How to Prepare Your Jet Ski For Storage

If you reside in a climate that experiences four distinct seasons, winterizing your watercraft (PWC) for storage is not only critical to preserve your money, but also hundreds of dollars in repairs and replacement parts.

Table of Contents

Winterizing Your PWC for Storage

Winterizing your personal watercraft (PWC) for the colder months helps increase its lifespan and performance. Avoid serious issues like rust, corrosion, and damage from freezing water by taking the proper precautions.

Draining & Flushing

Not only can water freezing in the engine compartment damage your engines, but it can also cost you more to replace the engine than the jet ski itself. Water is essential for keeping your cooling system running properly and preventing overheating of vital parts.

To drain this water:

Make sure to look in the manufacturer-issued owner’s manual before beginning, as the process can be different depending on the model. Specifically, look for instructions on “flushing the jet ski’s cooling system.”
To release the bar and increase power, press down on your PWC handle.
Start the engine and run it in 30-second spurts until all of the water has been removed from the cooling system.

Draining the water from your cooling system is only the first step – you also need to flush it to remove any dirt, algae, or muck that may have built up over time.

To Flush:

To start, attach a garden hose to the flush fitting.
Get the car underway.

Start by turning on the water to begin flushing. Continue flushing for about 5 minutes total.
To finish, turn off the water.
Shut off the engine.

Oiling and Lubricating

The best way to keep your engine parts from corroding is by spraying fogging oil through the carburetor (if your PWC has one) and spark plug cylinders. If you can, change the pump oil while you’re at it to reduce wear on the pump bearings. Once all of these parts are reassembled, lubricate the seals and cables using a protectant recommended by the PWC manufacturer.

Adding Fuel & Stabilizers

Another essential step when winterizing a Jet Ski is to top off the gas tank with fresh fuel and a recommended stabilizer to keep it clean. You may prevent corrosion from accumulating in the upper sections of an empty tank that has been sitting idle for a long time by maintaining a full tank.

Allow the engine to run for 30 seconds at a time to evenly distribute the stabilizer throughout the fuel. Afterward, apply a sealant and lubricant to all seals and cabling as recommended by your PWC’s manufacturer.

Washing, Drying, and Waxing

1. Scrub the inside of your hull with a degreaser, and wash the outside with auto detergent (not dish or laundry soap!)

2. After scrubbing, wash and wax yourshell to protect it from UV damage

3. Finish by cleaning the bilge and removing any extra grime

Can I Leave My PWC in Water?

Yes…and no.

If you’ve only been using your PWC in freshwater, such as a lake, you can probably keep it submerged for up to two weeks. It takes significantly longer for freshwater to corrode metal components than salt water would.

Even if the danger of corrosion is greatly reduced, you should keep an eye on things like pond scum and other pollutants that accumulate on the bottom of boats. If you have a lift or floating dock, it’s a little easier. However, winter boat storage is not comparable to summer boat storage. It will be unattended for months at a time in harsh weather.

You should always store your PWC out of the water if possible, as this will significantly prolong its life. Even outside driveway trailer or PWC stand storage is much better than leaving it on the water in winter.

Where Should I Store My PWC?

Although a variety of storage solutions are available, most producers tend to agree on where not to keep them, and that’s outside…exposed to the weather.

Although both marches and renting storage are options, the majority of personal watercraft owners clear space in their garage. Not only is this free, but it also has benefits like being able to repair or upgrade your PWC as well as security from bad weather.

Storing your personal watercraft indoors is only the first step to keeping it in pristine condition. You also need a cover that fits snugly over the entire body of the vessel. This will help protect it against gunk, grime, and dirt buildup, which can damage engine parts and other sensitive components.

Should I Have My PWC Winterized Professionally?

Getting your PWC winterized by a professional can cost anywhere from $600 to $800, and your local dealer should be able to give you a more precise estimate. You may save hundreds of dollars if you do it yourself. In the beginning of this article, watch the video on how to winterize a PWC properly. It takes just 60-90 minutes for a novice mechanic to complete the task.

With some experience under your belt, you can winterize your jet ski in as little as 30 to 45 minutes—and save 50 to 75% what a shop would charge. For us, it takes two to three hours and $125 per ski in supplies to properly prepare our 2 Sea Doo RX 260s for the winter months.

You can buy a comparable vehicle for around $400 to $600 from a dealership. And there’s no need to go somewhere and return.

Jet ski owners who don’t properly take care of their watercrafts during the offseason can get expensive engine repairs come spring. Unfortunately, these repairs have been known to cost more than the jet ski itself–and keep you from using it when warmer weather hits.