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Three Methods for Jump Starting a Jet Ski
I’m an avid jet skier. I’ve been jetting for more than ten years every summer. A good battery is of the utmost importance! You don’t want to be out on the lake and your jet ski won’t start because the battery is dead.
Jet Ski batteries only last a couple of years. If you’re having starting issues pick up a new battery. A battery that needs jump starting isn’t going to last much longer.
If your ski is going to sit for several weeks, or months, you should remove the battery. Store it somewhere cool and dry. Put a trickle charger on it once a month. This is your best bet to keep your battery in good working order for next Summer.
In the mean time here are some ways you can jump start your jet ski.
The four methods are:
- A battery booster (AKA portable battery booster).
- From a free-standing battery.
- From your car battery.
- Jet Ski to Jet Ski.
A Portable Battery Booster
A portable battery booster makes jump starting your ski easy. They have several on the market now and they are reasonably priced as well. These little boosters provide the power you need to start your ski several times on one charge.
Jumping from a Battery Booster is straight forward. Always follow the manufacturers instructions for their specific model. Generally, attach the positive (red) to the positive battery terminal and the negative (black) to the negative terminal and start your ski!
Jump Start From A Free-Standing (Auxiallary) Battery
If you’re in a position where you can’t get a vehicle near the jet ski and you don’t have a portable battery booster, you can bring the battery to the jet ski. Set the auxillary battery near the jet ski.
- Set the auxiallary battery on a piece of wood on the ground near the jet ski.
- Attach jumper cables to the positive and the negative on the auxillary battery.
- Attach the positive cable to the battery on the jet ski.
- Attach the negative cable to a ground on the jet ski engine.
- Insert the lanyard and press start!
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR VEHICLE AND ELECTRIC SHOCK.
Jump Start From Your Car
NEVER BE IN THE WATER WHEN JUMP STARTING A JET SKI!
- Take your red (positive) jumper cable and attach it to the car battery.
- Do the same with the black (negative) cable.
- Important! On the dead battery attach the positive jumper cable to the positive on the terminal. But attach the negative cable to a source of ground such as a bolt on the engine. A bolt is my choice it makes for a good ground. Make sure the cables are where they won’t interfere with moving engine parts once the engine starts running.
- DO NOT start the engine of your car!
- Attach the lanyard and press start.
- Detach the cables the same way you put them on; jet ski, negative and then positive. Car; negative and then positive.
Jump Your Ski From A Ski
- Place the working ski near the dead ski, so the cables will reach.
- Attach the cables to the battery, on the good jet ski. Red to positive, black to negative.
- Important! On the dead battery attach the positive jumper cable to the positive on the terminal. But attach the negative cable to a source of ground such as a bolt on the engine. A bolt is my choice it makes for a good ground. Make sure the cables are where they won’t interfere with moving engine parts once the engine starts running.
- When jumping from jet ski to jet ski: You don’t need to start the jet ski with the good battery, the one you are jumping from. If you are jumping while dry docked make sure it has a hose attached for the cooling system when you start it. You want the engine to stay cool. It doesn’t take long for a jet ski to overheat. If the other jet ski is not turned on, it will act like a free standing battery. A jet ski with a good battery should not have a problem starting the other jet ski and then later starting itself. Batteries can start engines multiple times on one charge.
© 2026 Ms. Millar
Happy skiing!