Personal Watercraft Safety Tips

Personal watercraft (PWC) are great for marine adventures, but they do come with safety risks. After all, you are taking a high speed vehicle into unpredictable nature! While you can't prevent every possible situation, you can take steps to maximize your safety.

We've gathered up the essential PWC safety tips below. If you want more advice or want to shop PWC for sale, contact Blackmans Cycle Center. Our dealership is based in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, and we also serve those in Allentown.

Wear Safety Gear

PWC safety starts with the right attire. Every rider needs to wear a well-fitting life jacket. Even if you are a strong swimmer, you could get injured and be unable to keep yourself afloat without assistance. 

Be sure to also attach the engine shut-off switch to the life vest. This will stop the PWC when you become unable to operate it.

It's also important to maximize your visibility. You need to be able to spot upcoming hazards so you can adjust accordingly. If it's exceptionally sunny, throw on a pair of sunglasses.

Know How To Handle A Fall

Even experienced riders can fall off their personal watercraft. If this happens, aim to hit the water rear-end first.

If the situation is serious, stay with your PWC until help arrives. Use your horn, whistle, radio, or other device to call attention to yourself and enlist help.

Maintain Your PWC

Equipment failure can cause an accident. Keep your personal watercraft in good condition, which will maximize the safety of your rides.

Check the owner's manual to figure out the necessary regular maintenance tasks. Tackle them yourself or let a service department, such as the one at Blackmans Cycle Center, handle it for you.

It's also important to regularly inspect your personal watercraft. Look for signs of issues and get any problems addressed as soon as possible. The faster you can spot a problem, the faster you can fix it and the less likely it will cause a safety situation.

Prioritize Focus

Safe operation of a PWC requires an intense amount of focus. Never drink or use recreational drugs before a voyage. If you take any prescription medications, check with your doctor or pharmacist that you can use them and still safely operate a personal watercraft.

Make sure you get a good night's sleep before a PWC ride. Driving drowsy is dangerous on the water too, not just on the road. Keep yourself well fed and hydrated to ensure you can stay alert and enjoy a safe PWC trip.

Need a service appointment to keep your PWC operating safely? Want to shop PWCs for sale? Whatever you need, find it with Blackmans Cycle Center. Reach out today or stop by our dealership in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. We also proudly serve those in Allentown, Pennsylvania.