Jet ski discounts cut deep amid sales slowdown

Industry analysts say it is a “hangover” from record jet ski sales in 2022, when almost 10,000 jet skis and other pewrsanal watercraft were sold in Australia.

Last year, that number fell to 7500 across all three brands nationally.

It means Sea-Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki – and their dealers – are now overstocked.

The surplus of stock is in stark contrast compared with 2020 and 2021 when the industry was hit with chronic stock shortages due to production interruptions throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Sea-Doo currently has discounts ranging from $1000 to $3500 depending on the model until the end of this month, though some analysts believe it may be extended if too much stock remains.

The 2023 Sea-Doo Fish Pro series has the biggest savings in the Sea-Doo line-up: $3500 off the recommended retail price.

Meanwhile, Kawasaki has been running a $2000 discount campaign across its entire 2023 range since February.

The deal was supposed to come to an end this month but has just been extended to the end of May 2024 to help clear more stock.

The $2000 discounts even includes the recently released Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra 160 range, the first major change for this model in 14 years and the newest vessel in Kawasaki's showrooms.

Yamaha responded in the middle of April with a six-week promotion on its 2023 range, due to expire at the end of May 2024. 

The Yamaha WaveRunner discounts are as follows:

As reported by Watercraft Zone, the last time Yamaha Australia offered discounts ranging from $1000, $1500 and $2000 across the range was in the middle of winter last year.

The sharp discounts across all three jet ski brands in Australia mark a significant turnaround following years of stock restrictions and price rises during the global pandemic.

Industry insiders say all three brands are desperately trying to clear 2023 stock – and 2024 models – because 2025 model-year vessels will start to arrive towards the end of this year now that production has ramped up.