SAGOV is changing the requirements for boat licences, particularly focusing on houseboat safety and operating houseboats. Keep watch here for updates on river boating guidelines.
PREPARING AND OPERATING YOUR JETSKI.
PRACTICAL approach to CARE AND OPERATIONS
- Three Jetski maintenance days - 1 Spring, 2 pre-hols, 3 Wintering,
- Do not keep old fuel. Remove fuel from your jetski tank. Use it elswhere.
- Petrol storage safety containers - carry extra fuel outside the hull.
- Preparation for towing including trailer parts.
- Preparation for launching. DO NOT RUN YOUR MOTOR/PUMP DRY.
- Check the controls forwards & reverse are free to move.
- Fix a bow launching/mooring line. Stow it on a safe place when you ride.
- Leave it coiled safely ready for berthing or being towed.
- Life jackets for jetskis should not have bulky collars. Use water ski jackets level 50 or 50S
- Launch the jetski and moor it at berth fore and aft, or land it on the beach.
- Take you phone with you in a waterproof bag. You may need help.
Phone 13 14 44 for police emergency assistance.
DO NOT CALL 000 as ambulances can not respond.
ONE UP JETSKIING
Be sure someone knows;
- Where you are launching,
- Which direction are you going.
- Where and when you are jet skiing alone.
- AND MOST IMPORTANT, when you expect to be back.
Leave a note in large print held up by inside your driver side
- Showing your name.
- Where you are jet skiing.
- When you expect to be back.
A car with an empty trailer at the end of the day? YOUR CAR WINDOW NOTICE:- IF I AM NOT BACK BY (TIME), Phone 13 14 44 for water police or sea rescue 08 8295 5072 for assistance.
Back seat Danger - wear wet-suit pants
Jetskiing with a friend
- The back seat on the jetski is a dangerous place for people wearing ordinary bathers.
- If they fall back into the high powered jet stream with their legs wide there will be SEVERE INJURY TO GENITALS from the high power water jet.
- Be sure the passenger (male or female) is wearing protective wetsuit pants.
- Make sure the passenger is holding tight on their safety handles or round the driver waist if there are no handles.
ESSENTIAL NOTE: All people who fall backwards off a boat traveling at high speed, including water skiers, should roll up into a tight ball. This is an essential skill for anyone hitting the water at speed. PRACTISE IT. In gymnastics, it is a "Back Flip" position.
SELECTION OF SAFE JETSKI WATERS and shore landing site
Check your jetski waters for dangers.
- Are there other jetskis playing there?
- Are the other jetskiers driving safely?
- Is there a safe beach or grass landing area for jetskis?
- Is there a safe car and tailer park near? You may need your car in an emergency.
NOTE in the picture:
- The small child should sit in front of the driver.
- Back seat rider arms should hold on to the driver.
Stay well away from the boat ramp. There may be other large boats around.
The recreational boating rules apply to jetskiS
WITH EXCEPTIONS:-
- The only safety gear is a life jacket with NO COLLAR (level 50 or 50s)
- Two nautical miles is the maximum operating distance from shore
- City beaches zone speed 4 Knots within 200m of shore.
- The city beach zone is from the south breakwater Outer Harbor to the south end of Sellicks Beach
Towing with any boat (Knee board, water skis, boat in distress)
- You must have two people on the tow boat. The driver faces forward, and observer faces back.
- The observer must have strong hold points for both hands.
- The driver and observer must set up clear signals for urgent response.
We advise new riders to ride in company with experienced jetski riders.
Watch how experienced riders drive safety and copy them.
- Make a mental note when you see danger.
- Operating at both slow and high speeds.
- Performing controlled turns and manoeuvres.
- Safe stopping and approaching.
- Executing an effective emergency stop.
- Remember, with Jetskis, NO POWER = NO STEERING.
Man overboard drill: quickly and safely retrieve a person from the water with a jetski.
Do you know your CPR?
Have you actually worked it out with your partner as a practice drill?