Personal Watercraft Safety Practices

When it comes to enjoying a thrilling adventure on the water, there’s nothing that can beat the high-speed fun of riding a personal watercraft or PWC. However, when you’re riding such a powerful machine, you open to the door to potential safety hazards, which means you need to practice good safety habits if you want to enjoy a wonderful ride.

Here at Holzhauer Pro Motorsports, we care about your well-being, so we have rounded up some helpful personal watercraft safety tips. Keep reading to learn more and if you’re still shopping around for a new PWC, be sure to visit our dealership in Nashville, Illinois. We also proudly serve St. Louis, Missouri, and Carbondale, Illinois.

Before Heading Out

Personal watercraft safety starts right at your home before you even venture out. Bad weather can make riding virtually impossible, so you’ll want to check out the forecast for the day. After all, you don’t want to unexpectedly get caught under a storm or a cloudburst. It’s also helpful to take some time to inspect your machine before you ride it. Check the hull for any cracks or damage and look on the outside and at the bottom of the engine pan to make sure there are no oil leaks. Examine your battery, cables, and connections for any issues. Don’t forget to check the fluid levels and top off as needed. Something as simple as a loose plug wire could lead to a dead engine when you get out on the water.

Bring the Right Gear

The best way to keep yourself safe while riding your PWC is to ensure you have the right gear at hand. A waterproof storage compartment can keep all of your items secure as you enjoy your time. Some of the items you’ll want to stock include your cell phone, sunscreen, a radio, signal flares, snacks, bottled water, and a first aid kit. It’s essential to carry all of these items as they’ll help you in a number of tricky situations from avoiding sunburns to getting lost.

Another important piece of safety gear you’ll want to have with you is a well-fitting life jacket. Of course, you’ll need to know how to swim before riding your PWC. Even then, there are still certain situations where a flotation device will come in handy. You might get injured and struggle to stay afloat or swim back to safety. A life jacket will assist you in staying afloat until help arrives.

Towing Tips

You’ll need to have a way of getting your machine to the water. A specialized trailer is ideal. It’s critical that your trailer is equipped to handle the weight of your personal watercraft. Not only is it illegal to overload a trailer, but it’s also quite dangerous to others on the road as well as yourself.

Be sure to set aside some time to practice loading and unloading your craft and driving with your cargo before you try it at the docks. It could take a few attempts before you feel comfortable with the process. You don’t want your first attempt to be a high-stress situation with others waiting around for you to finish up so they can take their turn. When you drive with your cargo, you’ll want to leave ample space between yourself and other drivers. Remember that the extra weight will mean you’ll need additional distance to come to a complete stop. Drive carefully to ensure a safe ride to and from the docks.

Regular Maintenance

An important aspect of personal watercraft safety is taking proper care of your machine. You’d be surprised how many issues can occur due to malfunctions. Use your owner’s manual to see what the manufacturer recommends in terms of regular maintenance tasks. If you notice any problems, get them addressed as soon as possible. You can perform some tasks at home with the right tools, but if you ever need assistance, you can contact the service department here at Holzhauer Pro Motorsports to schedule an appointment with our expert mechanics.

Basic Safety Practices

Every area has different laws related to riding a watercraft, so it's important to familiarize yourself with all the rules and follow them. Remember to be safe around other watercraft and riders and give them the right away when appropriate. If your PWC has a horn, you can use it as a signal when you’re going to pass others to alert them to your presence. Always ride your craft while you are sober and free from the effects of recreational or prescription drugs. Alcohol and drugs can impair your focus and slow your reaction time.

We hope that our personal watercraft safety guide has been helpful. If you have questions or you want to explore our inventory of PWC for sale, visit Holzhauer Pro Motorsports in Nashville, IL. We welcome all our friends from St. Louis, MO, and Carbondale, IL.