How to Board a Jet Ski After It Flips

If you own a jet ski, chances are you will flip it at some point. A flipped jet ski can be a big problem for a few reasons. It can also be really hard to get back on the jet ski after it flips. Here are a few things to keep in mind about how to board a jet ski after it flips.

1. 1. Don’t panic

   A flipped jet ski is actually really common so there is no need to panic. Since these personal watercrafts are usually made for speed and tricks out on the water, you are bound to flip it at some point. The good news is that your jet ski is going to stay put when it flips so you won’t have to chase after it like something from a cartoon. In fact, if you are riding with the kill cord in place, the engine will turn off when you are thrown from the jet ski which will keep it stationary.

2. 2. Check the sticker

   When it comes to how to board a jet ski after it flips, there are a few important steps you need to follow and one of them is finding the proper way to flip it right side up again. Most jet skis have a sticker on the back which will walk you through the right way to flip it, so you should check for that and always follow any suggestions on it over any other tips you might glean along the way. The sticker may specify for instance whether to flip it back over in a counterclockwise direction to avoid water getting in the crankshaft or other important information specific to your model so check that first.

3. 3. If it's still running, turn it off before you flip it

   If you didn’t use the kill cord, it may still be turned on. If this is the case, make sure you turn it off before flipping it. Every second it’s turned on and submerged in the water is a second water might be reaching the engine and flooding the inner components of the engine. Make sure you turn it off before flipping to minimize the water damage.

4. 4. Get it upright immediately

   Once you have turned it off, you should get it back to an upright position immediately. If you leave it submerged upside down, you are introducing more water by the minute. You are also leaving it vulnerable to sinking if there is further damage which has compromised the hull of the machine.

5. 5. Determine if water is in the crankcase

   The easiest way to determine if water is in the crankcase is if you go to start it and it stalls or won’t start at all. This is a sign you have taken on water and it is most likely in the crankcase. If this is the case, do not keep trying to start it, but rather swim or tow it to shore so you can get drain the water out and let it dry out before restarting again.

6. 6. Get on from the back if possible

   When you are still getting used to boarding a flipped jet ski, it most likely easier to try boarding it from the back. Make sure it’s turned off before boarding from the back to avoid the jet stream! Boarding from the back might be easier than the side with a turned off jet ski because it will have a more even weight distribution and be less likely to flip over on you again.

7. 7. Use the throttle to boost yourself up from the side

   If you are trying to board from the side of the jet ski while it’s in water after a flip, a good idea is to use the throttle to your advantage. For example, a good way of reboarding from the side is to put the engine kill cord back and start it up and then use a little throttle to boost yourself back up. This will take practice and you should only try this if you are comfortable with your machine and have a little bit of upper body strength to pull yourself up.