How to Jet Ski
Jet Ski is a brand of personal water craft (PWC) made by Kawasaki Motors. It became so popular that most people used this name to refer to any brand of PWCs. Some other brands are WaveRunner by Yamaha and Sea-Doo by Bombardier Recreational Products. Here are some things you need to know before riding your personal watercraft.
Get Familiar with Your Jet Ski
Read the manual. Learn how your personal watercraft works. Study its parts and functions so you know just what to do when you get in the water. Manufacturers provide manuals and troubleshooting guides when you buy a PWC. Some also include instructional videos to make it easier for you to understand how to operate their product. This would also make you more comfortable and confident in using your Jet Ski.
Enroll in a boaters safety course. Depending on where you are, some countries would require you to take a safety course before you can use your Jet Ski.
Operating Your Jet Ski
Don’t forget to wear a life jacket. Apart from knowing how to use this machine, you also need to take all the necessary precautions when riding your PWC.
jet ski
The Jet Ski should be parallel to the dock.
Carefully place your feet into the foot wells. Be sure to keep your balance.
Before starting the engine, secure the lanyard around your wrist. This is where the deadman’s switch is attached. This switch will automatically shut-off the engine in case you fall off your PWC.
Grip the handlebars tightly with both hands.
Survey the area. Check if it’s safe for you to pull out already.
Switch on your engine. Start at a low speed while you’re still near the dock.
Practice driving and turning until you’re comfortable already.
Gradually increase your speed.
Make sure to keep your head and shoulders away from the handlebars. Don’t lean forward too much, otherwise you might get thrown off your PWC when riding on high speed.
Always be aware of your surroundings to avoid accidents.
When Riding with Another Person
Some PWC’s are designed for 2 to 4 persons.
Get on the Jet Ski one at a time.
Your passengers should all be wearing life jackets.
Before switching the engine on, make sure that each passenger is holding the person in front of him safely and their feet are positioned properly in the foot wells.
Riding with passengers is very different than riding by yourself. Start at a low speed to get used to the added weight.
Speeds
Your Jet Ski has 3 basic speeds.
Trolling is driving your PWC at a speed lower than 15 mph. There will be no wake driving at this rate and your Jet ski will just be flat on water. Use this speed for practicing, when making slow turns and driving in reverse. You should also drive at this speed when you’re in crowded areas.
Sub planing is riding at a speed of 15 -30 mph. The nose of your PWC will be a little above the water. There will also be a small wake at this speed.
Planing is driving your Jet Ski at a speed higher than 30 mph. Your PWC will create a wide and low wake; it will also be more leveled and traveling on top of the water.
Tips:
It’s best to cross wakes and swells from the front. Firmly grasp the handlebars, secure your feet into the wells and decrease your speed.
Crossing wakes using a 45° angle is recommended, but you can adjust it to an angle that you’re most comfortable with. There will be more resistance in using an angle lower than 45°.
Raise your buttocks a few inches when crossing wakes to transfer shock from your back and neck to your legs.
Riding a Jet Ski is a lot of fun, but be a responsible Jet Ski driver. Don’t forget to follow safety rules and be aware of your surroundings when you’re in the water.