How Much Does a Jet Ski Weigh?

If you are considering getting yourself a brand-new jet ski, then knowing the numbers will help you make a better decision.

Jet skis can weigh around 755 lbs on average. A small model weighs 375 lbs, and a larger one 1075 lbs. Different models from brands can vary in weight as shown in chart below. Other things like the fuel capacity and even the hull material can come into play.

This is not even the full picture. There is much more to the whole thing. The weight of the Jet Ski will affect your usage and also the riding experience. So, let’s touch on all of these in a little bit more detail.

 

 

How Much Does a Jet Ski Weigh?

Let’s get right into the details of the weight of a jet ski. The average weight of a high-quality jet ski will be around 750 lbs. As you might imagine this, of course, it is not universal.

Some models will weigh more than this and some will be under this. But 850 lbs. is a good starting point. Here is a quick tip, if you want to know the exact weight of a particular model you want to buy, you can check out the manufacturer’s website.

Or if you are shopping through a dealer, you can ask them for all the details about the weight. They will happily give you all the information you might want. This method will apply to models that are currently in production and offered by the manufacturers.

For older models, you might need to dig a bit deep into forums and check out PWC communities and online threads. If you are buying second-hand, ask the owner. Also do not forget to do some research on the weight yourself.

The weight of a Jet Ski can also depend on what type of Jet Ski it is. Most jet skis will fall under a couple of categories. You have rec-lite jet skis, performance jet skis, luxury jet skis and recreational jet skis.

Re-lite models will usually weigh less than performance and luxury models. They range from anywhere around 500 lbs. to 700 lbs.. Another good tip to keep in mind is the price point. A jet ski that costs more is likely to weigh more as well.

This could be because of a powerful engine, more features and just a better build and chassis quality that is made with more robust and heavier materials. All in all, there are a couple of things that can affect the weight of a jet ski.

When buying a jet ski, you may notice that the manufacturers will advertise the dry weight. If you do not know what dry weight is, you are in the right place. Let me explain. Dry weight means the weight of the machine when it is just sitting on the showroom floor.

So, when you fill-up the gas tank and have some accessories and put things in the storage, the overall weight might increase.

Here, I’ve made a table that shows the dry weights of the most popular jet skis in the market right now:

Brand	Jet Ski Model	Weight (In lbs.)
Yamaha	SuperJet	375
Sea-Doo	SPARK 2up 60HP	410
Sea-Doo	SPARK 3up 90HP	425
Sea-Doo	SPARK TRIXX 3up	439
Sea-Doo	SPARK 2up 90HP IBR	423
Sea-Doo	SPARK 3up 90HP IBR	446
Yamaha	EXR	540
Kawasaki	SX-R	551
Yamaha	EX	578
Yamaha	EX Sport	584
Yamaha	EX Deluxe	600
Yamaha	EX Limited	600
Sea-Doo	GTI 90	668
Yamaha	VX Deluxe	692
Yamaha	VX Cruiser	697
Yamaha	VX Limited	697
Yamaha	VX-C	700
Yamaha	VX	719
Yamaha	GP1800R HO	734
Sea-Doo	GTI SE 130	739
Sea-Doo	GTI SE 170	739
Sea-Doo	WAKE 170	747
Yamaha	GP1800R SVHO	772
Sea-Doo	GTR 230	774
Sea-Doo	GTX 170	776
Sea-Doo	RXP-X 300	780
Yamaha	VX Cruiser HO	794
Yamaha	VX Limited HO	794
Sea-Doo	GTX 230	805
Sea-Doo	GTX 300	819
Yamaha	FX Cruiser SVHO	820
Yamaha	FX Limited SVHO	822
Sea-Doo	RXT-X 300	829
Sea-Doo	WAKE 230	829
Yamaha	FX HO	836
Yamaha	FX Cruiser HO	838
Sea-Doo	GTX Limited 300	849
Sea-Doo	FISH PRO 170	858
Kawasaki	STX 160	864
Kawasaki	STX 160X	864
Kawasaki	STX 160LX	877
Kawasaki	ULTRA LX	932
Kawasaki	ULTRA 310R	1047
Kawasaki	ULTRA 310X	1050
Kawasaki	ULTRA 310LX	1073
Average	Of all models is:	755 lbs

As you can see the weight of various models of jet skis can differ drastically with the average being 755 lb and are towable by a car or golf cart.

