How To Tow A Jet Ski Behind A Boat? Safe Ways For Towing

At first, appearance, towing a jet ski behind a boat could seem easy, but be cautious! If you don’t do this correctly or disobey the manufacturer’s instructions, your engine could be harmed, and your jet ski could capsize. Because you might need to pull your Jet Ski, it would be important for you to understand How To Tow A Jet Ski Behind A Boat?

You could need a tow when your jet ski breaks down or malfunctions or unintentionally sucks up a tow rope or other object. Be aware that every Jet Ski model is unique, so before you tow your jet ski, check your owner’s manual for special instructions.

It’s more difficult if you intend to tow a jet ski behind a boat regularly. You may tow your jet ski with a variety of different devices that will make the process much simpler for you.

How To Tow A Jet Ski Behind A Boat?

It would seem simple to tow a jet ski behind a boat, but appearances can be deceiving, like with many things. It is untrue that you can snag a tow rope and pull your jet ski at top speed. If you do this wrong, you run the risk of swamping your jet ski and doing serious damage to the engine.

By reading your owner’s handbook, you can determine the speed limits at which you can tow a broken-down jet ski before further damage is done that might even void your warranty. Be patient because it will take time to tow it back to land.

You have a problem since your cooling system uses the exhaust from your engine to blow the water out, which is connected to your engine’s exhaust system. A jet ski can flood its engine and possibly the compartment where it is located if it is towed through the water too quickly and water is driven back into the engine through the exhaust system.

Your engine may have been running before stopping, further complicating matters because the exhaust system may already be flooded. Therefore, it will take a little while for the back pressure to rise.

Depending on the brand, you can tow a disabled jet ski at different speeds. Most instruction manuals advise against exceeding 5 mph while pulling a jet ski.

Following Safety Regulations When Towing A Jet Ski Behind A Boat

It’s risky to tow a jet ski behind a boat, especially if you don’t know the rules or don’t abide by them. The safety measures are as follows:

• Read your owner’s manual to learn the appropriate speed restrictions and other precautions before pulling a jet ski because each PWC is unique.
• If you’ve placed a shut-off valve as a safety measure, close it before starting. To help you remember to reopen it before starting the engine again, dangle your safety lanyard from it.
• Put brightly colored tape on the water intake pipe to identify it if you don’t have a shut-off valve, and use a clamp instead. This will help you find the proper hose quickly when you need it.
• It would help if you alerted other boaters that you are pulling a jet ski. It would help if you employed any signaling equipment your boat may have. If not, you can draw the attention of other boaters by waving a brightly colored flag or flotation item in the air.
• When towing slowly, you will require at least 20 feet of rope. A floating tow rope will lessen the likelihood that the line will get sucked up into the boat or PWC being towed.
• Someone must be seated on the jet ski to balance it out during a slow tow. The jet ski might pitch-pole in the wake if no one is sitting on it because it will likely be nose-heavy.
• If you’re moving quicker, the tow line will need to be much longer—possibly quadruple that length at 40 feet. The jet ski may travel in a considerably smoother section behind the boat’s choppy wake. Use caution when using a rope since the farther you are from the boat, the less control you have and the more likely the jet ski will overturn.
• Having no one on the jet ski may be preferable when towing quicker. Because there would be no means to steer or stop the Jet Ski, the rider would have little control over it.

Jet Ski Towing Tips

If you’re towing slowly, choose a stretch of tow line at least six meters long. Use a floating tow rope to reduce the possibility of the line getting sucked into the intake or exhaust grate of the towing vessel.

• Ensure someone is seated on the disabled jet ski during a slow tow to keep it balanced. It might pitch-pole in wakes and waves and tend to be nose-heavy without a rider.
• Use a lot longer tow rope if you’re towing at a higher rate. By doing this, the jet ski can ride in the tow boat’s smooth wake.
• It could be wiser to avoid riding a damaged jet ski being towed at a higher pace. There will be no steering or brakes on the jet Ski, so you won’t have much control over it. You should join the tow boat as an observer.
• Mark the water intake pipe with vivid-colored tape if you’re using a clamp rather than a seacock so you can find the proper hose quickly in any situation.
• When the seacock is closed, if you’re using one, wrap your kill switch lanyard around it. You will be reminded to do so when you start the engine.

