Tips for PWC Maintenance you should know

Riding a personal watercraft is a thrilling way to spend a summer afternoon. These marine motorcycles have only become more popular in the past few decades, so you’ll inevitably see them sailing around the Keys.

As a proud PWC owner, you should do everything you can to keep your personal watercraft in good shape so it’ll last you a long time. This involves performing some regular maintenance tasks that aren’t as daunting as they may sound. Riva Motorsports & Marine of the Keys in Key Largo, FL, is here to help you keep your Sea-Doo or WaveRunner in peak condition so every ride goes off without a hitch.

Check The Owner’s Manual

The most accurate source of information about your personal watercraft will be your owner’s manual. Consult this resource before you do anything on your PWC so you know where all the parts are and what every control does. Keep the manual in a place you can easily access it so you can refer to it when you need to order parts or perform basic maintenance tasks. You can also note down what maintenance or repairs are performed on your PWC as a record.

Use The Correct Fuel

Personal watercraft like the models produced by Sea-Doo can’t run very well on E85 gasoline. The 15% ethanol component of this gasoline isn’t well-tolerated by marine engines, even though car and truck engines can run on this fuel just fine. Use 100% gasoline in your marine engine, even if it’s a little more costly. Fill the tank before you head out on a ride and add some fuel stabilizer to keep the gas from separating.

Older PWCs that run on two-stroke engines need a mixture of oil and gasoline to function correctly, so you may want to talk to one of the mechanics here at Riva Motorsports & Marine to figure out what fuel will work best for your particular watercraft.

Break In The Engine

When you get your brand-new WaveRunner, you may be tempted to go full-speed away from the dock as soon as you’ve launched it. We’re here to tell you this isn’t the best idea, though. Your personal watercraft’s engine needs to be broken in before it’s ridden at full capacity. This will extend the engine life and boost its performance as well, so a little patience now will pay off in spades later.

Once you’ve launched your PWC, you’ll want to ride it at ¼ of its full speed for twenty minutes or so. Shift up to ½ of full speed and ride another half an hour there. Ride at ¾ speed for another hour or so before you completely open up the throttle and max out the speed. This may be a little frustrating when you’re excited to go really fast right off the bat, but trust us when we say it’s better to go slowly at first.

Flush After Riding

Regardless of whether you’re riding your Sea-Doo through fresh or saltwater, you’ll need to flush it when you return to land. Saltwater is highly corrosive and will cause your PWC’s engine to deteriorate over time if salt is left to build up. Freshwater has its own hazards, like algae, sand and other debris.

To flush your PWC’s engine, hook it to a source of fresh water, turn on the water and turn on your engine. Engage the throttle of your watercraft as the water pushes through the engine. Doing this simple task will boost the performance of your Sea-Doo. Make sure that you don’t twist the throttle right after removing your PWC from saltwater, as this could cook the salt into the engine.

Stop into our Key Largo dealership to investigate our current selection of new and used PWC for sale, including models by Sea-Doo and Yamaha. If you have maintenance concerns or need a particular part ordered, our parts and service department can assist you with both. Riva Motorsports & Marine of the Keys proudly serves all the Florida Keys.