Comments on: What tips do you have for riding a Jet Ski? http://boats.helping-us-with.com/officialblog/jet-skies/what-tips-do-you-have-for-riding-a-jet-ski Boating Tips, Tricks and Advice Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:46:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: lois_lane_11 http://boats.helping-us-with.com/officialblog/jet-skies/what-tips-do-you-have-for-riding-a-jet-ski/comment-page-1#comment-1574 lois_lane_11 Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:12:49 +0000 http://boats.helping-us-with.com/officialblog/?p=3232#comment-1574 I've been riding for 20 years, and I would suggest starting off on a slower model before moving on to one with more power. A early to mid-1990s Sea Doo GTX is a good beginner model. Very stable and not too a ton of speed with full throttle (but still enough to have a blast on!). Make sure that you know all of the laws in the area that you will be going to. If it's chilly wear a wetsuit, if it's hot make sure to wear tons of sunscreen. Make sure that your lifevest is a Coast Guard arrproved Type III vest. There are some out there that are approved by the Coast Guard but not Type III, so be careful. If you're starting off as a driver, remember that jet-skiis don't steer if you don't give it any gas! So if you get in trouble, don't shut it off or pull out the key because you won't be able to manuver it. If you're starting off as a passenger rather than the driver, hold on to the person in front of you, not onto the seat strap (if there is one). If you want to ride a stand-up first, make sure you give it gas to pull you out of the water. It's easiest to start by floating in the water with your knees on the ski rather than on your stomach. In rougher water they get bouncy, so balance is tricky. That's about it, but if you want to know more, go to the website for the area you will be visiting or to any national park website. You'll find a link there to safe boating guidelines. I’ve been riding for 20 years, and I would suggest starting off on a slower model before moving on to one with more power. A early to mid-1990s Sea Doo GTX is a good beginner model. Very stable and not too a ton of speed with full throttle (but still enough to have a blast on!).

Make sure that you know all of the laws in the area that you will be going to. If it’s chilly wear a wetsuit, if it’s hot make sure to wear tons of sunscreen. Make sure that your lifevest is a Coast Guard arrproved Type III vest. There are some out there that are approved by the Coast Guard but not Type III, so be careful.

If you’re starting off as a driver, remember that jet-skiis don’t steer if you don’t give it any gas! So if you get in trouble, don’t shut it off or pull out the key because you won’t be able to manuver it. If you’re starting off as a passenger rather than the driver, hold on to the person in front of you, not onto the seat strap (if there is one).

If you want to ride a stand-up first, make sure you give it gas to pull you out of the water. It’s easiest to start by floating in the water with your knees on the ski rather than on your stomach. In rougher water they get bouncy, so balance is tricky.

That’s about it, but if you want to know more, go to the website for the area you will be visiting or to any national park website. You’ll find a link there to safe boating guidelines.

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