Sea Doo for a Dinghy?

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tisho

Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2020
Messages
13
Location
USA
Vessel Name
Dolce Vita
Vessel Make
34 Mainship Pilot
I really don't know if this is a stupid question or not, but is it possible to have a Sea Doo for a dinghy? Is it too heavy and what type of hardware would you use?
I have a 34' Mainship Pilot.

Thanks
 
It would depend on what one, they weigh from about 400 pounds to over 1000 pounds. That makes a big difference.
 
I'd give it a thumbs down but, only if you were planning on using the jetski for taking the dog to shore, fetching groceries, riding it to a restaurant for dinner. All of those are activities that require some amount of storage and the ability to ride it and remain dry.

Don't get me wrong, I like jetskis but wouldn't have one for a dinghy. They're two vastly different vessels.
 
seadoo.jpg

Best of both?
 
Our tender (dinghy) is used for the following which would be challenging or impossible with a jetski: Grocery shopping; taking 4 adults and a couple of grandkids ashore; going ashore for dinner without getting wet; cleaning the waterline; picking and dropping crab pots. Your usage may of course differ and a jet ski certainly offers an experience not possible in most tenders. Do be aware that some cruising areas forbid jetskis, for example San Juan Islands, British Virgin Islands, and possibly others.
 
A regular jetski is easy to flip while under tow. Would not do it.
 
Some municipalities and counties ban the use of Jet Skis in their jurisdiction.

San Juan County in Washington was one of the first to ban Jet Ski's.

The Washington State Supreme Court upheld it in 1998.
 
In the Crystal River area it would be a lot of fun (warm water). But not practical as a dinghy for all the already listed reasons. Better than nothing I suppose, especially if anchoring out and heading to a beach or sandbar is your main goal.

And no, you do not want to tow one in open water.
 
You also have to take some precautions if you are towing it. Towing it can cause water to backflow into the engine. You have to disconnect something to keep that from happening....and from what I remember it was not that convenient. I had a SeaDoo twin engine boat that I always wanted to tow....but never did because of this.
 
Not a good match for the reasons cited. Here is one more reason it would not be such a good dink. We often transport our bicycles from boat to shore when we are on the hook. That is why I really don't like inflatables either, although there are millions of inflatables out there.

Did anyone mention they are all gassers, your boat might be diesel which means you have to carry gasoline on board. It is something many boaters are forced to do. My Dinghy has a 2 hp outboard with a built in tank. Holds about a gallon, I fill it about once a year. Jet skis are gas hogs, just an afternoon ride can suck up ten gallons.

pete
 
I use a sea doo speedster as a tinder. It's about 900lbs so it's only towable but very enjoyable. Jet drives are high maintenance and all Jet skis are not great in salt water after two years the only way to remove bolts are to cut them off. The ocean spray gets in everything and you can't protect with bottom paint in the tunnel or the jet drive. I go through 2-3 impellers a year because of jack assery and shallow water runs. Disassembly is required if you suck up a rope also. If you jump it 8ft in the air you will break all the hatch latches and need to use a jeep style hood latches to hold down the two large ones. Motor mounts will break next and will need to be solid mounted with a throughbolt and double nutted and at that time you will break the dripless so replace that too. 60mph in 6 inches of water is expensive and hard work. You got to pay to play but this is my least expensive hobby. Inflatable tinders are too easy.
 

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tisho said:
I really don't know if this is a stupid question or not, but is it possible to have a Sea Doo for a dinghy? Is it too heavy and what type of hardware would you use?
I have a 34' Mainship Pilot.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Why not!! It would be fun. I see it all the time when we cruise the PNW.

Well unless you are in San Juan County. Jet skis are illegal.

In Prince William Sound there was a young man and his wife that would deliver groceries, beer or ice, fishing gear by jet sled.

Go for it!!:thumb:
 
Joint Effort said:
I use a sea doo speedster as a tinder. It's about 900lbs so it's only towable but very enjoyable. Jet drives are high maintenance and all Jet skis are not great in salt water after two years the only way to remove bolts are to cut them off. The ocean spray gets in everything and you can't protect with bottom paint in the tunnel or the jet drive. I go through 2-3 impellers a year because of jack assery and shallow water runs. Disassembly is required if you suck up a rope also. If you jump it 8ft in the air you will break all the hatch latches and need to use a jeep style hood latches to hold down the two large ones. Motor mounts will break next and will need to be solid mounted with a throughbolt and double nutted and at that time you will break the dripless so replace that too. 60mph in 6 inches of water is expensive and hard work. You got to pay to play but this is my least expensive hobby. Inflatable tinders are too easy.
Click to expand...


