From 40 to 120 MPH: The Top Speed Of Jet Skis [See Chart]

Watercraft top speed has got to be the most common question I get asked.

The top speed can vary from 40 to 70 mph, depending on the model.

The fastest a stock model can go is 70 mph due to a gentleman’s agreement with the US coast guard. However, ones delivered outside the United States don’t always have this 70 mph limit and can often go slightly faster.

The average speed is 57 mph, but many new riders never go beyond 40 mph as they learn the ropes. Doing 40 mph feels like doing 80 mph in your car and shocks many new riders.

Modified racing machines can reach speeds over 100+ mph.

The fastest modified PWC goes a little over 140 MPH:

Speed Chart

2024 Sea-Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki top speed (MPH), price, 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

The top speed numbers come from personal experience and research.

Top speed may vary 5+/- mph with weight, altitude, fuel quality and water condition.

Fastest Production Jet Skis

All manufacturers have their top of the line, fastest models, from the factory as listed below.

• Sea-Doo RXP-X 325
• Yamaha GP SVHO
• Kawasaki ULTRA 310X

These models are the “racing” models and are the fastest in not only top speed, but also take-off speed.

The hulls on the Sea-Doo RXP-X 325 and Yamaha GP SVHO are smaller and tuned for racing. In the US, all 3 watercraft are capped at 70 MPH, but outside the US they don’t have the top-speed-limiter and can go beyond 70 MPH.

These are racing watercraft, but other models feature the same engines. For instance, the Sea-Doo RXP-X 325’s larger counterpart is the RXT-X 325, which has the same engine but a larger body. The bigger body enables it to better handle choppy waters and perform more efficiently in straight-line racing.

If you want the fastest straight line watercraft, then it will be the Sea-Doo RXT-X 325 followed by the Kawasaki ULTRA 310X.

How To Go Faster!

There are several ways you can make your jet ski faster, from easy to hard, let’s cover them!

Easy Speed Increases

1. Use the correct key or driving modes.
2. Remove extra weight.
3. Make sure the wear ring and impeller are not damaged.
4. Make sure the supercharger is working if you have one.
5. Run premium, non-ethanol gas.
6. Get race sponsons.
7. Speed control bypass, some models computers won’t let you go over a certain speed, so you need a module that bypasses the GPS signal.
8. ECU Tuning. May require you to ship the ECU out or go somewhere to get it reprogrammed.

Hard Speed Increases

1. RIVA kits.
2. Buy a faster model, some will only go so fast.
3. Replace intake grate.
4. Get a new impeller.
5. Cold air-intake.
6. Performance exhaust system.

If you have a supercharged jet ski, especially one that uses GPS for speed like a Sea-Doo, then getting the speed control bypass will be the easiest and fastest way to increase your top speed.

Keep in mind, some of these modifications will void your warranty.

Go Slower?

Most models today have speed limiters that allow you to restrict the top speed.

ECO

For example, Sea-Doo has an ECO mode that limits top speed to 45 mph.

Learning Modes

A lot of models even have a learning mode or learning key that can be programmed from 32 mph to 50 mph. The jet skis that can’t be programmed are stuck at 35 mph.

Touring

You also have more modes, like touring that makes the jet ski slower to take off but still gets to top speed. This is nice if you want to cruise and not launch out of the water.

These modes are not new; for example, Sea-Doo has Touring and Sport mode since 2009 and became more available after 2011.