Top five safety tips for first time jet ski riders

Jet skis (or personal watercraft) are a huge amount of fun and a great entree into boating.

But as with all vessels on the water, they command respect – and a little patience – as you get up to speed.

Most basic jet skis these days have a top speed of about 80km/h, which is fast enough to injure yourself (or someone else) if you fall off.

But it’s not just the top speed you should be aware of, it’s the acceleration.

Even a slow ski can accelerate faster than the average hatchback car. And remember, you don’t have seatbelts, only the handlebars to hold onto.

With those words of warning out of the way, here are our safety tips for novice jet ski riders.

No matter how excited you are to get on the water at full throttle, do not try to set a world record on your first outing.

Go out by yourself or with an experienced rider who won't push you too hard, and pick a slower day at the ramp to launch your ski. Aim for a lake or river where water conditions are calmer.

It’s best to get some basic skills under your vest before venturing too far from the boat ramp.

In essence, on your first outing you want to understand the accelerator and reverse triggers, and how long it takes for the craft to react to your steering inputs. Generally, they react slower than you might expect.

A jet ski won’t steer in the direction you’re pointing unless you have at least some throttle applied. It is the jet pump in the water that pivots and determines your steering direction.

Gentle throttle application (in forward or reverse) is strongly advised at first.

Furthermore, do not take a passenger with you the first time – or even the first couple of times.

Jet skis of all shapes and sizes are more cumbersome to handle with two or three people on board (riding solo is preferred, for better balance and control).

So, practice by yourself over a day (or several days) and get comfortable before you invite someone else to come along for the ride.

It goes without saying that a life jacket is a must – compulsory in all states in Australia when the jet ski is moving.

But many male riders wear board shorts underneath, and many female riders wear swim wear.

Earlier this year, surgeons at one of Melbourne’s biggest hospitals called for jet ski riders – especially women – to wear protective clothing, such as neoprene pants.

That’s because the jet pump can damage vital organs if riders fall off the back of the ski and get blasted by high-speed water spray from the jet pump.

The injuries are horrific and, experts say, can cause permanent damage to reproductive organs.

While thicker clothing might feel restrictive, regular swimwear is not suitable for jet ski riding, according to health experts.

Boat ramps are slippery, especially at low tide. The thin covering of moss or sludge on a section of the ramp that is mostly underwater is now exposed – and it is easy to slip and fall.

Thongs are not ideal footwear, because your feet can slide in them when they get wet. And the soles of the thongs are also likely to lack any meaningful grip. Consider marine boots or marine shoes.

As you approach the ski to launch it, hold onto the car, trailer, or ski as you move slowly to unclip the ski from the trailer.

Most of all, be patient.

Before you reverse your ski and trailer into the water, make sure the drain plugs (or ‘bungs’) at the back of the ski are finger-tight and in position.

If you forget to screw the ‘bungs’ in, the craft will take on water, and you will be stranded in the middle of the waterway not far from the boat ramp.

If the ski sinks because you forgot to install the ‘bungs’, most insurance companies charge a higher excess than for normal damage ($5000 in most cases, rather than the regular excess of $500 to $1000).

Before you reverse the ski and trailer into the water, be sure to remove the ratchet straps at the back.

If you leave this process until after the ski and trailer are already in the water, the strap or straps will be submerged, and they are hard to remove once under water.

Ratchet straps are a legal requirement to maintain a safe load when transporting your ski by road on a trailer. So, you cannot leave them off and hope for the best.

They are there as a back-up in case the ski somehow wriggles off the safety chain between the bow of the ski and the front of the trailer (usually near the trailer winch).

Do not remove the safety chain until the trailer and ski are in the water. Many have made this mistake, causing their ski to slide off the trailer and on to the concrete ramp which resulted in thousands of dollars in damage to the hull.

The safety chain comes off only once the back of the ski and trailer and in the water. Then unwind the winch strap slowly and unhook the winch strap hook from the bow.

This is a little-known law that is broken by jet ski riders every weekend around Australia. And the fines they are risking are massive.

It is illegal to sit on a jet ski while it and the trailer are being reversed down to the water’s edge.

It is also illegal to sit on a jet ski while it is being retrieved from the boat ramp (or driven through the boat ramp car park).

In this case, the jet ski rider could fall off the ski and hit their head on the ground if they lose their balance or the car jerks suddenly.

And here’s the kicker: the driver of the towing vehicle gets the fine, not the jet ski rider.

Unless you want to make it an expensive day out, when launching, don’t get on the ski until the vehicle has stopped and the back of the trailer is in the water.

Jet skis deliver incredible thrills, but they demand respect, preparation, and patience. If you ease into the experience, suit up with the right protective gear, take care around slippery ramps, double-check your equipment, and follow the rules at launch and retrieval, you’ll set yourself up for safe, stress-free fun on the water.

Master the basics first, build your confidence gradually, and you’ll enjoy all the excitement jet skis have to offer without the costly or dangerous surprises. Stay alert, stay prepared, and ride smart.