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EJU01068
Operating your watercraft
EJU01285
Getting to know your
watercraft
Operating your watercraft requires skills
acquired through practice over a period of
time. Take the time to learn the basic tech-
niques well before attempting more difficult
maneuvers.
Operating your new watercraft can be a
very enjoyable activity, providing you with
hours of pleasure. However, it is essential to
familiarize yourself with the operation of the
watercraft to achieve the skill necessary to
enjoy riding safely. Before operating this
watercraft, read this Owner’s/Operator’s
Manual, the Riding Practice Guide, and all
warning and caution labels on the water-
craft. Pay particular attention to the safety
information on pages 1-8 to 1-14. These
materials should give you an understanding
of the watercraft and its operation.
Remember: This watercraft is designed to
carry the operator only. Never have more
than one person on the watercraft at any
time.
EJU01286
Learning to operate your
watercraft
Before operating, always perform the
pre-operation checks listed on page 3-5.
The short time spent checking the watercraft
will reward you with added safety and reli-
ability.
Check all local laws before operating your
watercraft.
Operate defensively at safe speeds and
keep a safe distance away from people,
objects and other watercraft. Select a wide
area to learn in, where you have good visi-
bility and light boat traffic.
Use the buddy system—operate with
someone nearby. Scan constantly for peo-
ple, objects and other watercraft. Be alert for
conditions that limit your visibility or block
your vision of others.
Attach the engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
to your wrist and keep it free from the han-
dlebars so that the engine stops if the opera-
tor falls off.
Wear a personal flotation device (PFD).
All riders must wear a PFD that is approved
by the appropriate authorities and suitable
for personal watercraft use.
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Wear protective clothing. Severe internal
injuries can occur if water is forced into body
cavities as a result of falling into water or
being near the jet thrust nozzle. Normal
swimwear does not adequately protect
against forceful water entry into rectum or
vagina. Operator must wear a wetsuit bot-
tom or clothing that provides equivalent pro-
tection.
Such clothing includes thick, tightly
woven, sturdy and snug-fitting apparel such
as denim, but does not include spandex or
similar fabrics, like those used in bicycle
shorts. A full wetsuit can also protect against
hypothermia (subnormal body temperature)
and abrasions.
Footwear and gloves are recommended.
Eye protection is recommended to keep
wind, water, and glare from the sun out of
your eyes while you operate your watercraft.
Restraining straps for eyewear are made
which are designed to float should your eye-
wear fall in the water.
You should grip the handlebars firmly and
get to a standing or kneeling position
quickly. Keep both feet or knees on the
riding tray when the watercraft is in motion.
WARNING@ Do not apply throttle when others are
at rear of watercraft—turn engine off or
keep engine at idle. Water and/or
debris exiting jet thrust nozzle can
cause severe injury.
Avoid forceful jet thrust and limited
visibility while reboarding. Get to
standing or kneeling position quickly,
but do not expose yourself to forceful
jet thrust.
@
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EJU01378
Boarding and starting in deep
water
1. Swim to the rear of the watercraft. Attach
the engine shut-off cord to your wrist.
Attach the clip to the engine shut-off
switch.
2. Grasp the handlebars with both hands.
Pull your body up onto the riding tray and
balance there, using your elbows on the
gunwales for leverage.
3. Start the engine and begin to accelerate.
4. Continue to pull your body up onto the
watercraft as the watercraft speed
increases.
5. Bring your knees up onto the riding tray
and change to a kneeling position as
soon as you can do so.
WARNING@ Avoid forceful jet thrust and limited visi-
bility while reboarding. Get to standing
or kneeling position quickly, but do not
expose yourself to forceful jet thrust.
@
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EJU01289
Boarding and starting in shallow
water
Be sure to learn the deep-water starting
method before operating the watercraft in
water where it is too deep for you to stand.
Do not try to start the watercraft in water
less than 60 cm (2 ft) deep.
1. Launch the watercraft into water.
2. Attach the engine shut-off cord to your
wrist. Attach the clip to the engine
shut-off switch.
3. Grip the handlebars with both hands.
Place one knee on the riding tray and
balance there.
