2020 Sea-Doo, Yamaha, Kawasaki jet skis arrive early

This time last year shipments were delayed by up to three months due to a detection of stink bugs by Australian Border Force, which turned around car carriers and other vessels suspected of carrying the pests.

Sea-Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki already have selected 2020 models in showrooms, with the rest of their line-ups arriving at warehouses each week.

The early deliveries give buyers a choice between next year’s new models or picking up a sharp deal on a 2019 series.

In most cases, the model year changeovers are simply a case of new colour schemes, however there are some all-new models in the mix at Sea-Doo and Kawasaki.

The most affordable jet ski on the market, the Sea-Doo Spark, remains unchanged for 2020 except for a minor colour makeover and currency-driven price rises.

The Spark two-seater increases by $300 from $7699 to $7999 (not including trailer and registration) while the Spark Trixx three-seater is up by $1300 from $11,099 to $12,399 (not including trailer and registration) but now includes a detachable Bluetooth sound system as standard.

The Sea-Doo GTI series – its second most affordable model – has undergone the biggest change since 2010, although the price has crept up $700 to $13,199 (excluding trailer and registration) for the GTI 90 and $14,699 (excluding trailer and registration) for the GTI 130.

Under the seat is a choice of a 90hp 900cc three-cylinder engine (carried over from the previous model) or a 130hp 1630cc three-cylinder engine, which is new to the GTI. The previous GTI 130 was powered by a 1503cc three-cylinder that pumped out 130hp.

While the 130hp output is the same – despite the bigger engine capacity – the 2020 GTI 130 has more torque, which means it doesn’t need to work as hard to get you moving.

The Sea-Doo Fish Pro keeps the same colour scheme as 2019 but will get a welcome power bump from 155hp to 170hp.

The high-performance Sea-Doo RXT-X 300 gets a bigger fuel tank (from 60 to 70 litres, the same as the Fish Pro) and is available in green (instead of yellow), while the red and black combination carries over from 2019.

The GTR 230 mid-range performance model gains a 1630cc supercharged engine and is distinguished by a bold black and yellow colour scheme.

Prices will rise by $1300 on the Fish Pro (from $19,199 to $20,499 not including trailer and registration), by $2300 on the RXT-X 300 (from $24,099 to $26,399 not including trailer and rego, although now includes the audio system as standard) and by $800 on the GTR 230 (from $17,799 to $18,599 not including trailer and rego).

Other key price differences: The cost of the optional Bluetooth sound system on the Fish Pro and GTR 230 has gone up to $1000 from $800.

Sea-Doo still has some 2018 model year stock around, so you can save thousands if you shop around, or you can still pick up a sweet deal on otherwise identical 2019 models.

Save $1000 on 2018 Spark and Spark Trixx (although stock is limited), or take $500 off a 2019 Spark and Spark Trixx.

Save $2000 on 2018 GTI 90 and GTI 130 models or $1500 off the same craft if they are a 2019 model year.

The 2018 Wake Pro is $1500 off. The otherwise identical 2019 Wake Pro has savings of $1000.

All of the above come with a three-year warranty instead of two as part of the promotion.

The high performance RXT-X 300 has $1500 off 2019 model year examples but comes with a two-year warranty.

The biggest saving is on the RXP-X 2018 edition, which has $3000 off (or $2500 off a 2019 model year) but also only comes with a two-year warranty.

Yamaha dealers are starting to get stock of the 2020 GP1800R SVHO with other 2020 models due to follow shortly.

Last year, new Yamaha models didn’t start to trickle through until very late in December 2018 and well into January 2019.

Prices are due to rise by between $300 and $500 on most 2020 Yamaha WaveRunner models due to the Australian dollar recently hitting a 10-year low against the US dollar.

The 2020 Yamaha WaveRunner range is effectively a new range of colours, so buyers are in the box seat when it comes to getting a deal.

The three models in the entry point EX series each get new colour combinations, starting with the budget-priced EX ($8499 excluding rego and trailer, the same price as before).

The high-output EX-R ($12,599 excluding trailer and rego, up $300) gets a larger splash of yellow on the top deck this time around.

The flagship FX series is not yet 12 months old, but as is tradition at Yamaha the colour combinations have changed to reflect the new model year.

The non-supercharged 1.8-litre FX HO (previously white and blue) is now white and green, and the price has risen from $19,999 to $20,499 (excluding rego and trailer). The FX HO Cruiser (with stepped seating and two tie-down cleats) is now silver and blue and costs $21,499 (excluding rego and trailer), up $500.

