From the classifieds: Used Sea-Doo GTR 230

While that’s good for new jet ski buyers, it’s also pretty welcome news for used buyers as owners of older Sea-Doo GTR 230s rush to sell their old skis and replace them with new ones.

There wasn’t really anything wrong with the older Sea-Doo GTR 230. It slotted right into the middle of the Sea-Doo line-up, being more powerful and better equipped than the cheapest walk-up models, yet not quite as unobtainable as the top-end performance jet skis.

Prices for a new Sea-Doo 230 GTR have traditionally hovered around the $13,000 to $16,000 price range, excluding a trailer (about $2000 extra) and on-water costs (which vary from state to territory). 

This is important, as you’ll notice while looking at used prices that some of these used jet skis are commanding just as much money as a new one.

The reason behind that is the COVID-19 “tax”, as people are calling it. The coronavirus pandemic has interrupted manufacturing globally, and all of a sudden everyone in Sea-Doo’s largest market, North America, wants to own a jet ski.

That means as well as struggling to build enough jet skis, too few are coming here as the jet ski makers back-fill demand in their most lucrative markets.

Australian buyers who struggle to find a new jet ski delivered in a reasonable timeframe are then hunting around for good-quality secondhand models as a substitute, driving up used prices.

Curse you, COVID-19.

If you’re hunting around for a used Sea-Doo GTR 230, look for one built from 2017.

At the heart of the Sea-Doo GTR 230, providing all its performance is a supercharged 1.4-litre three-cylinder four-stroke engine. The supercharger helps to endow the engine with heaps of low-end grunt, important when you’re looking at how much fun you can have with it.

The ski has 116 litres of storage space onboard, and a 60-litre fuel tank, a bit on the small size compared with rivals from Yamaha and Kawasaki and the fact it can drink like a fish if driven aggressively.

The jet ski sits on a fibreglass hull that owners say provides a good, solid ride experience.

Look for a decent service record with the jet ski to justify the price premium. It’s a supercharged engine, so regular oil changes and a history of replacement impellers will ensure the engine, and particularly the supercharger, can provide many more hours of enjoyment for its new owner.

Big-ticket maintenance seems to be around the 200-hour mark for these engines.

Also, check that all the seals around the hull are in good shape.

Jet skis are a good way to make a start in the boating world. Light, easy to store and fuss-free to tow, they suit a lot of water-friendly lifestyles.