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Having rode three skis extensively, a 2019 Seadoo RXT-X 300, a 2021 Kawasaki Ultra 310LX and now a FX SVHO I offer this:
Hull:
Kawasaki has the best hull. The Deep-V carves through rough water and feels like riding a motorcycle. It's also very heavy and solid feeling.
Seadoo hull is okay. It skids around a lot. Feels more like you're riding on top of the water rather than through it like the Kawasaki.
Yamaha hull is somewhere in between. The downside of the Yamaha hull is that you get a lot of spray over the front. A more concave bow shape would probably correct this.
Engine:
Kawasaki engine is a piece of cr*p. I hate that engine. It surges and stumbles and the throttle response is so abrupt it's nearly impossible to do a leisurely cruise. Add to that the need to fog the supercharger after every ride and the whole ownership experience is frustrating at best.
Seadoo engine is the best. Very smooth with excellent linear throttle response. Quiet and composed.
Yamaha engine is a close second. It's a little less refined than the Seadoo and the throttle response isn't quite as linear.
Electronics:
The Yamaha electronics are by far the best, notwithstanding the fuel gauge issue. The GPS map is so great and the 7" LCD is clear and bright.
The Seadoo electronics are fine but no match for the Yamaha.
The Kawasaki electronics are serviceable but that's about it. Crude in comparison to the Yamaha.
Seat:
Kawasaki has the best seat. It just feels right and is comfortable for long rides.
The Yamaha seat is good but not as nice as the Kawasaki. It's a little too wide and causes your legs to be splayed too much.
The Seadoo seat is comparable to the Yamaha but the back support bothers me a bit.
Miscellaneous:
The footwells on the Seadoo are great. They're wide and deep and comfortable. The Yahama footwells feel too narrow in comparison. The Kawasaki footwells are comfortable but fill with water very easily. The self-draining feature of the Yamaha is a winner.
RiDE, iBR, etc.: The Yamaha implementation works extremely well. The craft is very easy to control and maneuvering at low speeds is dead simple. The Seadoo version is also excellent and comparable in ease of use. The Kawasaki version with the manual lever is a joke in comparison.
Overall Rating:
IMO the Yamaha is the best overall craft. It has a high-quality feel and is enjoyable to ride. There are some areas that could use refinement but it's an excellent ski.
The Seadoo is a close second. While Seadoo is supposedly a "budget" brand the quality of the RXT-X 300 belies that reputation. If the Seadoo had the electronics of the Yamaha it would be a tough call as to the best ski.
The Kawasaki is a distant third. A great hull and great seat are let down by a horrible engine and crude, outdated electronics.
Hull:
Kawasaki has the best hull. The Deep-V carves through rough water and feels like riding a motorcycle. It's also very heavy and solid feeling.
Seadoo hull is okay. It skids around a lot. Feels more like you're riding on top of the water rather than through it like the Kawasaki.
Yamaha hull is somewhere in between. The downside of the Yamaha hull is that you get a lot of spray over the front. A more concave bow shape would probably correct this.
Engine:
Kawasaki engine is a piece of cr*p. I hate that engine. It surges and stumbles and the throttle response is so abrupt it's nearly impossible to do a leisurely cruise. Add to that the need to fog the supercharger after every ride and the whole ownership experience is frustrating at best.
Seadoo engine is the best. Very smooth with excellent linear throttle response. Quiet and composed.
Yamaha engine is a close second. It's a little less refined than the Seadoo and the throttle response isn't quite as linear.
Electronics:
The Yamaha electronics are by far the best, notwithstanding the fuel gauge issue. The GPS map is so great and the 7" LCD is clear and bright.
The Seadoo electronics are fine but no match for the Yamaha.
The Kawasaki electronics are serviceable but that's about it. Crude in comparison to the Yamaha.
Seat:
Kawasaki has the best seat. It just feels right and is comfortable for long rides.
The Yamaha seat is good but not as nice as the Kawasaki. It's a little too wide and causes your legs to be splayed too much.
The Seadoo seat is comparable to the Yamaha but the back support bothers me a bit.
Miscellaneous:
The footwells on the Seadoo are great. They're wide and deep and comfortable. The Yahama footwells feel too narrow in comparison. The Kawasaki footwells are comfortable but fill with water very easily. The self-draining feature of the Yamaha is a winner.
RiDE, iBR, etc.: The Yamaha implementation works extremely well. The craft is very easy to control and maneuvering at low speeds is dead simple. The Seadoo version is also excellent and comparable in ease of use. The Kawasaki version with the manual lever is a joke in comparison.
Overall Rating:
IMO the Yamaha is the best overall craft. It has a high-quality feel and is enjoyable to ride. There are some areas that could use refinement but it's an excellent ski.
The Seadoo is a close second. While Seadoo is supposedly a "budget" brand the quality of the RXT-X 300 belies that reputation. If the Seadoo had the electronics of the Yamaha it would be a tough call as to the best ski.
The Kawasaki is a distant third. A great hull and great seat are let down by a horrible engine and crude, outdated electronics.
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