Jet skis provide fun, freedom, and memories on the water. Capable of taking you on amazing adventures. The lifespan of a jet ski depends greatly on the make, model, usage, and maintenance. Some may last only a few hundred hours, while others may go beyond 1,000 hours with proper care.
Maintaining your jet ski allows you to enjoy more hours on the water and help to retain its value should you wish to sell it. Many potential buyers look at the maintenance record of a jet ski more than the hours it has spent on the water to make their purchase decision. With a limited lifespan of water hours, a poor maintenance record is a surefire turn-off to a potential buyer.
The Importance of Jet Ski Maintenance
Without regular maintenance, you can quickly run into issues that turn your season of water-based adventure into a nightmare of breakdowns, safety issues, and expensive mechanical bills. Nobody wants to spend their precious vacation and weekend days fixing problems and paying repair bills.
Without paying attention to regular maintenance, you can expect to experience:
- Rusted and corroded internal parts, leading to days without your ski and large repair bills
- Exterior damage from water, weather, or UV rays
- Problems starting your PWC
- Breakdowns on the water
- A reduction of resale value should you wish to sell your jet ski
And you can even experience…
- Explosions due to gas vapors and electrical sparks
Understanding Your Jet Ski
Whether you are a novice or an expert jet ski owner, your owner's manual will always be a vital reference for maintaining your PWC. Every model is different, and the requirements and expectations for maintenance will differ from model to model.
By following the manufacturer's recommendations for your specific machine, you can prolong the life of your jet ski and retain more of its value should you wish to sell it in the future.
Image Credit: Ernesto Velázquez / Pixabay
Regular Maintenance Tips
Any machine needs regular maintenance to keep it working at peak performance. Jet skis work hard on the water to bring us as much fun as they do, and in return, they are not for the lazy or complacent when it comes to maintenance.
Below are a few basic maintenance steps to ensure the safest enjoyment of your PWC and to squeeze the most hours from its potential fun.
Always clean your jet ski after riding
Maintaining your jet ski is not something you can catch up on when you remember once in a while, or when you want to pull your jet ski in for the winter. The lifespan of your jet ski relies on you taking care of it every time you ride.
Saltwater, as a corrosive liquid, should always be washed from your ski as soon as possible. Many people know and remember this about saltwater but can easily become complacent after riding on freshwater. Although freshwater is generally less corrosive than saltwater, it can still contain contaminants that may affect your jet ski. When riding your PWC on freshwater lakes and rivers, it's still vital to clean your jet ski quickly afterward to remove any potential contaminants that could harm the exterior and interior workings of the machine.
Quickly flush your jet ski’s intake and cooling system after every use
Corrosion from salt or freshwater is the arch-enemy of your jet ski’s internal workings. Flushing your systems is a non-negotiable part of maintenance. It not only prolongs the life of your jet ski but greatly reduces your chances of technical problems while out on the water.
Flushing your system clears out water, weeds, algae, mud, and any other junk that found its way into the system. Keeping these systems free and clean prevents clogging and keeps harmful corrosion away.
Regularly check your jet ski for damage
Small areas of damage to the exterior or interior workings of the jet ski can easily happen while transporting, moving, or riding your PWC. Small issues found early can prevent many dangerous problems on the water and keep your machine in good condition.
Regularly inspect all the areas of your jet ski for damage, corrosion, or leakage of fluids like gas, oil, or coolant. If you find any suspicious changes, take your jet ski to your maintenance professional and ensure your machine stays in good condition.
Seasonal Maintenance Tips
Setting yourself up for a great season with your jet ski means taking care of a few seasonal maintenance tasks. Keeping up with these will repay you in hours on the water for years to come, helping to keep you safe out there.
Don’t skip your annual service
The average jet ski gets around 30 hours of water time per season. For some people, it is a shorter vacation with many hours each day on the water. For others, a slow and steady pace of an hour or two most weekends. Whatever your schedule for using your jet ski and however long it is stored each year, it must receive a yearly service. Oil, filters, and spark plugs are all items that need replacing for a safe and breakdown-free riding season.
An annual service does more than just maintain the jet ski. It searches for potential safety issues and leaks that could create breakdowns or injuries while on the water.
Getting ready for winter
Storing your jet ski using an appropriate cover and the most protective place you can find will prolong the life of your PWC. The fewer elements and harsh weather conditions it has to endure, the more likely it will reach its expected number of riding hours. When left open to the elements, the exterior surfaces and inner workings of the jet ski will break down and sustain damage very quickly.
Fuel stabilizing
Adding a fuel stabilizer to your tank before parking it up for the winter prevents the breakdown of fuel and corrosion within your tank. Nobody wants to start the season with a stalling ski and major mechanical problems. Stabilizing your fuel during storage can help you to get off to a quick start to your next season.
The Role of Jet Ski Covers in Prolonging Lifespan
Using a cover for your jet ski has a vital role in increasing the hours you can expect to ride it. A cover protects your PWC daily during the riding season and for the longer storage off-season.
Routinely covering your jet ski after washing it protects your machine from many environmental factors that can cause damage and reduce its lifespan. When left out in the elements, the exterior and seats can fade and become damaged, while the inner workings can corrode and lead to much larger problems. Just a few of the foes of the jet ski are:
- Rain and water
- Dust particles
- Snow
- UV rays
- Sand
- Dirt
- Bird droppings
- Tree sap
- Hail storms
That’s quite a list of things that can create problems that reduce your hours on the water.
Image Credit: JetskiCover.com
Choosing a jet ski cover
Whether you store your jet ski indoors or outdoors, whether it is covered for a single night or an entire season, there is a cover to keep your machine safe. It is vital to cover your PWC, no matter when it is stored and for how long.
Indoor covers
When storing your jet ski in an indoor environment, keeping it from dust, accidental damage, and even mold and mildew will improve the lifespan of your PWC. Indoor-only jet ski covers are a great choice for machines kept in garages, storage units, and other protected areas. Indoor covers are often:
- Made from lightweight material
- More affordable than heavy-duty covers
- Easy to place on your jet ski
Outdoor covers
If you are storing your jet ski outdoors for any time, even simply overnight, an indoor cover will not be enough to protect it. If your jet ski is sometimes inside, and sometimes outside, an outdoor cover will work for both. Outdoor covers are built with greater features that include all the benefits of an indoor cover, with the added benefits of:
- Weatherproofing
- Water & snow proof materials
- UV protection
- Maximum protection for use both indoors and outdoors
Trailerable covers
Many outdoor jet ski covers are designed to cover your machine while stationary but are not intended for use while the PWC is attached to a trailer. Some can damage the exterior of your jet ski if you transport it with its cover attached.
Choosing a trailerable cover helps to protect your jet ski from weather, UV rays, and potential environmental damage while it is on the move for the most convenience in moving your PWC where it needs to go.
Jetskicover.com takes care of your PWC cover needs
At jetskicover.com, we offer a wide variety of lightweight, easy-to-use, and affordable jet ski covers in indoor, outdoor, and trailerable options. We guarantee a superior fitting cover for the best defense for your machine.
Helping to prolong the hours of adventure you can have on your PWC, browse our ever-growing selection of the finest jet ski covers here.