A Guide to Launching Your PWC
As the proud owner of a personal watercraft (PWC), you’re likely really excited about the opportunity to cruise across the surface of a local lake or river and enjoy the wind on your face. But there are some tricks to getting your PWC to the boat launch and into the water, and it’s helpful if you can master the steps before you find yourself with your trailer half in the water and no idea how to get your watercraft off it.
Cool Springs Powersports in Franklin is your Tennessee personal watercraft dealer, serving Nashville, Columbia and Spring Hill. Read on to learn how you can safely launch your PWC to avoid mishaps.
Get Your Trailer Ready
Make sure you inspect your PWC trailer and towing vehicle before you head to the water. Check tire pressure, test the brakes and lights, fuel up and look for any signs of damage that might make your trailer unsafe to tow.
Cover your PWC and secure it onto the trailer with ratchet straps or tie-downs. Double-check the hitch connection between your trailer and towing vehicle and make sure the towing chains are fastened securely.
Because you have to back your trailer into the water in order to launch your PWC, one helpful tip is to affix the license plate using zip-ties instead of bolts. A bolted-down plate is liable to bend or come loose; a plate that can swing freely won’t be damaged at all.
Put In Some Practice
If you’re new to towing a trailer, it might be helpful to take your towing set-up to an empty parking lot or other open area where you can set up cones to mimic a boat launch. This lets you practice reversing your trailer into the place where it needs to be without jackknifing. A friend standing outside your vehicle can help to guide you as well. Try to do this several times until you feel more comfortable in your abilities so you won’t be anxious at the actual launch.
Be Prepared
Pull to the side of the launching area when you arrive at your destination so you can get yourself and your PWC all ready to go, so that you aren’t fiddling around with things at the launch and wasting everyone else’s time. Undo the ratchet straps, remove your PWC’s cover and put in the intake plug. Twist the throttle just to make sure the engine works. Attach a towing rope to your PWC if you’ll need it.
Apply sunscreen and put on your life jacket and fill up the watertight compartments in your PWC with all the gear you need so you can launch quickly.
Launch With Care
Wait your turn at the launch and when it’s time to go, back your trailer up so that it’s partly in the water and your PWC floats on top of it. Stop the truck, pull your PWC off and lash it to the dock out of the way of the launch, if you’re by yourself. If you have a friend who can drive the truck and park it for you, great! Otherwise, you’ll have to go park your truck and return to your PWC.
When riding away from the dock, go slowly and be vigilant to avoid hitting anyone. Don’t pick up speed until you’re on the open water.
Stop by to see us at our location in Franklin, TN, to check out our fine selection of new and used PWC for sale. Cool Springs Powersports proudly serves greater Nashville, as well as the cities of Spring Hill and Columbia, TN.