I guess there's no need to ask how you know all that?:)
I like the boat and tinder names.
 
Great way to reduce the complaints about your burbling generator in a busy summer anchorage!
 
With the right boat, folks have used a jet ski as a dingy.

These have usually, however, been express cruisers with large swim platforms. Hurley even makes davits especially for jet skis.

Unfortunately, your Mainship doesn't have the large swim platform of a boat like a Sea Ray Sundancer. Aside from the size, can your platform handle the weight? Here the weight would include the jet ski as well as you when you loaded the davits.

Jim
 
Joint Effort, that's quite an endorsement for a Speedster. Kind of makes me want to run out and buy one, no wait, I'm a glutton for punishment, I think I'll get two.

pete
 
Pete Meisinger said:
Joint Effort, that's quite an endorsement for a Speedster. Kind of makes me want to run out and buy one, no wait, I'm a glutton for punishment, I think I'll get two.

pete
Click to expand...

I have had a Speedster and also a Yamaha Exciter. They are an absolute blast....BUT....I never could figure how to use it as a traveling tender.

PS...the Yamaha engine and drive system was far superior to the SeaDoo. And the fit and finish of the SeaDoo was far superior to the Yamaha.
 
If you had to go the store for groceries take a small and fast motorcycle to the Safeway store. Oh that’s stupid.

A dinghy is a tiny freighter whose major role is transporting people and “stuff” to the 34’ motherboat.

A jetski is a riding toy like most small motorcycles. If you’re even thinking about this you’ll need a real dinghy too. However if you eat, sleep and dream jetski’s you better sell the motherboat and buy jetski’s for all your friends.
 
Nomad Willy said:
If you had to go the store for groceries take a small and fast motorcycle to the Safeway store. Oh that’s stupid.
Click to expand...

I do it all of the time. Sometimes it takes me almost an hour to get to the store which is only 1.5 kms away and some how I've gone over 35kms and I'm covered in dirt. I get home and my wife asks me where the heck I went. I must be particularly stupid.

At least I have a good excuse now.
 
Last edited:
I was advised by a sales rep at the Miami boat show NOT to use a jet drive for a dinghy. This is because they are made of numerous dissimilar metals that will corrode and deteriorate in salt water. They're designed to be taken out of the water at the end of the day and flushed with fresh water to rinse all the salt out. Not practical for a cruising dinghy. As I read it, Joint Effort's post confirms this advice.
 
tisho said:
I really don't know if this is a stupid question or not, but is it possible to have a Sea Doo for a dinghy? Is it too heavy and what type of hardware would you use?
I have a 34' Mainship Pilot.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Weight is the main factor and how you plan to use it ? You can’t just throw a jet ski up on back of your ship like a featherweight. I have an aft cabin and would need a lift to get a jet ski up on her and then it would take up too much of my party lounging area... Just no good
 
It is fun to carry around as a fast toy.
We have one for our smaller lake boat.
It's a blast to go fast, especially if you're doing 6-7 knots all day in your trawler, but not so great for dinghy purpose.
Our big boat dinghy Achilles 380 HB will do nearly 30 MPH.
00-Q0-Q-h-Mq-EQMd9-MHc-600x450.jpg


00b0b-8-UPzg1-Qto-UF-600x450.jpg
 
Ruffryder said:
It is fun to carry around as a fast toy.
We have one for our smaller lake boat.
It's a blast to go fast, especially if you're doing 6-7 knots all day in your trawler, but not so great for dinghy purpose.
Our big boat dinghy Achilles 380 HB will do nearly 30 MPH.
00-Q0-Q-h-Mq-EQMd9-MHc-600x450.jpg


00b0b-8-UPzg1-Qto-UF-600x450.jpg
Click to expand...

Well that would be a trade off between swim platform or jet ski ... I want access to my swim platform that’s how the girls in the water access the boat ! ?
 

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