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Jet Ski vs. WaveRunner – What is the Difference? [Video]
When you browse through the current brand names and manufacturers, you can see massive confusion.
One of the most common mistakes that media outlets make is that the term “Jet Ski” refers only to stand-up watercrafts, while they use “WaveRunner” for the sit-down type models.
Unfortunately, this is simply not true, as this question is much more complex! We, at JetDrift, have collected information about the current PWC manufacturers, as well as their current models, for you in one post!
What is the Difference Between Jet Ski and WaveRunner?
Jet Ski
First of all, we have to clarify the “jet ski” term itself. It’s a lesser-known fact that “Jet Ski” is the registered trademark of Kawasaki.
In the 1970s, this company was the only PWC manufacturer on the market, so their brand name become genericized. This means that nowadays “jet ski” is commonly used by the public for any personal watercraft model.
Surprisingly, the mainstream media, as well as law enforcement, use this term in many cases. These are the main reasons why many people call PWCs “jet skis” nowadays!
But it doesn’t matter how widely used this term is; it’s still the Kawasaki brand name. Because of this, you may face a lot of criticism if you talk about “Sea-Doo jet skis” or “Yamaha jet skis” among PWC enthusiasts.
Many owners have really strong brand loyalty, so it’s wise to keep this in mind in the world of motorsports. It’s like calling a “Harley” a “Honda”… it’s not recommended!
The other confusion stems from the fact that people tend to label any stand-up PWCs “jet skis”, but it’s good to know that Kawasaki offers both stand-up and sit-down PWCs under the “Jet Ski” brand name!
Yamaha WaveRunner
When it comes to WaveRunners, it’s good to know that this term is the brand name of personal watercrafts manufactued by Yamaha. Just like Kawasaki, this company offers stand up and sit down watercrafts too.
Yamaha is a well-known name in the world of motorsports, but surprisingly, it was established as an organ and piano manufacturer. They entered the motorcycle market in 1955 and they released the first WaveRunner in 1986.
Over the years, Yamaha introduced more WaveRunner models and now they have the second largest fleet on the PWC market. Beyond PWCs, Yamaha manufactures boats and outboard engines as well, which means it has great experience in the marine industry.
Returning to the brand names now, you know that WaverRunner refers to the PWCs manufactured by Yamaha, while “Jet Ski” is the brand name of Kawasaki.
But again, when you use the term “jet ski”, always assume that it’s about personal watercraft in general. If you have a clue that it’s come from a PWC enthusiast, then you can expect that he’s talking about Kawasaki’s watercrafts!
Other PWC Manufacturers
Beyond Yamaha and Kawasaki, there are 2 other PWC manufacturers on the market currently, namely BRP (Sea-Doo) and Krash Industries.All of these companies have their own name for their personal watercraft line as well. For a better understanding, we’ve gathered all of them into one chart, with some other manufacturers who used to make PWCs in the past.
| Started | Ended | Brand name | Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | - | Sea-Doo | Bombardier (BRP) |
| 1972 | - | Jet Ski | Kawasaki |
| 1978 | 1992 | WetBike | Arctic Cat |
| 1985 | 1993 | Wet Jet | Koronis Part Inc. (Sold to MasterCraft) |
| 1986 | - | WaveRunner | Yamaha |
| 1992 | 2004 | SeaLion | Polaris |
| 1993 | 1999 | Tigershark | Arctic Cat |
| 1994 | 1997 | Wet Jet | MasterCraft |
| 2002 | 2009 | AquaTrax | Honda |
| 2004 | 2006 | Hydrospace | Hydrospace (sold to Benelli) |
| 2006 | - | Burrasca | Belassi |
| 2008 | - | Krash | Krash Industries |
| 2018 | - | Narke Electrojet | Narke |
| 2018 | - | Orca | Taiga |
The other two main brands were the Polaris (SeaLion) and the Arctic Cat (Tigershark) on the market in the ’90s.
Arctic Cat was also the company that invented and manufactured the legendary Wet Bike, a motorcycle-like watercraft, which has still a considerably sized fan base!
It’s a lesser-known fact that MasterCraft also jumped into the PWC market in 1994, but after a couple of years, their watercraft line was canceled.
Jet Ski vs. WaveRunner vs. Sea-Doo vs. Krash Prices
Would you like to know more about the currently available Jet Ski, WaveRunner, Sea-Doo and Krash models and prices? For your convenience, we gathered all of the new PWC models from the 4 main manufacturers into one chart.You can sort the rows by price, performance or manufacturer by clicking on the header. If you want to discover more about one of these models, don’t hesitate to click on the names. You can find specifications, pictures, videos, and comparisons in the links.
