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How Much Does A Jet Ski Weigh With The Trailer Included?

Every truck or car will have a max tow capacity for safe hauling. It’s important you don’t go over this number, or you can cause an accident on the road. You also have drive up and hoist lifts that can only support a set number.

With watercraft getting bigger and bigger every year, it’s important to know their weights for safe towing and for putting it away.

I’ve gone through all the current weights from every jet ski manufacturer. I’ve calculated the lowest, highest and average weights.

How Much Does A Jet Ski Weigh?

To start off, a jet ski weighs between 375 and 1,089 pounds. The average weight is 732 pounds.

The lightest standup is the Yamaha SuperJet at 375 pounds. The lightest sit-down is the Sea-Doo Spark 2up at 410 pounds. The heaviest PWC is the Kawasaki ULTRA 310LX at 1,089 Pounds.

The advertised pounds of a unit doesn’t always include fuel, gear, and other items that go along with a fully ready PWC. You also need to keep in mind the heaviness of the trailer if you’re pulling them with your truck.

MakeModelPounds (lbs)
YamahaSUPERJET375
Sea-DooTrixx 1Up425
Sea-DooSpark 2UP 60HP428
Sea-DooSpark 2UP 90HP Convenience432
Sea-DooSpark 3UP 90HP448
Sea-DooSpark 3UP 90HP Convenience448
Sea-DooTrixx 3UP448
YamahaJETBLASTER549
KawasakiSX-R551
YamahaEX578
YamahaEX SPORT584
YamahaEX DELUXE600
YamahaEX LIMITED602
YamahaVX DELUXE675
YamahaVX CRUISER679
YamahaVX LIMITED697
YamahaVX-C701
YamahaGP HO717
Sea-DooGTI 130739
Sea-DooGTI SE 130739
Sea-DooGTI SE 170739
Sea-DooWAKE 170747
YamahaGP SVHO754
Sea-DooGTR 230774
Sea-DooGTX 170776
YamahaVX CRUISER HO776
Sea-DooRXP-X 325778
Sea-DooFISH PRO SCOUT783
Sea-DooGTR-X 300794
YamahaVX LIMITED HO794
Sea-DooGTX 300806
Sea-DooGTX 230809
Sea-DooWAKE PRO 230829
YamahaFX HO840
Sea-DooRXT-X 325842
YamahaFX CRUISER HO842
Sea-DooGTX Limited 300849
Sea-DooFISH PRO SPORT858
YamahaFX SVHO858
Sea-DooExplorer Pro 170859
YamahaFX CRUISER SVHO860
KawasakiSTX 160864
YamahaFX LIMITED SVHO877
KawasakiSTX 160X877
KawasakiSTX 160LX877
Sea-DooFISH PRO TROPHY898
KawasakiULTRA 310X1032
KawasakiULTRA 310LX-S1065
KawasakiULTRA 310LX1089

To see more info from each manufacturer…

If you’re looking for the max capacity and limit, then this post will help.

3-Seaters

The range of a 3-seater goes from 425 to 1,100 pounds.

A 3 person, or a 3-seater PWC, is the most common seating capacity, with a 2-seater next. There were a few watercraft that had 4 person capacity, but they’re rare to see these days. You also have 1 person capacity, but mostly on standup jet skis.

2-Seaters

The range of a 2-seater goes from 375 to 800 pounds.

A 2-seater is less common, mostly lower-end and racing watercraft have a 2 seater capacity.

What About Two On A Double Trailer?

The average of PWC is about 750 pounds, so two would be 1,500 pounds.

Two of the lightest jet skis could vary from 500 pounds up to 1,000 pounds.

The heaviest of jet skis, if you had two of them, would be around 2,200 pounds.

This information is important if you intend to get a trailer or lifts for your watercraft. A two-place trailer can add an extra 600 pounds on top of those figures, which is important to know for a tow vehicle.

Why Is The Weight So Important?

It’s not always obvious why the weight of a PWC, its trailer, or both is so important.

Below, I’ve listed why it is so important.

  1. Truck capacity – Your tow vehicle has a rated capacity that it can haul and stop safely. It’s important you know this number and take into consideration not only the PWC, but also its trailer along with any gear, too.
  2. Lift capacity – If you keep your PWC on a drive-up lift or hoist, you will need to know how heavy it is to use the lift properly. Lifts come in different sizes and rated for different capacity, so it’s important you get one rated for your jet ski.
  3. Don’t overload your trailer – A watercraft trailer can only hold a set number. It’s not only the heaviness of the craft, but all the gear and fuel you carry needs to be considered.
  4. Don’t over load your jet ski – You don’t want to overload your jet ski capacity, as covered here.
  5. Fuel efficiency – The heaviness of the machine can impact its fuel efficiency. Heavier jet skis will require more power to propel through the water, resulting in increased fuel consumption. Understanding this allows you to make informed decisions regarding fueling and plan accordingly for longer rides. It can also affect the fuel efficiency of your tow vehicle too.
  6. Safety Considerations – Proper distribution is crucial for safe towing. Understanding this helps ensure that you distribute the load evenly, maintaining stability and reducing the risk of accidents or trailer sway during transportation.
  7. Maintenance and Repairs – Knowing the heaviness of your waverunner and trailer is essential for proper maintenance and repairs. It allows you to know what is the proper tire and axle that is ratings of your trailer.
  8. Laws and regulations – Trailers in some places around the world require brakes after a certain capacity.

