Differences Between Stand-Up and Sit-Down Jet Skis

Which one best fits your needs? 

If you want to determine the best jet ski for you, this is the perfect article for you. Here we will discuss the differences between a stand-up jet ski and a sit-down jet ski.

If you’re looking for the differences between stand-up and sit-down jet skis, you may be new in the jet ski world so here are some interesting facts about jet skis:

• Personal watercraft, or jet skis as they are known, don’t produce big water turbulence nor harm seagrass beds.
• The sport jet is a sit-down jet ski and can have an extended seat for up to 3 people.
• Jet skis can go from 40 mph up to 70 mph depending on the water calmness, wind resistance and the total weight of the passengers.
• The first jet ski was a stand-up jet ski until advances in the 1980s changed the design.
• Sit-down jet skis are more popular and their main market is racers, Yamaha and Kawasaki’s target audience.

Now let’s find out about the differences between stand-up and sit-down jet skis

• One of the more remarkable differences besides being stand-up or sit-down is the capacity: 1 person for a stand-up jet ski and 1-3 people for sit-down jet skis.
• Speed: top speed up to 60 mph for stand-up jet skis and 40-70 mph for sit-down jet skis.
• Another important difference that you need to consider is the fuel capacity, since this will determine the time and the distance you ride your jet ski. For stand-up jet skis, fuel capacity is up to 5 gallons, meanwhile a sit-down jet ski’s fuel capacity ranges from  5-20 gallons.
• People who are looking for a race prefer the stand-up jet ski. These types of jet skis allow racers to perform some tricks like backflips, for example. Stand-up jet skis have always been viewed as the sports cars of jet skis. On the other hand, sit-down jet skis are much more accommodating for groups of people. They are perfect for a family weekend  and can often be more social with cruising and tow sports.
• A crucial difference between the two jet ski types is the skills that you need to ride them. To drive the sit-down jet ski you won’t need more than reading a guide/watching a video or just following the instructions from an expert or a friend. However, riding a stand-up jet ski may not result that easy as you’ll have to use your athletic skills. Moreover, there is a longer learning period.

Final thoughts

We covered the important differences between stand-up and sit-down jet skis. Now you will be able to choose the one that best fits you depending on your personal goals and needs. We can say stand-up jet skis are a “solo” thing so if you want to have fun with friends or relatives, they will need their own jet ski as well.

We can’t say that one is better than the other as they have been designed for different purposes.

The best way to test your skills is with a jet ski rental, so come visit Time to Ride AZ to enjoy an  incredible water sports experience on Lake Bartlett and Lake Pleasant. Contact us to book your rental today!