Need a dependable fishing rack to compliment your jet ski? We recommend 3 of the most reliable jet ski racks on the market right now.
A jet ski fishing rack is without a doubt one of the most important items needed for PWC fishing. They make fishing from a jet ski much more enjoyable, and way easier to do. There are loads of jet ski rack systems out there, but not all of them are built to last and others are simply overpriced.
When it comes down to it, there are really only a few mass-produced racks worth considering. In this guide, we recommend 3 PWC fishing racks that are lightweight, reliable, and durable.
The Top Jet Ski Fishing Racks Compared
The best jet ski fishing racks are the Platinum 6-rod combo, Kool PWC Stuff 4-rod, and the Kool PWC Stuff 2-rod.
Model | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | OUR TOP PICK Platinum Products 6-Rod Combo | Price: $$$ - Holds 48-54 quart cooler - Holds 6 rods - 5 year warranty |  |
 | Kool PWC Stuff 4-Rod | Price: $$$ - Holds 48-54 quart cooler - Lightweight - Adjustable legs | |
 | Kool PWC Stuff 2-Rod | Price: $$ - Holds 48-54 quart cooler - Low profile - 1 year warranty |
Platinum Products 6-Rod Combo * Top Pick *
The Platinum Products rig is by far the most popular jet ski fishing rack on the market. It's made of durable aluminum and comes with a mill finish.
The design is pretty universal, and it can mount to just about any PWC model. It can be used as a Yamaha, Kawasaki, or even a Sea Doo fishing rack. As long as there's deck space available, it works.
No drilling or modifications are required for installation. It comes with all the necessary straps, and it can be installed in about 2 minutes. After using it, the entire rack can be taken off even faster than it took to put it on.
This rig comes with an impressive 6-rod holders. There are 2 diagonal rod holders on the front, and 4 verticals holders on the back.
On the bottom of the rack are 4 adjustable legs. This allows it to adjust to various jet ski models, giving it a more tailored fit.
The cooler holder can fit most 48 to 54-quart coolers, which is almost too much space. People who use smaller coolers often fill in the empty space using cut up pool noodles. It's not the most stylish fix, but it gets the job done. You can also use this rack to store a jet ski gas can.
A couple of other points to consider with this PWC cooler rack is that it comes with an amazing 5-year warranty. That's the best warranty we're aware of.
It's also a bit heavier than our other recommendations. It comes in at 32 pounds.
One last point is that as rod cooler racks for jet skis go, this one is one of the more competitively priced options out there. Racks aren't exactly cheap but it's the cheapest of our recommendations.
Kool PWC Stuff 4-Rod Rack
Other than being practical, this Kool PWC Stuff rack is one of the best looking jet ski fishing rack options available. The entire frame is made out of a marine-grade powder-coated stainless steel. It has clean welds, rounded edges, and a solid black finish.
The stainless steel construction makes this one of the lighter options available too at just 22 pounds in weight.
This rack comes with 4 vertical rod holders. Each of the rod holders has a velcro strap to secure fishing rods, ensuring that no catch gets away and takes your fishing rod with it. If 4 fishing rod holders aren't enough, they make an awesome 6-rod holder version as well.
All of the legs on the rack are adjustable, allowing it to accommodate almost any jet ski. Having adjustable legs makes leveling the rack so much easier. It comes with all the straps needed to install it, and can be mounted and ready to use in a matter of minutes.
Overall this is a great option. The powder-coated stainless steel design makes it very durable, and it has everything a good jet ski fishing rig needs.
It holds most 48 to 54-quart coolers comfortably and should fit most PWC made after 2000.
Kool PWC Stuff 2-Rod Rack
This 2-rod holder jet ski rack system by Kool PWC Stuff is a great budget-friendly option. It has all the same features as their other racks, minus a few fishing rod holders. Other than that, it's exactly the same.
Some people may shy away from this option due to the lack of fishing rod holders, but there are ways to get around that. Individual fishing rod holder mounts can be attached to this rack, they just have to be bought separately.
Attaching individual rod holders to the rack can prove to be very useful. Not only does it allow for more fishing rods, but the individual holders are adjustable. This means they can easily be moved around, or even taken off if needed.
