4 Tips To Safeguard Your Jet Ski From Winter Damage

What is Winterization?
It is simply the preventive maintenance process of preparing something for winter, in this case, jet ski (or Personal watercraft).  This is necessary because a prolonged period of non-use can lead to malfunctioning of vital parts of the machine. Some of the common problems witnessed after winter include coagulated fuel systems, battery failures, broken engine cases, and rusted internal metals.

Depending on the weather condition of your location, your jet ski may require partial winterization or complete winterization in which case you will require the services of experts. Due to the pleasant weather condition of Dubai, jet ski owners can enjoy the sports all-year-round.

However, if you intend traveling during the winter or maybe you don’t fancy the idea of jet skiing during winter, here are a few tips to help you in winterizing your jet ski:

Blow Dry the Exhaust System: The first problem most jet ski owners find out after a prolonged period non-use is water freezing in parts of the machine where it isn’t supposed to be. Blowing out excess water through the exhaust port will help ensure that you do not encounter such a problem when you pick up your jet ski after the winter break.

Alternatively, you can use a mixture of water and antifreeze to make sure that even if there is water left in the exhaust system, freezing will not occur during the period of non-use. To do this, mix a two gallon of water and antifreeze in a 50/50 proportion, then start the engine and use a hose or water pump to flush the system with the antifreeze mixture.

Switch off the engine after the mix has filtered through the exhaust system. This will protect the exhaust system from freezing if there is water left in it.

Take Out the Battery and Store Properly: Watercraft battery like any other battery can lose its charge during a prolonged period of non-use. To prevent this from happening, make sure you remove the battery before hibernation and attach an automatic battery charger to the battery to ensure the battery is kept fresh and fully charged. Also, make sure that the battery is safely stored away from inflammable substances and

Take Care of the Fuel System: To prevent fuel contamination and residue build-up in the carburetor, gas lines, and injection system, make sure you add a fuel stabilizer to the tank before parking your jet ski. We recommend that you add the stabilizer before filling the fuel and if possible, go for premium gasoline.

Before the winterizing, make sure you examine every part of the fuel system before mounting your jet ski. It is important that you check the fuel hose and hose clamps for leaks, loosening or damages.

Also, check the fuel lines, fuel caps, and gaskets and replace worn out or loosened parts before starting the engine.

Lubricate All the Moving Parts: Lastly, proper lubrication will ensure that your jet ski is ready to go as soon as the winter is over. For this purpose, go for fresh synthetic oil and high-quality oil filter specifically engineered to meet the particular lubrication requirements of jet skis.

Also, make sure that all the moving parts of the watercraft are lubricated. Some of the parts to dedicate special attention to include the steering nozzle pivot points and reverse/brake systems.

If all these seem like too much work to do, engage the services of a local dealer.

If you are looking to rent water crafts like jet skis or flyboard, Ride in Dubai have amazing, well-maintained jet skis and our friendly instructors are always available to ensure that our clients are always treated to a memorable experience.