Yamaha WaveRunners for Sale

Where the WaveRunner came from

Yamaha first showed PWC prototypes to its US arm in September 1984. It didn't go well. Yamaha's own technical report says many of the American staff were too heavy to get on the stand-up "Power Ski," and the ones who could found it underpowered.

So Yamaha started again with a tandem design. The world's first seated two-person PWC was shown at the Chicago boat show in 1986, and the WaveRunner 500 (Marine Jet 500T) went into production at Yamaha's Arai factory in Japan in October 1986.

Production soon moved to the US. The first WaveRunner built in Newnan, Georgia came off the line at 7 a.m. on November 21, 1988. The one-millionth, a 2018 VX Deluxe, was built there in 2018. Yamaha says every WaveRunner it sells is built in Newnan.

What to check on a used WaveRunner

Hours, not years. A PWC's hour meter tells you more than its model year. Ask for the hours and compare them with the service records. A two-year-old ski with rental-level hours has had a hard life.

Supercharged or not. High-output models in the FX and GP lines use supercharged engines. These are fast and fun but cost more to keep up. Ask whether the supercharger has been serviced and get proof.

Salt use. Ask where it was ridden. A saltwater ski should have been flushed through the hose fitting after every ride. Look for white crust and corrosion around the engine bay and pump.

Pump and intake. Look into the intake grate for chewed impeller blades and check the wear ring. Rocks and sand do the damage here.

Hull and seat. Check for cracks where the hull meets the deck, at the bottom near the intake, and around trailer bunk contact points. Torn seat covers let water into the foam.

Water test. Ride it. Check that it starts easily, idles cleanly and reaches its expected top speed. On models with Yamaha's RiDE reverse and brake system, try reverse and the brake lever.

Recalls. PWCs carry a hull ID like any boat. Give it to a Yamaha WaveRunner dealer, who can look up open service campaigns on the engine as well as the hull.