What Should I Do When I Flip My Jet Ski?

Riding a Jet Ski, Sea-Doo or other personal watercraft is a great way to enjoy a sunny day. Most models are fairly easy to handle, but accidents do happen. If your craft turns over, it is important to know what to do so you don't permanently damage the machine.

  1. Minimize Water Intake

    • Make sure the engine is off before attempting to flip the craft back to its upright position. This will minimize the chances of water getting sucked in through the air intake, which can cause serious damage to your machine.

      Most models have a sticker on the back that indicates which direction you should flip the craft. If the sticker is missing, you'll want to minimize water intake by flipping the machine in the direction that allows the exhaust to hit the water last. Most models require you to flip them in a counter-clockwise direction.

    Flip The Watercraft Over

    • Once the engine is off and you know which direction to flip the craft, grasp it firmly,

      place your foot on the bumper rail and use your body weight to flip the machine back to the upright position.

    Remounting

    • Once the craft is in the upright position, carefully get back on to make sure you don't flip it again. The easiest way to remount the machine is to go to the back of it and place both hands palms down on the platform. Pull yourself out of the water and into a kneeling position on the back of the craft, being careful not to lean too far in either direction. Grasp the seat and pull yourself up to a seated position.

    Restart the Engine

    • To ensure no water settles into the engine, potentially causing mechanical parts to rust, you should restart the engine as quickly as possible once you've remounted the craft. Start the engine and continue to ride as you normally would.