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Riding Your PWC With a Passenger

Aug. 4 2021 Ownership TIps By Big St. Charles Motorsports

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A personal watercraft ride can be made better with a passenger! It's fun bringing along a friend or family member, but there are important safety and logistical considerations to make. Keep reading for tips on riding your PWC with a passenger. 

If you want more tips or want to shop PWC for sale, visit Big St. Charles Motorsports. Our dealership is located in St. Charles, Missouri, and we also serve St. Louis and St. Peters.

Benefits of Riding Your PWC with a Passenger

First, it's a blast! It's thrilling to take someone on the ride of their life, especially if it is their first PWC ride.

Second, it's a great social outing. Riding a PWC together is a great bonding activity for friends and family.

Third, it gives you extra help for various PWC tasks. Launching, docking, fueling, and spotting hazards are easier with two people over one!

The Personal Watercraft and Passenger Capacity

Most PWC will be able to accommodate a passenger, but don't just assume your given model can. Check the manufacturer's recommendations or owner's manual to verify that you can safely take a passenger on a PWC ride.

Remember as well that the extra weight of a passenger will affect how the PWC handles. The acceleration and turning radius, for example, will be altered. It may take the first few minutes of the ride to get used to this.

The Passenger's Responsibilities

There are a few requirements of the passenger. Make sure the individual is able to handle all of these responsibilities before taking them on a PWC ride.

The passenger needs to:

  • Wear a well-fitting life jacket.
  • Be able to hold on and avoid falling off. They can grab onto the seat strap, rear grab handles, the driver's life vest, and so on.
  • Be able to communicate with the driver their needs, such as slowing down or stopping. These can be communicated with hand signals picked before the ride.

Tailor the PWC Ride to the Passenger

Take into account your passenger's experience level with PWC riding. If this is their first ride, for example, plan a shorter excursion. Think of it as a test run to help them warm up to personal watercraft adventures and leave them excited about the next ride.

It's also important to know your passenger's riding preference. Do they want an adrenaline-fueled adventure full of high speeds and wave conquering? Or are they looking for a smooth and relaxing cruise to soak up the sights? Make sure you and your passenger are on the same page to avoid any bad experiences or rides cut short.

Want more advice for riding a personal watercraft with a passenger? Looking to shop PWC for sale that can handle multiple riders? Whatever you need, the experts at Big St. Charles Motorsports are here to help. Contact us or stop by our dealership in St. Charles, Missouri. We also proudly serve those in St. Louis and St. Peters, Missouri.