Can You Tow A Sea-Doo Behind A Boat?

The good news is that towing a Sea-Doo behind a boat is straightforward. You should learn how to do both correctly if you possess both. Surprisingly, conventional tow ropes are still the most popular technique but are less convenient.

Why?

Let’s face it: using a rope to tow a jet ski is only sometimes convenient. When trying to steer the boat in small spaces like marinas or to back it up, a rope is particularly difficult to control accurately.

Additionally, if you abruptly stop the boat, there’s a chance the Jet Ski will collide with its stern. Consequently, utilizing a tow rope is not advised if you sometimes need to tow the ship. But you should spend money on a jet ski towing bracket to pull a Sea-Doo with a boat frequently.

Watch Out For These Issues When Towing

The exhaust system of a jet Ski is connected to the boat’s cooling system, which is the largest issue with towing a jet ski behind a boat. This means the engine and possibly the compartment it is housed in could flood if water pressure forces water back through the exhaust system.

The exhaust system will already be partially filled with water if your engine was running before it stopped, so the back pressure won’t take much effort to build up. This is another item to keep in mind.

If you come into contact with another vessel, be prepared to wave your flashing neon flag so they know you are pulling a jet ski behind you. If you must tow, tell people nearby that you are doing it because towing can be extremely dangerous.

Sometimes, the incorrect hose clamp is used, which can harm your jet ski. Visit a nearby dealer so they can demonstrate which hose to clamp off. Always take extra precautions to avoid any potential risks.

People also fail to submerge their jet skis when they unintentionally fill them with water. You must have services for your engine as soon as possible if it even slightly fills up.

The more damage there will be, the longer you wait. Your PWC’s engine life could be significantly reduced or possibly ruined if it is not dry within a day or two of being filled with water.

When traveling, your watercraft will be more stable if your towing rope is shorter. Your PWC will lose control and flip over if attached to a lengthy tow rope. Thus, it is not a smart idea.

The wake from the towing line won’t bounce the jetski around as much with a shorter rope. To provide a safe distance between the PWC and the boat, the rope must be at least 15 feet long.

If your rope isn’t sturdy enough, it can snap, which presents a genuine risk of damage. If it snaps, it will launch forward like a stone from a slingshot, endangering your jet ski or maybe injuring someone else. Make sure your rope has sufficient strength.

Never try to start an engine that has water in it. This could result in the connecting rods bending or the engine being destroyed. To refresh your memory before going to the lake, read your owner’s manual to know how to turn your jet ski if it flips. This is essential knowledge because turning the Jet Ski the wrong way could cause your engine to flood completely.

Conclusion

This was How To Tow A Jet Ski Behind A Boat? Considerations for tow-specific safety apply whether the rope is short or long. Always watch for other boats that might not know you are towing.

If possible, bring along additional jet skis to act as a warning. Have the PWC operator, at the very least, prepared to flash a bright shirt or piece of clothing as a warning signal.

The towing Jet Ski’s operator must use extreme caution to avoid what is coming up ahead and be fully aware of his surroundings. Additionally, avoid hurried movements. To avoid being hit from behind by the towed ship, give yourself plenty of time to stop.

I advise the operator of the stranded PWC to ride double behind the operator of the towing jet ski for these reasons as well as the fact that it’s always a good idea to have a spotter riding shotgun. I know how powerless it is to be on a towed watercraft: no steering, brake, or power.

You are getting tossed around continuously like a fishing bobber in a tsunami. Additionally, if something goes wrong, there is no rapid way to contact the tow operator who is far in front.

If you’ve set up and carried out your tow carefully, you should finally and safely arrive at your destination. But it’s conceivable that your daily schedule will go completely awry. So remember to phone anyone waiting for you and tell them your new arrival time.

Frequently Asked Questions