Jet Skiing Tips

I admit, I am very apprehensive when it comes to trying new (potentially dangerous) things, like riding a motorcycle or a jet ski. I tend to let my fears get the best of me. Over our honeymoon, though, my husband decided that he wanted to rent a jet ski, and instead of letting my fears take over, I went into the experience with an openmind. And what do you know? I actually learned somethings about myself.

I LOVE TO JET SKI!

If you’re like me, and would like the exhilarating experience of cruising across an open body of water on a jet ski, but are afraid to, I’ve compiled a list of jet skiing tips to help make your first time out (as well as later ones) enjoyable AND more importantly…SAFE!

1. Check your local weather report! Seriously, I can’t stress how important this is. See the picture below? That were taken while we were out on the jet ski. The sky looks gorgeous, right? An hour later the clouds were dark gray, and I told my husband that they weren’t looking very good. We headed back to the rental place, and as we pulled up to the dock, we heard thunder and saw a flash of lightning. In other words, just because the sky is nice and blue one minute, doesn’t mean it won’t change the next. And the last thing you want to do is to get caught out in the middle of wherever you are, with lightning flashing, choppy water (if it’s windy) and low visibility because it’s pouring. NOT FUN!
2. Wear sunscreen! This should be a no brainer, but I figured I should mention it. I put some on both my husband and I and he still ended up with a sunburn. So don’t be stingy. Apply a lot. You’ll thank yourself later.
3. Wear sunglasses! My husband was smart and made sure to wear his sunglasses while driving the jet ski. (Me…not so much!) His sunglasses helped shield his eyes from not only the sun, but the wind as well. It’s hard to keep your eyes open when the wind is blowing in them.
4. Keep your eyes open and stare alert. This tip goes hand-in-hand with rule #2. Make sure you can see while jet skiing. You need to be conscious of what is going on around you. Keep an eye out for boaters and other jet skiiers or those who are tubing, kayaking, etc. If you see another jet ski out on the water, make sure you stay at least 70 feet away to avoid collision.
5. Wear a life jacket. Again, you would think this is a no brainer but I need to state it, just in case. (Also, make sure it fits properly.)
6. Clip your jet ski key to your life jacket. If you fall off the jet ski, the key will pop out of the ignition, and you won’t have a runaway jet ski on your hands. (I periodically checked while we were on the jet ski to make sure the key had not come unclipped from my husband’s life jacket.)
7. Get a boating license. I’m not sure of the rules in other states, but in order for my husband to rent a jet ski here in New Hampshire, he had to have a boating license. (I’m getting mine for next summer! WOOT WOOT!)
8. Protect your phone/camera. The jet ski we rented had a storage compartment to store my husband’s phone in, which was comforting to me. If we needed to call for help while out, we could have. However, we did not have a waterproof case for his phone so I was extremely worried about getting it wet. (We did see protective cases inside the marina afterwards, though, that would protect phones.) What is also great about having your phone with camera on hand is that you can get some great photos while out, like the one above. We were having so much fun that I wanted to capture the exuberance we both felt. We were like two teenagers out there. 
9. Get emergency contact numbers. If you are renting a jet ski, it’s a good idea to keep their numbers on hand while out on the water that way you can call for help if you need to. Don’t forget to store it in the storage compartment so it doesn’t get wet.
10. Ask for instructions! Don’t be afraid to ask for the rental company to show you how to use the jet ski. Just because you have a boating license doesn’t mean you automatically know what to do. My husband was nervous when he climbed on the jet ski for the first time, so he had them explain to him what to do. It only took a couple of minutes and that mini crash course gave him the confidence he needed to drive with ease. (And to make me feel more secure, I had my husband ride around for a few by himself to get a feel for the machine.) You can even take a course on how to ride jet skis if you would like.
11. Obey boating laws. If you’re in a No Wake Zone, don’t leave a wake. Also, don’t jet ski before sunrise or after sunset. It’s dangerous and puts not only yourself at risk, but others, as well.
12. Review rental company rules. For example, had we damaged the jet ski we rented, the rental company would have charged us a lot of money for damages, and we found out that because we went over the rules with the rental company. Make sure you know what they expect when you return with their equipment. You don’t want any surprises.
13. Be open-minded! Don’t get freaked out when you get on a jet ski. If you do, it may keep you from enjoying yourself. Let go and have fun. Who knows, you may find yourself screeching and squealing like I did…and not in fright. I could not stop laughing and making noises. I was having that much fun. (Hun, when can we go again?)

I hope these jet skiing tips will help make your future jet skiing adventures more enjoyable and carefree.