Jet skis are designed to move seamlessly in water and can hit top speeds of up to 70 miles per hour depending on the power and size of the motor.
A flipped jet ski will not sink because its hull is specially designed to float even if it takes on water. The danger, however, lies in the significant risk of personal injury if the operator falls from a flipped jet ski, as well as potential damage to the vessel if certain parts become flooded.
Ignoring safe operating instructions and excessive speeding or inexperience can result in the flipping of a jet ski.
How Does A Jet Ski Work?
For the most part, pulling in water is one of the major components of what propels a jet ski forward.
Working in tandem with the engine, the watercraft takes on water in a controlled manner, then pushes it back out, thereby providing the power to launch the vessel through water.
An impeller aids the intake of water into the engine and the jet propulsion system expels it, so the engine is used to handling some volume of water.
An issue would only arise when the engine is flooded with excess water.
What Could Cause A Jet Ski To Overturn
There are a few reasons that a jet ski could flip; among them, imbalance due to improper load, reckless operation, instability due to low speed, or the inexperience of the operator.
Oftentimes, if the operator falls off the jet ski and attempts to reboard incorrectly, this could also cause the vessel to become upended.
Other than the risk of personal injury which may be compounded by being in the water unprotected, the personal watercraft could start to take on water and parts of it may start to sink.
Though it will not completely submerge, only the hull is likely to remain above water, however, the engine which is located in the back of the craft is reasonably expected to be damaged from the deluge.
Corrosive-prone parts of the vessel such as the engine and other parts made of metal could start to flood and malfunction, which could later result in costly repairs or completely render the jet ski useless.
What To Do When Your Jet Ski Flips
A personal watercraft is designed to stay afloat so under normal circumstances it is quite difficult to flip it.
Quick action is necessary in order to avert potential disasters in the event of an upended personal watercraft.
Most importantly, the operator should check the surroundings to see that no one has been hurt or that there are no resulting accidents from the mishap.
Further, follow-up actions include returning the jet ski to its original upright position and switching off the engine.
This reduces the chances of water seeping into the engine and possibly permanent damage.
If you are not familiar with the particular brand or model of the jet ski, a sticker on the bottom should provide detailed instructions on the correct way to do so.
Reboarding the jet ski also requires some information and perhaps a certain level of skill in order to remain on board and not flip the watercraft again.
Depending on the amount of water that the PWC has taken on, it is advisable to leave the engine switched off, start the bilge pump and have the jet ski towed back to shore.
If the watercraft was not flooded, and you are able to successfully flip it and re-board, you can continue the fun, remaining mindful of safety precautions and safe operation.
Enjoying Your Jet Ski Responsibly
A flipped jet ski is most likely an unmanned vessel, which could cause a collision and potentially life-threatening injuries if there is an accident.
These vessels are usually traveling at high speeds and being operated in a fun environment where people normally throw caution to the wind. These are prime circumstances for disaster to strike.
Observing various safety measures by operating responsibly, wearing appropriate clothing, and recommended accessories such as helmets, personal floatation devices, and other protective equipment reduce the risk of bodily injury in the event of an accident.
The engine shut-off cord, also known as a lanyard, should be worn at all times so that if the operator becomes separated from the PWC, he can switch off the engine to prevent accidents.
It is imperative that one respects nature and the unpredictability of the open sea, and the fact that personal watercraft are powerful machines which must be operated with care.
Avoiding unnecessary risks like trying to ride waves or operating the jet ski while intoxicated means being able to fully enjoy this thrilling experience