Jet Ski maintenance after a saltwater ride can take so much time if you don’t know what to do. To properly care for your jet ski, you must do your research first. One of the most crucial things to perform after riding a jet ski on saltwater is to clean it thoroughly.
If the jet ski is exposed to saltwater, it might suffer damage. For instance, seawater on metal accelerates corrosion and rusting. Salinity is also a conductor of electricity. Since these electrical currents contribute to electrolysis, this is not great news for your jet ski—just another way to describe that your jet ski’s critical components are decomposing chemically. For the most part, owning a jet ski requires regular upkeep.
The first thing you’ll want to do after riding in saltwater is sprayed down and wash the jet ski’s outside. After that, use a hose to thoroughly clean the engine compartment’s inside. Finally, cleanse the engine and cooling system to ensure that corrosive salt isn’t left behind and causes more harm. Work on this should take no more than 20 minutes.
After a PWC Salt Water Ride, Here Are the Essential Steps to Take
- Clean The Exterior of Your Jet Ski
After using your jet ski in saltwater, the first thing you should do is spray it down. You should take extra care to rinse off any saltwater residue.
- Clean the Interior of Your Jet Ski
You’ll also want to remove any other attachments from your jet ski at this point. As an illustration, consider all the many inside and exterior features like seat covers, glove boxes, and storage compartments.
The goal was to make it as simple as possible to get into the jet ski’s interior. Make sure that your jet ski’s bilge plugs are removed, as well. It’s surprising how many people forget to remove the bilge plugs before launching their jet skis.
Keep the front of the trailer slightly higher when checking the wheels so that the water drains out of the jet ski’s back.
The jet ski should be hosed down from left to right and inside to outside so that no missed places. Pay close attention to the gasoline tank, the coupler, and the engine in particular. External components tend to come in the way of these places.
You should clean the objects you take from the jet ski when you are confident that you have cleaned the jet ski thoroughly. As a result, your jet ski will remain spotless even if parts from your accessories are exposed to it.
These are just a few basic ideas to help you better understand your jet ski, but each jet ski is unique, so you should check your owner’s handbook and your repairman to determine the best approach to clean your jet ski.
- Clean Out the Fuel Tank on Your Jet Ski
Follow these instructions to flush your jet ski: Many consumers mistakenly assume flushing and cleaning their jet ski are the same. When you wash your jet ski, you’re getting rid of salt and other foreign substances from the engine, cooling system, and pump itself. Even if you’ve used your jet ski in freshwater, many owners recommend flushing it.
Connect a hose to the freshwater intake port on your jet ski to flush it. This may come standard on specific models, but if not, you’ll need to buy and install an attachment.
There may be sand, gravel, and other material that accumulates after using a jet ski in freshwater or saltwater. When flushing, instead of cleaning your jet ski, be sure that it is in a level position. This permits water to flow more quickly through the motor and cooling systems.
Taking care of a jet ski requires familiarizing yourself with the owner’s handbook because every jet ski is unique, much like cleaning your car. After flushing the jet ski’s water box, you’ll find detailed instructions in the owner’s handbook on how to deal with any residual water.
Make sure you flush your jet ski every time you touch saltwater to keep it clean.
- Lubricate and Inspect for Damage
Moving forward, it is a good idea to inspect your jet ski for damage when it is being washed and flushed. Because damage can spread to other sections of the jet ski over time, it’s critical to address any issues as soon as they arise.
It’s essential to keep moving components lubricated with grease or fogging oil since salt is highly corrosive. Because salt may end up almost anywhere, it’s critical to maintain your jet ski to prevent more damage.
Make sure to cover your jet ski if you plan on storing it outside so that it is protected from the elements. Make sure to keep your jet ski in good working order so that you can get the most out of it throughout the years.
Jet Ski Preventive Maintenance Tips
To safeguard your jet ski against saltwater, you should do some preventative maintenance now that you know what to expect after riding in saltwater.
Protective measures are the first line of defense against jet ski damage. To do this, there are several options. With your electrical connections, it’s best to begin coating each conductor with a corrosion blocker before reconnecting the connections is a good practice.
Afterward, make sure that any metal surfaces are shielded from the weather. This results in a thick residue that is difficult to clean off thoroughly. A yearly or seasonal application of this form of protection is critical.
Another approach to determine when you need to reapply for protection is to look at how many hours you’ve spent on your jet ski. Apply a new layer of protection after 50 hours of usage on a personal watercraft (PWC). This mostly depends on how often you take advantage of your jet ski.
Fogging Oil
To avoid corrosion on the jet ski’s cylinders, fogging oil into the spark plug holes is a good idea. This is an excellent strategy to employ for those who know they won’t be able to ride their jet ski again for a few weeks.
As a bonus, this might come in handy when the weather becomes cooler and you can’t use your jet ski. After cleansing your jet ski’s cooling system, the optimum time to apply fog is immediately after that.
Fogging oil is sprayed into the engine to protect the engine’s interior components from corrosion caused by moisture or other circumstances. Spraying fogging oil immediately after flushing will provide the optimum effects. To see if you’ve applied enough fogging oil, check the exhaust for a substantial amount of smoke.
Keep It Dry
Additionally, it’s best to keep your jet ski dry. For some reason, even though jet skis are watercraft, this advice suggests removing the drain plugs and letting the machine breathe.
Remember to screw in the drain plugs before riding the jet ski back into the water. In general, the jet ski engine is a critical component to protect against water exposure.
Although storing your jet ski in seawater is not suggested due to the risk of damage, many prefer a lift or floating jet ski dock instead.
Conclusion
Before you acquire a jet ski, one of the most valuable lessons you can learn is how well you know your jet ski. Buyers should keep in mind that each jet ski has a unique set of systems that might affect the regularity with which they service and maintain their jet ski.
Remember that not all information found on the internet is appropriate for your jet ski. Additionally, if you have any problems, don’t hesitate to ask your repairman or the person who sold you the vehicle.
