Summer is over. It's time to pull out the Seadoo covers and put our beloved machines to sleep for the winter. The temperature has dropped significantly in the past few days and I'm pretty certain that I won't be getting out on the lake again this year. I had not started to take any steps towards winter storage as I had held out some faint hope that the 2009 Seadoo season wasn't over yet.
The end of summer is a wee bit sad for me but it will be ski season soon enough. I'm not as passionate about skiing as I am about riding my Seadoo. However, skiing does make the winter pass a little quicker and I have a good group of friends that I can ski with.
At the end of every summer I take my Seadoo to the marina and have the engine cleaned and checked over. I have been told that it isn't necessary to do this every year but I know it will extend the life of my Seadoo. Keeping up with annual maintenance will also help my Seadoo retain a good re-sale value. I don't have any intention of selling my Seadoo in the near future but I expect at some point I might want to upgrade a bit.
Once the mechanic has given my Seadoo PWC a tune up, I take it home and give it a good bath. I wash every aspect with a warm soapy solution. I then apply a special conditioner to all of the vinyl surfaces and a different plastic protection agent to the hard rubber bits and pieces. I make sure that my Seadoo shines before I put it away for the winter. I then fasten the cover and say good bye until the spring. When spring rolls around I know that I will really appreciate the Seadoo PWC maintenance I did in the fall.
I think that good quality Seadoo covers are an excellent way to protect your machine and extend the life of the Seadoo engine. I use a Seadoo cover when ever my Seadoo is not in use. I have two different Seadoo covers. I use a lighter weight spandex Seadoo cover to protect my Seadoo from the sun in between uses. I doesn't matter if this cover gets wet as it is made from quick dry material. I use a cover made from heavier nylon or gortex material whenever I am pulling the Seadoo behind my car. I also use the heavier Seadoo cover when I am storing the Seadoo for the winter.
It isn't necessary to have two different Seadoo covers. If you only have the budget for one cover you will need to choose the heavier cover. I like the option of having a lighter weight cover because it is so easy to put it on and take it off. I can put the light weight cover on in a minute and when I take it off, I can store it in the glove box or under the seat. The heavier cover is a bit more cumbersome to take on and off. However, as the name implies the light weight Seadoo cover only provides light weight protection. You will need the protection of a heavier cover when you are on the highway.
Like most things Seadoo covers are available online. Do a quick internet search on "second hand Seadoo covers for sale" or "Seadoo covers for sale online" and you will be amazed at the results. There are a number of virtual marine supply companies that have excellent reputations. Online shopping is often a great way to find good quality products at a reduced price.
So I should wrap up this post, make an appointment with the mechanic at the marina, dust off my seadoo covers and get my ski bindings adjusted.
Friday, 25 September 2009
Sunday, 13 September 2009
PWC Safety Tips
co-written with John Moore
What a great summer. Despite the rain I was able to get out on the river ALL THE TIME. I don't regret getting my new Seadoo PWC one little bit. I really threw myself into the sport and got a lot out of it in return. I took the sport very seriously and I had a healthy respect for the dangers involved with the sport. I must say that the only part of the active Seadoo lifestyle that I found distasteful wer a small number of other riders you behave carelessly out on the water. Not only do they endanger themselves and their passengers but they also endanger me and act to give Seadoo PWC riders a bad name. Thankfully it is a small percentage of riders who behave recklessly.
There are only a handful of water safety rules, that if followed, make the sport safe and enjoyable for all. The first and most important rule is to wear a life jacket at all times. Buy and wear a PFD that is properly fitted for your age,size, height and weight.Properly approved PFDs will have a label on the inside indicating that they have met certain safety standards. This sounds simple enough but you would be surprised by the number of idiots who don't wear one. I guess they don't want tan lines.
Don't drink and ride. Never mix booze and riding a Seadoo pwc. In fact, you should never mix alcohol with any type of boating or motorized activity. Sounds simple enough. There is plenty of time to enjoy a few cold beverages after you get off the water. Being drunk on a Seadoo is dumb. It is both dumb and very unsafe.
