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350 HOURS on a 2012 GTS 130 too many?

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NVDoo

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This is a rental ski that was serviced frequently per mfg specs. I can demo before buying. They are getting rid of it for a great price. Should I consider it? All input welcome. Thanks
 
Check it out well, take it for a test ride and test the cylinder compression, look carefully at the engine oil to make sure it's not milky from being flooded with water.

Any kind of warranty on this ski at that asking price?
 
I'm guessing it's an as-is sale. Any way to inspect the jet? Little worried about noobs driving this thing onto the beach. Hard to pass on a 2 year old ski at this price if it runs well.
 
Yeah, basically if the ski won't do a strong hole shot but cavitates instead, or doesn't have the top speed it should then the condition of the pump is suspect. Take a flashlight with you and climb underneath, look up inside and see if the impeller is chewed up, and/or the wear ring that surrounds the impeller, there shouldn't be more than the thickness of a dime's clearance between the two.

After that, go to the rear of the ski and look into the pump from behind and inspect the stator veins through the nozzle. If rocks and junk were sucked through it, some of the stator veins may be broken off or laid over.

Sounds like a good way to get a nice ski, I'd try to ride it at least 20~30 minutes to try uncovering any problems.
 
I know but they look in great shape but.........we'll see. If I couldn't ride it first there would be no way unless they were giving it away.
 
350 is a lot but it's not out of this world, lots of life left in that motor. If the water test and visual test pass I'd say go for it. You're getting it for about 1/3 of what it cost new two years ago.

Some people will say a rental is beat on, I'd say most jet skis are "beat" on (mine are).
 
Brian J said:
350 is a lot but it's not out of this world, lots of life left in that motor. If the water test and visual test pass I'd say go for it. You're getting it for about 1/3 of what it cost new two years ago.

Some people will say a rental is beat on, I'd say most jet skis are "beat" on (mine are).
Click to expand...


You're definitely right about that. No one goes out on a ski and keeps the revs under 6000rpm unless they are in a no wake zone, at least no one that I have ever come across....these motors are going all out at high revs throughout their entire life....

Having said that, that's the reason I personally would hesitate buying a ski with such high hours....even with 145 hours on my RXT I ride it wondering what will go wrong next while I am out on the water.
 
Will see it today or tomorrow am and let you know. I've heard of skis with 3 times this much time and still running strong. Age seems to be an issue not just hours. Some many variables. Thanks for the input.
 
I dunno, are 350hrs really that many? Doesn't sound too bad to me, I can imagine if it's not been water swamped (think bent connecting rods) and it's taken care of (oil/antifreeze changes) those motors should be good for several thousand hours?

Have any of you guys been able to wear one out?
 
On the rentals, what matters the most is if they were using a Rental or Learning key. Most places do but you never know. This is something you must ask. If the ski has been on a normal key being held wide open for 350 hours it will limit its life span. Most rentals using the rental key will go to 800 hours on a regular basis if they were maintained properly. When I buy rentals(or any 4tec really), I use BUDS to check the rpm usage over its total hour usage. This tells me how much time it's spent at high rpms which is the key to longer engine life. I've seen rentals that use the learning key all the time that go well over 1000 hours and have seen one at almost 1500 hours and still running.

With all that said, you never really know how long a 4tec will last. It could throw a rod at any time, even a few hours old, but you have to go with the averages. Overall, a very reliable motor especially the NA versions.

At $3k, it's a great deal with 350 hours as long as it isn't completely beat up.
 
I bought my 08 gti 155 a couple years ago ex rental the cluster showed something like 500 hours ( knew that wasn't right) a ways on its first service I was informed the actual hours was 1000 2 summers ago even with the couple issues I've had I'm happy to say this 4-tec is still running strong as and at a guess I'd almost put my life on the line by saying the hours on it now are prolly pushing 1500 to 2000, as the cluster gauge doesn't work all that well I don't have any way of actuall knowing the true hours. And this ski as always been rode in salt water. For a $3500 ski I'm as happy as a pig in poo with it.


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I have a friend that just bought a 2011 GTi 130 with 611 hrs on it for $3500.00!
it was a rental and has only been run on the learner key... we water tested it with the full power key and it runs strong with no cavitation!
oil was changed frequently per sea-doo recommended intervals and aside from the obvious cosmetic damage, it's mechanically in great condition!
 
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So 600 hours at an average income of $100/hr rental gives a $60k in sales for 3 years per machine. Sounds like a lot, right? Then subtract the purchase price $9k, gas $6k, maintenance $2k, insurance $12k, overhead $10k, dock space $3k and misc $6k, add back in the $3k sell price. That machine only made a profit for the owner of $5k/year. That's why the rental business is tough and only works if you have at least 10 units and can keep them out at least 4 hours per day each 6 days per week. Insurance is mostly to blame, 10 times higher than it used to be 15 years ago.

Anyway, rental units are great buys if you don't mind them looking like they were dropped from a plane and then hit by a train.
 
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