Tag: Jet Ski

Categories
Trailers & Parts

Trailer Safety for PWC

A PWC trailer must stay within the guided limits in relation to size and capacity.

PWC TrailerWhen calculating the total load, make sure to determine the weight of the accessories and fuel on top of the weight of the personal watercraft.

Open vs. Closed frames

A PWC trailer is constructed with an open or close frame. The open and closed frames can have an impact on the wiring. An open frame leaves the wires exposed, but this does mean in the event of damage or faults the potential problem is easy to locate. A closed frame is more effective at protecting the wires, but with the wiring concealed the problems are much more difficult to spot and repair. Plus, a further benefit of the open frame design is the ability to quickly drain water.

Frame construction and strength

A proper trailer for a PWC is designed, constructed, and approved for use in a marine environment. The trailer should give proper support to the full weight of the Jet Ski and accessories. Plus, the wiring and lights should be built to withstand submersion in the sea or river water. Also, the finish of the trailer should offer high durability and come with a galvanized or powder coating, which is significantly more resilient than enamel or similar.

Pre-trailering inspection

On each occasion the PWC trailer is used make sure to give a full visual inspection to ensure it is in full working order. Below are eleven of the things to check before each use:

  1. Inspect the wires for signs of wear and inflation
  2. Look at the safety chain and hitch to ensure it is free of stress and wear
  3. Check the brakes for the trailer just after setting off to make sure they will function once on the road
  4. Review the electrical components (bulbs, wiring, terminals, etc.) to ensure there are no burned or corroded connections
  5. Make sure a good amount of bearing grease is applied to the wheel bearings
  6. Ensure each of the main and lug nuts are fully tight and in place
  7. Inspect the bunks, rollers, and stops for early signs of cracks or wear
  8. Test the coupler and ball to make sure it is at the right size and is able to fully secure in place. Look for signs of stress and wear
  9. Safety secure the PWC to the trailer at the bow and stern – use a sufficient number of tie-downs to avoid accidents on the highway
  10. Pack a varied selection of basic emergency supplies, such as highway flares, mounted tire, grease, bearings, spare bulbs, basic tools, etc.
  11. Appreciate the extra dimensions of the trailer at the rear of the vehicle and drive carefully. Give extra space to other road users and make sure to indicate maneuvers early. Also, give more time to complete the journey and avoid speeding.

A regular stop by the roadside to check the rig can benefit and this periodical check should help to minimize accidents on the road. Give the tie-downs, lights, and wheel bearings a regular check.

Categories
Boating & Marine Accessories

PWC Covers: Ultimate Protection for the Exposed PWC

PWC covers are manufactured to protect a Jet Ski – Sea-Doo – Waverunner personal watercraft from direct sunlight, dirt, and scratch-marks in use or while winterized. Without a brand-specific or universal cover, the body, graphics and paint work of a PWC will start to appear weathered in no time.

PWC Cover and Trailer

Bright sunlight is one of the worst enemies of the PWC – If a high-performance Honda, Polaris, Sea-Doo or Yamaha personal watercraft is kept laid-up outside in an exposed area, make sure to utilize one of the high-quality PWC covers.

Specifics:

  1. Made in a water-repellent and high-strength fabric coated to resist UV-rays and mildew
  2. Protects against rainfall, dirt, dust, bird-dropping, sunlight, or similar pollutants
  3. Tight fitting with elasticized cords and hems
  4. Air vents to stop potential moisture build-up and wind lofting
  5. Zippered access panels for the fuel tank (ideal for trailerable covers)
  6. In-built storage bag – great for storing when not in use
  7. Backed with a 1, 3 or 5-year warranty

Brand-specific or universal PWC covers are what is needed to avoid sun-bleaching to the fiberglass or gel coat, as well as to protect against salt air, rodents, bird droppings, general dirt, pollution, etc. In addition, a high-degree of protection, it is a necessary step to prevent rust, dust build-up or water vapor damage during the period of winterization.

Materials

Synthetic materials, such as the marine-tested Sunbrella®, Glen-Tuf™, and Polyguard offer a great choice in a marine environment. Either option has an ability to stand-up to salt water, UV-rays, and on-set of mildew. Solid fabrics resist stretching, tearing, and shrinking to give a much longer life expectancy – in the region of three to five years of typical use. A water-resistant cover ought to be one of the first PWC accessories to purchase to keep the machine in great condition.

