What Kind of PWC Is Right For You?
Looking for an exhilarating experience on the water? A personal watercraft can give you a ride you won’t soon forget. Find yourself on a Sea-Doo and you’ll have plenty of fun and excitement soaring across the rippling surface and kicking up jets of spray in your wake. If you need help picking out your PWC, visit Richardson's Boat Yard in Windham and Standish, Maine.
Seating Needs
There are a few factors that come into play when choosing your PWC. Seating is an important one. Consider how many people you’ll want to bring with you on most of your personal watercraft rides. If you have kids who are too young to operate their own PWC, but you still want them to have fun on the water, you’ll want to find a model capable of seating them. Also, if you don’t want to spend money on separate personal watercraft for everyone in the family, you’ll have to find a model capable of hosting more people. Most of the longer and wider personal watercraft offer modular seating for two, three or even four passengers in some cases, and some seats can be removed to make more space as necessary.
Shorter and slimmer PWC are generally best for one rider only. These models are great for the more advanced rider who knows exactly what they’re doing and has plenty of experience built up riding all sorts of personal watercraft. The narrow models go much faster, requiring more dexterity to operate them. A short PWC without a wide profile also lets the operator perform tricks if they’re capable of doing them safely.
Buying New or Used?
Whether you buy new or used depends on your available budget, as well as other factors. A brand-new model will come with all the latest bells and whistles, like Bluetooth capability, and a warranty that will protect your purchase should any factory defects present themselves. However, if you don’t feel like you need the newest model on the market, particularly if you’re new to PWC and are not sure how well you’ll like them, you might go with a used model that’s perfectly good for some aquatic fun without breaking the bank. There are also plenty of gently-used vintage models that have a cool look and are still in great shape. Buying used also allows you to put more money towards extra gear and maintenance concerns.
When buying a PWC, no matter whether it’s new or used, you want to go with a reputable dealer who will have inspected their used stock and done all the necessary repairs in advance. You may even want to spend a little cash to have your PWC inspected by a professional mechanic to make sure nothing is amiss that the untrained eye can’t see.
Features
Personal watercraft offer a range of different features depending on the wants and needs of the rider. Larger, wider models offer expansive swimming platforms for people who want to stop and take a dip in the water or sunbathe in the middle of the lake. If speed is more your thing, then you’ll want to go with a lower-profile model that doesn’t take up as much space and is more agile. Some PWC have charging bays and even speaker systems to let you play music on the water. No matter the model, look for a good waterproof storage container so you have a place for your first aid kit, electronic devices and other supplies. Check out a range of models, make note of the features you like and figure out what’s essential to you before you make a purchase.
Ready to see some great PWC for yourself? Visit us at our Annex location to see our full inventory of new and used personal watercraft by Sea-Doo. Our capable staff at Richardson’s Boat Yard serves Portland and Auburn, Maine, with our locations in Windham and Standish.