Step into the thrilling world of personal watercraft (PWCs), where speed meets exhilaration like never before.
In the realm of aquatic adventure, nothing quite compares to the heart-pounding rush of riding a PWC. These sleek, high-performance machines defy what many people think is quick, offering an unparalleled experience that many people never get to feel (unless they already own a supercar).
Join us as we dive into the adrenaline-fueled realm of PWCs and discover why they stand as the ultimate symbol of speed on the water.
Let’s Talk MPH!
The max speed a PWC will travel is between 40 to 70 mph (64 to 112 kph).
Most watercraft average around 57 mph, and I see newcomers usually stay below 40 mph. I tell people, 40 mph on the water feels like 80 mph in your car. It’s a totally different feel that most people don’t realize until they hit the throttle for the first time.
Some modified watercraft can even reach speeds over 140 mph (video below).
Chart
The Sea-Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki max-speed (MPH), price (USD), and horsepower rating.
Make | Model | Price | HP | MPH |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sea-Doo | Spark 2UP 60HP | $6,999 | 60 | 40 |
Sea-Doo | Spark 2UP 90HP Convenience | $8,399 | 90 | 50 |
Sea-Doo | Spark 3UP 90HP | $8,299 | 90 | 50 |
Sea-Doo | Spark 3UP 90HP Convenience | $8,999 | 90 | 50 |
Sea-Doo | Trixx 1Up | $9,099 | 90 | 50 |
Sea-Doo | Trixx 3UP | $9,699 | 90 | 50 |
Sea-Doo | FISH PRO SCOUT | $15,099 | 130 | 50 |
Yamaha | EX | $7,799 | 100 | 50 |
Yamaha | EX SPORT | $9,099 | 100 | 50 |
Yamaha | EX DELUXE | $10,199 | 100 | 50 |
Yamaha | EX LIMITED | $10,799 | 100 | 50 |
Yamaha | JETBLASTER | $10,899 | 110 | 51 |
Sea-Doo | GTI 130 | $11,499 | 130 | 52 |
Sea-Doo | GTI SE 130 | $12,299 | 130 | 52 |
Sea-Doo | GTI SE 170 | $12,899 | 130 | 52 |
Sea-Doo | FISH PRO SPORT | $17,399 | 170 | 52 |
Sea-Doo | FISH PRO TROPHY | $20,499 | 170 | 52 |
Sea-Doo | Explorer Pro 170 | $18,899 | 170 | 52 |
Yamaha | VX-C | $10,199 | 125 | 53 |
Yamaha | SUPERJET | $10,699 | 100 | 53 |
Yamaha | VX DELUXE | $12,399 | 125 | 53 |
Yamaha | VX CRUISER | $12,799 | 125 | 53 |
Yamaha | VX LIMITED | $13,999 | 125 | 53 |
Sea-Doo | WAKE 170 | $14,099 | 170 | 54 |
Kawasaki | STX 160 | $11,999 | 160 | 57 |
Kawasaki | STX 160X | $12,599 | 160 | 57 |
Kawasaki | STX 160LX | $14,299 | 160 | 57 |
Sea-Doo | GTX 170 | $15,199 | 170 | 58 |
Kawasaki | SX-R | $11,999 | 150 | 59 |
Sea-Doo | GTR 230 | $14,099 | 230 | 63 |
Yamaha | VX LIMITED HO | $15,299 | 200 | 64 |
Sea-Doo | WAKE PRO 230 | $18,399 | 230 | 65 |
Yamaha | VX CRUISER HO | $13,599 | 200 | 65 |
Yamaha | FX HO | $15,699 | 200 | 65 |
Yamaha | FX CRUISER HO | $16,999 | 200 | 65 |
Sea-Doo | GTX 230 | $16,199 | 230 | 66 |
Yamaha | GP HO | $14,499 | 200 | 67 |
Yamaha | FX SVHO | $19,299 | 250 | 68 |
Yamaha | FX CRUISER SVHO | $19,799 | 250 | 68 |
Yamaha | FX LIMITED SVHO | $20,399 | 250 | 68 |
Sea-Doo | GTX 300 | $17,899 | 300 | 70 |
Sea-Doo | GTX Limited 300 | $19,699 | 300 | 70 |
Sea-Doo | GTR-X 300 | $16,999 | 300 | 70 |
Sea-Doo | RXP-X 325 | $19,199 | 325 | 70 |
Sea-Doo | RXT-X 325 | $19,999 | 325 | 70 |
Yamaha | GP SVHO | $16,799 | 250 | 70 |
Kawasaki | ULTRA 310X | $19,199 | 310 | 70 |
Kawasaki | ULTRA 310LX-S | $20,199 | 310 | 70 |
Kawasaki | ULTRA 310LX | $21,199 | 310 | 70 |
These numbers come from my personal experiences and research.
It may vary 5+/- mph with weight, altitude, fuel quality and water condition.
Coast Guard Limits
I need to cover the US Coast Guard and the limits set for all watercraft sold in the US.
This limit was set in place because watercraft were getting faster and faster every year. People were getting crazy with them and something needed to be done.
Today, even the highest horsepower watercraft (325HP) will only hit 70 MPH. The Watercraft Journal talks about this more here.
