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Started By
Message
New PWC owner. Please share any recommendations or experiences
Posted on 1/22/25 at 8:45 am
Posted on 1/22/25 at 8:45 am
I've never owned a watercraft of any kind but I felt the need to buy a couple of jet skis to make memories with family and friends. I'll mostly be riding in lakes and rivers, but would also like to them with us to Florida on vacation.
9
Posted on 1/22/25 at 8:51 am to 4Bagger
Don't try to ride over any grass that's floating...you'll suck it up into the jet pump and you will have to swim under the craft to get it out or you will go nowhere.
Stay on top of flushing out the motor after using it in salt or brackish water. Stay on top of general maintenance.
You can't steer it unless you're on the gas, "coasting" and turning the handlbars keeps you going straight
Stay on top of flushing out the motor after using it in salt or brackish water. Stay on top of general maintenance.
You can't steer it unless you're on the gas, "coasting" and turning the handlbars keeps you going straight
Posted on 1/22/25 at 9:08 am to 4Bagger
Get a boaters safety card, even if you’re “grandfathered in” so you know the basic rules of the road.
Figure out all the logistics of a typical day and figure out a routine before bringing along all kinds of family/friends.
Do the first run by yourself or with a friend that knows this kind of thing. You’ll quickly note things you’ll need to be sure of or do differently next time.
Remember, you own the boats so your friends/family will assume you’re an expert right away.
If you have a friend that IS very knowledgeable about these things, bring them along for the first outing as a trial run.
Learn your limitations. Fuel range, reading the weather, and local knowledge.
Figure out all the logistics of a typical day and figure out a routine before bringing along all kinds of family/friends.
Do the first run by yourself or with a friend that knows this kind of thing. You’ll quickly note things you’ll need to be sure of or do differently next time.
Remember, you own the boats so your friends/family will assume you’re an expert right away.
If you have a friend that IS very knowledgeable about these things, bring them along for the first outing as a trial run.
Learn your limitations. Fuel range, reading the weather, and local knowledge.
Posted on 1/22/25 at 9:29 am to 4Bagger
I owned two for many years and if there were still kids in the house, I'd still have them.
Like someone else said, do not run over anything that could get sucked up--especially tow ropes. My wife tangled up a tow rope so bad that I had to remove the impeller.
Backing up is the opposite of what you think it would be (for me, anyway).
If you have a single trailer, put your tailgate down when on the ramp. If you have a tandem, no big deal.
Like someone else said, do not run over anything that could get sucked up--especially tow ropes. My wife tangled up a tow rope so bad that I had to remove the impeller.
Backing up is the opposite of what you think it would be (for me, anyway).
If you have a single trailer, put your tailgate down when on the ramp. If you have a tandem, no big deal.
Posted on 1/22/25 at 9:53 am to 4Bagger
Don’t add to the douchbag perception of jetski owners. 
All good advice here so far.
Some models have speed limiters so you can send the younger ones out knowing they can’t get it to 90mph.
Those usually have remote kill switches too.
Maintenance and doing it on schedule by an authorized party is key to warranty work.
Lastly, never approach a dock or other vessel faster than you are willing to hit it.
Have fun.
All good advice here so far.
Some models have speed limiters so you can send the younger ones out knowing they can’t get it to 90mph.
Those usually have remote kill switches too.
Maintenance and doing it on schedule by an authorized party is key to warranty work.
Lastly, never approach a dock or other vessel faster than you are willing to hit it.
Have fun.
Posted on 1/22/25 at 11:02 am to roadGator
Wear your kill switch. Wear a life jacket.
Take the boaters safety course (should be mandatory imo). Also please do not circle/cross boats at a close range. I’ve worked on Lake P for years and almost seen many accidents involving PWCs. Be smart
Take the boaters safety course (should be mandatory imo). Also please do not circle/cross boats at a close range. I’ve worked on Lake P for years and almost seen many accidents involving PWCs. Be smart
Posted on 1/22/25 at 11:21 am to 4Bagger
Lots of good posts here.
I had a single ski trailer and put bicycle flag poles at the back of the fenders. It helped when backing with a vehicle with poor rear visibility and helped line up the ski when loading.
Repack/lube your trailer bearings yearly, esp if in salt water.
I had a single ski trailer and put bicycle flag poles at the back of the fenders. It helped when backing with a vehicle with poor rear visibility and helped line up the ski when loading.