It’s also important for lifts as shown in the video below:

Curb Vs Dry

Curb weight means the total of a jet ski with standard equipment, all necessary operating consumables (e.g., oil and coolant), a full tank of fuel, while not loaded with either passengers or cargo.

Dry is also used by some manufacturers to refer to the weight of a jet ski without fuel, oil and other operational fluids. It also doesn’t include the driver or gear weight either.

In my charts, I use dry, as that is what most manufacturers use.

Curb is more accurate, but leads to higher measurements being shown.

Kawasaki is more likely to use curb, while Sea-Doo and Yamaha are more likely to use dry. To get a more fair, subtract 100 pounds from Kawasaki to get an estimated dry. When you do that, the is not that greater, but overall, Kawasaki jet skis do tend to weigh more.

The Variety Of Trailers

Listed below is the pounds of each type of jet ski trailer.

  • Single (One Jet Ski) – 150 to 300 pounds.
  • Double (Two Jet Skis) – 300 to 600 pounds.
  • 4-Place (Four Jet Skis) – About 1,200 pounds.

The Carrying Capacity

Listed below is the total pounds a PWC trailer can carry, including the gear, fuel, and the unit itself.

  • Single – One, around 1,800 pounds total.
  • Double – Two, a combined of 2,000 to 3,000 pounds.
  • 4-Place – Four, a combined 4,200 pounds.

The Dimensions Of Trailers

If you’re storing your jet skis on a trailer in a garage or storage unit, you’ll need to know the dimensions that I cover here.

Tip: If you're going to get a trailer and have the option of a Triton Aluminum Trailer, then get it. Sea-Doo, Karavan, and many others make trailers, and they work just fine. But I always have the best luck with Triton Trailers. I find that the Aluminum trailers like the Triton's are lighter and hold up better to rust.  

Can a Car Tow Jet Skis?

Yes and no.

With the proper hitch and accessories, most cars can be adapted to tow a watercraft just fine. But you must be very strict about tow capacity when it comes to a car, since it can’t tow what a truck can.

If you have a car and want a Jet Ski or a pair of Jet Ski’s then the best option is to either go with a Sea-Doo Spark or a Yamaha EX since they’re the lightest watercraft on the market.

I have even seen customers tow a single spark behind their Prius and Mustang before.

The reason why it’s so important to follow your car’s recommended towing capacity has to do with braking and getting out of ramps. If you haul something too heavy, then your car might not be able to stop correctly and people can get hurt. Another factor is that ramps you’ll use to launch your watercraft can be steep and a too heavy of a load can make it impossible to get out of the ramp. Or even worse, the load could pull your car down into the water and sink it! This is why it’s important to follow the towing capacity of your car or truck!

If you do go with a Sea-Doo Spark, then check out the Spark MOVE II trailer. This trailer is made for 2 Sparks and works just perfect if you have a car! I recommend the Galvanized version since it holds up better to rust.

Backing Up The Trailer

Backing up a jet ski trailer can be hard, especially if it’s a single trailer. Or hooking up to the trailer is super hard if you don’t have a back-up camera.

To make backing up the trailer easier, you can buy boat trailer guides. These guides are made for boats to guide them in from the water, but if you get long enough ones, it also allows you to see where your sides are when backing up. Plus, it helps with loading the ski too as it can keep the rear from swinging away when you’re trying to load up.

What You’re missing?

If you’re going to be towing a Jet Ski and trailer, you’ll need to have the proper gear. Here is a list of items you should have…

Hitch – Every car or truck needs a hitch if you want to tow. The hitch is the part that attaches to the vehicle and where the receiver connects to. Some trucks or SUV will come with a hitch on it, but if you don’t have one, then you need to have one installed. 

Receiver – After you get the hitch, you’ll need the Receiver. The Receiver is where the tow ball is attached to and plugs into the hitch. Make sure to get the Receiver that is the correct size for your Hitch.

Ball – The ball is what the trailer connects to and latches to. You usually have 2 sizes when it comes to trailer balls and jet ski trailers. You have the most common 2 inch ball, and you also have the 1 7/8th ball.  

Receiver Lock – You may lock your trailer down at the coupler, but it’s nothing for a thief to unlatch the receiver and plug that into their truck and drive away with your trailer.

Light Adaptor – You know the number 1 thing most of my customers would forget to buy when picking up their new Jet Ski on a trailer? The adaptor for the lights. Jet ski trailers use a flat connector, and most trucks built within the last 15 years use round light connector. In most states, you need lights if you want to be legal, and they panic and start to scramble.

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. Thanks…very informative. One question; Is there a way to know the tongue weight based on the weights you’ve given here?

    Thanks, Terry

    Reply
    • The weights given in the post are not exact numbers, they can vary depending on the watercraft. The tongue weight can also vary too and there is no exact number to give. If anything, I like having a heavy tongue than a light one to keep bouncing from happening. To help with the weight of the tongue I get a Tongue Jack which saves the back. As a general rule, always assume the trailer is tongue light when approaching it. I’ve been smacked and trailers noses flung up in the air because the trailer was light when got on it or took it off the ball. Better to be safe than sorry.

      Reply

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