How To Safely Make Your Jet Ski Faster (Jet Ski Mods)
Whether you’re a professional jet-ski racer or just love cruising on your jet ski, you might feel the urge to make it go faster. Most jet ski speeds top out at 67 mph (107.83 kph), which might not be fast enough for your love of speed. Fortunately, there are different ways you can alter your jet’s speed safely.
Here’s how to safely make your jet ski faster:
- Choose the right jet ski.
- Install a speed control override module.
- Upgrade the impeller and wear ring.
- Alter the air intake systems.
- Modify the exhaust systems.
- Modify the engine system.
- Modify the intake grate.
- Modify the sponsons and ride plate.
- Reduce the weight on your jet ski.
Depending on your jet ski model, you can alter some or all of the machine parts to gain your desired speed. Read on to learn more about how you can satisfy your need for jet-ski speed without jeopardizing your safety.
1. Choose a Faster Jet Ski
If you intend to increase your jet ski’s speed from the moment you buy it, go for a speedy model to begin with. Such models already lay a good foundation for speed increase because they have more powerful motors and are more stable on the water.
The best personal watercraft (PWC) models you can work with are supercharged with 230-310 HP.
It makes no sense for you to buy a low-performer and then use many resources to increase its speed. If you purchase a less powerful jet ski, you’re likely to spend more money adjusting the speed than you would have paid if you had just bought a high-performance model in the first place.
2. Install a Speed Control Override Module on Your Jet Ski
All jet skis come with an electronically set speed of 65 mph (104.61 kph). This maximum speed follows an agreement between the manufacturers and the US coast guard. Manufacturers must make jet skis safe for riders and the other maritime populations.
However, there are laws allowing jet ski owners to modify the speeds of their machines as long as they stay within the safety limits.
The first step towards modifying your jet ski to achieve higher speed limits is installing a speed control override module.
The module removes your jet ski’s GPS speed control limit and allows you to go above the 65 mph (104.61 kph) speed limit set by the Coast Guard.
If your jet ski is a top-performer, it can cruise up to 75 mph (120.70 kph) with a speed control override module.
The module is available for different models for around $200. Talk to your manufacturer to learn more about which override modules will work for your jet ski.
3. Upgrade Your Jet Skis Impeller and Wear Ring To Go Faster
Most of these modifications go hand in hand. Once you start the journey, there’s usually no turning back until you’ve made all the necessary adjustments to add speed to your jet ski.
After installing the speed control override module, you must replace the impeller and wear ring for top performance.
The impeller is a small rating part of the water pump in your jet ski. It helps to suck up water through the intake grate.
The impeller works the way a boat propeller does. It forces the water backward and pushes your ski forward. The stronger the impeller in your unit, the faster your jet ski will go.
The aftermarket units are more powerful and durable, and they cause less cavitation than stock impellers. So, the impeller’s design and geometry will determine your ski’s speed and acceleration.
Some impellers can accommodate higher speeds, and others improve acceleration. Choose the unit that works best for your jet ski.
When upgrading your jet ski’s impeller, you most likely have to upgrade the wear ring. Most stock wear rings are plastic. You can choose a plastic replacement or a stainless steel alternative to support your impeller.
If you have trouble finding the correct impeller and wear ring match for your unit, consult the manufacturer or any professional for guidance.
4. Alter the Air Intake Systems For Greater Speed
If you want to increase the speed of your jet ski, this is another modification you should try.
Jet skis have air intake systems like cars and motorbikes. The intake systems are called carburetors. They pull in air and lead it to the combustion system, where it’s mixed with fuel – the mixture of air and fuel powers your jet ski’s engine.
You can install a performance power filter kit in your carburetor. This kit feeds your jet’s engine with the right amount of cool air, and it will work better than factory-installed restrictive airboxes.
You can also boost your jet ski’s performance by only using clean fuel. Clean fuel combusts better with the air and powers your jet ski better.
Altering the air intake systems in your jet ski will also make the engine sound sportier and louder.
You must install the performance power filter kit after any speed modification on your jet ski. Your engine requires enough clean air for maximum performance, and it can’t get that air with the factory-installed airboxes.
5. Modify the Exhaust System To Increase Speed
As more air comes in through your jet ski’s modified air intake systems, more air needs to get out. As such, you also need to modify your exhaust systems.
The stock on shock exhausts installed in your jet ski is restrictive and won’t work well with the modified air intake systems.
You can install an aftermarket system to help with combustion and improve the performance of your jet ski. There are different models available in the market depending on your preferences.
However, be careful with the aftermarket exhaust modification systems on your jet ski. Some are irreversible. Be sure to consult your manufacturer or a jet ski professional on the best models for your machine.
6. Modify the Jet Ski’s Engine System For Faster Speeds
Your jet ski engine is the heart of your machine. If you want optimal performance from your jet ski, you have to modify the engine.
It’ll involve changing the cylinders, valves, camshafts, and other machine parts.
