Five common jet ski mistakes

From sinking your jet ski before your journey has begun, to scraping the skin off your knees on the trailer, there are plenty of opportunities to fumble when you are new to the world of personal watercraft (PWC).

But it doesn’t have to be this way. 

By exercising a little patience and taking your time to learn key elements of your PWC before you drive to the boat ramp, you may be able to make your first time on the water more enjoyable.

Here are our five tips to help you become a pro. 

A lot of people who are new to the jet ski world have never towed before and may not even know the basics of how to hitch a trailer.

So be sure to get the jet ski dealer to show you how to properly connect the trailer to your car’s tow bar.

Ensure the trailer coupling is properly latched onto the ball, and that the quick-release tab is lowered correctly over the locator tab.

Once the quick-release tab is in the correct position, consider attaching a stainless-steel R-clip (or a small padlock) through the hole in the locator tab to make sure the latch doesn’t wriggle loose over bumps in the road.

And, of course, check your wiring harness is connected, that the tail-lights, brake lights and indicators are working, and your trailer’s registration plate is clearly visible.

When transporting your jet ski on a trailer, you need to attach a safety chain between the trailer and the front of the jet ski (on the bow towing hook).

The dealer may fit a D shackle to the safety chain, but these are fiddly, and there is a risk of dropping the pin in the water when reloading the ski.

Consider a weight-rated, heavy duty, quick release carabiner clip to make it easier to launch and retrieve the vessel on the boat ramp.

At the rear of the craft, make sure the tie-down straps are fitted properly and securely. 

There are two choices.

You can use one long tie-down strap from one side of the trailer to the other, looping through the rear tie-down hooks on the ski. 

Just be sure to route the centre of the strap up high near the bond line, away from the jet pump ‘bucket’ at the rear of the ski, as the bucket can catch on the strap when you start the engine to flush after a ride and this can prompt a warning on the dash.

If this occurs you may need to visit the dealer to clear the code.

Or you can use two smaller straps (one on each side of the ski) so there is no risk of catching the jet pump ‘bucket’ when you flush the ski after a ride.

When launching, leave the safety chain on when reversing down the ramp (in case the winch lets go).

And be sure to remove the rear straps in the staging area of the boat ramp – before the ski is in the water – otherwise the ratchets are difficult to release.

Before you even get the jet ski wet, go to a large empty car park with your jet ski in tow and practice reversing, both in a straight line and from an angle.

There are numerous videos on YouTube to guide you.

But you are much better off practicing away from a boat ramp on a quiet Sunday morning (or at a real boat ramp in the middle of the week when it’s quiet) before trying to launch for your first outing.

Our tip: turn your body to face the rear of the car, and your hands will instinctively know which way you should turn to straighten the ski.

And constantly check the side mirrors. As soon as you see the edge of the trailer, turn the wheel the opposite way until it appears in the other mirror. Then repeat the process.

Slight movements with your hands are best, as it doesn’t take much steering wheel input for the trailer to swing out too far.

Another top tip. Give yourself a decent chance by starting in a straight line if there is room.

You can launch from a bend but it takes more practice.

As soon as you see the trailer start to drift off course, either correct it immediately or stop and start again.

Reverse at slower than walking pace until you get more comfortable.

Different jet ski trailers can behave differently in reverse (whether the axle is further forward or rearward). So be patient and take your time.

This is a common mistake. You can sink your ski before you’ve even started if you forget to check that your drain plugs (or ‘bungs’) at the rear of the craft are in place.

They only need to be finger tight, but they do need to be in place.

If you forget to insert the plug for the drain holes the ski will take on water in the engine bay.

The ski won’t sink to the bottom (foam in the bow is designed to at least keep the nose afloat and visible) but you will need to get back to dry land to empty out the water.

There may or may not be engine or electrical damage. Take the vessel to your jet ski dealer for a check-up before you go back on the water.

Ideally, check the drain plugs are in place while you are in the boat ramp staging area (otherwise they will be underwater as you are ready to release the ski).

When launching, be sure to wear footwear and hold onto the ski when walking around it. Boat ramps are slippery, and it’s easy to slip and scrape your skin on the trailer or take a fall. 

Chances are you will have so much fun on the water that you will burn through more fuel than you were anticipating.

So always go out with a full tank of fuel.

And, if on a long out-and-back trip, return to the ramp as soon as the fuel gauge hits the halfway mark.

Riding flat out at top speed with a wide-open throttle will burn fuel fast. 

As does towing, riding two- or three-up, and repeated harsh acceleration from low speeds.

If you need to conserve fuel, 60-70km/h is the most efficient speed (in terms of distance covered versus the amount of fuel burned) in most cases. Also try not to stop and start constantly.

You will also need plenty of drinking water. Although the breeze might keep you cool, you will work up a sweat and it’s easy to get dehydrated. So, pack plenty of drinking water (and sunscreen).

Consider taking a phone (in a waterproof case) as an additional safety measure. Really want to be prepared? Buy a portable marine radio (about $250) that could get you out of trouble if there is no phone signal.

Most of all though. Take your time to get up to speed. Go for a solo ride first, so you can learn the basic controls on the craft (for example it won’t turn if you don’t have at least some throttle, as it uses the jet pump to steer).

Riding with a passenger makes the ski heavier and more cumbersome, so more care needs to be taken. Try to get several solo rides under your belt before taking any passengers.