SOLD – 1996 Yamaha Waveblaster IIFAQs
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Do I have to do a spring tune-up?
As a watercraft technician, my recommendation is yes. There are certain things that you do for the winter storage and certain things you must do to get your ski ready for the spring. Changing fuel filters, spark plugs or any other parts that should be changed yearly is a way to help keep your ski running at 100%. Doing a once-over on nuts, bolts, cables or anything else that could be loose or seized is also good practice. Remember every watercraft is different so there are certain procedures for spring tune-ups. If you are going to do the work yourself, I recommend asking your servicing dealer or maintenance shop for the proper procedures.
How do I keep my battery from going bad every year?
When you’re finished with the winterization process, the battery must be pulled out of your watercraft. Then there are two simple checks. First, make sure the terminals are clean. Second, if applicable, make sure water is filled in the battery. If cells are dry, it can lead to premature failure. After doing the checks and everything is OK, simply store the battery on a shelf with a low-voltage battery charger or charge the battery every couple weeks to make sure it doesn’t go below 10.5 volts.
How do I flush out my ski?
Number one rule is that the ski must be running while the water is running. So first, you turn on the ski. Do not let it run for more than 15 seconds, because it’s like running an automobile without antifreeze. Once the ski is idling, turn on the hose. Flushing process only takes 3-5 minutes. Any longer, you can sometimes overheat the engine. There is no need to rev the engine to full RPMs. This can cause the engine to run off. When ready to shut off ski, you must turn off the water, then simply blip the throttle two to three times just to blow off any water that may still be in the system. Then shut off the ski.
How long can I run my ski without water?
Rule of thumb is 15 seconds. Engines can run for more, but the temperature of the cylinders and exhaust must be monitored.
Can I bottom paint my jet boat?
Technically, yes. You can bottom paint a jet boat. But beware: leaving the boat in the water will still highly corrode the jet pumps and cables for steering and reverse.
If you are going to do it, I highly recommend pulling the jet pump parts fully apart and epoxy painting them to help prevent the corrosion.
Other recommendations include pulling the boat out every once in a while and power washing the jet units. Also, running the boat frequently (more than once a week) can help keep corrosion off the bottom of the hull and pumps.
Do I need a license to ride my watercraft or jet boat?
This varies by state, so check with your state’s marine services or similar department.
In New Jersey, you do need a boating license in order to operate a watercraft or jet boat. You must be at least 16 to obtain a license. You can take classes provided by the US Coast Guard, NJ State Police, and other sanctioned companies to get your boating license. For more information, check with New Jersey Marine Services.
Do I have to take my floating docks out every year?
This is a personal preference. If you can manage to take out your plastic floating docks, it wll make them last a lot longer. With taking them out, you can power wash them to get all the algae and barnacles off them. Also, you can inspect for holes and leaks while they are out.
If you are going to keep them in, make sure they are braced up very well to the existing dock. The docks will be subjected to harsh weather throughout winter and being braced, they will be more stable and less likely to break away from your existing dock.
How do I put my watercraft on a floating dock?
This is a very easy process. Simply proceed to your floating dock at idle speed. When approaching the lip of the dock, pull back on the handlebars to lift the front end of the watercraft. Once the front end is placed about a foot onto the dock, ease the throttle in until the watercraft is completely on the dock.
Two things you want to inspect. One is to make sure the jet pump is completely out of the water. Two is to make sure the front is all the way up into the dock, because heavy rocking from wakes can slowly move the ski back and have it slide off the dock. Also, to help prevent sliding back is having a lock. The lock also helps prevent theft.
Can you drive a watercraft through the Cape May canal?
No. This is a law that is set by New Jersey State Police and is not monitored by the US Coast Guard. The Cape May Canal is only for full-size boats that are traveling to and from the harbor and the bay. No watersport activities are permitted in the canal.
What is the minimum depth of water I must be in to ride my watercraft?
