PWC Safety Tips
One of the best ways to get out on the water on a warm summer day is to ride a personal watercraft (PWC). These fun crafts are akin to an aquatic motorcycle, allowing you to cruise through the water at high speeds for a thrill.
However, similarly to riding any land-based vehicle or operating a boat, it’s important that you follow some good safety practices when riding your PWC to ensure that you or someone else doesn’t get hurt and that you don’t damage the watercraft itself.
Island Watersports in Fenwick Island is your Delaware personal watercraft dealer. Here are some essential safety tips to help you ride your PWC responsibly this summer and avoid an incident.
Wear Protective Gear
Gearing up for your ride is a necessary step towards responsible riding. While it might not be fun, wearing a personal flotation device (PFD or “life jacket”) is important in case you fall off the PWC and become disoriented or knocked unconscious. Your PFD will keep you afloat until help reaches you.
Another good piece of gear to wear is a helmet designed for riding personal watercraft, since head injuries can happen if you smack your cranium on the PWC as you slip off it. While this isn’t required in all jurisdictions, it’s a good idea.
Some people opt to wear a wetsuit in order to keep themselves warm, since the shock of cold water can be alarming.
Maintain Your PWC
Another good way to be a safe PWC rider is to make sure that you’re keeping your watercraft properly maintained. You don’t want to run out of gas or have a clogged intake that could cause you to stall out in the water. Perform a thorough check of your PWC before you head to the launch to make sure that the engine starts, the fuel and oil levels are high and that all cables are properly connected.
Exercise Caution
When you leave the boat launch on your PWC, always go at a slower pace until you get out onto open water. You want to get yourself away from swimmers, anchored boats, buoys and other obstacles before you pick up speed. Always be vigilant when you are on the water to make sure that you can steer around people and boats in the water. Follow all signage regarding speed limits and prohibited areas to make sure you don’t damage the surrounding environment.
We hope these tips prove useful to you this summer. Looking to purchase a new PWC? Visit our Fenwick Island, DE, dealership today to take a tour of our current selection of new and used PWC for sale. You can also discuss financing options with our helpful sales team if you’d like to use them. Island Watersports proudly serves all our Delaware customers as well as those in the cities of Salisbury and Ocean City, MD.