Launching A PWC

Riding a Sea-Doo over the sparkling waters of a clear lake, or on the Mississippi River, is one of the great pleasures of summer. Now that the warm months are here, many novice and advanced personal watercraft riders are taking their PWCs out to the dock to launch them -- and sometimes they struggle to do this expediently.

If you’re not certain of the best practices when it comes to launching a personal watercraft, we’re here to help. Here at 2Brothers Powersports in Onalaska, Wisconsin, we know a thing or two about personal watercraft and how to safely launch them, so we’ve drawn up this guide to help you limber up before you drive to the dock.

Practice Ahead Of Time

You should give yourself some time to become accustomed to driving with a trailer in tow, particularly if you’re not used to towing. Find an empty lot and hitch up your PWC trailer to your car so you can work on your skills. You can set up some cones as a makeshift ramp and work on reversing evenly towards it until you can get your trailer within the bounds successfully. If you take your time, you’ll be able to do this without jackknifing the trailer.

Arrive Prepared

Once you get to the dock area, pull over to the side out of the way of other water users so that you can get everything sorted out. Put on your lifejacket, attach a tow rope to your PWC if you need one, and fill the waterproof compartments with your emergency supplies if you haven’t already. Apply sunscreen, attach the engine killswitch to your wrist, and insert your PWC’s drain plug now.

Then, loosen the winch straps and safety chains on your PWC so it will float when you put the trailer in the water. You might also try the throttle of your Sea-Doo just to make sure it functions well before you get it in the water. Performing these tasks now means you won’t be sitting in the dock trying to get yourself sorted while others try to launch their own watercraft around you.

Release Your PWC

Now’s the time to actually get your PWC in the water. Get in your vehicle and reverse just as you practiced towards the dock, stopping when the trailer is somewhat immersed and your PWC floats on the water’s surface. Park, get out, and walk into the water to release your PWC completely from the trailer. If you’re doing this alone, use the tow rope to lash/tie your PWC out of the way to the dock so you can park your vehicle. If you have a friend with you, let them move your car and trailer for you, which lets you get right to the next step with no delay!

Departing The Dock

Once your towing vehicle is out of the way and you’ve gotten your PWC into at least three feet of water to avoid debris clogging the intake, you can climb aboard and start the engine. Pull away slowly from the dock, making space for others, and head for open water, where you can begin to speed up and start your ride. Remember to watch for other water users and give them a wide berth, and to practice patience when it’s time to return to the dock, waiting your turn to get your PWC back out.

In Closing

Now that you know the best practices when it comes to safely launching a personal watercraft you're ready to hit the water. Have fun out there!

Ready to check out some excellent PWCs? See us at our Onalaska dealership to view our inventory, including the latest personal watercraft from brands like Sea-Doo. 2Brothers Powersports is conveniently near Madison, Eau Claire, and La Crosse, Wisconsin.