PWC Safety

Imagine yourself coasting across the surface of sun-dappled waters on your WaveRunner. Now imagine yourself falling off it and watching helplessly as it zooms past you because you forgot to attach the kill-switch to your lifejacket, so now you’re floundering in the middle of the lake and forced to swim to shore. This is the kind of mishap we aim to prevent when we talk about personal watercraft safety. As much fun as personal watercraft, or PWC, can be, they do require that you take some safety precautions before you sit astride them and twist the throttle. That’s why the fine folks of Crossroad Powersports, located in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, have prepared this brief checklist of PWC safety tips to help you have the most pleasant aquatic adventure you can.

Inspect Your Craft

Before you even load your Jet Ski® on the trailer, you should give your watercraft a thorough inspection to see that everything is in good working order. Look for loose hose connections or damage to the hull, and ensure that your signals and lights work well. If you find something amiss that you can’t fix yourself, bring it into our service department and we’ll get you all fixed up.

Check The Weather

It’s important that you don’t ride you PWC in dangerous weather conditions. Ocean tides can be unpredictable and storms can arise quickly, so check the forecast a few days in advance of when you plan to take your PWC out, and double-check the morning of your intended trip so that you know what to expect. Don’t go out on the water during lightning storms, hail or heavy rains that impede your visibility.

Equip Yourself With The Right Gear

Before boarding a personal watercraft, it’s essential that you know how to swim and float, even if your skills are very rudimentary, because you’re likely to fall off if it’s your first ride or you’re still pretty new. You should always wear a lifejacket with the engine kill-switch lanyard clipped either to it or wrapped around your wrist, so that your PWC’s engine will shut off if you fall or become unable to operate it. Bring signal flares, a radio, your phone, a first aid kit, sunscreen and water to drink, storing all these tools in your PWC’s watertight compartments. Wear sunglasses and sunscreen as you ride, and wear a whistle around your neck if your PWC lacks a horn.

Tow Safely

When towing your PWC on a trailer, it’s important to be a more cautious driver because your trailer will make driving a little more difficult. Go no faster than 60 mph and avoid switching lanes or passing other drivers, allowing them to pass you instead. Signal well in advance of leaving the highway and increase your following distance behind other drivers because you’ll need more time to come to a complete stop when braking. If you aren’t confident about towing a trailer, give yourself some time to practice driving with a trailer in a big empty parking lot where you can work on your reversing, braking and parking skills.

Practice Patience At The Ramp

When you arrive at the ramp, park to the side to get yourself and your PWC ready for launching, then join the queue. Give everyone ample time and space to get their watercraft into the water before it’s your turn, and do your best to be expedient. When you’re returning from your ride, slow down well in advance of the ramp and wait patiently for your turn to pull your PWC out of the water.

Rules & Regulations On The Water

Use some common sense on the water to keep yourself and those around you safe as you ride your PWC. Never drink or use drugs before you operate your PWC. Not only will intoxicants impair your focus and slow your reflexes, but alcohol decreases blood flow to your extremities, which can increase your risk of hypothermia if you fall into the water. Sobriety is the way to go. Give other water users a wide berth, passing other craft to the right and using your horn or whistle to signal your approach in crowded areas. Make sure your PWC is properly insured and licensed with all the appropriate labels on it.

Need a personal watercraft before you hit the New Jersey beaches this summer? Come to our showroom to see the great new and used PWC we carry, including Jet Ski and WaveRunner models. Crossroad Powersports is based in Upper Darby, serving the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metro region, as well as Deptford Township, New Jersey and Wilmington, Delaware.