 

 

 

 

What Factors Affect Weight?

Speaking of factors, what are the things that dictate the weight? Well, there are a lot of things. Jet skis have fuel tanks, storage and can work with different accessories. All these will have some effect on the final weight of the machine.

The larger the fuel tank, the more weight it will be when you fill it up. The same goes for the storage compartments. If you fill the storage compartment to the brim, you may see an increase in weight.

A heavy and powerful engine or a heavy body that is made from durable materials will also affect the weight of the machine. You need to keep all these things in mind when buying one. So, a good idea is to give yourself some wiggle room when you are estimating the final weight of a one.

Since these are estimates at the end of the day, they cannot be 100% accurate. So, to help you understand things a bit better, there is also another term you need to familiarize yourself with along with dry weight.

So, you know what dry weight is. The other term you should know is ‘curb weight’. This is the weight when the fuel tank, storage compartments and engine oils are filled. Essentially the curb weight of a jet ski is the weight of the machine when it is ready to go into the water.

As I said most manufacturers will advertise the dry weight. Others will, however, show the curb weight. If you are comparing two models from a different brand, you need to make sure you compare the dry weight of each.

If you do not do this, then the comparison might not be fair and you will not get the right picture. Kawasaki is one high-end brand that tells you the curb weight of their jet skis in detail. They have a really good explanation of it as well on their site.

What About Stand Up and 2/3-Seater Jet Skis?

The same applies to these types of jet skis as well. Stand-up jet skis will also be around 350 lbs. to 50 lbs. Again, models with a better high-stroke engine and higher fuel capacity will of course weigh more.

This type of Jet Ski is not that common anymore. If you are thinking of buying a jet ski now, you probably are not buying a stand-up one. 2-seater and 3-seaters are much more common. 2-seaters have smaller hulls.

So, they can be a little lighter. They come around the 460 lbs. mark, usually and since some 2-seater jet skis are considered as rec-lite, the lower weight isn’t a surprise.

3-seaters are a completely different story. These jet skis come in a lot of different sizes. They can have widely varying features and will also come in different fuel capacities. Naturally, this would mean that the range is much higher for this kind of Jet Ski.

Typically, you are looking at anywhere from 500 lbs. to a whopping 1000 lbs.. Even some of the lightest ones will usually be between 500 lbs. to 700 lbs. While the heaviest ones can go up to 1100 lbs.

But my average weight still applies here. A medium 3-seater with 125 – 180 HP will typically weigh around 850 lbs. That range is more from 800 lbs. to 900 lbs. To make things even easier I included a chart of the weight of some models. So, keep on reading.

 

 

Difference Between Jet Ski Weight Limit and Jet Ski Weight

Read the subheading again. You might have missed the small nuances. Some people will misunderstand Jet Ski weight and Jet Ski weight limit. Do not worry, it happens to the best of us. Let me break it down for you.

Jet Ski weight is of course, just what it sounds like. It is the weight of the actual machine. The Jet Ski weight limit is something different. The weight limit of a jet ski means how much weight the machine can hold. This subtle difference is important to keep in mind. You need to make sure you do not mix them up.

When getting ready to ride your machine, you need to be sure that the weight limit isn’t surpassed. Most jet skis will have a weight limit of around 500 lbs. to 600 lbs.. This number does not include the added weight that comes from a full fuel tank, storage compartments, etc.

And jet skis will typically have a 3-rider capacity. The number I mentioned means the average weight of the riders needs to be 200 lbs. at most for each person. And again, you should not surpass the weight limit of a jet ski by any means.

That can be dangerous and you may lose control of the Jet Ski when riding it. I am sure you certainly do not want that to happen. In the worst case, the ski can roll over if you surpass the weight limit.

Stand Up Jet Ski Weight Limit

Stand-up jet skis have the lowest weight limit. They will only hold one person since these machines are meant to be more of a solo experience. You will not see any hard and clear numbers on the weight.

Manufacturers will just say the weight limit is just 1 person. Again, Kawasaki did something different here. They sometimes mention the weight limit of their standup jet skis. Take the SX-R 1500 model for instance.

The brand tells you that the weight limit for this one is 165 lbs.. Which is actually quite low compared to other types. That is not a knock on the brand though. All stand-up jet skis have a pretty low weight limit.

