Today’s jet skis differ significantly from those 10 years ago. We’re achieving speeds and zero to sixty numbers typically associated with supercars that cost more than most people’s homes.
It’s understandable why pure power is a top concern for many jet ski owners. But is it everything? With many jet skis being capped at 70 MPH max, and many with new restrictions, the pure power game is changing.
Top speed isn’t the sole factor to consider, unless being the fastest person on the water is your priority. Other aspects of jet skis, such as fuel consumption, tow-sports capabilities, and more, also require consideration.
Let’s go over these details and more below.
Horsepower Explained
HP is a unit of power used to measure the rate at which work is done. It was originally developed by James Watt, an engineer who needed a way to measure the output of his steam engines.
One horsepower (HP) is defined as the power needed to lift 550 pounds (250 kilograms) of weight one foot (0.3048 meters) in one second.
HP is used to measure engine power output in vehicles like cars, boats, and jet skis.
Engines with higher HP can deliver more power, enhancing the movement of the connected vehicle or equipment.
Horsepower plays a crucial role in determining speed and acceleration in jet skis.
HP Chart For All Models
| Make | Model | MPH | HP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea-Doo | Spark 2UP 60HP | 40 | 60 |
| Sea-Doo | Spark 3UP 90HP | 49 | 90 |
| Sea-Doo | Spark 2UP 90HP iBR | 49 | 90 |
| Sea-Doo | Spark Trixx 2UP | 49 | 90 |
| Sea-Doo | Spark 3UP 90HP iBR | 49 | 90 |
| Sea-Doo | Spark Trixx 3UP | 49 | 90 |
| Yamaha | EX | 50 | 100 |
| Yamaha | EX SPORT | 50 | 100 |
| Yamaha | EX DELUXE | 50 | 100 |
| Yamaha | EX LIMITED | 50 | 100 |
| Sea-Doo | FISH PRO SCOUT | 50 | 130 |
| Yamaha | JETBLASTER | 51 | 110 |
| Sea-Doo | GTI 130 | 52 | 130 |
| Sea-Doo | GTI SE 130 | 52 | 130 |
| Sea-Doo | Explorer Pro 170 | 52 | 170 |
| Sea-Doo | FISH PRO SPORT | 52 | 170 |
| Sea-Doo | FISH PRO TROPHY | 52 | 170 |
| Yamaha | VX-C | 53 | 125 |
| Yamaha | SUPERJET | 53 | 100 |
| Yamaha | VX | 53 | 125 |
| Yamaha | VX DELUXE | 53 | 125 |
| Yamaha | VX CRUISER | 53 | 125 |
| Yamaha | VX LIMITED | 53 | 125 |
| Sea-Doo | WAKE 170 | 55 | 170 |
| Sea-Doo | GTI SE 170 | 56 | 170 |
| Kawasaki | STX 160 | 57 | 160 |
| Kawasaki | STX 160X | 57 | 160 |
| Kawasaki | STX 160LX | 57 | 160 |
| Sea-Doo | GTX 170 | 58 | 170 |
| Yamaha | FX HO | 58 | 180 |
| Yamaha | FX CRUISER HO | 58 | 180 |
| Kawasaki | SX-R | 59 | 150 |
| Yamaha | VX CRUISER HO | 62 | 180 |
| Yamaha | VX LIMITED HO | 62 | 180 |
| Sea-Doo | GTR 230 | 63 | 230 |
| Yamaha | GP1800R HO | 65 | 180 |
| Sea-Doo | WAKE PRO 230 | 65 | 230 |
| Sea-Doo | GTX 230 | 66 | 230 |
| Yamaha | FX SVHO | 68 | 250 |
| Yamaha | FX CRUISER SVHO | 68 | 250 |
| Yamaha | FX LIMITED SVHO | 68 | 250 |
| Yamaha | GP1800R SVHO | 70 | 250 |
| Sea-Doo | RXP-X | 70 | 325 |
| Sea-Doo | GTX 300 | 70 | 300 |
| Kawasaki | ULTRA 310X | 70 | 310 |
| Sea-Doo | RXT-X | 70 | 325 |
| Sea-Doo | GTX Limited 300 | 70 | 300 |
| Kawasaki | ULTRA 310LX-S | 70 | 310 |
| Kawasaki | ULTRA 310LX | 70 | 310 |
The Range Of Power
Modern HP ratings vary from 90 to 310 HP.
From the research that I do yearly, I find the majority of models are under 200 HP, which is about the same HP of most cars. You have many that are pushing more power than most cars while being drastically lighter, and the engines being smaller. It’s impressive the power that these things make when in comparison to cars.
Over 200
Most engines over 200 HP have a supercharger to get to this level.
With a supercharger, I see more maintenance, and they do consume more gas.
