300/440/550 new ski

[ski ranger]

so i am looking in to a new jet ski and i have had on before i had a 650sx but got out of the sport and now want to get back into it but i am short on cash and the only skis that are in my price range is a 550 and i have herd nothing but bad things about this skis but i like the power to hull size ratio please help me out and tell me is a 550 worth the money and will i have probelms with it in the long run

 

[_evan]

a 550 is by far a better boat then a 650 IMO. The 650 handles horribly and that hand pole is heavy as chit even with a pole spring.


pick up yourself a good running piston port 550 that's doesn't have any engine mods and go from there.

piston port 550s are by far the easiest skis to get aftermarket parts for. Just look on pwc today in the kawasaki parts for sale section and you will see what Im talking about.


Here is a list of modifications I would do to a pp 550 if I didn't have the money for a better ski
Primer start! get this first it makes the ski 10x easier to start.
pole spring
bars
finger throttle
quick turn plate
aftermarket ride plate
stainless steel prop
oversize tank
Aftermarket head (don't mill yours cause you want to make all this money back when you part it out)
half pipe exhaust
44 mm square body carb.

after that its not really worth the time/effort to do anything else to it. Once I hit this point I would part it out and then you would have enough money for a better ski :Banane09:

 

[slamb33]

I had a 91 550 for a few years, had really no problems with the engine at all, it started usually without trouble. The hull was beat up pretty bad though, I would be sure to inspect it very closely.

I would also consider saving up for a 96+ superjet though.

Best of luck.

 

[_evan]

If you can find a 91-95 550 sx for cheap that would be ideal. They have the reed motors and are far more reliable and make better power then a piston port 550. You can tell by the rear exit exhaust silver motors and slanted round looking intake manifolds however they are usually 600+ when you find them


I paid 800 for mine bone stock.