What's considered a lot of hours on a jet ski? In general, every 4-stroke jet ski over 300 hours is considered a lot of usage, while in the case of 2-stroke jet skis, this number is around 200. But proper maintenance is always more important than engine hours!
How do you ride a jet ski without falling?
Use Your Throttle
So, when you slow down or ease up on the throttle, it gets harder to steer especially when riding in rough water, and you can end up falling off. If you need to avoid a collision or boating accident, don't take your finger off the throttle but keep your speed up and steer away from the danger.
A double/tandem jet ski cannot exceed a combined weight of 400 lbs for both rider ( two person on one Jet Ski). All riders must be able to re-board jet ski without assistance.
Kawasaki 650 SC | Dimensions and Capacities |
---|---|
Width | 48.8 in (1230 mm) |
Height | 42.1 in (1070 mm) |
Dry Weight | 441 lbs (200 kg) |
Fuel Tank Capacity | 6.6 gal incl. 0.8 gal reserve (25 L including 3.2 L reserve) |
Jet Ski Trailer Weight
Similar to a small boat trailer, jet ski trailers have an average empty weight of 300 pounds. Smaller jet ski trailers weigh as little as 100 pounds and larger ones are closer to 500 pounds.
The top speed of 650 Kawasaki Jet Skis ranged from 30 up to 41 mph.
The tank capacities start as low as 4.8 gallons and go up to 20.6 gallons, with the average being 15 gallons. If you ride your PWC on full throttle, you can empty your tank in 1-2 hours depending on the model.
The dry weight of each Kawasaki 900 STX was as follows: 1997-1998: 662 pounds. 1999-2000: 613 pounds. 2001-2003: 673 pounds.
Specs | SX-R 1500 | SX-R 800 |
---|---|---|
Width | 30.1 | 28.7 |
Height (") | 33.1 | 28.9 |
Curb Weight (lbs) | 503 | 397 |
Power to Weight Ratio | 0.29 | 0.20 |
Color | White |
---|---|
Rider Capacity | 1 person |
Dry Weight (lbs) | 375 LBS |
Length (in) | 95.7" |
Width (in) | 30" |
What size trailer do you need for a jet ski?
Jet Ski Trailer Measurements
A single trailer holds one jet ski and a double trailer holds two. Wave Single: 148 inches long and 55 inches wide. Single: 182 inches long and 60 inches wide. Spark Double: 149 inches long and 102 inches wide.
Single jet ski trailers are usually 140-180 inches long, but you can find some models which feature a storage box and even a gas can rack.
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