Personal Watercraft Safety Tips

Your personal watercraft is your key to plenty of adventures out on the water. You'll be able to enjoy the thrilling speeds, conquer the waves, and get to soak up all that sunshine. But there can be safety issues when you bring a high-powered machine into the picture. That's why we gathered up the following safety tips for you to enjoy a safe time out on the water. For all your PWC needs, visit Big St. Charles Motorsports. We are located in St. Charles, Missouri and proudly serve those in St. Louis, St. Peters, and Columbia.

Pack Safety Gear

Your personal watercraft offers a decent amount of storage. Use it! This waterproof storage compartment can keep secure a range of items that will help you enjoy a safe time out on the water such as your phone, a radio, signal flares, sunscreen, bottled water, and a first aid kit. These will help you in a range of situations from getting lost to avoiding sunburns.

One key piece of safety gear you'll always want to bring along is a well-fitting life vest. Of course, you should know how to swim well before getting on your PWC. But there are situations where you will appreciate the flotation assistance. You may get injured and unable to stay afloat or swim back to your personal watercraft. The life jacket will help you stay afloat until help arrives.

Hauling Tips

You'll need some way to get your personal watercraft to the water. A specialized trailer will do the job well. It's important that your trailer is able to handle the weight of your PWC. Not only is overloading a trailer illegal, it creates a dangerous situation for those on the road around you.

You'll want to be sure to set aside time to practice loading and unloading your PWC and driving with your cargo before you attempt to do so at the docks. It may take a few times to get used to the process and you don't want to have your first time be full of stress with others waiting for you to finish so they can take their turn. While you drive with your cargo, leave plenty of space between yourself and the other drivers. Keep in mind the extra weight will mean you'll need more distance to come to a full stop. Drive cautiously and defensively to help ensure a safe ride to and from the docks.

If You Fall

You may end up falling off of your personal watercraft. If that happens, stay calm. If possible, try to land in the water rear-end first. Hopefully, your safety lanyard is attached to your life jacket or your wrist. When you fall, it'll turn the PWC off. Then you can safely get back on board.

Maintain Your PWC

Sometimes safety issues occur due to malfunctions in a personal watercraft. Regular maintenance can help prevent these issues from cropping up. You'll want to inspect a range of aspects to ensure your PWC is running well. Look at your battery, cables, and connections to see if you spot any issues. Check your fluid levels and top off anything that's low. Inspect for any leaks. If you catch any problems, you'll want to get them addressed as soon as possible. Small issues can turn into larger and more costly ones the longer you wait.

We hope you found these tips helpful! For all your personal watercraft needs, visit Big St. Charles Motorsports. We proudly serve those in St. Louis, St. Peters, St. Charles, and Columbia, Missouri, so stop by today!