I’m proud to announce a project I’ve been working on for years that I’m calling “Steven’s Used PWC Values” or SUP Values for short.
SUP Values is a tool that gives you a value for used watercraft based on the current market as a whole. You also get a trade-in number and the original MSRP that the watercraft sold for when it was brand-new.
The Reason For SUP Values
SUP Values started when Kelley Blue Book (KBB) stopped doing watercraft and boat used values around 2021.
I routinely used KBB to look up used jet ski prices and trade-in values when buying or selling jet skis, especially when working at the dealership. The tool wasn’t perfect, but it got the job done, so I was bummed when it went away.
Since then, I’ve been building my database of used watercraft values and building the tool to calculate these numbers. It’s taken me a few years, but it’s now ready.
When I created SUP Values, I wanted something I would want to use. Something that was easy to use, quick, and gave a ballpark starting point.
How SUP Values Are Calculated
To get the SUP Values, I look at the market as a whole.
I routinely check random watercraft to see how much they’re selling for around the United States. I’ve written about how to do this before. I adjust the tool based on the market as a whole.
The SUP Values do NOT include the follow:
- Trailers.
- Gear.
- Hours.
- Condition, it’s assumed average condition.
- Supercharger maintenance.
- Repairs.
- Taxes & fees.
- etc.
The SUP Values are a general ballpark, or a starting point, for used jet ski prices. The actual price may be higher or lower, as every watercraft deal will be different.
For the most accurate price, you will need to get the watercraft appraised.
These Tools Are Never Perfect
When building this tool, some of the feedback I got and read from others is that these online price value tools are not that accurate.
And I agree.
It’s impossible to get an accurate price when there are so many variables at play. Every jet ski deal will be different, but it doesn’t mean we can’t have a general starting point.
The most frustrating part is not knowing where to start, and that is what this tool is made for.
Data Range
At the time of release, the SUP Values tool data ranges from 1990 to 2024 and new watercraft will be added as time goes on.
The reason I started at 1990, even though there were many watercraft before then, is that older MSRP tend to be near impossible to find. Also, the watercraft are so old that it wouldn’t be worth worrying about price-wise. At some point, the watercraft becomes a collector’s item, and this tool is not made for that.
Manufacturers In The Database:
- Sea-Doo
- Yamaha
- Kawasaki
- Honda
- Polaris
Now that I have such a huge amount of data, I can look at data points that are interesting. For example, what’s the average or median price since 1990? What manufacturer had the most models? On average, who makes the cheaper watercraft? All this data will be placed in my jet ski price post here.