Few of us like to think about it, at least Not Yet! – but the 2024 riding season will be coming to a close quicker than you’d like, especially for those in the Great-White-North-And-Adjacent regions.
And while it’s tempting to just tuck the ski and trailer in a corner, hoping the less attention we pay to the fact that we’re not riding, the quicker Spring will spin back around – that is a good way to make sure you spend the first month of next year’s riding season making up for your lack of proper season-end care.
The Watercraft Journal, in the paragraphs below, will outline a checklist to go through when winterizing your ski – along with some tips, tricks and advice for each step.
However, if you’re fortunate enough to live within reasonable (or unreasonable, if you’re up for a road trip) distance of Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada, we’ll let the spoiler slip now – you can skip a good deal of the following checklist and just bring your ski in to JetX and let the pros take care of the winterization process for you.
The crew at JetX boasts more than 25 years of experience, combined with the knowledge and skills gained from hands-on work and extensive training, to take care of your machine, regardless of which brand logo is stamped on the side – Sea-Doo, Yamaha, Kawasaki or Polaris – JetX can get the job done.
While many in the PWC industry equate Jet X with speed and performance – thanks in great part to the name company head man Ryan Dalli carries in the race family, along with the power of the current JetX race team of Jay Edworthy, Dave Davidson, Nathan Dalli and Noah Dalli – more “mundane” tasks such as maintenance and seasonal tasks form the solid base that all powersports equipment require, and JetX has you covered.
So keep an eye on the JetX website and social media pages to be the first to take advantage of the deals when they bring out their end-of-season specials to take care of the down-time necessities, and next season, you can swing back by JetX, located off the 427 just west of Martin Grove Rd in Woodbridge, and have them tune you up with their “go-fast” tune packages.
Checklist:
Jet Pump: Spray Jet pump intake and outlet with water to remove any lingering debris. Perform a visual inspection of the intake and outlet to make sure there are no cracks or other visible signs of excess wear. Remove the impeller cover to verify no water has collected. Reassemble. Using a lubricant specifically designed for marine applications and labeled as “anti-corrosive,” apply a coat to visible areas of intake and outtake to prevent rust and corrosion during storage.
Fuel: Add manufacturer-approved fuel stabilizer to prevent fuel breakdown that will result in the build-up of deposits. Follow directions for specific stabilizers. Use this time to check for fuel system leaks, being alert for visual signs of leaks or the smell of fuel.
Oil: Change engine oil and filter per manufacturer instructions.
Exhaust System: Flush contaminants from exhaust system – again, be sure to follow manufacturer directions to flush a ski out of water – being very sure not to run the engine without flowing water for longer than recommended.
Following a flush, especially in colder climates, it is important to dry out the system using compressed air pushed into the flushing connector hose.
Internal engine lubrication (fogging): Specific steps vary significantly among brands and models, so be sure to follow the recommended process for your specific brand and model PWC.
Battery: Remove battery from PWC to guarantee that no draw is being made on the battery during non-use. Use of a battery charger/maintainer is recommended but not mandatory.
Hull: Don’t forget the exterior of your PWC – wash the hull to remove grime and stains, inspecting hull for any damages as you work.
Store for the winter. Use an opaque, breathable cover or tarp if stored outdoors. Do not wrap in plastic or other non-breathable material.
You can also check out this winterization tutorial WCJ featured in Sept. 2021.