The lack of rod holders means this jet ski storage rack weighs just 16 pounds and costs significantly less too.
The Best Jet Ski Cooler Racks
There is a PWC fishing rack in every shape and size somewhere out there, but there are really only a few that are worth considering. All of the jet ski fishing racks listed above also double as jet ski cooler racks.
Conclusion
Even though there are only a few real options worth considering, it can still be difficult to make a choice.
In reality, there is no single best jet ski fishing rack. All of them have their benefits whether it be price, material, or even the size. What it comes down to is figuring out which one suits your needs best.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter what kind of fishing rig you have. The only thing that matters is that it works, and that it makes fishing more enjoyable. As long as it checks those boxes, everything else is irrelevant.
In our eyes, the Platinum Products rack is the hands down the best out there.
It blends value for money and performance really well. Plus that 5-year warranty is truly amazing!
Buyer's Guide
Buying your first jet ski fishing rack? Or just a bit unsure of what's available? We explain some of the key features you should be looking at when buying a new rack.
Compatibility
How will it be attached to your PWC? Generally speaking, a rack will fit on any jet ski with a rear platform. But they can be mounted in a variety of ways. Bolt, weld, clip, or tie?
If you're worried about resale value or just not that handy with tools then tying the rack down with straps or ties is perfectly fine. In fact, it's by far the most common method of attaching the cooler rack to your PWC. Check out the video below to see easy this can be.
Adjustable legs on a rack also make leveling much easier. This feature tends to only be offered in the more expensive options though.
Got a new Sea Doo? Look for a rack that is compatible with the new LinQ system. There are loads out there.
Rod Holders
How many rods do you plan on using? Rod holders on jet ski fishing racks tend to range from 2 all the way up to 6.
Another point to wary of is the size of the rod holders. They generally hold rods of diameter up to 1 5/8" so it won't harm to check if your rods will fit.
The rod holders also come vertically aligned or at an angle.
Cooler Holder
Pretty much all jet ski fishing racks will include a cooler holder. It's kind of an essential piece of kit, which leads to these devices being called jet ski cooler racks too.
Look out for the cooler capacity that the rack can handle. Generally, they hold most 48-54 quart coolers.
Jerry Can Holders
The bigger racks on the market even have space for a jerry can or 2. This will probably eat into the number of rod holders but that's something you might want to think about.
Durability
The build material tends to be aluminum or stainless steel. They're both chosen for their durability at sea and also because they are light in weight. They're both incredibly strong materials that resist saltwater corrosion pretty well (assuming you look after them).
Perhaps the best indication of a jet ski storage rack's durability is the warranty on offer. Warranties range from 1 year up to 5 years for the models we've chosen.
Weight
The more weight you add to the back of your PWC the more you're going to affect the performance. Speed, acceleration, and handling will all suffer if you load the back too much.
The weight of these racks differs quite a lot so be sure to check this figure out before you buy. Bear in mind you'll be adding a cooler, rods, and possible full jerry cans to this too.
Related: Don't miss our guide to PWC fishing accessories next.
Building vs Buying
A lot of people who want a jet ski fishing rack tend to consider building one at home. Although this is very doable, it's not always the best choice.
Often when people build their own, it's made out of PVC pipe. All it takes is a few feet of PVC and an afternoon or two, and most people could probably come up with a pretty decent rack.
The problem is PVC isn't a very strong material. All it takes is some choppy water, and it could very well crack or break. Of course, it could end up lasting much longer than expected, but it really depends on the size, how it was built, and plenty of other factors.
Building a jet ski fishing rig using a stronger material is another story. If a rack was made out of metal piping, it would more than likely last much longer than PVC. The problem with metal is it rusts, so extra time has to be spent on coating the metal properly.
There are plenty of people who have built amazing jet ski fishing racks. Whether it's made from PVC or metal, there are ways to build racks that are strong and durable. Just be sure to consider how much time it takes, and how much materials cost.
Once you factor in labor and the cost of materials, the idea of building a rig becomes a little less appealing. The point of D.I.Y projects are to save money, so make sure the effort is worth it.
Related: Don't miss our guide to the most fantastic fishing jet skis next!
Is there a rack that you've had good experiences with? We'd love to hear about it in the comments section down below!