The supercharged 1.8-litre FX SVHO (previously white and red) is now “stealth” black with grey highlights and costs from $24,799 (excluding rego and trailer), up $500. The FX SVHO Cruiser (with stepped seating and two tie-down cleats) is now silver and red instead of dark grey and red and costs $25,799 (excluding rego and trailer), up $500.

The new flagship of the fleet is the supercharged 1.8-litre FX SVHO Limited finished in black with blue highlights. It gains the Cruiser’s staged seating and comes with four tie-down cleats instead of two. It costs $25,999 (excluding rego and trailer).

Unlike the US version, Australian deliveries of the FX SVHO Limited do not come with accessories such as the towing tube, tube inflator and built-in USB port. For now, the USB port is available as a dealer fit genuine accessory.

The championship-winning GP1800R, powered by a supercharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine, is now called the GP1800R SVHO (the letters used to define the supercharged engine on other models in the WaveRunner range) and the body colour is now a bold yellow with blue highlights.

In previous years the GP1800 was available either in white and blue or white and red. Its price has risen from $21,999 to $22,499 (excluding rego and trailer).

Because the popular VX-R was essentially a GP1800R but with the non-supercharged 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine, Yamaha has chosen to rename that model to GP1800R HO (HO being the letters to define the non-supercharged engine in other models in the range). Its price has risen from $17,999 to $18,399 (excluding rego and trailer) and is now finished in black and lime yellow.

Yamaha is offering up to $2000 off selected models in its 2019 range or pay the full RRP and take advantage of a super-low 1 per cent finance rate over a 24- or 36-month term.

To make it easy to calculate and compare we've listed the full RRP, non-discounted prices.

The $2000 discount applies to 2019 examples of the GP1800R ($21,999 excluding trailer and rego), FX Cruiser SVHO ($25,299 excluding trailer and rego), FX SVHO ($24,299 excluding trailer and rego).

A $1750 discount applies to 2019 examples of the FX Cruiser HO ($20,999 excluding trailer and rego) and FX HO ($19,999 excluding trailer and rego).

A $1500 discount applies to 2019 examples of the VX Cruiser HO ($17,499 excluding trailer and rego) and VXR ($17,999 excluding trailer and rego).

A $1000 discount applies to 2019 examples of the VX Cruiser ($15,799 excluding trailer and rego), VX Deluxe ($15,399 excluding trailer and rego) and VX ($14,999 excluding trailer and rego).

There is $500 off all 2019 EX models (EXR $12,299, EX Sport $10,299 and EX $8499 excluding trailer and rego).

The big news for Kawasaki fans for 2020 is the arrival of the new Kawasaki STX160. While it’s not a competitor to the sub-$10,000 Sea-Doo Spark and Yamaha EX, this is Kawasaki’s most affordable offering for now.

The Kawasaki STX160 replaces the STX-15F, a model that has been on sale locally and largely unchanged since 2004.

The sweeping changes mean the starting point for the Kawasaki Jet Ski range will increase from $12,999 (not including trailer and rego) to $14,999 for the STX160X and $16,799 for the STX160LX, which has Bluetooth audio for the first time, tiered seating, and two-tone mats.

While the STX hull, sponsons and non-supercharged 1498cc four-cylinder engine are carried over from before, the top deck is completely new and offers a taller riding position with more knee room and wider, tapered handlebars for a more natural seating position.

The redesign has given the Kawasaki a massive increase in cargo space from 89 litres to a total of 134 litres – including 114 litres in the nose, 16.7 litres under the back seat, a 2.3-litre wet storage area near the rear deck, and a slim, waterproof 1.4-litre storage pocket near the centre console that can stow a phone – it also is available with a USB charger.

There is a new, larger digital dash display with a fuel gauge meter, real-time fuel use, and outside water temperature.

Meanwhile, the flagship Kawasaki 310 Ultra 310 LX gets minor colour scheme changes for 2020, but there are red hot deals on 2019 stock.

During the recent boat show season Kawasaki was offering $2000 off 2019 examples of the flagship 310 Ultra LX (from $25,248 to $23,248 on the water but excluding a trailer) and $1000 off its SX-R stand-up models as part of its “Super Stand-Up Deal” promotion.

However, it has since switched to a $750 gift card offer on supercharged models and a $300 gift card offer on non-supercharged models. If you ask nicely you may be able to take these amounts off the RRP of the jet ski.