Repack/lube your trailer bearings yearly, esp if in salt water.
Posted on 1/22/25 at 12:11 pm to 4Bagger
Congrats. What'd you get?
Whereabouts are you?
Got our first ones a couple years ago. Similar to a boat, one of the more challenging parts, that seems simple until you do it, is maneuvering near docks. Slow is best, but you need a little throttle to steer, so it takes patience. Be willing to approach a few times until you get the hang of it.
Youtube is your friend, especially in this weather.
Whereabouts are you?
Got our first ones a couple years ago. Similar to a boat, one of the more challenging parts, that seems simple until you do it, is maneuvering near docks. Slow is best, but you need a little throttle to steer, so it takes patience. Be willing to approach a few times until you get the hang of it.
Youtube is your friend, especially in this weather.
Posted on 1/22/25 at 12:46 pm to Grassy1
quote:
Congrats. What'd you get?
Whereabouts are you?
Sea-doo Fish Pros
TN.
Great advice by all and much appreciated.
Although not required for me, I will take the boater safety course and exam with my kids.
Posted on 1/22/25 at 12:51 pm to 4Bagger
Remember the throttle is your best friend. No brakes, learn to use the throttle to start and stop.
Posted on 1/22/25 at 1:08 pm to 4Bagger
Wear your kill switch
Keep up on maintenance
Flush them when you get home
Have fun!
Keep up on maintenance
Flush them when you get home
Have fun!
Posted on 1/22/25 at 8:03 pm to 3deadtrolls
If you end up with a supercharged model that calls for high octane fuel, put high octane in it. It's not optional. Motor will bog down and run like shite.
So be aware of the manufacturers fuel requirement of the engine you got and stick with it. Also at the end of the season put non-ethanol in it and run it through for storage.
So be aware of the manufacturers fuel requirement of the engine you got and stick with it. Also at the end of the season put non-ethanol in it and run it through for storage.
Posted on 1/22/25 at 9:21 pm to 4Bagger
I taught a 16 year old boy this summer. My main points:
- You cant turn without accelerating, at least think that way. Under no circumstances can you turn while deaccelerating. So you have to plan ahead on accelerating to turn away from obstacle/other boat/etc. Ive seen many accidents hitting a dock because of not being able to turn.
- Learn to "clear your space" before turning or stopping. Since boats cant brake, turn your head around and check the space around you especially behind you. Many accidents happen when a PWC stops or turns abrubtly. On coming boaters cant react quickly.
- On a PWC you are automatically the biggest douchebag a-hole on the water. Drive knowing that... use hand signals, wave to other boaters to acknowledge you are aware of them, idle near docks, fishermen, etc. Have a specific place to have fun, dont cut figure 8s, donuts, etc in a slough where kids are being pulled on tubes.
- If your PWC has reverse, which most do now I think, learn slow control. Learn how forward, "neutral", and reverse act and turning combined with throttle. You will find, at least our PWCs, that neutral still has pump running and propels PWC forward at 2mph. To hold position, it takes constant neutral then reverse control with throttle on reverse. Learn to pickup an object in the water like a blown off hat. You will learn control needed when docking around other boats. If you can turn 360 degrees both to left and right, without moving (just spinning), you have master slow control skill.
- You cant turn without accelerating, at least think that way. Under no circumstances can you turn while deaccelerating. So you have to plan ahead on accelerating to turn away from obstacle/other boat/etc. Ive seen many accidents hitting a dock because of not being able to turn.
- Learn to "clear your space" before turning or stopping. Since boats cant brake, turn your head around and check the space around you especially behind you. Many accidents happen when a PWC stops or turns abrubtly. On coming boaters cant react quickly.
- On a PWC you are automatically the biggest douchebag a-hole on the water. Drive knowing that... use hand signals, wave to other boaters to acknowledge you are aware of them, idle near docks, fishermen, etc. Have a specific place to have fun, dont cut figure 8s, donuts, etc in a slough where kids are being pulled on tubes.
- If your PWC has reverse, which most do now I think, learn slow control. Learn how forward, "neutral", and reverse act and turning combined with throttle. You will find, at least our PWCs, that neutral still has pump running and propels PWC forward at 2mph. To hold position, it takes constant neutral then reverse control with throttle on reverse. Learn to pickup an object in the water like a blown off hat. You will learn control needed when docking around other boats. If you can turn 360 degrees both to left and right, without moving (just spinning), you have master slow control skill.
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