Multiple sizes

Offered in multiple sizes – choose from a Jet Ski cover for a one or two-seater machine or a cover for a three seater machine. Covers also come in several different structure designs, including the custom-made covers, rain-proof covers, budget dust sheets, and dual purpose storage / towable cover.

A multi-purpose storage / towable cover offer a perfect opportunity to shield a personal watercraft (PWC) from damage en-route to a lake or seafront – as well as protecting the vehicle whilst laid up at home. Elastic skirts, fuel tank access panels, fastening clips, and integrated straps help to provide a tight and reliable fit.

Jet Ski accessories of this nature also offer the benefit of stopping dust, dirt or water entering the electrical components or engine structure. Quality PWC covers might set someone back an extra $185, although compared to the cost of repairing a damage engine; it is a small amount to pay out for the extra peace of mind.

Extras

Other features, a mesh vent or panel at the side or front often appears to permit the right amount of air circulation under a fabric sheet – breathable PWC covers are perfect to allow air to move and thus avoid the on-set of mold, mildew, and moisture build up. In addition, these air vents are great at eliminating the ‘ballooning effect’ that comes with high winds getting caught up beneath a tight-fitting cover.

In summary

A chemically-treated PWC cover is designed to protect a high-performance Jet Ski, Waverunner, or Jet Ski from sunlight, high wind, sleet, rain, and snow at all times – whether at home or on the road.

Categories
Insure My Boat

Jet Ski Insurance: Do You Need Jet Ski Insurance?

Yamaha Jet Ski

Personal watercraft (also known as a Jet Ski, Waverunner & Sea-Doo) offers hours of adrenaline-inspired fun and excitement on the water. A PWC rider appreciates the importance of safety on the water, yet it is also vital to consider the financial obligations to guarantee a jet ski is protected against unforeseen hazards. Jet Ski insurance can help protect against damage, theft, or vandalism – bodily injury to a rider or third party – medical cost resulting from an accident.

Yamaha Jet Ski

It is a mistaken belief that a medium-sized craft or PWC is protected against loss, damages, or liability under an individual’s home insurance plan – that is not often the case, a specialized policy is required to have a sufficient level of protection in place. Before hitting the waters on a PWC, a customized watercraft insurance plan is a sensible investment. If a home insurance plan does come with a degree of coverage for recreational vehicles, than this is often restricted to the basic liability coverage only.

Jet Ski Insurance Rates

In most cases, a jet ski insurance quote is available at a affordable rate, with the minimal level of coverage costing in the region of $125 per year – although rates are dependent on several different factors. Such as those relating to type and class of PWC to insure, cruising waters, use (private use only or include water sports), storage location, period in use, and personal info (age, experience, claim history, etc.) Once details are provided direct to an insurer or broker, it is possible to obtain a competitive Jet Ski insurance quote in a matter of minutes.

Coverage in Place

Whether a PWC is out on the open water, dry-docked on moorings or ashore, or trailed on the highway, it is essential to be aware of what’s covered in the event of a loss. Personal watercraft insurance is designed to cover, among other circumstances and events:

  • Physical Damage
  • Liability
  • Towing Assistance
  • Protection while on Land
  • Damage to Crafts and Docks
  • Fuel Spill Liability
  • Roadside Assistance
  • Sporting Liability
  • Wreckage Removal Coverage
  • Medical Costs
  • Negligence of other Drivers

Do You Have to Have Insurance on a Jet Ski?

PWC insurance isn’t compulsory in all states – it’s often best to check local state information to establish the requirements of insurance – a lot of states will require a minimum of liability insurance to use on jet ski on there waters. It might also be necessary to put place underinsured or uninsured PWC insurance. A late model PWC can represent a major investment, so it is often worthwhile investing a small sum to protect it and those using it.

Prior to purchasing valid Jet Ski cover, its important to read the policy terms, conditions, and exclusions noted in the policy document – for instance, in most, if not all policies, a claim wouldn’t be possible if a PWC is ridden at night or a rider is without a official driver’s license.

