PWC Riding Tips For Beginners
Are you looking for a vessel that’ll help you chase adrenaline out on the water? A PWC might be the right answer for you! A growing number of people are investing in these marine powersports vehicles because of their ease of use and the amount of thrills they provide! If you’re new to these personal watercraft, there are some things you should know before you hop aboard one.
As your leading PWC dealer in Lakeland, FL, we at Sky Powersports Lakeland want all our patrons to stay safe while having fun on the water! With that in mind, we’ve compiled a short list of riding tips for beginners. For more help or if you’re looking for PWCs for sale near Tampa or Orlando, get in touch with us and have a chat with one of our helpful staff members!
Know the Controls
A personal watercraft has a number of controls and you should know how they work and where they’re located. Typically, there are controls for turning the vehicle on and off, and going forward, reverse and neutral. If your model has brakes, you should know the triggers; practice flipping the triggers gently away from any other craft on the water. Don’t use the sport mode or the performance keys when you’re a beginner and be gentle with the throttle.
Steering
It’s rather easy to get the hang of steering a PWC with some practice. Keep in mind that many models start in forward so you might start moving immediately. This won’t happen if you have a model with iBR, which starts in neutral. Most models will require a little throttle to steer but some newer ones offer off-throttle assisted steering. When on the water, keep enough space between you and other crafts. Also keep in mind that other vessels can be much slower and less agile than your PWC.
Braking
Some earlier personal watercraft models didn’t have any brakes and some models on the market today also don’t have that feature. However, these are a good addition for those who like to go at top speeds and may want to stop suddenly when the need arises. Some PWC manufacturers offer brakes while others have dual throttle, which can work like brakes when required. When you hit the brakes, it uses the same function as reverse, so if you just hit the brakes, the vessel will stop. If you keep holding the brake lever, you’ll start to go in reverse.
Docking
This is the part that a lot of new owners struggle with the most. That’s because they’re used to going at top speeds on the water. The key to successful docking is really slowing down the speed. This is easy to do when you have reverse or brakes on your model, and you can very slowly approach the dock. If you don’t have either of these features, then cut the throttle and spin in a circle before approaching the dock. Point your PWC in the direction you want to be going and then turn the engine off and coast towards the dock.
No-Wake Zones
When you see white floating cones near coves, boats or land, those are no-wake zones. These areas have been designated as no-wake because there should be no waves to damage boats or make it harder for people to dock or load at the ramps. You might end up with hefty tickets if you decide to create some waves here so be respectful of this rule. When you’re at one of these zones, only idle and be mindful of others around you.
We hope you'll find these tips helpful when it comes to improving your PWC-riding skills! If you want to learn more or are ready to check out PWCs for sale in Lakeland, FL, get in touch with us at Sky Powersports Lakeland and we’ll show you what we have available! We’re also proud to be the leading PWC dealer for Tampa and Orlando!