Kawasaki JET SKI® Riding Tips
If you want a personal watercraft that can provide hours of fun on the water without any hiccups, you should check out Kawasaki Jet Ski® models. These are some of the most popular PWCs on the market because they are designed to deliver high-performance and adrenaline thrills, making them the perfect choice for those who want to spend a day on the water with friends and family.
Before you hop aboard one of these vehicles, there are some riding basics you should know. You local Kawasaki Jet Ski® dealer in Rocklin, CA, Roseville Motorsports has listed some beginner riding tips that should help you out! For more assistance or to check out the best Kawasaki Jet Skis for sale in Roseville or Sacramento, contact us and have a chat with one of our friendly staff members!
Know the Controls
There are a number of controls on a Jet Ski and you should be familiar with all of them before you hit the water. Typically, there are controls for turning the vehicle on and off, and going forward, reverse and neutral. If your model has brakes, you should know the triggers; practice flipping the triggers gently away from any other craft on the water. Don’t use the sport mode or the performance keys when you’re a beginner and be gentle with the throttle.
Steering
With a little practice, you can easily master steering a Kawasaki Jet Ski®! Remember that many models start in forward so you might start moving immediately. This won’t happen if you have a model with iBR®, which starts in neutral. Most models require a little throttle to steer but some newer ones offer off-throttle assisted steering. When on the water, keep enough space between you and other crafts. Also keep in mind that other vessels will be much slower and less agile than your PWC.
Neutral
If you’re going to be riding an older model, it may not give you the options of neutral and brake. All new models come with these features. Neutral on a personal watercraft isn’t the same as your car or boat. A Kawasaki Jet Ski® has a direct drive system, which means the engine is directly connected to the impeller, and if the engine is on, the impeller is rotating. The thrust of the water then guides the movement of the craft. When you hit neutral, it puts the thrust between forward and reverse, so you can still move a bit, which is helpful when you're docking.
Braking
This wasn’t considered much of a requirement in the early days of PWCs but most models now come with this feature because of its helpfulness. Brakes are necessary for riders who like to go at top speeds and may need to stop suddenly when the need arises. Some PWCs offer brakes while others have dual throttle, which can work like brakes when required. When you hit the brakes, it uses the same function as reverse, so if you just hit the brakes, the vessel will stop. If you keep holding the brake lever, you’ll start to go in reverse.
Docking
New riders tend to struggle with this part the most. This is because they’re used to hitting top speeds on their Kawasaki Jet Skis. The key to successful docking is really slowing down the speed. This is easy to do when you have reverse or brakes on your model, and you can very slowly approach the dock. If you don’t have either of these features, then cut the throttle and spin in a circle before approaching the dock. Point your PWC in the direction you want to be going and then turn the engine off and coast towards the dock.
Falling
The two most common reasons for falling off PWCs are being on a smaller-size model or overloading the craft. Ensure that the safety lanyard is attached firmly to you so the vehicle stops when you fall off. Otherwise the craft might head off leaving you behind! It might also collide into someone. A reboarding step will make climbing back up easier because you have to maintain your balance as you get back on your Kawasaki Jet Ski®. Use your feet and knees to climb on the step from the back and try to maintain proper balance. Don’t climb from the side as that can tip the PWC over. If there are two people overboard, climb back one at a time.
Handling Waves
If you’re going to be jumping waves, you should be prepared for your Kawasaki Jet Ski® to lift up. Raise yourself a bit to brace for impact. If you’re a beginner, you should avoid areas where there are big boats that can make big wakes. These wakes can seem small from afar but they’ll get bigger as they get closer. Always be aware of the waves and never let one hit your vehicle on the side as that can cause it to topple over. Take wakes head on with some caution.
No-Wake Zones
If you spot any white floating buoys on the water near coves, boats or even land, those are no-wake zones. These areas have been designated as no-wake because there should be no wakes to damage boats or make it harder for people to dock or load at the ramps. You might end up with hefty tickets if you decide to create some wakes here, so be respectful of this rule. When you’re at one of these zones, only idle and be mindful of others around you.
Avoid Sucking
Do remember that your Kawasaki Jet Ski® can suck things in while you ride. This can ruin your day on the water. Stay away from shallow areas where your vessel can suck in rocks, sand and debris. If the water gets shallow, cut the engine. Stay aware of anything floating around in the water when you ride as you can suck those in. If you’re a watersports enthusiast and use ropes, get a shock tube to keep the ropes away from the impeller. This is a worthy investment because without it, you’ll have to tow your vehicle to land to remove the lodged rope.
We hope these tips help you have safe and fun rides on the water! For more information or if you’re looking for Kawasaki Jet Skis for sale in Rocklin, CA, contact Roseville Motorsports and have a chat with our helpful sales staff! We’re also proud to be the preferred Kawasaki Jet Ski® dealer for our friends from Roseville and Sacramento!