Back on the water

Before you take to the water, are you sure you’ve got everything you need?

With the warmer weather now upon us, we will be keen to put our machines through their paces. But in that rush to take to the water, how many of us fail to properly prepare our watercraft, trailers or ourselves? Whilst skis may be smaller than many of the craft taking to the water at the start of the season, if you’re negligent in giving your craft the ‘once over’, you may suffer consequences later on with costly repair bills, the inconvenience and hassle of having to put things right and the prospect of an insurance claim - which may not be covered if poor maintenance has caused the damage.

Similarly, if you neglect your trailer and an accident occurs, you may damage your craft, and other vehicles, which could result in third-party liability claims.

Ask the Experts

We asked Towergate Mardon what they suggested you do before heading to the water. He’s what they told us....

Re-screw in the two plastic bungs at the rear of your ski.

They’re easy to overlook, but if not in place, your jet ski may sink.

Fully charge the battery.

It might be working fine when the ski is on land, but there’ll be a greater drain on its power when in the water.

Top up the fuel tank and oil and carry spare spark plugs and tools.

Ensure your vehicle is powerful and heavy enough to tow your jet ski and consider mirror extensions if you can’t see round the machine.

Lubricate trailer wheel bearings with waterproof grease.

Check the ball-hitch works (locks down the tow bar) and the breakaway cable is in place (keeps the trailer attached to the vehicle if the ball-hitch fails). Trailers have been known to detach themselves from their vehicles and cross lanes of oncoming traffic.

Test the trailer’s lights, brakes and wheel clamps.

Secure your jet ski to anchor points, checking and tightening straps during the journey.

Keep a spare - on the trailer or vehicle.

Trailer tyres carry less weight so will be less robust than conventional vehicle tyres.

When launching – keep the lanyard, also known as kill cord, with you whilst parking the car, it’ll reduce the likelihood of theft.

Also remove and safely store the mooring line – this’ll reduce the chance of it getting sucked into the impeller or whipping round and hitting you. If launching in saltwater, regularly check the condition of the trailer as it could suffer from corrosion if not properly cleaned.

Avoid Shallow Water

Try not to operate your watercraft in less than three feet of water as you could pick up stones and damage the impeller. Keep an eye out for weed.

Check your equipment

What condition is your wetsuit in? Do you have boots, a lifevest and goggles? what about the all-important lanyard - is it properly attached to your lifevest or wrist?

Be in the know

When at sea, be aware of the beach by-laws and the safe distance you can travel (for powered craft it’s below six knots and buoys are usually within 300m of the shoreline). The British Marine Federation’s 2009 Water Sport & Leisure Participation Survey reports over 3.7million adults take part in water sports each year. It can get busy so when giving way, know the rule of the sea and move to the right. A moment’s hesitation due to ignorance could have catastrophic results.

If you fall off your watercraft know how to right the machine quickly to avoid the engine flooding.

It might be obvious, but it’s amazing how many fail to follow the directional arrows on the back of their machine.

Use a Spotter

When towing a water-skier or someone on an inflatable toy – place a spotter facing the person being towed.

Take the RYA’s Personal Watercraft Certificate of Proficiency.

The course helps you to ride your machine safely, which will benefit other water users and qualify you for a 10% discount on your jet ski insurance.

Theft prevention

You wouldn’t keep your car key in the same place as your car, so do the same with your jet ski’s lanyard. Keep it separate. Use heavy-duty locks when storing and locking to a trailer. If in a locked garage, place the ski or trailer’s nose away from the exit.

Consider your liabilities

Many riders believe ‘it’ll never happen to me’ or if it does they can afford to replace their machine. But what if you hit someone or cause an accident that results in other parties wanting to claim from you? A £2.5 million liability claim from someone injured by your craft is not so easy to pay for.

What do you want from your insurance cover? Look for a policy that covers theft and accidental loss or damage to your ski, its equipment and trailer, offers generous liability limits, provides personal accident protection and legal expenses, and has some flexibility when it comes to storage and use outside the UK.

Reducing the costs...

We asked Nigel Mills how riders can save money on their insurance. He told us: “As well as offering all these benefits, Towergate Mardon gives discounts to members of personal watercraft clubs, quotes 10% cheaper premiums for those with the Personal Watercraft Certificate of Proficiency, has options for water ski liability, insures your jet ski if it’s stored in an approved location and extends cover when your machine’s laid-up.

“For many, seasonal preparation is second-nature, however it’s always useful to have a checklist as a reference tool. An oversight in any of the areas detailed here could have insurance implications so we’re hopeful those with a lifetime of experience, as well as new jet ski owners, will find it useful.” For risk management/insurance advice phone 0800 515629 or visit www.towergateinsurance.co.uk/boat