Personal Watercraft Safety
Riding your personal watercraft on the lake or river on a beautiful sunny day is fun and exciting. But getting into an accident with your PWC isn’t. At Escondido Cycle Center, we want you to stay safe every time you ride your PWC. That’s why we’ve created the following safety guide! Keep reading to learn more, and contact us at our Escondido, California location if you have any questions or you want to buy a new personal watercraft. We also proudly serve those in San Diego and Oceanside!
Get the Right Gear
An important part of staying safe on your PWC is having the right gear. You should always have a well-fitting life jacket on when you ride. No matter how strong of a swimmer you are, it’s important to always wear a life jacket when riding. Attach the engine shut-off switch to your life jacket or your wrist so the machine will turn off in the event that you are thrown from it.
Some more safety precautions you can take include storing your phone with a charger, a radio, signal flares, sunscreen, water, and a first aid kit in the waterproof storage compartment of the PWC.
Hauling Tips
Your personal watercraft requires a special trailer to get it from one place to another. Make sure the trailer you use fits the weight of your PWC. Overloading a too-small trailer is illegal and can cause safety concerns. Take some time to learn how to properly load your craft. When driving, be careful and increase the following distance between yourself and other drivers. Keep in mind that towing heavy cargo means you need more room to slow down and stop.
Patience at the Ramp
Once you reach the ramp, pull off to the side to get your PWC ready. Turn the throttle one last time to ensure it will start. Put in the drainage plug. Apply some sunscreen and put on your life jacket. After all, safety first!
The goal is to launch your personal watercraft as quickly as possible. Give those around you plenty of space to launch their own machines, and when you are coming back from your ride, be patient and wait your turn. Slow down before you get to the dock so you don’t splash anyone or endanger them. Following simple safety tips will ensure that you and those around you are safe and free of harm.
We hope this guide helps you stay safe every time you take your personal watercraft out for an adventure! If you have any questions or you’re looking to buy a new model, reach out to Escondido Cycle Center in Escondido, California. We are proud to serve San Diego and Oceanside as well. Our staff can’t wait to help you in whatever way we can this summer!
