A survey of leading Sea-Doo, Yamaha WaveRunner and Kawasaki Jet Ski dealers in Australia has unearthed who has stock coming for the 2022/2023 summer season – and who does not.
Watercraft Zone canvassed the biggest dealerships in Australia for all three Jet Ski brands to find out who has fresh stock arriving in the next few months.
Representatives for Sea-Doo, Yamaha WaveRunner and Kawasaki Jet Skis unanimously said supply remains tight and stock shortages could in fact get worse next year.
Kawasaki Jet Ski dealers appear to be the most heavily impacted by stock shortages, and are due to only receive a handful of the 2022 models ordered more than six months ago.
Leading Kawasaki Jet Ski outlets canvassed by Watercraft Zone said, at best, they may have a handful of unsold watercraft arriving before the end of this year.
Yamaha WaveRunner outlets are in the same boat.
Major dealers representing Yamaha WaveRunner in Queensland, NSW, and Victoria advised they are effectively sold out until 2023 stock arrives next year, barring any cancelled customer orders that could free-up a handful of skis in the meantime.
Yamaha WaveRunner dealers canvassed by Watercraft Zone said they have already exhausted their limited allocations of the 2022 Yamaha FX HO, Yamaha FX SVHO – and 2022 Yamaha GP1800R HO and Yamaha GP1800R SVHO.
They advised customers to contact their preferred Yamaha WaveRunner dealer and ask to be put on a waiting list in case there is a cancelled order.
The personal watercraft brand with by far the best stock availability in Australia is Sea-Doo, which has several hundred skis due before the start of the 2022/2023 Australian summer.
Most major Sea-Doo dealers canvassed by Watercraft Zone – including JSW and Shoreline Sea-Doo in Queensland, Beaches and Cronulla Sea-Doo in NSW, and Melbourne Sea-Doo in Victoria – said they had stock coming, though much of it was already sold.
The five biggest Sea-Doo dealers in Australia said they had good supply of the Sea-Doo Spark and Spark Trixx, Sea-Doo Fish Pro Scout, Sea-Doo Fish Pro Sport, and the Sea-Doo GTR 230.
Some Sea-Doo dealers said they had limited availability of 2022 Sea-Doo RXP-X300 and RXT-X300 performance skis, though they expected those to sell fast.
The key message from representatives for all three Jet Ski and personal watercraft brands: customers should place an order now and get in the queue, because the current stock shortages are expected to carry into next year.
Simon Kendrick from Beaches Sea-Doo on Sydney’s northern beaches, who also part-owns Cronulla Sea-Doo with business partner Peter Middleton, said their two flagship stores had good supply of 2022 models coming into stock before the start of summer.
“More than half the stock we have coming is sold, but we still have a good selection across most models in the Sea-Doo range,” said Mr Kendrick.
“That said, we don’t think the stock will last. We know supply of 2023 models is tight and could also be hit with delays. So the best thing people can do is start making enquiries now and place a deposit on the ski they want.
“We know from last year that as soon as summer arrives, stock basically evaporates because people suddenly realise it’s holiday season.
“We have ordered more skis from Sea-Doo than we will actually receive, and it’s still not enough to meet customer demand.
“The other element people should keep in mind, the industry is forecasting price rises for 2023 across all brands. So that’s another reason to place an order now.
“Normally at this time of year as we come out of winter, you start to see discounts emerge.
“But the reality is there is not enough stock to go around. And the 2022 stock that is coming must last us into next year.
“So the best bet is for people to lock in a 2022 model now and beat the 2023 price rises.
“Customers who place an order now could potentially switch that order to a 2023 model at a later date,” said Mr Kendrick.
“But keep in mind we are not expecting any major changes to the skis, prices are tipped to rise, and chances are there will continue to be lengthy delays.”
Watercraft Zone also spoke to representatives for JSW Sea-Doo on the Gold Coast – the world’s single largest Sea-Doo dealer – Shoreline Sea-Doo and Shoreline Yamaha WaveRunner near Brisbane, Newcastle Jet Ski Centre, Sydney Watercraft Centre, and Melbourne Sea-Doo.
They all agreed Jet Ski stock will remain extremely limited in Australia for the foreseeable future and pleaded with customers to be patient – or place an order now.
Kevin Shaw, editor-in-chief of US-based The Watercraft Journal – the world’s largest Jet Ski website – told his audience in a recent YouTube broadcast that production and shipping delays are likely to continue well into 2023.
“Expect production delays. Expect transportation delays. Expect there to be bidding wars (among customers trying to secure a ski). Expect there to be everything that’s been happening this year,” said Shaw, who has impeccable industry contacts as he is plugged into all three North American-based Jet Ski brands.
“It’s happening again … second verse, same as the first. It is not better. Nothing has gotten better,” Shaw told his global online audience.
Click here for the story on 2023 Jet Ski and personal watercraft delays, as forecast by The Watercraft Journal.
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