What jet skis have the most horsepower?
The craft with the most HP are as follows:
What jet skis have the Least horsepower?
The Sea-Doo Spark has the least at 60 HP and has a top speed of 40 MPH.
How Much HP Is Needed For Pull Sports?
You don’t need much HP to pull a tube, a 90 HP Sea-Doo Spark can do it, but it will struggle more than higher HP models.
If you ask me, the golden spot for pulling tubes is between 110 HP to 170 HP.
You don’t need a high-powered engine to pull a tube, in fact, it’s best you don’t as they have too much power.
HP Vs CC
The engines come in many different numbers plastered on the side that the manufacturer likes to show off.
One is HP, and another is cubic capacity or CC.
CC
CC is the measurement of engine displacement, the larger the number, the bigger the engine. Just because you got a bigger CC engine doesn’t mean it produces more power.
HP
HP is a superior measure because smaller CC engines can generate more HP than larger CC engines.
While larger CC engines offer more room for improvements, weight is a significant factor.
Therefore, jet skis often feature smaller CC engines with high HP.
How HP Affects Performance
The number of HP can affect its performance.
Jumping waves, pulling tubes, carrying a passenger, tricks and more are dependent on power.
Other factors like weight, driver’s skills, and conditions also affect the machine.
One golden rule I have is that the more power you have, the more fuel it will consume.
You will also need to run premium gasoline in higher HP engines. So, going with the most power may not be the best option for everyone.
Limits On Power
If you just got a high-horsepower model, you may have noticed that it’s limited during its break-in period.
The engines are high-performance and need to be broken-in, so the computer on board will limit your power until after a certain time.
There are other things that can limit power, like different modes and keys. Sucking something up or damages will also cause it to limit its power.
Should You Buy The Biggest Engine Jet Ski?
I’ve encountered customers who mistakenly believed they needed the most powerful jet ski available.
These individuals, influenced by hearsay rather than informed decision-making, thought they required 300HP just to tow a child on a tube.
In reality, most riders don’t require the most powerful jet ski on the market.
It always made me cringe when customers insisted on installing a ski pylon on their racing 300HP Sea-Doo.
While it’s their jet ski, and they’re entitled to their choices, for the sole purpose of towing tubes on weekends, such a machine is excessive and more likely to cause accidents than solve any perceived problem.
Truthfully, all jet skis on the market today are fast, especially for newcomers to the sport. Riding a jet ski, particularly if you’re inexperienced with power sports machines, can feel like rocketing through the water.
It’s important not to equate the speeds of jet skis with those of cars; the experience is entirely different.
Modern cars are like houses on wheels, offering comfort and shielding from wind noise.
However, on a jet ski, you’re exposed to the elements, with sensations intensified. Riding at 40 MPH on a jet ski feels akin to exceeding 80 MPH in a car.
So, you don’t necessarily need the most powerful jet ski on the market to tow Timmy on a tube a few times a year.
A modest model like the GTI 170 can handle such tasks efficiently, with lower running costs, while still delivering an exhilarating experience, particularly in sport mode.
The History Of Jet Ski Power
They have not always had 300 HP engines, but started off with 18 HP back in the 1960s and came back in style with 55 HP in the 80s.
Over time, manufacturers have been increasing engine horsepower, and it’s becoming excessive.
The trend began with the transition to 4-stroke engines, followed by the addition of superchargers and intercoolers a few years later.
The mid-range horsepower of today would have been considered the highest 20 years ago.
It’s becoming somewhat absurd, akin to a pissing contest, in my opinion.
The manufacturer’s Race To The top
It’s always been a “race” between Sea-Doo and Kawasaki.
Kawasaki hit the big 310 in 2014 before Sea-Doo, but in 2016 came out with the new ACE engine that had 300 HP. Now we have 325 HP in 2024.
As they got more power, they soon started to reach speeds that scared many.
That is why an agreement with the US coast guard was reached to limit them.
This limit doesn’t exist in other countries, and yes, you can remove it if you know how.
Will There Be More Hp In The Future?
I don’t want to say they won’t get more HP (Sea-Doo did release 325HP for 2024), but it does feel a bit pointless when there is a 70 MPH cap.
It’s now about who can get to 70 MPH the fastest, and not who has the greater top speed.
There are people who modify them to reach new top speed records, but for the average person, there is no need to be going over 70 MPH.
Yamaha And Why They Don’t Display HP Ratings
You may notice that I’ve been mostly talking about Sea-Doo and Kawasaki when it comes to HP.
Yamaha doesn’t like bragging about their HP, for several reasons, but they max out at 250 HP.
To be fair, their 250 HP engine does keep up with the Sea-Doo and Kawasaki, but it’s not the same.