I used to love riding my jet ski. I had this strange ability to look before I turned. I know it is weird, but I never even came close to cutting off or hitting a boat. I must be a freak of nature or something with this strange ability to look before I turn. Now I can't hardly drive back to my condo with out running over at least 20 of those morons.

Something I saw on the front of a large cat was a sticker that said "Jet ski intake" I can't wait to upgrade to a skater and put that on the front of it.

As much as it pained me, I towed an idiot's jet ski in yesterday afternoon. I was coming back into the marnia and noticed a guy in the water next to an obviously sinking jet ski. I swung over and asked if he needed any assistance. He kept trying to get back on the non-running ski. I then suggested that if he kept doing that, he'd just hasten the inevitable. (He didn't think it was taking on water.) Finally he then picked up the seat and quickly discovered he was about half full already.

So I threw him a line, tied the ski off and took him on board for the short tow to the ramp. He got it back on the trailer just before it went down. I went over to see what had caused it to take on water and the main cooling line between the impeller housing and the cylinder head had come off. Further aiding the idiot, I got the tool box from my truck and put a new clamp on the hose for him. Then I did the first smart thing all day and had a cold beer as I took my boat back out. (Just one mind you.)

most of the jet ski guys are the same people or have the same mentality of those that drive crotch rockets (sport bikes) it's too bad that the actions of some stereotype the rest that actually are responsible.

Yesterday the launch ramp was a crazy place...it was 95 degrees and Lake Michigan was flat as a pancake, so at 5 pm, everyone and their brother was putting their stuff on the trailer. In retrospect, I should have waited, but I was sick of being in the sun and wanted out. I knew it'd be an adventure due to the crowd, but the fact that I was down a motor made it that much more fun (electrical issues took out my port).

So...I pulled up to a dock, tied off, and went for my truck. I was 15 trailers back and it was 95 degrees...patience was going to be required. The parking area splits where the line of trailers was, and a pickup truck skipped the back of the line (now three more trucks and trailers behind me) and pulled up the other lane. He had about six people in the bed and they all got out. I couldn't see initially that he had a trailer, but as soon as the line advanced, he put it in gear and pulled his two pwc trailer right in front of me. I drove up behind him, got out of my truck and basically did the WTF routine. I asked him if he'd like to get out and apologize to me and the other four boats he'd cut off. Nope. Suddenly, he didn't speak English very well (there is a big Polish population that all seem to own skis and have a hard time with our country's native tongue when they do something wrong). I just did a slow burn and went back to my truck. I finally get up to the ramp, which is a two boats wide in a well with piers extending about 100 feet out on each side. I back the truck down and see on my lane, there's a ski parked on the INSIDE of the pier, meaning I'd have to manuver around it (on one motor), then straighten out and hit my trailer. I asked someone to move the ski as I ran to the boat. Of course nobody did. My wife had asked another guy on a pwc to grab me and shuttle me over to the boat (across about 25 feet of water), saving me about a 1/4 mile jog. He swung over to the dock, narrowly missed another pwc and slammed into the dock. I jumped on, he brought me out to the boat and promptly came within 6 inches of driving right into my bow. I literally couldn't believe this was happening, but I had no time to deal with it. I pushed off the dock and headed to the trailer, dodging three more pwcs AND the Warbird turbine cat that had just spooled up and left the dock (which took everyone's attention away from the guy with one motor). I do not care to relive this adventure again...I'm just staying the fk away from all the idiots.

I was running about 75mph last year and was about 150ft off to the left of a jet ski when i was passing him. He decided to make an instant left turn without looking behind him. I had to pull the stick back to neutral and swerve just to barely miss him. He took off in a hurry with no apology or nothing. He came up to me the following day with an extended hand and an apology because he heard that I wanted to hurt him. Lets just say I gave him an ear full. The worst part about the whole thing is that the week before a 19yr old girl wrecked the same ski and died. Bunch of dumb drunk inexperienced kids.

It is sad that most of the "jet ski" idiots out there give the other Jet Ski people a bad name. However it’s the same with motorcycles. I’ve been on the water all my life and I like to take out my jet ski the most due to easier to play with then the jet boat out on rough waters. How hard is it to look behind you to turn or just to watch where you are going? The sad part is I have had to shut down my jet ski because some idiot from "justforfunboats" decides to rent a ski and don’t know a damn thing about the lake runs right in front of me. It does not batter on what kind of craft you have. Just watch where you are going and pay attention to everything around you....

I thank GOD everyday that I am fortunate enough to have a launch ramp on my property and dont have to deal with these idiots at public launches, sadly, not everyone is that fortunate [including all my friends] So, I feel your pain, and YES I agree, the "Jet Ski Jerks" are the most ignorant A-holes out there. I guess its a "money" thing, not alot of 17-20 year old punk kids out there can afford to own a decent boat, but, any yahoo with a part time job [or parents who spoil them] can scrape together the cash for a used Jet Ski, they are also easy to tow behind the 20 year old clapped out POS Lowered Honda Civic's usually owned by white dudes, but, blaring "black" music? at mind numbing volumes the entire time they are at the launch ramp, which is real "pleasant" for the guy who is there with his wife/kids/grandkids who has to listen to "F" this and "F" that every 10 seconds, very classy..........

Not looking to "tar everyone with the same brush", if I had the extra coin I would love a pair of 4 stroke's to play around on, they look like a blast [2 strokes drive me NUTS though!] and I am sure there are some VERY responsible and courteous Jet Ski owners out there, but, sadly, all it takes is a few idiots [or maybe in this case the MAJORITY?] to ruin it for everyone.

Michael

it is true. and for me being around houston thats all i hear at the boat ramp and it drives me nuts too..

You live in Houston, you can boat YEAR ROUND, wanna trade places?? LOL!!

Hopefully you can find a private ramp, or nicer public one to use, it REALLY ruins a good day of boating when the entire time you are wondering what kinda BS you are gonna deal with when you get back to the ramp, especially if you are tired, sunburned, windburned, and broke, which is 90% of the time! LOL

Marine store has those hand help horns just keep blasting it as they get away!They are fun but always cutting across traffic and our boats are not doing 20MPH more like 4x that