I've rented modern 'jet skis' in the Caribbean and they really don't hold a candle to the death machines that were out in the 80's

I rode a Wetbike a few weekends ago and the sketchiest part is turning at any speed other than full throttle. You can see in the demo video when they are weaving around and it suddenly cuts hard in the middle of a turn. As you decelerate the front ski gets way more bite, and it tries to whip around and chuck you off pretty violently. If the engine had about twice as much horsepower it would actually be safer and would be way more fun. The problem is that the drivetrain in these things has more in common with an outboard engine than it does with a regular sit-down jet ski so it's basically impossible to swap in like a 701 Yamaha engine or something like that.

Modern 4 stroke jet skis are fast as hell, but they are also big and pretty stable for the most part. There are special 'rental' versions that are extremely dumbed down, you probably got stuck with one of those in the Caribbean. I have a 260hp seadoo RXP that will chuck you right off the back with acceleration if you don't brace yourself before you punch it.