5 Practical Tips for Riding a PWC with a Passenger
The thrill of riding a PWC is overwhelming as the wind blasts on your face. More so, the experience is exhilarating if you have a friend riding with you across the open waters. However, riding a jet ski or a PWC with a passenger is different from riding alone. Therefore, it's essential to be familiar with the rules and guidelines of handling a PWC when you have more than one person on board. At S&N MotorSports, we've compiled the below outline to help you safely ride your PWC or jet ski with a passenger. To learn more, visit our location in Port Charlotte, Florida, serving Fort Myers, Florida.
1. Safety is Always the Driver's Responsibility
The driver should always ensure the passenger is on the jet ski or PWC at all times. Cases have happened whereby a passenger falls off the PWC unnoticed, and the driver goes quite a distance without any clue that they're alone. This puts the passenger in danger of being hit by another vessel or, worse, being carried off by the waves.
2. Passenger Experience and Skills
Before setting out, evaluate the pairing formula of the driver and passenger. In all essence, pairing a beginner driver with an inexperienced passenger could be disastrous. If the passenger is less experienced and the driver is well skilled, ensure the ride is shorter to allow the passenger to get the hang of it.
For passengers familiar with riding a bicycle, they may adjust relatively fast to jet ski riding since they're in some way better at coordinating balance. However, they still need time to adapt to the unexpected changes in direction, which affects the balance required to keep them on the PWC.
Ensure the rides are shorter if you're riding with a child since they tire easily and forget to hang on relatively fast. Also, you shouldn't ride with the child between the driver and handlebars for safety and better steering of the PWC.
3. Give the Passenger Basic Instructions
Before setting out, go over the basic instructions such as safety information, what to bring, what to wear, and what to do if they fall off. Similarly, the passenger should learn the basics of riding the PWC if the driver falls sick at sea and the passenger has to steer the craft back to the shore.
4. Correct Seating
The passenger is responsible for securing their seating by holding onto something. They can hold onto seat straps, rear handles, or the driver's flotation device. Use a harness or a riding belt to secure children on the PWC.
5. Have a Way to Communicate
Ensure there's a way for the passenger to communicate with the driver. For example, beforehand, let the passenger know how to communicate when they want the PWC to stop, slow down, or what to do if the PWC flips and how to re-board.
We hope the above tips will be helpful the next time you're riding your PWC with a passenger. For more information, contact S&N MotorSports today! Also, we invite you to visit our location in Port Charlotte, Florida, serving Fort Myers, Florida.