How To Protect Your Jet Ski During Winter
The cold and gloomy winter months don’t just mean a hiatus from the pursuit of the perfect beach body; they usually mean a temporary break from beach and water sports in general, including our beloved jet skis. But did you know that leaving your jet ski dormant in a shed or on a trailer at the back of your house could cause damage to your jet ski?
To protect your jet ski over winter, we have created a checklist of our top tips, which will keep it in the best shape for its return once the sun comes out again.
- Invest in a Good Cover
While a tarpaulin or some spare material might seem like a good temporary cover, they will still allow dust, bugs, frost, rain, sunlight and other damaging particles to reach your jet ski.
At Friday’s, we stock purpose-made jet ski covers, which are suited for all brands of jet ski. The covers are made to keep out the sun, avoid mildew growth and protect all the facets of your craft.
We also have covers specifically for Sea Doo jet skis. Check out our website for our full range of Sea Doo accessories online.
- Drain Your Ski
It’s important to drain any water from your engine before it goes into storage over winter. To do this, get your jet ski up onto the jet ski trailer and tilt it so that the back (stern) is lower than the front (bow). Turn on your engine and let it run for less than 30 seconds at a time, turning the handle back and forth to push excess water out from your engine.
- Clean The Ski
Give your ski a good scrub! Washing your ski down in important, as it will avoid any salt water from building up and staining your ski – it also gives you a good chance to give your craft a bit of extra TLC with a buff and shine.
- Disconnect The Battery
Keeping your battery in good condition is vital to keeping your craft up and running! Even when they are not being used, batteries can lose their charge. While a battery sits unused for months, it may not only lose its charge, but also it’s ability to maintain battery charge!
To avoid this, we recommend you remove the battery from your jet ski over winter. Once it is disconnected from the jet ski itself, find a secure surface away from any flammable materials and connect the battery up to a battery maintainer/automatic battery charger.
- Store it
While a good jet ski cover will protect your jet ski from the elements, it won’t protect it from thieves or from flammable substances!
Keep your jet ski in a secure location, preferably inside a shed or garage, out of sight and out of the harsh rain, wind and storms that come with winter.
Also keep your jet ski away from any machinery or tools that may produce a spark or a flame, or other flammable substances such as paints, as your full tank of petrol in the jetski won’t take long to catch alight.
- Servicing
Last but not least, winter is the perfect time to get your jet ski serviced or winterized for longer storage periods. We are passionate about jet skis, and aim to provide all our clients with professional service and advice to keep your jet ski healthy. Book a jet ski service in Perth with the team at Friday’s – head to our Servicing page to find out more.
Time for an ATV?
While your jet ski might take a hiatus over winter, you don’t have to! Winter is the perfect time to invest in an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) or Quad Bike. Tackle the terrain and go off-road in one of our Can-Am ATV’s; enjoy driving through puddles and mud, head on a road trip and take on the sand dunes up north, or check out one of WA’s legal trail riding areas.
For all of your jet ski and ATV needs, contact Friday’s to make your weekends more exhilarating! Our professional team can provide advice, support, servicing and sales across a range of jet skis, ATV’s and accessories.
