Kawasaki Jet Skis for Sale

The first Jet Ski

Inventor Clayton Jacobson II built his first stand-up watercraft prototype in 1965 and licensed an early design to Bombardier. When that deal expired in 1971 he signed with Kawasaki. According to Kawasaki, the first models came out in 1973: the flat-bottomed WSAA and the V-hull WSAB. Both were hand-laid fiberglass, about 6 feet 10 inches long and 220 pounds, with a 400cc two-stroke twin engine. Testing started in Dallas, and the company's Lincoln, Nebraska plant began full production in 1975 with stronger sheet-molded hulls. Kawasaki Heavy Industries says the first engine was a modified snowmobile two-stroke of 398cc and 26 PS, and that a prototype was written up in The San Diego Union in October 1972. Kawasaki built only stand-ups until the late 1980s, when competition pushed it to add sit-down runabouts.

Ultra 310LX

The 2026 spec sheet lists a 1,498cc four-cylinder engine, supercharged with an Eaton Roots-type blower and an air-to-water intercooler at 16.8 psi of boost. The jet pump is 160mm. The craft is 140.9 inches long and 47 inches wide, with a curb weight of 1,137.8 pounds, a 21.1-gallon tank and 44.5 gallons of storage. It seats three. Electronics include launch control, power modes, Kawasaki Smart Reverse with deceleration, and a color TFT screen with smartphone connection. Base MSRP is $21,799.

Ultra 160LX and STX 160X

The non-supercharged models use the same 1,498cc four-cylinder with a 10.6:1 compression ratio. The 2026 Ultra 160LX shares the Ultra hull, tank and 44.5 gallons of storage, and lists at $18,799. The STX 160X is a smaller, lighter runabout with a 20.6-gallon tank and 35 gallons of storage, at $13,899. All three carry 496 pounds.

What they cost

Boat Trader had 188 Kawasakis listed in fall 2026, 51 of them used. An older 2007 Ultra 250X was $4,900 in Michigan, and a 2015 Ultra was $7,977 in Lake Placid, Florida. Used supercharged Ultras were a lot cheaper than new: a 2021 Ultra 310LX was $10,995 in Kingsland, Texas, and a 2022 was $13,999 near Orlando. A 2017 STX-15F was $6,999 in Wisconsin. New 2027 Ultra 310LX models were around $22,699.

Buying checks for a Kawasaki

Check the supercharger history. The 310s have a supercharger and the 160s don't. Ask for service records on the blower and the intercooler.

Know which Ultra it is. A 2007 Ultra 250X and a current Ultra 310LX share a name but little else. Match the year to the model name before you compare prices.

Weigh the trailer. A 310LX is more than 1,100 pounds with fuel, so make sure your trailer and tow vehicle can handle it.

Flush after salt. These are inducted-water cooled, so a ski used in salt water needs regular flushing. Ask the seller about it.