4. Start the engine and begin to accelerate.
5. Pull your other knee up onto the riding
tray as the watercraft speed increases.
6. Move as far forward as possible without
interfering with the movement of the han-
dlebars. Keep your body perpendicular
to the water, with your weight forward
and low.
NOTE:@ The watercraft will become easier to bal-
ance as the speed increases, because jet
thrust provides stability as well as directional
control.
@
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EJU01293
Capsized watercraft
If the watercraft capsizes, follow the pro-
cedures below carefully to prevent damage
or injury.
CAUTION:@ Make sure to remove the clip from the
engine shut-off switch, otherwise the
engine will overheat and damage may
occur.
@
1. Shut the engine off by removing the clip
from the engine shut-off switch.
2. Swim to the rear of the watercraft and
upright it by turning it clockwise only.
CAUTION:@ Do not turn the watercraft over counter-
clockwise, otherwise water may leak into
the carburetor and engine and cause
damage.
@
3. Start the engine, and then head for
shore to inspect the engine for water
damage.
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A
B
C
D
EJU01294
Turning the watercraft
Steering control depends on the combi-
nation of handlebar position and the amount
of throttle.
Water sucked in through the intake grate
is pressurized by the impeller in the jet
pump. As the pressurized water is expelled
from the pump through the jet thrust nozzle,
it creates thrust to move and steer the
watercraft. The higher the engine speed, the
more thrust is produced.
The amount of jet thrust, in addition to the
position of the handlebars, determines how
sharply you turn.
A. More throttle produces high thrust, so
the watercraft will turn more sharply.
B. Less throttle produces low thrust, so the
watercraft will turn more gradually.
C. Releasing the throttle lever completely
produces only minimum thrust. If you are
traveling at speeds above trolling, you
will have rapidly decreasing ability to
steer without throttle. You may still have
some turning ability immediately after
releasing the throttle lever, but once the
engine slows down, the watercraft will no
longer respond to handlebar input until
you apply throttle again or you reach a
trolling speed.
At trolling speed, the watercraft can be
turned gradually by handlebar position
alone using just the amount of thrust
available at idle.
D. If the engine is stopped while riding,
there is no thrust. The watercraft will go
straight even though the handlebars are
turned.
You need throttle to steer.
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EJU01080
Stopping the watercraft
The watercraft is not equipped with a sep-
arate braking system. It is stopped by water
resistance when the throttle lever is
released. From full speed, the watercraft
comes to a complete stop in approximately
90 m (300 ft) after the throttle is released
and the engine is stopped, although this dis-
tance will vary depending on many factors,
including gross weight, water surface condi-
tions, and wind direction. The watercraft
slows down as soon as the throttle lever is
released, but will coast for a distance before
fully stopping. If you are not sure you can
stop in time before hitting an obstacle, apply
throttle and turn in another direction.
WARNING@ Allow adequate stopping distance.
Take early action to avoid collisions.
Remember, watercraft and other boats
do not have brakes.
Operate defensively at safe speeds
and keep a safe distance away from
people, objects, and other watercraft
to give you time to stop.
Do not shut the engine off when slow-
ing down in case you need engine
power to steer away from a boat or
other obstacle that comes into your
path.
@
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EJU01081
Beaching the watercraft
1. Make sure no obstructions, boats or
swimmers are near the beach. Release
the throttle lever about 90 m (300 ft)
before you reach the intended beaching
area.
2. Approach the beach slowly and stop the
engine before reaching land.
Remember: you need throttle to steer.
3. Get off the watercraft and pull it up on
the beach.
CAUTION:@ Small pebbles, sand, seaweed, and other
debris can be pulled into the jet intake
and impair or damage the impeller.
Always stop the engine and get off
before beaching the watercraft.
@
EJU01295
Rough water operation
The force of landing after jumping can
cause a strong impact on both the watercraft
and the operator. It is possible for the opera-
tor to hit his or her chest or jaw on the water-
craft body or handlebars and be injured. Do
not operate the watercraft with your chin
right above the handlebars or with your feet
outside the watercraft. Operating in rough
water or jumping waves can also crack the
watercraft body or damage internal parts.
Avoid operating in rough water or bad
weather conditions.
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