Avoid ‘one size fits all’ policies, as the coverage, deductibles, and premiums often differ widely depending on an individuals own personal requirements. Its often more beneficial to contact one of the dedicated marine insurers (rather than those that dabble in all-types of insurance policies), such as BoatUS, SkiSafe, and United Marine for instance – as these insurers are more likely to put forward a tailored insurance plan at a price that is highly affordable.

In addition, if taking on the ownership of an aged, seized, confiscated or repossessed boat or Jet Ski this often has an affect on the insurance so it will be necessary to contact a insurer to determine their particular views on this matter.

Potential Discounts – Jet Ski Insurance Rates

Some of the discounts offered by the main insurance companies consist of – multi-vehicle policies, claims-free history, responsible rider, complete safety course, paid in full, idle assisted steering, and original owner.

All in all, obtaining a customized jet ski insurance quotation is the first step to sensible PWC ownership, guaranteeing a jet ski and other’s injuries and properties are protected at all times.

Categories
Boat & Yacht Market

Jet Ski for Sale: Guide to Buying A Jet Ski

Fun on a high-performance PWC can be huge. Latest models of Jet Ski for sale – either the one, two, or three-seater machines, offer a great deal of safety and performance features, a reliable and powerful engine, and a water-borne experience that is likely to be highly maneuverable.

Sea-Doo Jet Ski

Examine a Used Jetski for Sale –

Maintenance is vital to the safe and efficient running of a high-performance PWC. Unless maintained to a high standard, a Jet Ski isn’t going to operate at its full potential, with basic maintenance consisting of such basics as washing down and flushing systems after use to avoid saltwater corrosion.

  1. Scrutinize the PWC’s hull for signs of prior damage or repairs.
  2. Note the engine hours – Low hours are considered at 50 or less.
  3. Complete a compression test on the engine
  4. Inspect the propeller for noticeable signs of gouges.
  5. Are you able to turn the pump nozzle freely
  6. Ask for a test ride if a practical option
  7. Check to see if any maintenance procedures are in place.

Or for those without a mechanical background, it can be a benefit to employ the services of marine surveyor or qualified mechanic to inspect a PWC prior to purchase – this will cost extra, often in the region of $75 to $145, but that is nothing compared to the potential wasted $$$ if left driving away with high-priced lemon.

A qualified mechanic or survey will be able to inspect the personal watercraft for sale against an extensive checklist to determine its overall condition. If found to be in a neglected state, it can often be expensive to have a Jet Ski repaired to full working order, and if the repairs do cost a lot, it would have been cheaper to acquire a much newer, and less used machine.

A lot of the used PWC for sale are likely to come with a variety of negative issues of a minor or major nature – a close inspection should soon be able to detect these. Also, relating to the engine, a Jet Ski equipped with a high-performance 4-stroke engine is more reliable, requires less maintenance, and offers a fuel economy that is preferable to the 2-stroke machines.

Costs that Come with Owning a Personal Watercraft

Before acquiring one of the high-performance PWC’s, it is also worthwhile contemplating the costs that come with owning such a recreational vehicle, related necessities include –

  • Register the PWC and road trailer at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
  • Fuel / Oil costs
  • Maintenance costs – mechanic, off-season winterization, tune-ups, etc
  • Dock, storage or slip fees
  • Boater Safety Course – necessary to complete in certain states
  • Insurance – a requirement on some waters
  • Safety and fun accessories – fire extinguisher, anchors, wake-boards, protective covers, wake-boards, skis, etc

Taking out a comprehensive PWC insurance plan isn’t a requirement in all states – though the rider of a Jet Ski is still liable for damage caused to a third party, person or property, if found to be a fault. Putting in place effective boat insurance is a lot more cost-effective than the resulting fees that could arise if an operator strikes a swimmer, skier, or other third-party vehicle.

PWC Water Sports

A high-performance two or three-seater PWC is required if attempting to tow a skier, tube or wake boarder at the rear. A three-seater Jet Ski offers the most space available, with first seat for the operator, second seat for the spotter, and the last seat for the skier or boarder. Also, sufficient HP, speed and torque, are all important factors to note when taking part in water sport activities.

