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Jet Skiers - Start Your Engines!

© Karen K. Patton

The days are getting longer, the sun is getting stronger, and the jet skiers are getting restless. It is April - time to get your PWC out of the garage and ready to hit the water. If you haven't been out on the water since last season, your PWC may need a good "spring cleaning".

I like the motto of The PWC Information Center: Taking good care of your PWC results in better performance, increased reliability, fewer repair bills which equals more time on the water. And isn't that what is most important - more time on the water!?! The Maintenance section of The PWC Information Center features an article entitled Maintaining Your PWC-Maintenance Points to Remember which discusses how to get your PWC ready so that you can spend more hassle-free hours on the water.

For the past several years, The Personal Watercraft Zone has featured very informative articles at the beginning of each season with step-by-step instructions on how to get you and your PWC ready for another season on the water. This year their article is entitled Time to Wake Up!. Their 1998 article entitled Unwinterizing...Summerizing... It's Time to Go Riding is worth reading again.

Speaking of reading something again, check out the article that I wrote last year for Suite 101 entitled Spring Has Sprung. In this article I reviewed several sites that had valuable information on preventive maintenance for your PWC. One of the best articles is entitled 12 Steps to Starting Your Season Off on the Right Foot.

If all else fails and you need some help with a special problem, you can always write a letter to Cap'n Jack. Each month Personal Watercraft Illustrated spotlights a feature called Tune-a-Boat in which Cap'n Jack dispenses technical advice and answers questions which he receives via e:\mail and snail-mail from his readers.

After your PWC is tuned up and ready to go, you will also need to make sure that you are carrying the proper equipment onboard. While every state has different laws pertaining to PWC operation, Before You Go by Personal Watercraft Illustrated outlines the basic equipment that you will need to operate your PWC safely and legally. It is also a good idea to contact your local Coast Guard and refresh your memory regarding the laws in your area.

Have a great season, and maybe I'll...

Catch you on the waves!

Karen K. Patton

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