Did MasterCraft Make Jet Skis? [Yes, They’re Called Wet Jets!]

Did MasterCraft make jet skis? – We get this question more often than almost any other, and the answer is yes! It’s a lesser-known fact that MasterCraft made jet skis from 1994 through 1997 under the Wet Jet brand. One of the most popular models in the fleet was arguably the powerful Duo 300.

If you want to find out more about MasterCraft jet skis, you’ve come to the right place.

We at JetDrift have compiled all you need to know about these machines under one roof!

Did MasterCraft Make Jet Skis?

Wet Jet PWC History

MasterCraft has been a well-known name in the boat marketplace since 1968. However, the American manufacturer also entered the PWC market in the early ‘90s by acquiring the emerging Wet Jet brand.

But let’s start the story at the beginning!

The history of Wet Jet PWCs started in 1985 when the Webb family established the brand in Minnesota.

Surprisingly, the design of the early Wet Jet PWC was inspired by snowmobiles, and for a good reason. These machines were manufactured at Koronis Parts Inc., Ed Webb’s snowmobile parts manufacturing business.

Thanks to its snowmobile roots, the first Wet Jet actually looked more like a floating snowmobile than a personal watercraft. Unlike the rival jet ski models from Kawasaki and Yamaha, Wet Jets utilized a wide trimaran hull with a unique, manta ray-shaped bow.

What’s more, the power source of the machine was borrowed from Brut snowmobiles. However, you can also find some Wet Jet PWCs out there with Cuyuna 428 engines.

The engine propelled a mixed-flow jet pump that was engineered and manufactured in-house.

It’s a fun fact that this craft utilized an F1-like steering wheel instead of regular motorcycle-like handlebars.

If you are curious about what the vintage Wet Jet looked like, don’t miss this video:

As you can imagine, the performance and handling of this strange machine were light years behind competitor models.

Long story short, the seven-year-old PWC manufacturer was acquired by MasterCraft in January 1993.

As reported by Encyclopedia.com, MasterCraft paid $700,000 to purchase Wet Jet International, Ltd. and its assets.

The MasterCraft Era

MasterCraft entered the jet ski market in 1994 by re-introducing Wet Jet PWCs under the same brand name.

It seemed like a bright idea because the company had all the resources to produce personal watercraft. This was no coincidence since the company had 25 years of experience in the marine industry.

MasterCraft brought its grounded experience and technology to the Wet Jet brand. Thanks to this boost, the Wet Jet PWC was completely redesigned from scratch and emerged with a modern, V-shaped hull.

The first jet ski in the MasterCraft PWC fleet was the Wet Jet Duo 200, introduced in 1994.

That year, production of these machines reached 5,000 units, but management was not satisfied with the results. This is because Wet Jet had to issue a recall of these early PWCs, resulting in a massive hit to company revenues.

Although MasterCraft’s jet ski lineup was expanded with new models in the following years, the brand never really became popular.

Eventually, the manufacturer decided to focus on the boating market and discontinued the Wet Jet PWC line after the 1997 model year.

1994-1997 MasterCraft Jet Ski Models

MasterCraft manufactured many iconic jet skis over the years, including:

• 1994 Wet Jet Duo 200
• 1995 Wet Jet Duo 300
• 1995 Wet Jet ZX
• 1995 Wet Jet Kraze
• 1996 Wet Jet Duo
• 1997 Wet Jet Duo
• 1997 Wet Jet ZX
• 1997 Wet Jet Kraze

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and talk about these skis in detail!

Each of these skis was built on a well-designed MasterCraft hull, but their power sources were provided by engine suppliers. The platforms were made of hand-laid fiberglass and utilized floatation foams for better buoyancy.

The first MasterCraft PWC was the entry-level Wet Jet Duo 200. This ski utilized a stable and predictable deep-V hull that housed a 440 Brut engine rated at 50 HP.

Because of its moderate performance and low (40 mph) top speed, this ski was marketed for beginner riders. It’s sad to say, but this model had a bad reputation for its reliability and low performance.

Unlike its smaller brother, the Wet Jet Duo 300 got a slightly larger hull and a more powerful 701 Yamaha marine engine. This power source (just like any other Yamaha product) offered excellent reliability and durability.Also, the new power source provided a whopping 75 HP, which offered more fun and a top speed of 50 mph.

Surprisingly, this engine in MasterCraft PWCs provided more horsepower thanks to an advanced exhaust pipe. In contrast, the competitor Yamaha WaveRunners with Yamaha 701 engines had only 63 HP.

Besides the Yamaha engines, MasterCraft jet skis utilized parts from various other manufacturers.

MasterCraft expanded its 1995 lineup to two new models, namely the Kraze and the ZX. These skis were more powerful models with different paint jobs, but they shared the same hull and features as the Duo 300.

The Kraze utilized a Westcoast pipe and intake manifold and a larger, 46mm Mikuni carburetor, which enabled the engine to put out and amazing 85 HP. It also came in a white/red dressing with a red seat.

In the 1996 model year, MasterCraft only offered the Duo, but for 1997 the ZX and the Karze made a comeback.

Although these skis were reliable and offered decent performance, they never became really popular among riders.

Finally, MasterCraft decided to close its jet ski division due to low sales numbers in 1997.

MasterCraft Jet Ski for Sale

As you can imagine, it’s not easy to find a MasterCraft jet ski for sale in good shape. Since these skis went out of production in 1997, so by then most were worn out and had already been scrapped.

However, if you are lucky, you can find a vintage MasterCraft for sale on Craigslist, eBay, and other dedicated jet ski classified websites.

Besides these places, you may want to visit some vintage PWC forums, where you can find some great deals, along with a lot of valuable info about these vintage crafts.

FAQs About the MasterCraft Jet Skis

As a takeaway, we’ve answered the most common questions about the mysterious MaterCraft jet skis!

What is a Wet Jet?

Wet Jet was a brand of personal watercrafts (jet skis) developed by Koronis Parts Inc. The original Wet Jet looked like a vintage snowmobile on water and utilized a 440 Brut twin engine. Later the brand was sold to MasterCraft, which designed a modern V-shaped hull for the Wet Jet lineup.

Who Made Wet Jet PWCs?

The early Wet Jet PWCs were designed and manufactured by the Minnesota-based Koronis Parts Inc. In January 1993, the brand was acquired by the industry-giant MasterCraft. The new owner completely redesigned the Wet Jet PWC line and manufactured it from 1994 through 1997.

Did MasterCraft Make Jet Skis?

Yes, it’s a lesser-known fact that MasterCraft manufactured jet skis in the mid – ‘90s.

What Happened to MasterCraft Jet Skis?

Due to poor sales figures, MasterCraft canceled its jet ski division after the 1997 season.

How Much is a MasterCraft Jet Ski Worth?

The asking prices of MasterCraft jet skis vary widely, depending on factors like the year, engine, and condition. As a rule of thumb, a vintage MasterCraft jet ski typically costs about $500-$2,000.

However, if you are lucky, you can find some really good deals like this one: