How To Avoid Basic Mistakes On PWC Rides…
Related: Secret Products To Improve Your Ride
If you want an enjoyable personal watercraft experience, avoid these top ten jet ski ride spoilers. Sea Doo or Waverunner beginners can benefit from this advice too. These jet ski ride spoilers may seem like no-brainers. But anyone of them can really screw up PWC adventures.
And worst of all, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself! And just in case you’re wondering…yes, each one of them has happened to me on a Sea Doo tour!
Top 10 Jet Ski Ride Spoilers
1. Riding Illegally
Nothing can spoil your Sea Doo tour faster than being stopped by a marine patrol and not having the required emergency / safety equipment on board or not carrying the proper paperwork. Get legal here.
2. Missing Your Sunglasses
A sunny day of Sea Doo riding without sunglasses is like going snowmobiling with no visor on your helmet. You’ll be squinting all day trying to see properly and have no eye protection from sun, wind, bugs or spray.
3. Not Tightening Your Drain Plugs
Drain plugs are there to let water out after a Sea Doo ride. Unfortunately, they will let even more water in if they are loose or unplugged when you launch your jet ski.
4. Missing Your Key
You can’t go Sea Doo riding if you can’t start your PWC, and nothing makes you feel like a total idiot as much as forgetting your ignition key or bringing the wrong DESS cord.
5. Blocking Your Impeller
Your impeller sucks in the water that jets out the back to provide propulsion. Unfortunately, weeds, debris and small stones can also get sucked in, especially if you venture into water that’s too shallow – and then you’re going nowhere on your Sea Doo tour. Same goes for sucking in a loose mooring rope! Learn more about jet propulsion here.
6. Losing Your Valuables
All it takes is an instant’s fumble to drop something valuable overboard while Sea Doo riding, like your smart phone or camera. But worst is your wallet because there goes all your ID, cash and credit cards – maybe needed to get back home.
7. Running on Empty
Nothing ratchets up your stress level like watching your low fuel light come on while Sea Doo riding with no fuel stop in sight. Running out is even worse, because PWC’s don’t paddle or tow worth a damn. Learn about jet ski fuel economy here.
8. Not Applying Sun Lotion
While riding your PWC on a sunny or hazy day, there’s no escaping damaging sun rays. And you’ll burn to a crisp without frequently applied protection, suffering both on your Sea Doo ride and for days after.
9. Forgetting Your PFD
You’ll not only feel naked and unprotected without your PFD, it’s also unsafe to Sea Doo ride without it, and in most jurisdictions it’s illegal not to have one. Learn more about PFDs here.
10. Burning Your Butt
Any jet ski seat that’s been exposed to the direct sun for even a short period of time can get hot enough to fry your ass and make Sea Doo riding very uncomfortable – unless you want to stand all day!
While any one of these jet ski ride spoilers can ruin your Sea Doo tour. What’s even worse is when more than one occurs on the same Sea Doo ride. That’s the day you really should have stayed in bed!
Check out more riding tips and advice!
The tips and advice in this article are the opinions of the author, may not work in every situation and are intended only for the convenience and interest of the reader, who has the personal responsibility to confirm the validity, accuracy and relevancy of this information prior to putting it to their own use.