2-Person Jet Ski Weight Limit

2-person jet skis have a weight capacity of about 350 lbs. to 400 lbs.. The weight limit of these will depend on the make and model of the Jet Ski you are getting. So, different manufacturers may have different weight limits.

One thing to keep in mind here is there are 2-person rec-lite jet skis. These are not meant to fit two people. They are meant for a single person and a child.

3-Person Jet Ski Weight

3-person jet skis will have the highest weight limit of the three. These can range from a weight limit of 450 lbs. to 600 lbs.. Some are even more. However, the same rec-lite weight limit reduction applies to these models as well.

Most stock 3-person skis will be able to carry 3 people without breaking a sweat though. However, lite ones will be enough for 2 adults and one child. Even then it will not be completely comfortable. That is why you rarely see rec lite models that have more than one person riding them.

 

Why Does the Weight of a Jet Ski Matter?

The weight of the Jet Ski primary matters for performance and also portability. Since jet skis are powerful machines, it is always a good idea to know how much they weigh if you need to transport one from one place to another.

The handling can also be affected in some cases. All in all, knowing the weight of the Jet Ski is right for you is an important thing to consider when buying. This way you will avoid any nasty surprises. Since most people will use a Jet Ski trailer to transport their PWC, knowing the weight is important.

A jet ski’s weight can be an indicator of its quality, power and hull material as well. Although the sheer weight of a jet ski might not be the best thing to judge a jet ski’s performance by, it still is a good reference point.

 

You Should Consider the Trailer Weight As Well

Alright, so we talked about Jet Ski weight, looked into why they matter, and also saw what things affect the weight of your jet ski. Here is another thing some people forget. Jet skis are personal watercraft.

So, you may need to haul the thing from the beach to your house all by yourself. And for that, your car needs to be fitted with towing gear and a trailer for your jet ski is also needed. This is where the weight of the trailer also becomes a consideration. Jet Ski trailers will have an average weight of 200 lbs. to 300 lbs. So, to understand if your car is capable of pulling your Jet Ski alongside the trailer is a must for any Jet Ski owner. There are a couple of things you need to consider here:

Towing Capacity of Your Vehicle

You do not need to consider what type of vehicle you will tow the Jet Ski and the trailer with. What is more important is the towing capacity of said vehicle. That is the number that tells you about its capabilities.

The Weight of the PWC

PWC weight is important since it will dictate whether the trailer will be able to carry it or not. You certainly do not want to exceed the load capacity of the trailer itself. The most high-quality trailer will come with a high load capacity anyway though. The load capacity of trailers is around 100 lbs..

 

What Factors Affect the Weight of the Trailer?

Just like jet skis, the trailers will also vary in weight. So, what factors affect the weight of these then? A trailer can be fitted with a lot of small accessories. These things can add up and play a part in the overall weight of the trailer. Here are some accessories and features that will affect the weight of the trailer. Some you can live without and others are nice to have.

Winch: A winch isn’t a necessity when loading a jet ski onto a trailer. But they sure are handy. You might want to put one just to make it easier to load the Jet Ski on the trailer. A winch is one of those things that will affect the weight of the trailer.

Jet Ski Trolley: A Jet Ski trolley is meant to make the Jet Ski or PWC easier to transport in a small space. These are convenient little additions that every Jet Ski fan should consider.

Hitch and Ball: If you already own a truck, you may not need to get a hitch for yourself. However, sedan drivers might need to purchase a hitch if they do not already have it. The same goes for the ball.

Ratchet Strap: Once your machine is securely placed on the trailer, you do not want it moving about. It can be dangerous and can come loose. Imagine you are driving on the highway and your jet ski just falls off its trailer in the middle of the trailer. That is a nightmare you can easily avoid with ratchet straps.

These strong straps will keep your ski firmly in place. So, you can be sure that once your ski is on its trailer it will be a problem. The great thing about these is they do not need to be used only for jet skis. You can use them for any large item.

Receiver Lock: Receiver locks also ensure that your machine stays put. They keep the Jet Ski on top of the trailer locked in place and are not that expensive either. Put the lock on at night and you can have a sound sleep knowing your PWC is not going anywhere.

 

Conclusion

Now that you know everything about Jet Ski weight, you can make a more informed decision when buying a PWC for yourself. Do not just for one that is the lightest or one that is the heaviest thinking it will give you the best performance.

Rather take into consideration all its other aspects as well as the weight. Things like weight limits are also important.

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