6 Personal Watercraft That’ll Make Your Summer Way More Fun
In the 1970s, personal watercraft started as either souped-up, standup machines that required strength and skill, or two-seat jet bikes that were good for doing circles on small lakes, but not much else. These days, the field has widened to just about any pursuit on the water. The leading manufacturers, Sea-Doo, Yamaha WaveRunner, and Kawasaki Jet Ski, all have models designed around fishing, complete with chartplotters, rod holders, and large insulated boxes on the stern.
In a new segment, Sea-Doo has also gone all in with the Explorer Pro 170 and Explorer Pro 230. These long-distance cruisers have features like windshields, chartplotters, extra fuel capacity for extended range, and even a front bumper for protection. Others such as Yamaha’s VX Cruiser HO and Sea-Doo’s Wake Pro series are designed as towboats, complete with board racks.
Kawasaki has stayed true to its past with stand-up models such as the SX-R 160, and upcoming SX-X 160, which allow riders to do tricks or carve tight turns on these small, powerful craft.
Sea-Doo also started a new entry-level craze with its budget-priced Spark, which eventually became a two-model line with the Spark Trixx, designed for freestyle riding. The good news for both beginner and advanced riders is that there are multiple choices across the 40-odd models on the market these days.
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Yamaha Jet Blaster Pro
Image Credit: Yamaha Marine The Jet Blaster Pro offers the ability to carry three people, but for a single rider, the bonus is riding fast and performing tight curves, reverse donuts, and waterborne wheelies. This modestly priced WaveRunner has a three-cylinder, four-stroke TR-1 engine, and deep-V hull to power through waves. The features list also includes cruise assist, touchpad controls, and the ability to steer in low RPM mode. The design was so fresh that it won a 2025 NMMA Innovation Award.
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Sea-Doo Explorer Pro 230
Image Credit: Sea-Doo This watercraft is built around the proven GTX hull and comes with a choice of two models. Both are essentially touring motorcycles for the water. The fuel-efficient Explorer Pro 170 is powered by a naturally aspirated 170 hp Rotax engine while the Pro 230 has a supercharged 230 hp Rotax for higher speeds. Both Explorers have unique features such as touring windshields to protect the rider from wind and weather, LinQ Explorer bags for carrying 26.4 gallons of gear on the extended rear platform, and a rising handlebar for different riding positions. The front bumper also adds protection when docking. The tiered, three-passenger saddle has bolsters for lower-back support as well as cruise control. If you love to roam, this is the watercraft for you.
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Kawasaki Ultra 160LX-S Angler
Image Credit: Kawasaki Built on Kawasaki’s proven Ultra platform, the 160LX-S Angler is the latest in sportfishing editions from the three major manufacturers. The fishing details include a front rod holder, a rear rack with four more rod holders, an Orca 58-quart cooler, a two-section fishing bench seat, and seven-inch Garmin chartplotter and fish finder. This Jet Ski combines a 1498-cc, four-cylinder engine with a deep-V hull for rough-water handling. Its 21.1-gallon fuel capacity delivers good range for coastal runs.
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Yamaha FX Limited SVHO
Image Credit: Yamaha WaveRunner The flagship of the WaveRunner FX line is a beauty in profile, with tiered seats for three, an aggressive-looking bow, and large rear boarding platform. It also boasts luxury features like a factory-installed Yamaha audio system, touchscreen controls, enhanced GPS, Bluetooth, and the ability to make and receive phone calls. Add to that automatic trim, low-RPM mode for driving, reverse assist, and the power of an 1812CC supercharged, 4-cylinder Super Vortex High Output engine (hence, its name), and this will be one of the baddest, fastest, most luxurious jet bikes on the water.
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Kawasaki SX-R 160
Image Credit: Kawasaki Kawasaki invented the original stand-up Jet Ski. Its SX-R 160 still dominates the field. The powerful thrust and V-shaped hull give it the ability to carve tight turns and handle big water, while its 1,498 cc four-stroke engine delivers low-to-mid-range torque and excellent acceleration. The company also recently introduced the SX-X 160, a more user-friendly model with a fixed handlebar for a wider range of riders. It will be officially launched later this year.
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Sea-Doo Wake Pro 230
Image Credit: Sea-Doo The Wake Pro 230 was designed around being a towboat, for water-skiing, wakeboarding, or wake-surfing. It was built on a wide platform that combines stability with a 230 hp Rotax 1630 supercharged engine that delivers acceleration, and more impressively, torque to pull up different-sized boarders. Its tech package includes a premium BRP audio system, full-color display on the helm and USB ports, and a removable sky pylon and board rack. Its 18.5-gallon fuel capacity will extend tow time for hours.