The good news is that the manufacturers are more about who can get to 70 MPH the quickest. You can bypass this speed limit, and I’ll cover that in this post, but it’s an overall good thing to have. Most watercraft still have driving modes and slow keys to limit power if you’re concerned.
Also, if you’re outside the US, you don’t have these limits, but your max speed isn’t that much higher either. Going quickly on water is so much harder than on land, water has greater friction.
You need to keep in mind that going 40 MPH on a jet ski feels like doing 80 MPH in your car. Many new riders rarely reach beyound 40 MPH, as there is no other feeling like it. So a cap of 70 will feel like a cap of 140 to most people new to the sport. I know this may sound silly to some, but you’ll understand once hit the throttle for the first time.
The Fastest Production Watercraft
All manufacturers have their top of the line, fastest models, from the factory as listed below.
These models are the fastest, not just in top-end, but also in the 0 to 60.
RXP-X & GP SVHO
The Sea-Doo RXP-X 325 and Yamaha GP SVHO have smaller hulls designed for racing.
In the US, all three watercraft are limited to 70 MPH, but outside the US, they can exceed this speed limit by a few MPH.
RXP-X & RXT-X
These are racing watercraft, and some models share the same engines.
For example, the Sea-Doo RXP-X 325 has a larger counterpart called the RXT-X 325 with the same engine but a bigger body.
The larger body handles rough waters better and performs better in straight-line racing. If you prefer versatility and towing, I suggest the RXT-X.
If you want raw power and quick turns, choose the RXP-X.
RXT-X & Ultra 310X
If you want the fastest straight line watercraft, then I suggest the Sea-Doo RXT-X 325 followed by the Kawasaki ULTRA 310X!
The Steps For Faster Speeds!
There are several ways you can make your PWC faster, from easy to hard, let me cover them!
Easy Speed Increases
- Use the correct key or driving modes.
- Remove extra weight.
- Make sure the wear ring and impeller are not damaged.
- Make sure the supercharger is working if you have one.
- Run premium, non-ethanol gas.
- Get race sponsons.
- Speed control bypass, some models computers won’t let you reach over a certain speed, so you need a module that bypasses the GPS signal.
- ECU Tuning. It may require you to ship the ECU out or get it reprogrammed.
Hard Increases
- RIVA kits.
- Buy a faster model, some can only do so much.
- Replace intake grate.
- Get a new impeller.
- Cold air-intake.
- Performance exhaust system.
If you have a supercharged model like a Sea-Doo that uses GPS for speed, consider getting a speed control bypass for the easiest and quickest way to increase your max speed.
Keep in mind that some of these modifications may void your warranty.
Go Slower?
Most models today have speed limiters that allow you to restrict the max-speed.
ECO
For example, the max MPH of a Sea-Doo with ECO mode is 45 mph.
Learning Modes
Many models offer a learning mode or key that can be set between 32 to 50 mph.
I used to advocate for learning keys, as they limited power for new and younger riders.
However, newer Sea-Doo models tend to exclude them in favor of diving modes like touring and ECO. While not quite the same, these modes allow you to get slower speeds.
Most New Riders Never above 40MPH!
People new to the sport are always shocked when I tell them that most new riders never reach beyound 40MPH.
To them, that is not that fast, but they’re used to their car. Your car has a cabin, with AC, and music blasting, you’re not a part of the elements anymore. A PWC is different, especially since you don’t have a helmet.
Doing 40MPH on PWC feels like doing 80MPH in your car.
Watercraft Feels Slower Than Normal?
If your machine feels slower than it used to be, it could be many things.
Most often, the problem is that you sucked something up. If the machine doesn’t feel like it won’t catch when you give it gas, then that is cavitation, and you’ve sucked something up.
If you have a supercharger then when it fails you won’t get full throttle, your RPMs will reflect a lower number too.
If it’s a few MPH, then it could be scum build up on the hull of the craft. The more rough the hull, the slower it will be. It’s why the Sea-Doo GTI’s with the Polytec hulls took a slight speed decrease, as fiberglass was more slick.
The last reason is that the gauge is lying to you. Many PWCs use a paddle wheel to tell the speed. Some use GPS, but a cloud in the sky could throw it off. Seeing 5MPH+- difference is nothing to worry about. I focus more on keeping track of the RPMs as it’s more reliable and less likely to lie to you.
Oh, and I can’t forget this one, but make sure the MPH or KPH wasn’t changed. I had a guy say his GTI went 100MPH stock, but it was set to KPH and caused him all kinds of confusion.
Don’t forget About Insurance
If all you care about is going fast, then make sure to get some insurance. I’ve seen the aftermath of jet ski accidents. I’ve even been in a few myself, with me ending up in the hospital.
Things happen, get the insurance.
Most states don’t require you have insurance on your vessel, but you would be a fool to not have it. This is especially true when you can bundle it with your other plans. I don’t have anyone to recommend, I just want people to be careful and be prepared.
I agree. At 45 mph on water, I feel like I am flying. 99% of my time on the water is spent going 35-40mph tops.
I realize there is a segment that is solely focused on speed. But when I am on a lake, most jet ski riders I observe are not going wide open. Most are cruising around, especially if they have a rider with them.