| Brand | Model | MSRP | HP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea-Doo | SPARK 2up 60HP | $5 499 | 60 |
| Sea-Doo | SPARK 2up 90HP | $6 099 | 90 |
| Sea-Doo | SPARK 3up 90HP | $6 699 | 90 |
| Yamaha | EX | $6 899 | 100 |
| Sea-Doo | SPARK 2up 90HP iBR | $7 099 | 90 |
| Sea-Doo | SPARK TRIXX 2up | $7 599 | 90 |
| Sea-Doo | SPARK 3up 90HP iBR | $7 699 | 90 |
| Yamaha | EX Sport | $7 899 | 100 |
| Sea-Doo | SPARK TRIXX 3up | $8 199 | 90 |
| Yamaha | Superjet | $8 699 | 73 |
| Yamaha | EX Deluxe | $8 899 | 100 |
| Sea-Doo | GTI 90 | $8 999 | 90 |
| Yamaha | VX-C | $8 999 | 125 |
| Yamaha | EXR | $9 399 | 110 |
| Kawasaki | STX 160 | $9 599 | 160 |
| Yamaha | VX | $9 899 | 125 |
| Kawasaki | STX 160 X | $9 999 | 160 |
| Kawasaki | SX-R 1500 | $9 999 | 160 |
| Sea-Doo | GTI 130 | $9 999 | 130 |
| Sea-Doo | GTI SE 130 | $10 799 | 130 |
| Yamaha | VX Deluxe | $10 966 | 125 |
| Yamaha | VX Cruiser | $10 999 | 125 |
| Kawasaki | ULTRA LX | $11 199 | 160 |
| Sea-Doo | GTI SE 170 | $11 399 | 170 |
| Yamaha | VX Limited | $11 399 | 125 |
| Kawasaki | STX 160LX | $11 699 | 160 |
| Yamaha | VX Cruiser HO | $11 799 | 180 |
| Sea-Doo | Wake 170 | $12 199 | 170 |
| Yamaha | GP1800R HO | $12 299 | 180 |
| Sea-Doo | GTR 230 | $12 399 | 230 |
| Krash | 50 CAL | $12 599 | 130 |
| Krash | Reaper | $12 599 | 130 |
| Krash | Predator | $12 599 | 130 |
| Krash | Footrocket | $12 599 | 130 |
| Sea-Doo | GTX 170 | $12 999 | 170 |
| Yamaha | FX HO | $13 699 | 180 |
| Sea-Doo | GTX 230 | $13 999 | 230 |
| Yamaha | FX Cruiser HO | $14 199 | 180 |
| Yamaha | GP1800R SVHO | $14 399 | 250 |
| Sea-Doo | Wake Pro 230 | $14 899 | 230 |
| Sea-Doo | Fish Pro | $14 999 | 170 |
| Kawasaki | ULTRA 310X | $15 299 | 310 |
| Sea-Doo | RXP-X 300 | $15 399 | 300 |
| Yamaha | FX SVHO | $15 699 | 250 |
| Kawasaki | ULTRA 310X SE | $15 799 | 310 |
| Sea-Doo | RXT-X 300 | $16 199 | 300 |
| Sea-Doo | GTX Limited 230 | $16 199 | 230 |
| Kawasaki | ULTRA 310R | $16 299 | 310 |
| Yamaha | FX Cruiser SVHO | $16 399 | 250 |
| Krash | Footrocket Pro | $16 799 | 130 |
| Sea-Doo | GTX Limited 300 | $17 199 | 300 |
| Yamaha | FX Limited SVHO | $17 599 | 250 |
| Kawasaki | ULTRA 310LX | $17 999 | 310 |
About Personal Watercraft (PWC) in General
As you can see, personal watercraft arrive in different sizes and shapes. So you may want to review which vessels belong to this group.As you can also see, beyond “jet ski”, PWCs have several different names, like watercrafts, crafts, skis, or even water-scooters.
The main difference compared to boats is that on a PWC, the operator sits on a saddle and rides the vessel like a motorcycle (or sometimes operates in standing position). This position is much more dangerous for the rider as he is much more exposed to injuries in case of an accident.The sit-down type of watercraft are designed for two or three riders, while operating a stand-up watercraft is a solo activity. In the past, tall models were small water toys, but over the years, their size and performances increased greatly.Thus, now the U.S. Coast Guard considers PWCs Class A vessels, which means the same rules apply to them as for boats! Additionally, if you operate a PWC, you have to keep on safety accessories on board as required by the law.
Conclusion
What is the difference between Jet Ski and WaveRunner?As you’ve learned, WaveRunner is the brand name of Yamaha’s personal watercrafts, while Jet Ski is the registered trademark of Kawasaki. In spite of this fact, the term “jet ski” is commonly used by the public for any personal watercraft, which often leads to confusion and misunderstandings.Beyond these manufacturers, you can find Sea-Doo PWCs on the market, as well as stand-up freestyle watercrafts from Krash Industries.
If you can’t decide which is for you, a Jet Ski or WaveRunner, you can get a good start by checking some out in a PWC rental shop. Some of them offer both brands for rent, so you can discover the differences for yourself.
This was our short Jet Ski vs. WaveRunner comparison. We hope you find it useful!