Sadly, summer is long gone and fall is wrapping up here in the upper Midwest as I write this. But, what’s another six months of cold, snow, ice, slippery sidewalks, and salty roads, which lead to rusty vehicles? Hello? Is anyone still out there? If you’re lucky enough to live where it’s warm in the winter months, check out this 1976 Kawasaki Jet Ski JS400. It’s listed here on eBay in Fort Lee, New Jersey and there is an unmet opening bid price of $4,000.
We had boats in our family but never anything like this. A personal watercraft? Was Kawasaki onto something? Now, everything is “personal”, especially since most people live inside that skinny rectangular box in their hands 24/7. The mid-1970s gave us personal luxury cars and Kawasaki gave us personal watercraft, beginning in 1972.
The Jet Ski, or its modern equivalent, is still being made today by Kawasaki. This version, the JS400, had a 400-cc two-stroke two-cylinder engine and a single-speed, or jet drive as seen in the photo above. As Kleenex is a registered trademark name owned by Kimberly-Clark, “Jet Ski” is also owned by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd’s consumer wing, known as Kawasaki Heavy Industries Motorcycle & Engine Company, formerly known as Consumer Products & Machinery prior to 2001. Are you confused yet? Me, too.
The seller has included a lot of good photos, so kudos to them for that. I was hoping for one photo showing the control panel/handlebars/controls raised so we could see what the user sees, which we usually like to show in the photos. But, you already know that you raise that single control bar up while you attempt to take off, all while balancing and trying not to look like a total, uncoordinated buffoon. Or, come to think of it, who cares, just hang on and have fun! Life is too short to worry about anything else.
As mentioned, the JS400 has a Kawasaki 400-cc two-cylinder two-stroke engine and as with everything on this Jet Ski, it looks almost like new. This example could be in a museum, it looks that nice. The seller says that it runs perfectly and is in pristine condition. Have any of you owned or ridden – or fallen off of – a Jet Ski?
I worked for a guy in the late 80’s who use to custom paint them for one of the top jet ski shops in south Florida they were scary fast when modified and would do 60 mph plus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMlAlLxrcak
I know, a bit harsh, but Seth MacFarlane is a very perceptive guy, and how he interprets PWC riders. Personally, I think PWCs are just the coolest watercraft. I, in my old age, would prefer the sit down kind. With most boating requiring some road tractor to pull it, launching fees, the “gallons per mile” economy, PWCs eliminate all that. The old man got a couple of vintage Yamahas, of similar design, and while crude, they were a blast. The trouble is, many PWC riders, it’s their 1st time on a machine like this and are unfamiliar with them. The cartoon literally describes what one must go through to ride one. Not much. They go like heck, but like all boats, can’t stop, and THAT’S were folks get into trouble. Things that DO stop them are, piers and docks, half submerged stumps, pontoon boats, canoes, diving platforms, sea cows( for shock value) and any other obstacle that comes along, usually with dire results. BUT,,,like all these so called, “dangerous hobbies”, it all comes down to common sense. No wonder they are so dangerous to some. For some unknown reason, PWC riders just have to antagonize folks that are on those diving platforms or canoes. Kind of like snowmobilers and cross country skiers. It’s almost gratifying to them when a PWC rider does wipe out. Again, common sense is what’s lacking today.
Normally I would scoff at a 4k price tag on a Jetski. But this one is different. It is virtually impossible to find a vintage 400 in this condition and even if you did, the likelihood of no modification is about zero. Hard to believe the stock exhaust and intake parts are there, especially with no corrosion. the pump looks great. It is really clean, I bet there aren’t even scratches on the bottom. One deviation from stock is the footbed pad, which did not wrap up the sides until the mid 80’s. But this ones is period correct and will keep your shins from getting beat up.The nose trim isn’t stock either. The later model pole pad isn’t installed, and that is good for the “original” look, but tough on the riders body parts. I was involved with Jet Skis almost from the start, and have owned dozens of them. I still have and ride my original 400 just like this one. But it is highly modified and I set a world speed record above 55 MPH with it down at a IJSBA event at Long Beach CA, that stood for many years. I’m not aware of a Jet Ski museum, but there should be one, and this one should definitely be in it. I doubt if you will ever find another 400 in this condition again. This Jet Ski was the beginning of an entire industry, and until the sit down couch skiis ruined the sport (and industry) I was really glad to be a part of it. I taught thousands how to ride them at my sales and rental facility at Tahoe. If I were not in the getting rid of stuff mode, I would happily pay the asking price and more just to see it in the back of my garage. This is a really, really good find (thanks Scotty and BF) at a bargain price. I don’t even see any nicks in the paint! And it has the owners paperwork and original life jacket. Unbelievable. I wonder what shipping would cost…
The skinny, bald, old white guy doing 360’s, submarines and headstands on old yellow Jet Ski still makes people smile and makes me happy and feel young.
And I have heard that some folks think “The skinny, bald, old white guy doing 360’s, submarines and headstands on old yellow Jet Ski” and his bros are usually toasted and ruin a nice day at the beach for some folks. That’s what I have heard. There are usually two sides to every story.
Nobody liked my comment, opening that most PWC riders are rude. Too bad, but I’m with you, Ike. There are many responsible PWC riders, but for some reason, some people on PWCs think everybody loves the noise and antics, when, for the most part, people want to get away from that on the water nowadays. You don’t see cabin cruisers and hemi drag boats like in the 70s, it’s slow moving pontoons, canoes, kayaks, like any motorized venue vs. human powered,,they don’t mix well. Year after year, they consistently rate as the highest REPORTED boating accidents, many go unreported, mostly because the operator was wasted. I believe boating under the influence goes agin your drivers license, so they take off, if they can. When I rode one, I stayed clear of anyone( except another PWC rider, that’s a gas) and are a lot of fun, again, like anything, in moderation.
I’m with you. Your comment is exactly why sit down couch skiis ruined the industry. A stand up was quite hard to ride and I was never aware of anyone riding them drunk. The motors were small, the top speed was low and the noise was very limited. Sit downs changed all that because speed sold and sitting down meant no skill or sobriety that meant noise and irresponsibility. “Personal Watercraft” went from an neat entertainment to an effing annoyance in just a couple of years and are now banned at many places, including Tahoe. Trust me, an old skinny bald guy isnt drunk and not offending anyone. He is as pissed of at the irresponsible PWC antics as everyone else is.
Howard’s comment is true, but it links all PWC accidents together. Accidents were very low for stand up “JET SKI” brand watercraft because, as Scotty pointed out) it required a skill test every time you stood up . But the PWC sit downs were a safety disaster ( high speeds, no brakes) and killed the sport. Irresponsible riders make it hard on everyone, including how quads and snowmobiles today venturing on private property and tearing it up and are now closing trails all over the country today.
Jay, Jet Skis also have no brakes. And Howard you forgot the biggest haters of all of them is fisherman!!
I had a couple, really cool and fun. But i think they are outdated to other newer machines.
Beautiful water machine ! Better work out than a Pelatooon , we have and still do have a 1992 Yamaha jet ski 650, got performance goodies with a stainless impeller , Its a ton of fun on the lake and takes a bit to master of some tricks, all my kids learned to ride, safely and in total control ,no complains from anyone one om the beach ,they love the show ;)
I’d love to have this. I always thought the stand-up jet skis were the best.
Auction update: this one ended at $3,500 and no sale. The seller must have lowered the reserve at the end and nobody grabbed it.