You can handle most of the modifications on your own, depending on your knowledge of the jet ski engine.
Some of the adjustments you can make include the following:
- Add a water box silencer to increase the speed and minimize your jet ski’s noise.
- Change the compressor wheel to enhance acceleration.
- Replace the carburetor to increase engine power by enhancing operational efficiency.
However, engine modifications are only ideal for professional jet ski racing. The improvements might add too much power to your PWC, and it might get hard to regulate it.
The idea is to modify your jet ski’s speed safely. If you’re not a professional racer, stick to the more minimal modifications for your machine.
7. Modify the Intake Grate For More Stability and Greater Speeds
Improving your jet ski’s speed also means that you need to improve your riding skills. The faster the jet, the more unstable it becomes on the water. You need to make modifications that help you stabilize the machine and minimize the risks of getting into accidents.
The intake grate on your jet ski is there to help you maintain stability while on the water. However, if you’ve modified other machine parts to increase speed, you also need to replace the intake grate with an aftermarket version.
The intake grate on your jet ski is the part where water enters the ski to cool down the impeller and stator.
The best replacements are the aftermarket intake grates for race jet skis. These give your machine better stability and a better handling experience.
Most aftermarket intake grates are lighter than stock alternatives and give your jet ski more agility as you maneuver the deep waters.
Some jet ski professionals remove the water intake grate to add speed to their jet skis. However, this is a dangerous option if you’re not a professional racer. Skis pick up debris from the water, and the intake grates help to sift it off. Riding without the grate makes significantly increases the risk of you destroying your jet ski.
8. Modify the Sponsons and Ride Plate For Better Performance
Sponsons on jet skis are like the keel on sailboards or fins on wakeboards. They grip the water and make better tractions in the turns. They can either be metal or plastic fins fitted on both hull sides.
If you’ve modified the intake grate on your jet ski, you need to adjust the sponsons for better performance. They work simultaneously to improve the speed of your jet ski.
Ride plates protect the portion of the hull and the jet nozzle on your jet ski from abrasion. They also assist the impeller in drawing water and propelling your machine.
After modifying your impeller, you need to improve the ride plates for better performance. Consult your manufacturer for the best aftermarket options available.
9. Reduce the Weight on Your Jet Ski (Lighter Jet Skis Go Faster)
The unnecessary clutter in your jet ski compartment could add extra weight to your machine and reduce its speed. So, to speed things up, remove the unnecessary items.
You can remove the extra ropes, anchors, and gas for a lighter load. You don’t have to throw away these items because you’ll need them in the future. Instead, store them in bins.
You can also consult your mechanic on replacing extra parts on your jet ski with lighter ones.
Complete Performance Kits To Make Your Jet Ski Faster
When modifying your jet ski to increase its speed and performance, you’ll need to replace different parts simultaneously. The process can get confusing. However, most aftermarket manufacturers understand this and offer complete kits.
Most manufacturers make numbered kits or label them in stages. The higher the stage of the performance kit you choose for your jet ski, the better the performance. Most packages come with special tools to do the job if you decide to go DIY.
After installing the performance kits on your jet ski, you can hit up to 90 mph (144.84 kph) speed riding on the water.
Disadvantages of Making Your Jet Ski Faster
While the thrill of riding a fast jet ski is attractive, you need to consider the disadvantages of increasing your machine’s speed.
Here are some of those disadvantages:
- Costly. Once you start one modification, you might need to change more parts. That means spending more money and taking more time to do the necessary alterations.
- Less reliability and durability. Although some modified parts are more durable than the stock alternatives, constant changes to your machine might loosen the pieces. As a result, it becomes less reliable and durable.
- Irreversible modifications. Some modifications are irreversible and might be a problem when you no longer want them. They could also alter your jet ski’s resale value.
- Higher fuel consumption. The faster your machine is, the more fuel it consumes. You need to get ready for this increase in consumption.
- Voided warranty. Some manufacturers void the warranty on their machines once you start altering the parts. Consult your manufacturer to know if your modifications will mess up the warranty.
- Louder engines and exhaust systems. Altering your jet ski’s engine and exhaust systems will make it louder, contributing to noise pollution and potentially getting you in trouble with the authorities.
- Legal issues. Some states have strict rules on jet ski modifications to increase speed. Check with the local authorities to know the regulations you should follow.
- Higher risks. Adding to your jet ski’s speed will reduce its stability on the water, which could be risky if you’re not a professional jet ski racer. Always consult a professional before modifying your jet ski for speed.
Conclusion
If you own a jet ski, you might have the urge to increase its speed. Most skis come with an electronically fixed speed of 65 mph (104.61 kph). However, depending on your love for speed, this might not be fast enough for you.
Fortunately, you can increase your ski’s speed by modifying some parts. You can alter both the engine and external parts of your machine. However, one modification often calls for more improvements, so be ready to overhaul your jet ski completely.
Remember to stay within the local laws when altering your machine for speed and acceleration.
