How fast does a jet ski go? The answer depends on several factors, including the length of the craft, the engine size, and how much weight is loaded into it.
While the exact speed depends on the engine type, there are some general guidelines you can follow to help ensure you can get where you need to go as quickly as possible.
The speed of a jet ski is measured in kilometers per hour (kph), miles per hour (mph), and meters per second (m/s).
How Fast Does a Jet Ski Go?
Jet skis are watercraft propelled by jets of water ejected rearward by an engine. Riders stand on a platform mounted on the craft’s underside, known as the deck.
Although jet skis can reach high speeds with maximum jet pump output, safe operation is limited to moderate speeds.
Jet skis are fun, and that’s why people like to use them, but sometimes people don’t know how fast they can go.
If you plan to buy a jet ski, you’ll be concerned about how fast it can go. How fast do jet skis go compared to other watercraft? What are their top speeds, and how can you tell how fast a jet ski travels?
Jet skis, or personal watercraft, use a jet engine to give them their formal name.
Waterborne speeds of up to 45 miles per hour have been recorded for these crafts, which have led to them being banned in some states and countries.
How Fast Does the Average Jet Ski Go?
Keep in mind that not all of them exceed 45 miles per hour as well, though.
While the exact top speed of today’s models is kept a well-guarded secret by manufacturers (to prevent unwanted scrutiny), it is generally agreed that there is no official requirement for manufacturers to include any speed-limiting devices.
Jet skis have a range of speeds depending on their horsepower, performance, and models.
The Rec-Lite models run at 42-50 mph, while the fastest jet skis can reach up to a whopping 67 mph.
These are the top speeds of stock or custom jet skis without modifications. In contrast, the fastest jet ski on the planet can achieve up to 127 mph!
Yet despite this lack of government intervention, almost all modern jet skis adhere to speed limits anyway.
This is largely because their use has continued to be curtailed by legislation.
Despite the speed at which they are capable of traveling and many users’ outright disregard for speed limits, jet skis typically feature throttles or other limiting mechanisms that ensure they do not exceed 30 miles per hour anywhere in the world.
This is intended to ensure that they can be used safely on most waterways without potentially harming anyone within proximity of the craft itself.
Even with this apparent safety feature present, insurers still categorize jet skis as “high-speed craft,”
