How to Start a Jet Ski with a Water Hose

Table of Contents

How to Start a Jet Ski with a Water Hose in 5 Steps

Jet skis are a wonderful way to embark on a non-committal, high-speed aquatic adventure. They’re fast, they’re fun, and they almost simulate the feeling of flying, or else riding a rollercoaster, without forcing you outside of the water or suspending you in mid-air. Perhaps that’s why jet skiing is an activity that so many water-enthusiasts find extremely easy to love — that, and jet skis are usable in both oceans and lakes, therefore opening up the activity to people across geographical locations. Maintaining your jet ski, however, is a different story altogether. Still, it’s an inevitable part of owning one — especially since understanding how to maintain your machine’s health both in water and outside of it is critical to preserving its function.

Among other things, it’s essential for all jet ski owners to know how to properly start their jet ski on land with a water hose.

To start a jet ski with a water hose: 1) Set up the water hose without turning it or the jet ski on just yet, 2) Connect the water hose to the jet ski’s flood adapter, still keeping everything turned off, 3) Turn on the water first, and then your jet ski, allowing the water to run through the machine (check with your manufacturer to see how long to use the water hose, since some say two minutes and others say up to five), 4) Turn the water hose and jet ski off, and finally, 5) Once you’re absolutely sure everything is turned off, disconnect the water hose from the jet ski.

Why you would need to start a jet ski with a water hose.

As any expert will tell you, running a jet ski outside of the water and on land can be vital for numerous reasons. These reasons can include anything from simply making sure that the engine is running to consciously flushing its system of salt or other contaminants that can eventually diminish its ability to function. Sometimes, you may even have to run it dry merely to eject water from the exhaust.

Why you shouldn’t run a jet ski without water/dry.

Of course, there are also major risks to running your jet ski dry for extended periods of time. That’s why, even when you’re not necessarily flushing anything out (and in the case where a dry run of the vehicle really isn’t necessary), it is preferable to use a water hose. This is a really easy way to prevent harsh damage to your jet ski while powering it up on land.

You might be wondering why this is so important — especially since this point and similar ones will be repeated throughout this article. Well, as a machine built to run in water, extended dry runs do far more damage to your jet ski than good. They create a situation that is unnatural for your machine.

Moreover, they can actually destroy the vital insides of your jet ski (including the engine) immediately while being run without water for more than a few seconds, as well as over time with repeated incidents of this sort. That is why, whenever possible, jet ski land runs should be performed with a water supplement — so that the liquid can flow through the machine and give it what it requires to run smoothly. This permits each part of the jet ski to do what it needs to do without dealing with the unnecessary destruction and complications caused by lengthy dry runs.

Additionally, when using a water hose to run your machine, remember — once the hose is connected to your jet ski’s flood adapter, you’ll always want to turn on the jet ski first, and then the water hose. A similar order exists for finishing up the process as well. It’s essential that you turn off the water before turning off the jet ski. Don’t worry, though. We’ll get into the details of how to do all this in just a few moments.

Jet ski maintenance may sound complicated or intimidating to anyone new to it — and understandably so. However, the process for starting your jet ski with a water hose is actually a lot easier than its sounds. We have the steps and their corresponding details listed for you below.

Please note that while this article is a guide to starting a jet ski with a water hose, it is not adapted to any single make or model. These are just general rules of thumb since there is no one set of maintenance rules that can be perfectly applied to every single type of jet ski. That’s why it’s crucial to check with the manufacturer of your jet ski for its exact limitations and maintenance requirements. One machine’s preventative medicine may very well be another’s arsenic. It’s always better to be safe than sorry with your favorite aquatic investment.

More generally, however, the following steps will ensure that you are able to properly start your jet ski on land with a water hose. These, combined with your manufacturer’s guidelines, should help prevent damage to your jet ski anytime you’re running it outside of the water.

How to Get Water Out of a Jet Ski Engine in 4 Easy Steps.

1. Set Up the Water Hose

To start, make sure that both the water hose and the jet ski are off. Neither should be turned on until they are securely connected.

Begin by preparing yourself and the water hose. Holding it, find a position that provides you with both comfort and control. Also, be sure that you have easy access to the jet ski from this position. Once you’ve done that, you’re ready for the next step.

Still, don’t turn anything on just yet!

2. Connect the Water Hose to the Jet Ski

Now that you’re in a stable position, you can connect the water hose to your jet ski’s flush adapter. There should be a valve on the vehicle for this exact purpose.

Once the water hose is attached and secured, you’re finally ready to turn your jet ski on.

3. Turn on the Hose and Allow the Water to Run Through the Machine for a Few Minutes

With the water hose still turned off, power on your jet ski. Then, immediately, turn on the water hose. For the sake of your machine’s health, be sure to do it in this exact order, and make sure your engine doesn’t run for more than five seconds before you start the water. Letting it run dry for too long can cause severe damage to your jet ski, just as turning on the water hose before starting the engine can.

Rushing water without internal mechanical movement, which can only occur when the jet ski is already turned on, will serve to flood the machinery. This can be just as detrimental to the machine as lengthy dry runs and should be avoided at all costs. So again — you’ll want to power on the jet ski first, and then the hose immediately after.

Now that both the engine and the hose are running, allow some time for the water to move through the machine. Some experts recommend capping this process at two minutes. Others suggest five. Again, it’s best to check with the manufacturer so you know what’s best for your specific jet ski’s make and model.

4. Turn the Water Hose and Jet Ski Off

Once the time is up and you feel that you have efficiently flushed out your jet ski (or else completed whatever other maintenance you needed to do on it), you can stop the water. Turn off the water hose first, and then your jet ski. Be sure to do it in this order so you don’t accidentally cause any damage to your machine.

Remember not to leave the jet ski running for too long once you turn off the water hose, either. Anything more than five seconds can ruin the engine or supporting parts.

Is everything turned off? Terrific. You’re almost through.

5. Disconnect the Water Hose from the Jet Ski

Double-check that the water hose and the jet ski are both completely turned off. Then, disconnect the water hose from the flush adapter.

That’s it. You’re all done. You’ve successfully started your jet ski with a water hose, and prevented unnecessary harm to your machine in the process. Great job!

While maintenance may feel like a hassle, it’s an important part of being the proud owner of a jet ski. The price we pay for the thrill and beauty of the sport is nurturing the very machine that makes it all happen. Moreover, always remember that one really easy way to maintain your jet ski’s health is to start it with a water hose whenever you can while running it on land.