One thing I noticed this summer is that young kids tend to pile on 3 or 4 people on a Seadoo. It looks like they are going to sink. It is a great way to wear out your Seadoo seat covers. Don't overload your personal watercraft. Generally, Seadoos are designed for 2 people. That means they can safely accommodate 2 people. Sounds simple enough. If you absolutely need to have 2 passengers plus a driver then go slow and only do so in familiar waters.
Another common sense rule involves towing people behind your Seadoo. Don't tow anyone, ever, without a spotter. Again, this is just common sense. Whenever you tow people behind your Seadoo PWC (whether it is on water skis or a tube or a knee board) make sure you have a mature spotter that understands the importance and role of being a spotter. Oh, and make sure you have a proper tow rope. Having a tow rope snap is very dangerous and unpleasant.
My next safety rule is in a bit of a grey area. In my humble opinion, riding a Seadoo PWC is a day time sport. To me that just makes sense. Although most PWCs are equipped with lights (it's the law), it is very dangerous to ride a Seadoo at night. Water hazards such as rocks, shoals, buoys, swimmers and driftwood are nearly impossible to see at night. Just say no to night time riding.
For those of you, like me, that are in love with the sport, riding a Seadoo is one of the biggest highs of the summer. It is an inexpensive and super fun activity. Follow some common sense safety guidelines to ensure your safety and the safety of others around you.
Happy Riding.
What a great summer. Despite the rain I was able to get out on the river ALL THE TIME. I don't regret getting my new Seadoo PWC one little bit. I really threw myself into the sport and got a lot out of it in return. I took the sport very seriously and I had a healthy respect for the dangers involved with the sport. I must say that the only part of the active Seadoo lifestyle that I found distasteful wer a small number of other riders you behave carelessly out on the water. Not only do they endanger themselves and their passengers but they also endanger me and act to give Seadoo PWC riders a bad name. Thankfully it is a small percentage of riders who behave recklessly.
There are only a handful of water safety rules, that if followed, make the sport safe and enjoyable for all. The first and most important rule is to wear a life jacket at all times. Buy and wear a PFD that is properly fitted for your age,size, height and weight.Properly approved PFDs will have a label on the inside indicating that they have met certain safety standards. This sounds simple enough but you would be surprised by the number of idiots who don't wear one. I guess they don't want tan lines.
Don't drink and ride. Never mix booze and riding a Seadoo pwc. In fact, you should never mix alcohol with any type of boating or motorized activity. Sounds simple enough. There is plenty of time to enjoy a few cold beverages after you get off the water. Being drunk on a Seadoo is dumb. It is both dumb and very unsafe.
One thing I noticed this summer is that young kids tend to pile on 3 or 4 people on a Seadoo. It looks like they are going to sink. It is a great way to wear out your Seadoo seat covers. Don't overload your personal watercraft. Generally, Seadoos are designed for 2 people. That means they can safely accommodate 2 people. Sounds simple enough. If you absolutely need to have 2 passengers plus a driver then go slow and only do so in familiar waters.
Another common sense rule involves towing people behind your Seadoo. Don't tow anyone, ever, without a spotter. Again, this is just common sense. Whenever you tow people behind your Seadoo PWC (whether it is on water skis or a tube or a knee board) make sure you have a mature spotter that understands the importance and role of being a spotter. Oh, and make sure you have a proper tow rope. Having a tow rope snap is very dangerous and unpleasant.
My next safety rule is in a bit of a grey area. In my humble opinion, riding a Seadoo PWC is a day time sport. To me that just makes sense. Although most PWCs are equipped with lights (it's the law), it is very dangerous to ride a Seadoo at night. Water hazards such as rocks, shoals, buoys, swimmers and driftwood are nearly impossible to see at night. Just say no to night time riding.
For those of you, like me, that are in love with the sport, riding a Seadoo is one of the biggest highs of the summer. It is an inexpensive and super fun activity. Follow some common sense safety guidelines to ensure your safety and the safety of others around you.
Happy Riding.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)