New to PWC – Supercharged or Not?

If you’re new to jet skis, you might be wondering if you should go with a supercharged model or not? You might also wonder if the non-supercharged models have enough power for pulling towable tubes? Or if the non-supercharged models are slow?

To answer your question, if this is your first time owning a watercraft then avoid supercharged models. Even if you rode ATVs or motorcycles all your life and you never rode a supercharged jet ski before, then you might want to consider a non-supercharged model first.

To put it simply, there are no slow jet skis. Let me explain.

Is 60hp Enough?

The lowest horsepower watercraft now is the 2up Base Model Spark. This spark outputs 60hp and can get you up to 40mph.

Is this slow? To me it is. To someone new, it’s lighting fast! But I’ve ridden 300hp watercraft and many models with kits on them to push them well beyond the regulated 70mph. So my idea of fast is different. This idea of what is fast stems from many others on the internet who also have GROWN to fast skis. This breeds a misconception, and new riders often get a machine that is just too much for them to handle because of what they hear on the internet.

I’ve sold watercraft to many people, and a lot of them tell me they never go past 35 to 40mph because it’s too fast.

I know what you’re thinking, 40mph is not FAST!!!!

This is because you’re used to 40mph inside the comfort of your car with the nice big enclosure around with the music playing. When you’re on a jet ski, you have no closure around you, and the only sound you hear is the wind in your hair and your heart beating out of your chest from the sudden rush. So yeah, 40+ is fast when it’s just you in the open.

Under 200HP

Most non-supercharged models will be under 200hp, look out for this when you’re shopping. Honestly, I would stick to 170hp or under if you’re a new rider.

Many of the modern watercraft will come with different modes like touring and sport to allow you to have better control over the ride.

One of the perks of going with non-supercharged models is that they’ll do better on gas. Those superchargers are very hungry and just guzzle gas. The lower the horsepower, the better gas mileage you’ll get.

What if you’re a big guy? Even if you’re big, you don’t need a supercharged jet ski. But if you’re big you might want to stay away from the rec-lite series of watercraft.

What about towing tubes? Even a 90hp Spark can pull a tube just fine. Sea-Doo even makes a Wake series that is 155hp and has plenty of power, so much that you should be careful not to overdo it.

Supercharger Maintenance

If you get a supercharged jet ski, especially a Sea-Doo, there will be extra maintenance you’ll need to do.

I’ve created a post to go over the maintenance and other tips that comes along with a Sea-Doo supercharged model here.

Other Mistakes New Riders Make

Getting a jet ski with too much power is not the only mistake new riders make. It can be scary when it’s your first time on a jet ski, but you can do it if you have all the right stuff.

Did you know the most common thing people do that can put their jet ski out of work is sucking up their own tow rope? It’s always the new riders, and it usually happens within the first 10 hours of the machine. But you can lower this chance by using a shock tube like this one here (Amazon Link Ad).

Another one that can help you greatly is to put a whistle like this one here (Amazon Link Ad) on each life jacket. Most states require all watercraft to have a whistle that is easy to reach. You don’t want to get a ticket for something so simple so what I recommend to do is get a whistle for each life jacket you own. The water police are very picky about stuff like this and having one on every life jacket covers you, and if you have kids, this goes double for you as kids are good at losing things like it’s their job. Another idea is to get a safety kit like this one here (Amazon Link Ad) which has the whistle in it along with other needed items.

There is a lot of items you’ll need, and when you’re buying your jet ski, you’ll be so in the mood of the new toy that you forget many of the things you must have. The good news is that I have a guide of things you should have here. I recommend you check that out to makes sure you have everything you’ll need to have you ready to ride for the summer!