Most companies say 16 inches. I like to stay at least two feet deep to be on the safe side. You must remember that your jet pump acts like a giant vacuum cleaner. Whatever you are driving through will get sucked through the pump and go into the engine and through your propeller. Rocks, sand, and mud can cause clogs in cooling passages and can damage impellers and wear rings, causing cavitation.
How should I wash my jet ski after riding?
You should wash your jet ski after every ride, especially in saltwater. Hose everything down with fresh water, from jet pump to handlebars. Using a good soap and wax will help prevent staining from any algae that might build up in footwells and any other areas that might hold water. Flushing the jet ski is not washing your jet ski but is something you must do after each ride.
Don’t be afraid to hose down your engine compartment. This will help prevent salt corrosion on vital engine parts, such as carburetors, starters, and wire connections.
After hosing down the engine compartment, you must let it dry or it will help with rusting and corrosion. Sponging out any unwanted water lying in the hull and toweling off any waterdrops that might be lying across the engine will help prevent condensation. I recommend keeping the seats off for about 20 minutes to an hour to allow for evaporation.
Then I recommend spraying down the engine and its components with a corrosion spray, such as WD-40 or CRC 656. Do not use white lithium spray grease or T9 spray on the engine parts because it leaves them tacky and can attract more dirt and corrosion.
Is there anything I should do for extended storage (more than one year) on my watercraft?
Sitting for extra long periods of time is not good for any type of vehicle because fluids such as gasoline, brake fluid and certain types of oil can break down and corrode. Adding more fuel stabilizer can help prevent your fuel from going bad but is not a guarantee. Spraying down your cables and engine with more corrosion spray will also help because those fluids do break down over time also.
If your ski has shrink wrap on it, shrink wrap is usually only good for one year because it breaks down with sunlight and heat.
What type of maintenance should I do between spring tune-up and winterization?
This type of maintenance is very simple. After a day of riding, your ski should be washed, flushed, and sprayed down with corrosion spray. Take quick glances over any nuts and bolts that may have come loose. Before you go out, take a quick look for any leaking fluids, such as oil, gas, and water.
How do I store my watercraft during the winter?
The best way to store your watercraft is to keep it inside with the seats off to help prevent any condensation that may be lurking in the hull.
If your ski cannot be inside a building, having a cover such as shrink wrap or a shade cover is highly recommended to prevent fading of the hull and seats, and drying out seat covers.
If you do put any type of cover on your ski, such as shrink wrap or a shade cover, I recommend putting mildew bags inside your ski. You also want to pull out any belongings in your storage compartments that may hold moisture, such as wetsuits, life jackets, booties, towels, and ropes.
Do you have recommendations for floating docks?
There are several companies that provide floating drive-up docks. The docks are pretty much built for the larger skis that are made today and will easily accommodate older, smaller skis. One of the biggest features that people look for are docks with rollers built into the construction. This allows the ski to be pulled on and off a lot easier because of the ski’s sizes and weight. One dock with a roller system is EZ-Dock. These docking systems are like Legos. They can make all kinds of different accommodations. Other brands that just do the floating dock portion include Hydroport, Sportport, Glide-n-Ride, and Carolina Docks.
Some of the things you want to look for are the ways they connect to your existing dock, if they can be mounted side-by-side, and of course the size of them. In this case, size does matter because you want to have the entire ski out of the water when docked. Your jet pump is a very expensive piece of equipment, so you want to keep it from harsh elements of salt water.
Most places that sell PWCs sell some kind of docking system. The docks are not cheap in any way, so doing some research to find the one that fits your needs is a good idea. All of the companies have websites and have really good details on their docks. My personal preference is the EZ-Docks because they are built tough and have the most accessories for them, but they do have the heftier price tag. For a very good dock that is on the cheaper price side but still good quality, the Glide-n-Ride was impressive. I was at a marina with this dock set-up and they were very nice.