Boarding and Reboarding
Boarding your PWC safely takes a little practice. The smaller your machine, the more "tender" it will be. That is, the less stable it will be. When stepping onto your PWC from a dock or swim platform, place one foot in the foot well closest to you and then swing your other leg over to straddle the seat. Do not place both feet onto one side of the boat.
When boarding or reboarding from the water, always approach the machine from behind. Pull yourself carefully aboard, making sure to keep your weight centered on the boat. This maneuver can be difficult. Practice getting off and re-boarding in progressively deeper water, close to shore, until you are always able to re-board when you can't stand on the bottom.
Re-boarding requires practice for both PWCs and all other boats. Below on the left, are general re-boarding guidelines. On the right are the guidelines referring to PWCs. As you'll see, there are significant differences.
Boating Guidelines
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PWC Guidelines
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Re-boarding
Depending on the size and construction of the boat, the person should normally be brought in over the stern. Always turn off the motor when alongside someone in the water. Assist the person in boarding the boat. It is difficult to climb into a boat from the water.
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Re-boarding
Your PWC is designed to allow you to fall off and re-board. PWC have two different ways to cope with falling off. One allows the engine to continue running at idle and circle slowly. The other type uses an engine shut-off lanyard, which shuts off the engine. Carefully climb aboard the PWC. If the PWC has a lanyard, remember to reconnect it in order to restart the engine.
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