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What Is The Maximum Capacity For Jet Skis?

A watercraft is the closest many of us will get to a motorcycle without as many dangers that come with a motorcycle. It’s a unique experience, often with power and speed found in supercars.

It’s no wonder more people keep joining the sport or testing it out by renting a few machines.

As the more people join, they wonder what the max weight capacity a jet ski can hold? Are they and the passenger too heavy? What about the gear they need to carry?

The weight capacity on most jet skis ranges from 350 to 600 pounds. There’s a lot more to consider, so let’s break it down.

Why does It matter?

I’m often surprised by other riders being so care-free with this max weight. It’s there for a reason and not a suggestion.

When you get too much weight on a watercraft, it becomes unstable.

Harder To Control

When you have an unstable watercraft, it’s harder to control, especially at lower speeds where you need the most control.

This all leads to it being dangerous around the docks.

Greater Chance To Flip

Being over the weight cap means it’s more likely to flip over or the sink.

A waverunner that flips over or sinking raises the chances of the engine hydrolocking or getting damaged.

More Dangerous

If you do get the machine out on the water while it’s being over the weight limit, taking a turn too sharp will cause you to roll over.

You can also lose control of the steering, causing you to get hurt or damage your PWC.

Falling off a jet ski doesn’t mean it will turn around and come back to you, either.

Weight Limit Chart

ManufacturerModelWeight Cap.
Sea-Doo2 UP Spark352 lb
Sea-Doo3 UP Spark450 lb
YamahaEX485 lb
Sea-Doo1 UP Trixx352 lb
Sea-Doo3 UP Trixx450 lb
YamahaEX Sport485 lb
YamahaSuperJet1 Person
YamahaEX Deluxe485 lb
Sea-DooGTI600 lb
Sea-DooGTI SE600 lb
YamahaVX530 lb
KawasakiSTX-16F496 lb
KawasakiSX-R1 Person
YamahaVX Deluxe530 lb
Sea-DooGTI SE600 lb
YamahaVX Cruiser530 lb
YamahaVX Limited530 lb
KawasakiUltra LX496 lb
YamahaVX Cruiser HO530 lb
Sea-DooWake600 lb
YamahaVXR530 lb
Sea-DooGTR600 lb
Sea-DooGTI Limited600 lb
Sea-DooGTX 600 lb
Sea-DooGTR-X400 lb
YamahaFX HO530 lb
Sea-DooRXT600 lb
YamahaFX Cruiser HO530 lb
Sea-DooGTX600 lb
YamahaGP530 lb
Sea-DooWake Pro600 lb
YamahaFX SVHO530 lb
KawasakiUltra 310X496 lb
Sea-DooRXP-X400 lb
Sea-DooRXT-X 600 lb
KawasakiUltra 310X SE496 lb
Sea-DooGTX Limited600 lb
YamahaFX Cruiser SVHO530 lb
Sea-DooExplorer600 lb
YamahaFX Limited SVHO530 lb
KawasakiUltra 310LX496 lb

Please don’t confuse the weight of the watercraft with its weight limits. The weight of the watercraft is how much it weighs, but the weight limits is how much it can hold.

All Gear And Riders

This weight max limit includes all gear and rider weights combined.

If everyone and everything on the PWC weighs more than the max-weight-limit, the watercraft is not safe and risk sinking, damage, or personal injury.

Seating Vs. Limits

Even if your PWC is a 3-seater, it doesn’t mean you can ignore the max limits.

The max limits include the weight of all the riders, and if all 3 people’s weight is more than the max limits, you can’t ride it safely.

The same is true the other way around, even if 4 people are under the max weight, you can’t have 4 people on a 3-person limits craft.

Water patrol takes the seating number very seriously, especially when it comes to pull sports.

It’s also a bit tricky at times because many PWCs look like 2-seaters but fits 3 people. The honest truth is that most 3-seaters fit two normal-sized adults, and a 2-seater fits one normal-sized adult.

rear handles of GTX

I’m a 240-pound man, and I feel very confident riding a 3 or 2 seater spark by myself. I’ve even ridden two of me on my 3 seater spark, it’s possible, and no one fell off. But I would not dare put any more weight beyond that. I’ve also ridden 2up on a 3 seater GTI and had no issues with that; it felt a lot more stable than the 3-seaters Spark, that is certain.

Author

Steven

I started working at a power sports dealership in 2007, I worked in parts, service counter, and as a technician before moving to sales in 2013. I created StevenInSales.com in 2014 to answer common watercraft questions I would get from people. Now managing the site full-time, I continue to provide advice and web tools for my readers about watercraft. I've owned several watercraft, with a Sea-Doo Spark as my current main PWC.

Comments

  1. I’m 315lbs. I’ve been able to get onto a jet ski in shallow water using the step on the back, but I’ve never had to do it in open water. My question is, on a 3up Spark with a step, would trying to get on it in open water cause it to sink in the back or would it be able to support me pulling myself up into it.

    Great articles by the way!

    Reply
    • I’m 240 and when I try to get on a 3up Spark from the open water it’s quite hard. The rear end does take a dive and getting up is only half the battle as you have to balance it when getting up. It requires a lot of upper body strength because you’re soaking wet. The bigger models like the GTI’s or GTX are less of an issue, those Sparks can be tricky.

      Reply
  2. Does the weight limit (ie. 600 on RXT300) include the weight of the fuel? I thought it was just humans and cargo.

    Reply

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