Do you crave an adrenaline rush from zooming at high velocities on your nearby river or sea? Are you looking for a water vehicle to speed across the water and satisfy your speed thrill? Bass boats are one of them. How about something more adventurous?
If yes, then a jet ski will surely help you with your adventures. However, true adrenaline junkies still wonder, how fast can a jet ski go, and whether it is a smart investment when it comes to drifting on waters at high-speed.
Let me tell you that you cannot go wrong with a personal watercraft if you are looking for speed.
Since they have a small, lightweight design, jet skis are incredible at achieving top velocity and offer the best maneuverability. Hence, it is not surprising that even lifeguards prefer jet skis to save people in the shortest possible time.
With a unique construction, compact design, and a powerful engine, a jet ski is going to offer you the thrill you are seeking.
If you are interested, keep reading the following article to learn more about these vehicles and their speeds.
Why Do You Need a Fast Jet Ski?
Since jet skis are lightweight and fast, it is not surprising that there are many uses of the PWC on open seas.
First of all, lifeguards and U.S. Coast Guards prefer to use these jet skis in times of emergency to get from one place to another. Their jet skis have an additional rescue platform to help carry the person back on safe lands too.
Secondly, racing competitions have gained quite a lot of popularity in the last decade. For example, the P1 AquaX was launched back in 2011 for specifically PWC racing.
Besides all this, some people even use fast jet skis to fish and throw large nets across a considerable distance.
These fast jet skis are also perfect for people who love fast water sports like tubing or just love rushing through the water at fast speeds. If you love a good thrill, a jet ski is just what you are looking for.
What Makes a Jet Ski Fast?
Compared to other water vehicles like ships and classic boats, jet skis or personal watercraft have a unique design. Neither do they have a boat railing, nor are they capacious or larger enough to feature many innovations.
Instead, these boats are relatively compact and accommodate only a couple of people on its seat. As a result, these boats are only meant for one thing, speed. They are designed with speed, fast acceleration, and high maneuverability in mind.
Let us take a look at some of the most significant features that distinguish a jet ski from other boats.
Engine
Personal Water Crafts use an inboard engine in the place of an outboard engine to power their motor. The engine drives a pump-jet, which sucks water in and jets it off from the other end at a high velocity. This results in a powerful thrust and driving force that pushes the jet ski forward on the water.
Typically, standard jet skis have a 1500cc four-stroke engine that offers about 150HP. Hence, some people even prefer to use a motorbike engine with similar horsepower to drive their boats.
At 150HP, your PWC can reach a speed of 35 to 40mph with ease. However, you can install engines with even higher horsepower, like 250 or 300HP, to increase your top speed to almost double your speed.
What’s more, a powerful engine will boost your acceleration to help you reach your highest velocity in the shortest time.
Impeller
Unlike traditional boats with propellers, jet skis feature an impeller fitted inside their engine tube to suck in water and push it out from the other end.
Since the impellers have to face harsh wear and tear, it is no wonder that manufacturers have to pay extra attention to their construction for optimum performance.
Most jet skis are fitted with three high-quality stainless steel blades to force the water stream out with pressure. Not only do they offer sturdiness, but the steel blades will also provide extended durability to the engine.
Weight
One of the significant reasons why jet skis are fast is due to their lightweight body. The average weight of a jet ski is around 700 to 800 pounds, and it is compact enough to hold only a couple of people at a time. Thus, it even minimizes the extra weight of accessories and people to achieve faster acceleration.
Apart from this, you can find many different types of jet skis in the market, ranging from Rec-Light and recreational models to performance and stand-up ones, depending on your use.
Since bulky PWCs are dangerous on rough waters, opt for smaller versions for solo rides and a safe adrenaline rush.
How Fast Can a Jet Ski Go?
Now, we have a rough idea about the high-speed performance of a personal watercraft, let us take a look at the real truth behind these numbers.
A standard jet ski can reach top speeds of 50mph at an average, using an engine with 100 to 150HP. Meanwhile, the slowest ones cap around 40mph, which is sufficient to enjoy the thrill of zooming on the water.
However, if you still want to speed, a few slightly more expensive models can offer even higher speeds. This is where the U.S. Coast Guard restricts the manufacturers at a safe, high velocity of 65 to 70mph.
If you want to go even faster, you can modify your PWC with a Speed Control Override to add additional mph to your speedometer. The fastest jet ski ever recorded capped out at 92mph.
Examples of Top Jet Ski
Some of the fastest and most popular jet skis are listed below to give you an idea of their horsepower and top-speeds. Keep reading to learn more about their performance.
Sea-Doo RXT-X 300
Sea-Doo is one of the most well-known names in the industry that has been manufacturing high-quality PWCs since the 1960s.
One of their top-selling jets is the Sea-Doo RXT-X 300, which can reach 60mph in just 3.6 seconds and has a top speed of 67mph. Along with its high-performance, it has a wider hull for stability, a powerful Rotax 300HP ACE engine, and even includes an Ergolock system for maximum control on rough waters.
Kawasaki Ultra 310X
Kawasaki is the top brand to consider when looking for high-speed performance and the best adrenaline thrill. Their Ultra series, like the Ultra 310X, can reach top speeds in no time at all.
It features a 300HP engine with 8000rpm and a maximum speed of 67mph, ergonomic two-seat capacity, and all the flagship features.
Yamaha VX Cruiser HO
The Yamaha VX Cruiser HO features a four-stroke, four-cylinder Yamaha Marine engine with 180HP and high speeds of 65mph. It has a lightweight design of just 794-pounds and accommodates up to three people on its seat.
What’s more, you get a large fuel capacity and a 30 GAL storage space.
Conclusion
If you are still confused about how fast can a jet ski go, well, they are fast enough. Even with a speed limiter in every PWC, your skis can cap a maximum safe speed of 65 to 70mph for various water sports or just leisure races.
What’s more, PWC racing competitions are becoming quite common globally, increasing the popularity of jet skis and their innovations. So if you are looking for a jet ski to get an adrenaline rush, go for them to have the best experience of your life.
Read the article to find the top jet ski brands for your needs.
