[jeffk]

PWCs are lots of fun but need to be used responsibly. All the same rules that apply to a boat apply to the PWC so the starting point is to have your boating certificate. The next thing is safety; always wear a life jacket and use the safety features of the craft. Attach the cutoff lanyard to your life jacket. Get a good pair of goggles to maintain visibility. Know how to right the craft if it rolls upside down.

READ the owners manual. The jet skis I have should not be towed without clamping one of the hoses to prevent water intake into the engine (BAD). Take the machine into a dealer and have them look it over. Are the seals in good condition or will you find yourself taking on water? Is the impeller OK? Is the reverse mechanism working properly? Are battery cables tight. Is the battery in good condition? Is the throttle working properly?

Remember to put in the drain plugs before dropping them in the water!

When you take the PWC out of the water, open the drain plugs. If a ton of water comes out after a day on the water, your seals may be bad.

Riding:
There are (on most machines) NO brakes. You cannot stop on a dime. Allow lots of space to slow down. Throwing it into reverse while still moving fast is NOT recommended. If you are not applying throttle, you have NO steering control. The water jet that propels the boat also steers the boat. No water jet, no steering.

EXCEPT, on my machines there is always a slight jet (slight steering). That means as soon as you start the engine, the PWC will start to move forward. You do NOT want to start the machine while standing next to it. It will nicely walk away from you. You CAN place the "shift" into the neutral position but that simply directs the jet downward. It minimizes motion but usually doesn't stop it completely. It is also a real pain (literally) and possible dangerous to try mounting from the back (the only way) while the jet is running. As a corollary to this, if a passenger is trying to board, shut the engine OFF.

Maneuverability and performance:
While this is the fun part of PWC, it is also the most dangerous to yourself and other boaters. Without lines, like on a road, there are no limits on where a boat may be on the water. When you are watching other boats near you, their predictability of motion enhances everyone's safety. Rules like standon and give way are somewhat based on this predictability. With a PWC, forget predictability. What do you know about a PWC coming at you that is having a blast by running left and right across your path. Are you standon or give way? Should you go right or left to avoid them? As a responsible PWC rider, find a place out of the main traffic and away from other boats before going crazy. RESPECT small boats.

A side effect of this maneuverability is that you, the PWC driver, quickly lose your orientation and lose track of nearby boats. This is another reason to get away from others before playing.

Tight turns:
A PWC can turn on a dime. The problem is, the G forces on YOU when it does rise with speed. A sudden fast turn can throw you right off and you will go skimming across the water. When you stop you will likely be shaken up and a bit disoriented. You DID wear your life jacket and attached your shutoff lanyard, right? Hopefully you didn't hit your head on anything.

These turns become tricky for an additional reason. The chines on the PWC hull help bite in and control the boat. However, when you are turning hard, a slight shift of weight can suddenly engage a chine MUCH more that it was and the PWC will turn like a giant hand reached down and gave it a sudden twist. Off you go.

The solution to this is experience. Take the PWC out with a friend (nice that you have two) and try it out. One person stands watch in case something goes wrong. Get well away from everything else. Try turning with ever increasing speed and tightness. Go from a left turn quickly to a right turn. See how the PWC handles. Find out where the "grab" points are for the chines. Notice the disorientation experienced after a few loops.

Passengers:
Remember that the person in back probably can't get as good a grip as the driver and children are not as strong holding on as adults. Passengers also cannot stand up to ease the impact of bumps. With passengers, SLOW DOWN. What feels OK to you may be pounding (and scaring) the heck out of them.

The extra weight of a passenger significantly affects the behavior of the PWC. The driver knows when he will turn and leans into the turn making it smoother. The passenger will not know and may even feel they are tipping over and lean against the turn, then they may shift back. This makes turning more difficult and unpredictable. Again, practice and get used to the behavior of the PWC with extra weight.

Towing rules:
While a PWC can tow a double tube, I got ticketed once for towing two people with only one spotter. I don't know if the rules have changed on that. If not, you would need three people on the PWC (driver + 2 spotters) and 2 in the tube. That's a LOT to haul around for a PWC.

Have fun!