Water ski behind a jet ski?

[HOGFAN]

DH doesnt want to get a boat(nowhere to keep one) but the kids(2) and I want to water ski. I think I might can talk him into a couple of jet skis tho.
How many HP does one need to pull a skier. thanks.

 

[EdiePA]

I don't think a jet ski could do it. Plus, to water ski, you would need a "spotter" (someone to watch the water skier while the driver drives). We had a small 14 ft boat with a 50 hp motor and it could pull a smaller skier, but totally bogged down with someone larger or when we tried to slalom.

Edie

 

[#1hockeymom]

You legally need a spotter to ski.

 

[Amlee]

DH doesnt want to get a boat(nowhere to keep one) but the kids(2) and I want to water ski. I think I might can talk him into a couple of jet skis tho.
How many HP does one need to pull a skier. thanks.

I checked with my brother and his is a rxtx with a super charger. It's 350 hp and will pull just about anyone.

It's similar to this one.

He said to go to this website.

http://www.sea-doo.net/pictures/pictures.asp?page=1


Edit to add that this one will hold 3 people so, one can drive, one can spot, one can ride and one can be pulled.

 

[freckles and boo]

I have no idea what the horsepower is, but our SeaDoo is enormous, seats three adults, and can pull a two person tube without any problem at all. None of us can ski.

 

[dairyou]

We've been going to the lake quite a few years here in California. I've never seen 2 jet ski's pulling a water skier. Not that it hasn't been done I'm sure, just have never seen it. It seems like it might be hard since both of you have to take off at the same time and the same speed.

My DH didn't want to get a boat either, but since it was my car that would be sitting out in the driveway we decided to get a boat. We talked about jetskis but we enjoy hanging out in the boat, having some lunch, listening to music and just relaxing in between pulls. Plus, water tubing is great fun and now the boys are old enough to have disk wars.

Good Luck! I'm sure either is fun and one is better than none!

Deb

 

[wdwmom2]

We have a 2004 Yamaha FX HO (high output). It is a 3 seater and has plenty of hp, 160, to pull a average sized skier. My DS is about 275 and we do have problems getting him out of the water.

Here is a review from a magazine


2004 Yamaha WaveRunner FX Cruiser High Output

Price $9,999
The Goods 160 hp; push-button ignition; reverse; high-pressure water pump for more speed; electronic fuel injection; 26 gallons of storage space; wireless remote-control security system; automatic kill switch.
Top Speed Around 60 mph, depending on wind and water conditions—and your instincts for self-preservation.
The X Factor Seats for two passengers; speed to toss passengers if they get mouthy.

When I jumped onto the WaveRunner for a test-drive in the Marriott Key Largo Bay marina, the first thing to grab my attention was its disclaimer, which included phrases such as “high-speed water entry into bodily orifices” and “internal-organ damage.” Thank God for neoprene shorts, aka anus armor.

But mastering the FX is as easy as pulling the finger throttle. According to the speedometer, the Runner got up to a lip-flapping 61 mph in about 11 seconds through fairly choppy ocean. Though it sounds like a new infomercial diet, the built-in Quick Shift Trim System gave me total control over the boat’s attitude in the water. By twisting a thumb gear on the left handlebar, I could easily change the angle of the FX’s nose on the fly.
Reduced hull weight makes the FX HO far more agile than older models and helps extend its range to 100 miles on one tank of gas. The efficient new four-cylinder engine is a major advance over the buzzing, smoke-belching two-strokers of yore. There’s virtually no engine vibration or noise, and emissions are reduced to mere water vapor. The beefy 160-hp power plant puts out enough juice to pull a skier. And it has three seats, so you can take both of your parents for a ride.

Postride maintenance involves nothing more than flushing out the engine and hosing down the hull with water, and it takes less than five minutes. At least, that’s what former professional freestyle rider Scott “Hollywood” Watkins told us. (It’s how he signed his autograph!)

 

[FormrCastMbr]

DH would think you need a 3 seater jet ski and about a 130 hp.

We are selling ours...do you live near Jersey?

 

[Anne34]

We used to do it all the time. We had a 3 seater -- and the spotter would ride backward. My husband is 190 and the jet ski had no problem pulling him up (just couldn't start slolem (SP?) -- it didn't have enough power for that, but he would just drop a ski by my parents cottage).

 

[#1hockeymom]

I've seen it done, even with a spotter due to it being a twin seater. It still wouldn't be safe, though. If you really want to ski, you'll need a boat! If you have the space for a jet ski, you don't need that much more for an actual boat.*have one for sale in Michigan if you'd like one! 20 ft.*

 

[WDWBarb]

My husband is 190

LOL - when I first read this, I thought you meant he was 190 years old Teach me to pay attention

 

[Barb]

Legally, you would have to have a 3 seater. There must be room on the jet ski for the skier and, as everyone else said, the spotter to ride backwards while you're towing.

 

[jordansmomma]

We have a 2- 3 seaters, a yamaha and a kawasaki. They can both handle skiiers, and a 2 person tube. You need to have the spotter sit backwards.

 

[SamRoc]

We have a Yamaha VX 2007 waverunner. It seats 3 and easily pulls a waterskiier. When I was a kid at Greenwood lake NJ we had a 40 hp boat and that would pull someone behind a boat to ski! The waverunner we have now has 110 hp and its really fast. We love taking it out on the Barneget Bay in New Jersey and will be there this weekend! cant wait!

 

[rogwild]

You legally need a spotter to ski.

Check your State Boating Regulations; in FLORIDA:
"The operator of a vessel towing someone on skis or another aquaplaning device must either have an observer, in addition to the operator, on board who is attendant to the actions of the skier or have and use a wide-angle rear-view mirror."
......so one person on a jet ski can pull a skier if they 'have and use' a wide-angle rear-view mirror (in the state of FLORIDA, and perhaps others). A designated 'spotter' is better/safer, but not always REQUIRED.

 

[KramBerries]

LOL - when I first read this, I thought you meant he was 190 years old Teach me to pay attention

FWIW, I thought the same thing.

 

[mgdaddyo]

SamRoc,

Is there anything about the Yamaha VX Cruiser that you don't like? Thinking about buying a couple and I'm concerned about pulling 220 lb guys with it.

 

[SamRoc]

SamRoc,

Is there anything about the Yamaha VX Cruiser that you don't like? Thinking about buying a couple and I'm concerned about pulling 220 lb guys with it.

Yes actually now we are trading in our Yamaha for a Kawasaki. We are going to the Atlantic city boat show to look at new ones. We are unhappy with ours as it seems to nosedive and acts more like a submarine instead of a waverunner. Going out on the Barnegat Bay we have alot of problems with weeds getting stuck but that will happen with all waverunners. We are going this weekend and will let you know which one we buy.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Deleted to the zombie rule.

 

[KAMLEM]

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