Personal Watercraft Safety

Is there a better way to enjoy the sunshine than on a personal watercraft? Enjoy the thrills of the ride along with the restoration that comes with being in nature. Of course, to enjoy a wonderful ride you need to be able to have a safe ride. PWC are powerful vehicles and can bring with them safety issues.

Here at Family Powersports San Angelo, we care about your well-being. That’s why we created the following guide to personal watercraft safety. If you have any questions or want to look at models, visit our dealership. We proudly serve those in Abilene, Big Spring, and Sonora, Texas.

Get Safety Gear

When you take a powerful machine out on the water, you open up the door to potential safety issues. Protect yourself by bringing along the right safety gear. It starts with a life jacket. Sure, you may be a strong swimmer. But accidents may happen that interfere with your ability to keep yourself afloat. In those instances, you’ll be grateful for the flotation assistance. A life vest can also be connected to your PWC’s engine shut-off switch. If you should fall off, your personal watercraft will then be shut off. This helps make it easier to safely get back onto your vehicle.

You’ll also want to bring various odds and ends to help keep your ride safe. Your personal watercraft comes with a storage compartment just for the storage of these items! Bring your phone, a radio, and signal flares so that you can communicate with others and get help if need be. Pack sunscreen so you can reapply throughout your ride. Take some bottled water so you can more easily stay hydrated. Finally, pack a first aid kit so you’ll be able to address minor medical issues.

Hauling Your PWC

You’ll rely on a trailer to transport your personal watercraft to the water. Make sure your trailer is capable of handling the weight of your PWC! Overloading a trailer is not only illegal, it is also dangerous for everyone on the road around you.

Once you’ve got a compatible trailer, you’ll want to practice loading and unloading. It can be stressful your first time at the ramp and it’ll go much more smoothly if you have the confidence and experience under your belt.

When you are ready to hit the road, drive defensively. Remember that your personal watercraft adds weight and, in turn, adds to the time and distance you need to come to a full stop. Leave plenty of space between yourself and other vehicles and take turns slowly.

PWC Maintenance

Even the highest quality personal watercraft will eventually experience performance issues. Time does take its toll. It’s much better to catch any maintenance problems in advance rather than experience them out on the water where they could become a safety issue. That’s why regular inspections and maintenance are key.

Start by inspecting your personal watercraft battery, cables, and connections to ensure everything is operating as it should. Next, check your fluid levels and top off anything that’s low. Before and after every ride you’ll want to look for leaks. If you notice any problems, get them fixed sooner rather than later. Leaving them unaddressed can cause worse (and more expensive) damage down the road.

We hope you found these tips helpful! For all your personal watercraft needs, visit Family Powersports San Angelo. We proudly serve those in Abilene, Big Spring, and Sonora, Texas. Our knowledgeable staff is happy to chat with you and figure out which model best fits your needs and budget, so stop by today!