Safe Seadoo Riding
The end of another fabulous season of excellent seadoo riding is quickly coming to an end. Even though we had more than our fair share of rain this year, that didn’t stop me from bringing my twin pwcs with me just about every weekend as we headed out to the lake. Before I put my seadoos away for the season, I wanted to write a bit about the unexciting but extremely important topic of seadoo safety.
The most important aspect of seadoo safety is to always wear an appropriate PFD (personal flotation device) or life jacket. This cannot be overstated. Buy and wear a PFD that is properly fitted for your size and weight and that is approved by the local water safety commission or the Coast Guard. Properly approved PFDs will have a label on the inside indicating that they have met certain safety standards. If you have questions just ask at your local marina. Insist that any passenger wear an approved PFD.
Safety tip number two, but probably the top tip on my list, is never drink and ride, or let any of your buddies mix alcohol with operating their seadoo. Indeed, hot summer weekends and camping often include their share of cold ones, but along with being illegal, it is just plain dangerous to drink and operate motor vehicles, if not potentially fatal. Enjoy a cold one after riding, just please don’t consume alcoholic beverages before or while riding your pwc.
In my opinion, riding a Seadoo PWC is a day time sport. Although most machines are equipped with lights as is required by the law, it is much more dangerous to ride a Seadoo at night. Water hazards such as rocks and driftwood are nearly impossible to see at night. Be safe and ride during the daylight hours.
Safely riding your pwc means not using it as a mini-bus. Most pwcs are designed to carry two riders comfortably. By design, this means the weight of two people as well as the space that 2 people take up. Don’t think you can crowd 3 tiny people behind you just because they don’t weigh very much.
For those that are in love with the sport, riding a Seadoo is one of the biggest joys of the summer. It is an inexpensive, fun and easy way to get into boating. I really cannot think of a better way to enjoy the lakes and rivers of our great country. By following a few simple safety tips and having a healthy respect for the dangers of boating related activities, then you can have a fun, healthy and safe time on your Seadoo PWC.
Seadoo safety is an important aspect of enjoying your seadoo. You can read more and learn all about seadoo covers at seadoocovers.blogspot.com.