September is well underway and depending on where you are, dock season might already be over. Here in BC, we are still enjoying some good sun and above 25 C° temperatures.
That being said.....
Summer is almost officially over and its getting close to that time of year where your PWC (Jet Ski, Seadoo, WaveRunner, etc.) has to come off the water and into storage for the winter.
We are here to prepare you for that time and ensure your PWC stays in top shape during the winter months and is ready to go for next year. Here are 6 tips to winterize your PWC, 2022 edition.
1. Jet Pump Maintenance
The first step Seadoo themselves recommend is checking on your jet pump. Nothing crazy fancy here, you are just checking for any damage, excessive wear or anything that may be un-usual. If these signs are present, talk to your dealer about a potential replacement.
After your visual check, remove the impeller cover and check to make sure no water has collected. A jet pump that has collected water can mean a variety of things and we recommend scheduling a visit to your dealer to check over your PWC.
2. Stabilizing Fuel
Our next tip is stabilizing the fuel in your PWC. Condensation and moisture are the two worst enemies keeping your PWC from a safe storage over the winter.
Always make sure you store your PWC with a full fuel tank. Depending on how long you are storing your PWC, it is highly recommended you add a stabilizer. Read the specific directions on said stabilizer to ensure your fuel does not deteriorate.
3. Engine Oil and Filter
This section isn't specific to winterizing your PWC and should be done regularly but we always recommend changing both the oil and filter before storing your PWC away.
This reduces the amount of work next season and ensures your PWC is winter ready.
4. Draining the Exhaust System
Tip #4 & 5 are a little more involved so it is a good time to mention to contact a professional if you are ever unsure of the maintenance you looking to do.
Draining the exhaust system is important to get any extra water out of the engine system, especially in saltwater. Ideally, this process is done every time you finish riding your PWC for the day, and incredibly important before it is stored away for winter.
To start, hook up a garden hose to the flushing connector on your PWC. Check your owner's manual for specific locations of said connector. Generally it can be found on the port side of the stern.
Before turning on the water, start your PWC and then open the tap to let water through the exhaust system. We recommend running your PWC for about 90 seconds at idle, but please inquire with your dealer for specific procedures as each PWC system is different.
Afterwards, shut off the water and let your PWC run to get any extra water out and then shut off the engine.
Lastly, to ensure the exhaust system is completely dry (critical in cold weather storage conditions) blow compressed air into the same connector until no water comes out.
5. Internal Engine Lubrication
Next, what is commonly known as "Fogging", internal engine lubrication. Similar to our last step, please contact a professional if this is your first time preparing your PWC for winter.
The specifics for this process will vary from model to model, your owner's manual is a great resource to figure out how to properly "fog" your engine.
The main objective is to prevent condensation from forming inside the engine while storing during the winter. To achieve this, first locate your engines carburetor. Clean everything off to ensure no debris makes its way inside your engine. Start the engine and begin spraying the carburetor with specific fogging spray until the engine stalls.
Again, consult both your owner's manual and a professional to ensure this is done properly, especially if this is your first time.
6. Remove the Battery
The last tip we have for you today is a quite simple one, removing the battery from your PWC. The battery is where everything starts in your watercraft and can be an easy thing to forget when storing it away for winter.
Make sure the battery is disconnected and stored in a safe place. If you want to go all-out, batter chargers/maintainers are a great options to look into to keep your battery in top shape.
