How to Winterise Your Jet Ski
Winterising is an essential part
of jet ski maintenance, yet not nearly enough owners take it seriously. The
fact of the matter is that if you value your jet ski and want it to last for as
long as possible, making sure that it gets winterised is absolutely crucial;
possibly even more crucial that the initial seaworthiness servicing it would
receive before going to sea.
Yes, winterising can be time-consuming and relatively costly, but just think of
how much you’d save on jet ski repairs in the long run!
What is Winterising, Exactly?
Of course, before you have your jet ski winterised, you need to understand what the investment truly is here. Winterising is something that should be done at the end of the summer season (yes, every year). It’s a process of cleaning and coating the jet ski, and ultimately ensuring that no damage or rusting occurs from its exposure to the sea.You have two options when it comes to winterising: you can take it to a
professional, or you can do it yourself. The latter seems daunting, but it’s
not that hard if you’re meticulous. Here are the steps you should be mindful
of, in order to get you started:
Initial preparations
The first step here is to enjoy your last ride, because the winterising process should start right after it. In other words, plan your timeframes out well. As tedious as it might sound, also have a look at your jet ski’s owner’s manual to make sure there are no concerns hidden in the fine print you should know about when winterising it.The cleaning process
Making sure your jet ski clean is the best way to prevent any
forms of corrosion from saltwater. The first thing you’ll want to do is start
the engine while out of the water, steering the handle side to side while it’s
on. This will allow any remaining water to seep out.
Then, take your jet ski to your chosen storage location, and
make sure that it’s set on a level and even platform. Make sure that there are
no flammable materials in the space.
Then, wash your jet ski with warm water and an appropriate
washing soap. The less time you take to do this from your last ride, the easier
it will be to get rid of algae and grime. When you’ve washed and rinsed it, dry
the jet ski with soft towels.
The Next Steps
Once your jet ski has been cleaned and dried, you can store it.
Put some gas and gas stabilizer in the tank in order to prevent engine
condensation. Turn on the engine for half a minute to distribute the stabiliser
across the engine. After this, you should take the time to oil the carburettors
by applying a good fogging oil (remove the air cleaners first).
There are only a couple of final steps, including disconnecting
the battery and storing it separately on a rubber mat. Cover the jet ski’s
exhaust to keep nesting bugs out, and finally cover your whole jet ski.
If you complete these steps, congratulations: your jet ski has
been winterised.
Keep Yourself and Your Jet Ski Happy
Allow us to persuade you one last time before this article comes
to a close. We Maltese have a habit of assuming that what happens elsewhere in
the world does not need apply in our own islands, but this could not be further
from the truth when it comes to winterising.