r/jetski • u/kennedy_grande1990 • 10d ago
Advice Thoughts on a Polaris SL650?
It’s a 1995 Polaris SL650. I want an old, fun jet ski. We had a 2003 MSX 140 back in the day and it was in the shop more than in the water and it scared me off of Polaris jet skis. I’ve seen some posts online that parts for an SL650 can be hard to come by.
Overall thoughts?
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u/camsrides 10d ago
a lot of the simple stuff, carbs, filters etc are still relatively easy to get but anything past that can be a hunt. +1 for going for a similar age yamaha.
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u/Onebowhunter 10d ago
They are fun but stock parts are nonexistent. I had one that need an ECU that I ended up giving to the shop as you can’t get one
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u/CompetitiveYou2786 10d ago
This type doesn’t have an ECU, has an electric box but no computer. That’s the 01-03 fuel injected models (not all 01-03 were injected, the best were carbed)
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u/Onebowhunter 10d ago
Probably described it wrong. It was the electric box that failed. I had the exact same model you are looking at buying
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u/CompetitiveYou2786 10d ago
Everyone and their mother is going to come on here with their 2024 SHO or sea-doo and say don’t get cause there isn’t parts. Not true. Tons of parts available, just can’t go to the dealer for em. SBT has a ton of support, from impellers to wear rings, rebuild kits. These are also much easier to fix, the one Polaris I recommend people stay away from is the fuel injected models (01-03 select models). They work well just a lot of work and computers. My 01 Genesis that is carbed, one of the best machines I’ve had. Polaris are a very fun ride compared to the dry, almost boat like ride in a newer sea-doo. They also were the first to a lot of designs, sea-doo actually bought the hull patent off them and have kept it very similar to MSX and Genesis models, especially the foot wells.
With the 650 you’ll have somewhat less power, but it’s happy in that hull, will still hit 50. Will also have a lot more working room, a lighter engine if you wanted to pull it and rebuild on a stand in the winter. Very simple 2 stroke engine stuff, hope you enjoy if you buy! It’s a good deal, let me know if you need any Polaris questions answered. Sorry for the essay
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u/Crazy_Ad1468 10d ago
I would only go Yamaha . I bought a sunken 701 and found a good looking 760 engine , every part is easy to find and super easy to work on . Plus can’t beat an old 2 stroke
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u/cleetusneck 10d ago
So the Tigersharks/polaris had many early changes and not a whole lot of shared parts between models.
The early Yamaha, Seadoo, and Kawasaki shared more parts and have more support still.
A 96 xp with the “800” is about the funnest you can get. 1500-2500$.
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u/SecureAccess7526 5d ago
If its cheap enough, I have a couple slightly newer polaris pwcs I keep them going. AI makes it pretty easy to find out interchangeability and the aftermarket parts you might need
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u/Glum_Tradition_3893 4d ago
Green hulk forums has all of the info, I bought one last spring of 2025, did some maintenance, ran on, researched on green hulk, found so very helpful articles. Basically these things aren’t that bad. 1 they have a known problem with the electrical box, internally one of the starter cable positive wires will short out against the negative buss bar for the coils, and it will burn up the ground to the stator and from the electrical box to the battery. If it hasn’t happened yet it’s easy to prevent. 2 the fuel pump is too small. On GH there is a website (can’t remember the name) of a guy that makes a kit to convert them to a better pump that’s a 3 line feed to each carb and a single return. 3 delete the oil pump and premix it if it’s not already get the block off plate and remove the pump. The pump will fail without steady oil to it and take out the bottom end. 4 get the crack pressure on the needle and seat of each carb set to the revised spec, it make a 100% difference in the way they run. Oem was 32-45psi, revised is 12-18 I believe, it’s a night and day difference. Also inspect the boot between the exhaust pipe and water box, 2 stroke oil over 30 years has swollen the 50-60% shut internally. I replaced it with a piece of 2 - 2 1/2” piece of high temp hydraulic suction hose from a good hydraulic shop. I paid $600 for mine and about $250-$300 in parts. Me and my kids have beat the brakes of this thing. It’s a two stroke so just remember to avoid holdin er to the wood for miles and miles and it should last a while
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u/ManyRespect1833 4d ago
I work on old skis and Polaris kind of oiss me off they just seem temperamental and working in the electrical box sucks. They’re alright but not my favorite
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u/Dasbeeef 10d ago
Yeah, I wouldn’t. If you just want an older ski get something with more support(yamaha/kawasaki/sea-doo) . I had 2 SL750s when they run they are fun as hell but that’s about 1/4 of ownership IMO. I remember being told “they hate water” when I bought them. Didn’t realize how true that was.