RACETECH YAMAHA MAINTENANCE MUSTS FOR JET SKI FISHERMAN

26th Jan 2010 , PATRICK O’KEEFFE

Keeping your jet ski fishing rig alive longer is only a few steps away – never forget the old saying “prevention is better than cure”

The jet ski fishing launch & beaching process can be very abrasive to the underside of your hull – at Racetech we fabricate a stainless steel wearstrip on the deeper V-hull or gel/epoxy strip for the flatter hulls. This offers excellent protection & doesn’t affect the beaching of the craft at all.

One of the most important tips I can offer the jet ski fisherman is to disconnect your fish finder at the power point on the battery terminal after use to prevent the battery going flat as well as corrosion on the main power plug that goes into the back of the fish finder – a very expensive & inconvenient replacement.

Clean, seal & lube the SD card flap with silicone spray or Vaseline to prevent water infiltration.

Ensure your battery terminals are cleaned & fitting a dual battery system is recommended for the fisherman who likes to venture off on his own.

I am frequently getting calls regarding skis not starting due to fouling of the plugs – I can only put this down to the high alcohol content in the fuel or over-enrichment of the fuel injection system on a cold start up.

Run the engine for a minimum of 20-30 seconds on starting up in order to get spark plugs to operating temperature.

I find the fouling of the plug is mainly experienced after the craft is stalled – ie starts initially but upon the next restart it tends to foul the plugs – for peace of mind, please carry a spare set of plugs, a plug spanner,star screw driver & 10 spanner in a water tight bag in your jet ski hatch!

If fishing gut or debris get caught in the pump system whilst you are out at sea, switch the engine off & if it is possible, remove whatever is caught in the pump as continued use can cause the engine to overheat & may lead to it seizing – if not get back to shore as soon as possible.

With the live bait well system, the water take off from the jet pump can silt up from frequent shallow water start ups – a simple test is to note the water pressure flowing from the live bait well & if it is somewhat slower – take action & clean.

Post operation care – wash down hull & jet unit with fresh water, remove seat & check engine compartment for water. Flush cooling system. It is also critical to remove all sand build up from beaching. When storing, remove seat to prevent condensation.

If your craft is not going to be used for a period of 3 weeks or longer, I recommend “fogging” your engine with a fogging lubricant to preserve internal workings of engine. Disconnect battery.

Correct post op maintenance not only preserves the longevity of your PWC but is also instrumental in restoring horsepower lost from dirty fluids, clogged valves, filters & pump.

Last but not least, for those long across the border fishing trips, your trailer needs some maintenance – service & lube wheel bearings, check lights, wiring & I urge you take along a spare leaf spring & set of wheel bearings.