Tips for Launching a Personal Watercraft

Before you can enjoy an adventure with your personal watercraft (PWC), you need to launch it. This process can seem overwhelming, which is why we created the following guide to walk you through the steps.

For more tips or to shop for PWC for sale, visit Big St. Charles Motorsports. Our dealership is located in St. Charles, Missouri.

Get the PWC Onto the Trailer

The first step is to look over your trailer and ensure it is ready for travel. Check the tire air pressure, test the lights, and so on.

Next, load the personal watercraft onto the trailer.

Then, secure the PWC using tie-downs. Double-check your work, add more tie-downs as needed, then drive over to the launch site.

Prepare Your PWC for the Water

When you arrive at the dock area, pull over to the side. You'll need a minute to get everything sorted and don't want to be in the way of others launching their personal watercraft.

Then:
Attach the PWC engine kill switch to your wrist.
Insert the PWC drain plug.
Loosen the winch straps and safety chains on the PWC. This allows the personal watercraft to float when the trailer is placed in the water.
Start the engine to double-check that it's ready to go and won't stall on the ramp.
Join the line for the ramp.

Place Your PWC in the Water

Slowly back the trailer up into the water. You want your vehicle at the water's edge, the trailer partially submerged, and the PWC floating on top of the trailer. Once you are in the correct position, park your vehicle.

Next, get into the water and pull the PWC off of the trailer. If you are alone, secure the PWC so that it will remain stationary while you move your car. If you are with others, they can either move your car or stay with the PWC.

Start Your Adventure

Take your PWC to where the water is at least three feet deep, get on board, then start it. Keep in mind that starting a personal watercraft in shallow water can cause debris to clog the intake, which can cause expensive damage.

Start off slowly traveling away from the dock and leave room for others to launch their personal watercraft. Get out into the open water, open up the throttle, and enjoy your adventure!

Consider Practicing

You may want to dedicate some time to practice the process in an empty parking lot. You can place cones to signify the ramp and practice backing up a loaded trailer. The more you practice, the easier the PWC launching process will become.

Want to explore PWC models for sale? Check out the selection at Big St. Charles Motorsports. Our dealership is based in St. Charles, Missouri, and we also serve those in St. Louis and St. Peters.