Mini jet boats have gotten so popular on the west coast of the USA the used jet ski market had gone up. There was one place in british columbia that was selling new takeout sea do spark engines but that hasn't been around in a while. Mercury discontinued the sport jet in 21' so thats out as well. Seems like the sea doo and yamaha skis are popular for donors. The friends of mine usually buy full jet skis when the go on sale after the season in the lower 48 and rob the power train. Several places make replacment intake grate and bucket dumps and trim nozzles. Several in the USA, Canada and a few in New Zealand. If it were me the donor ski would be whatever has the best aftermarket parts source. For me thats sparc and the yamana line as we have a local guys making alloy intake and stomp grates.
Ive tried to pick my buddies dad's brain as hes built double digits of them ovet the last 10 years. Hes adamant that I ovethink it, hes had hulls from several companies the current looks like a cope but they all look similar. His big components are: as big and reliable engine as possible, a proper higher flow intake grate, available stainless impeller, a uhmw clad bottom and dont skimp on the fuel cell size. His current rig is a 300 hp 11 or 12 foot setup with home machined intake and stomp grate. I asked about the flat jet pad and deadrise and he just laughed and said " your not going through water, your beating it into submission with the throttle. Dead rise is dependent on how hard we hit the rocks.... my first pre jet flat was caused by a beaver damn at 35mph and we just copied it on the next ones". Not a refined sor but his machines have opened up much of the backcountry that was prior only plane accessible.