Personal Watercraft Safety

Climbing aboard your Sea-Doo after you launch it and plunging into open water is a great way to spend a sunny Saturday afternoon on the lake or river. Many PWC owners are champing at the bit to get their personal watercraft into the water when the months grow hot. Before you pack up and head to the ramp, though, you should take some time to review these personal watercraft safety tips from 2Brothers Powersports, your Onalaska personal watercraft dealership. We want all our customers to use best practices when they’re on their watercraft.

Inspect At Home

While your PWC is still in your garage or shed, give it a thorough visual inspection. Look for damage to the hull that might have been sustained on your last ride, as well as any loose hose connections. Test the throttle to make sure it starts and make sure your lights work. Should you encounter an issue with your personal watercraft that you can’t address yourself, call up the 2Brothers Powersports service department so our mechanics can take a look.

Check The Weather

You don’t want to end up on your watercraft in the middle of the lake or stuck on the river during a lightning storm, hail, high winds, or heavy rains. It pays to check the weather a few days before you head out on your marine excursion, and again the morning of your departure. Partly cloudy skies aren’t a deal breaker, but watch for any storms that might be building. You want to use your watercraft in fair weather to keep yourself safe.

Acquire Safety Gear

Your PWC should be outfitted with current safety gear that’s up to code, which means you should wear a life jacket at all times as you ride and have life jackets for any passengers you might carry. Additional safety gear that can be stowed in your waterproof storage compartment include:

• A first aid kit
• A radio
• Your cell phone and battery operated charger
• Sunscreen
• Signal flares
• Water and snacks

Other safety gear tips include:

• Clip your personal watercraft’s engine shut-off switch to your life jacket so that the engine stops if you fall or become unable to operate your craft. 
• Wear a whistle around your neck to signal your approach to other water users if your PWC doesn’t come with a horn.

Tow With Caution

When towing your PWC on a trailer behind your vehicle, it’s important to exercise caution on the highway. Even if your drive to the water is brief, take your time and don’t speed. Try to avoid switching lanes or making sudden turns -- signal well in advance of every move you make out of your lane. Practice reversing your trailer with your personal watercraft on it in an empty parking lot, using cones to simulate the ramp, so that you’re able to launch your watercraft expediently when you get to the water.

Be Patient At The Ramp

Once you arrive at the ramp, exercise patience with other water users. Everyone needs plenty of space and time to get their crafts launched, so do as you would want others to do for you and give them that space. Pull to the side with your trailer to get your PWC ready for launching by attaching a tow rope if you need one, stowing everything in your compartments, applying sunscreen, plugging in your drain, and getting your life jacket ready. When you’re coming back from the water, slow down well in advance of the ramp and wait your turn once more to get your PWC out of the water.

Follow Water Rules & Regulations

When you’re on the water, it’s important that you respect those around you by not doing anything dangerous or risky. 

• Signal your approach with your horn or whistle to other craft, passing them on the right. 
• Give swimmers in the water a wide berth so you don’t splash or scare them. 
• Never drink or use recreational drugs before or while you ride. 
  • Alcohol will impede your focus and also make you more susceptible to hypothermia since it reduces blood flow to your extremities. 
• Make sure that your PWC is licensed and insured and registered as appropriate in your area before you get on the water.

In Closing

We know it's exciting, fun, and relaxing to head out on the water on a gorgeous summer day. But take your time, and remember to follow these personal watercraft safety best practices to ensure everyone has a fun and safe day on the water. 

Need to upgrade your current PWC or want to invest in the latest model with all the bells and whistles? Visit our Onalaska dealership to check out our great selection of new and used personal watercraft, including the latest PWC from Sea-Doo. 2Brothers Powersports is conveniently near the cities of Madison, La Crosse and Eau Claire, Wisconsin.