Manufacturers of the latest model of PWC include Kawasaki, Yamaha, Honda, and SeaDoo. A high-performance machine costs in the region of $7,599 to $14,689, with a choice of designs (one, two or three seater), styles (sit-down or stand-up), and features (2 or 4-stroke engines.)

Brands that have ceased production of marine products, such as the high-performance PWC, include Polaris and Tigershark. Polaris Industries ceased production in Sept. 2004 and Tigershark (manufactured by Arctic Cat) ceased production in Sept. 1999. Although a branded Jet Ski for sale is no longer in production – OEM parts and accessories of the Polaris name can still be found at marine shops.

 

 

Categories
Boat & Yacht Market

11 Things to Know Before Buying a PWC or Jet Ski

If you are looking to invest in a personal watercraft (or jet ski) there are a variety of points that need careful consideration, such as size and type, safety, transport, insurance, and storage.

PWC to buy tips

Below is a quick overview of what to look for when buying a PWC:

Top tips for buying a jet ski

  • Size – A jet ski is designed to accept 1-4 passengers and the sports ready machine is even able to tow a Wakeboard, skis, or inflatable tube. So, before getting to the stage of investing in a PWC, make sure to determine the right type and size of machine to match the application.
  • Safety – All modern PWC’s are fitted out with safety features to ensure the driver and passengers are kept safe at all times. A standard safety feature is a lanyard, which is needed to cut the ignition should the driver dismount.
  • Specification – A jet ski is usually classified in related to the size of the engine. Hull design, engine, and horsepower will have a significant impact on the speed. A PWC with a long, wide design is able to give a more stable ride, but this shape doesn’t give the most desired maneuverability. A sportier version is narrow and short and gives much more favorable speed and handling opportunities.

Other factors include stroke type, aspiration, and fuel consumption.

Types of Jet Ski

  • Stand-up – This style of Jet Ski is small in size and built with no seat and requires the driver to stand-up while riding it. A 1-person jet ski can be difficult to fully master and relies on a certain degree of athletic ability to maneuver. Solo stand-up Jet Skis are highly agile and used by those wishing to perform freestyle tricks. The stand-up machine is more practical for the thrill-seeker with a certain degree of experience.
  • Sport craft – A solo sport craft is again intended for the single rider and comes with a stationary steering control and seat. The sport craft is larger than the stand-up model, but able to move quite fast and corner aggressively. This is a further type of PWC that can benefit from an experienced hand to control.
  • 2-seater – A 2-seater Jet Ski has a longer hull with space for two seats, so room to accept another person. The speed and maneuverability are slightly diminished on a two-seater, but they do offer a higher degree of stability while traveling straight or making corners.
  • 3 or 4 seater – A 3 or 4 seater Jet Ski is highly versatile, comfortable, stable, and a great choice for families. Common features include an enhanced suspension, cruiser seats, and navigation systems. Even thought these PWC have the longer hull and extra seats, they can still perform quite well with a single rider on-board. Plus, a 3 or 4 seater is a practical choice for towing objects like inflatable tubes.

Additional costs and thoughts

  • Storage – Storage options need to be taken into account. A compact solo Jet Ski is the easiest to store at home (in the garage), while the 4-seater model will need a lot more space. So, if you are space limited for storage, it might be necessary to go for a model that offers ease in storing.
  • Trailer – An appropriate trailer in aluminum or similar material is required for transporting the PWC from storage to preferred body of water. Plus, the towing vehicle will need to have sufficient capacity to tow the trailer/jet ski combination on the highway.
  • Insurance – A comprehensive insurance plan for the Jet Ski is a must-have before starting out on the water. Price and cover vary significantly with the different insurance companies, so make sure to shop around.
  • Fuel – Jet skis rely on fuel and costs differ based on the efficiency and size of the actual machine.
  • Servicing and maintenance – A regular service from a skilled mechanic is certain to help keep the PWC in tip-top condition.
  • Safety equipment – Safety gear of a desirable natural includes life jackets, gloves, slip-resistant footwear, goggles, and wet suit.
  • Protective cover – PWC covers give a desired level of protection while the Jet Ski is laid up. Prolonged periods of sunlight exposure are certain to cause issues with the paintwork. Air intakes can become damaged if left exposed. Plus, a cover can protect from the elements (rain, wind, snow, etc.) if stored in an exposed area.