How to Launch a PWC
New PWC owners have a lot to learn. And even though embarking on your first water adventure can be thrilling, the first time on the launch ramp can be an awkward one (to put it mildly)! Even though launching your PWC can look like a piece of cake, it can actually be a time consuming and tricky business.
Holzhauer Pro Motorsports has come up with a beginner’s guide on how to launch your watercraft smoothly. So worry not! Follow the steps in this guide and you’ll be a pro in no time. If you’re looking for personal watercraft for sale near Nashville, IL, there’s no better place to check out than Holzhauer Pro Motorsports.
A PWC is no small investment and Yamaha manufactures some of the world’s leading watercraft. So what are you waiting for?
Ready Your Trailer
The first step to a smooth launch is to ensure that the trailer is problem free. Check if the tires are properly filled and make doubly sure any brake and power hook-ups function well. Keep an extra trailer tire handy and carry a repair kit to avoid a flat tire or a bad turn-signal bulb.
Locate all the tie-downs required to securely fasten your watercraft to your trailer. Cross your tow chains beneath the tongue of the trailer to avoid the tongue hitting the highway should it come disconnected.
When you’re backing your trailer into the water, your license plate could get damaged or worse, be lost in the lake, if you hit something with it, like a bump on the ramp. You can replace the bolts that hold the license plate with heavy-duty zip ties so that the license plate swings freely when it’s hit, instead of breaking.
Practice In Advance
Honing your launching skills can save you from a lot of embarrassment. Holding up the crowd while releasing your PWC into the water can be quite an uncomfortable experience and a little bit of practice and prep can make the process a smooth one. Practice reversing, turning, parking and braking with your trailered watercraft in an empty parking lot. Set up cones to approximate the size of the launching ramp and try to align your trailer within them. With practice, you will find that the trailer will not jackknife as much and will be easier to control.
Arrive Prepared
Upon arriving at the dock, wear your lifejacket, attach a tow rope to your craft (if needed) and stock the waterproof compartments with your emergency supplies. Attach the engine killswitch to your wrist and insert your PWC’s drain plug. Loosen the winch straps and safety chains on your PWC and test the throttle once to make sure that it is functioning well.
Release Your PWC Into The Water
After the initial prep, reverse your trailer into the water slowly when it’s your turn on the ramp. Stop right at the water’s edge with the trailer partially submerged to allow the PWC to float off the top of it, then park.
Once your vehicle is still, tow the vessel into the water by hand or by tying a rope to it. If you’re doing this by yourself, lash your PWC to a post or dock out of the way so it’ll be waiting for you. Then get back in your car and slowly pull your trailer out of the water and find a safe place to park. If you have a friend with you, let them move your car and trailer to the parking lot while you stay with the PWC.
Pull Away From The Dock
Climb aboard once you are at least three feet deep. You could damage your watercraft by starting it in shallow water. So steer slowly away from the dock, head for open water, open up the throttle and you’re good to go!
To enjoy a walkthrough of the latest Yamaha personal watercraft for sale, visit Holzhauer Pro Motorsports in Nashville, IL. We proudly serve patrons from Nashville, Carbondale, Mount Vernon, and Salem, IL and St. Louis, MO.
