Insert your jet ski plugs before putting it in the water!
The first thing I want to address is the proper way to flip your jet ski when it has capsized. There IS a wrong way to flip it and a right way to flip it! If you want to keep your ski running for years to come you need to know how to flip a capsized jet ski so you don’t constantly force water into the carburetor which will, over time, ruin it.
Proper Way To Flip A Capsized Jet Ski
This applies to the majority of jet skis out on the water IE: Seadoo and Yamah. The rear of the jet ski should have a sticker indicating the proper direction to flip the jet ski. If you flip it the wrong way the exhaust will dump water into the cylinders.
The Lanyard – If you were wearing the lanyard appropriately the engine will have shut-off as soon as you were unseated from the jet ski. If you were not wearing the lanyard, or somehow it was pulled off of your ski jacket and did not kill the engine, do not approach the jet ski. The intake has the capacity to suck in anything that gets near it! That includes your hands, your legs, anything that gets near it. The jet ski carburetor will eventually either drown itself, or starve itself of fuel.
Approach capsized ski from the rear paying attention to the flow of the water. If you approach from downstream, the jet ski may be washed into you by the tide.
- With your left hand take a hold of the ride plate. The large steel plate that protects the jet drive.
- With either your right hand, or right foot, placed on the gunwale (the edge of the jet ski) and press down while simultaneously pulling up with your left hand on the ride plate.
- The ski will rotate in a clockwise fashion until upright.
Saltwater
After a day of riding the waves in the ocean, or any body of saltwater you must flush the engine! Saltwater is highly corrosive. It will eat through the metal on the jet ski! There is a right way and a wrong way to flush an engine. The sequence is important so that you won’t flood your engine and carburetor. Here are the steps:
- There is a water inlet (and oftentimes there’s a special attachment for a hose) on top of every jet ski engine. Place the attachment and hose onto this inlet and the other end attach to a fresh water tap.
- Do NOT turn the water on yet.
- Insert your lanyard key and start the engine.
- When the ski has started: NOW turn the hose water on.
- Let the jet ski idle with clean water flowing through it for a couple of minutes.
- Turn the water off.
- Now turn the engine off.
If these steps are performed out-of-order the water will be forced into the carburetor and thus the engine. Now you would have saltwater eating away your carburetor and engine, plus hydro-lock. It’s a good idea to rinse the entire jet ski with clean fresh water, and the trailer as well. Saltwater is unforgiving.
Check The Hull
Whether you’ve been on saltwater or freshwater, always check the hull after you ride. Water can collect in the hull for various reasons, including a water hose line leak, weak/old seals on the driveshaft and flipping your ski. It’s a simple task to clear the water. Remove the plugs at the back of your ski. Small skis have one plug, large skis have two. Take the plug(s) out and let the water flow out. Remember to replace the plugs when it’s all drained out!!
If you find your hull is constantly filling with a significant amount of water you will want to check the seals, especially at the drive shaft. These seals are the only thing keeping the lake water out of the engine compartment and they take a beating, so start with them.
Winter Storage
When the Summer ends it’s time to put the jet ski in storage. You do not want to store anything, especially your jet ski, with gasoline in it. Gasoline turns into a goopy glob after just a couple of months. It leaves deposits in the tiny ports inside the carburetor. It’s just no good when left to sit.
I personally use Seafoam when I put my ski’s up for the cold weather. It keeps my carbs clean and ready for next Summer! Here’s how to use it:
- Set your ski up as you would to flush the engine (refer to the above instructions).
- Prepare the fuel line with a hose at the intake side (where the carburetor draws up fuel) and put the hose into the bottle of Seafoam.
- Start the ski.
- Turn on the water.
- Let the carburetor suck up all the Seafoam.
- The engine will die when it runs out of Seafoam.
- Immediately turn the water off.
- You’re done!
Your ski is ready to be stored!
Need to Jump Start your ski? Read the full post here.