How To Store A Jet Ski In Your Garage? Comprehensive Guide 2024!
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How To Store A Jet Ski In Your Garage?
Riding a jet ski on a lake or the ocean is one of the most fun things that you can do on water. You get a rush of adrenaline as your personal watercraft (PWC) races and bounces on the waves. Your first jet ski ride may have been on a vacation on a rented jet ski. But if you get addicted to jet skiing, you will want to buy a personal jet ski. The only thing stopping you is the concern of how you will store the jet ski in the garage.
Owning a personal jet ski is not very common. Jet ski owners usually have only three options to store their PWC during winter. They can store it in an inland rental storage facility or at the marina (once again rented) or in their own garage.
The best option is to store the jet ski in your garage as then you do not have to pay the high rents. Moreover, being able to see and touch your jet ski everyday is a joy in itself.
At first the thought of storing your jet ski in your garage may seem daunting. I admit it is not a walk in the park but it can be done.
You just need to follow certain preparatory steps and then store the jet ski in the garage the right way. To store the jet ski in your garage the right way, you need to winterize your jet ski. To do this you must
- Flush the Exhaust System
- Rinse out the Jet Drive
- Top up the Fuel Tank & add Fuel Stabilizer
- Do Oil & Filter Change
- Fog the Engine
- Take Care of the Battery
- Deep Clean
Of course it is very important that your garage must be climate controlled.
I know there’s a lot to do. So let’s get started and I will run you through each step in this blog post. But before that it is good to get to know your PWC a little better.
How do Jet Skis work?
In a sense, a Jet Ski is similar to a Motorcycle, an ATV or a Snowmobile. They are all rugged machines designed mainly for solo riding, though a second passenger can ride on the back seat. It’s just that their playing fields are different.
You straddle a Jet Ski, just like you straddle a Motorcycle, an ATV or a Snowmobile or a horse for that matter. You do not sit inside a Jet Ski, like you do in a boat, a car or a UTV.
All these machines use an engine which burns fuel to generate the power. But the similarity ends beyond this point.
In the case of motorcycles, ATVs and snowmobiles the power is transmitted to the wheel (tracks in case of snowmobiles) using some sort of chain drive, belt drive or a drive shaft.
However, in the case of a Jet Ski, the engine sucks in water and then shoots it out from the other end, giving it thrust or propulsion. Very much like how a jet airplane flies. The jet engine uses water, the jet plane uses air for propulsion.
What are Jet Skis made of?
The main body of the Jet Ski is generally made from lightweight fiberglass and plastic. High-end models may use carbon fiber.
Fiberglass is lightweight yet a very strong material. It can be molded into a smooth aerodynamic shape, which helps in reducing friction in the water. The only drawback is that it is brittle and chips easily.
The PWC body has cavities which are injected with polyurethane foam for flotation. So don’t worry. Your Jet Ski is not going to end up at the bottom of the lake.
How Big is your PWC?
The engine of a modern Jet Ski is a 4 stroke engine. The specs of course depend on the model & the brand.
Just for an idea, basic, beginner level, yet the highly rated 2021 Sea-Doo Spark™ 2-Up Rotax 900 ACE – 60 has a Longitudinal In-Line, 3 cylinder, 4-stroke engine. The engine displacement is 899 cc and it delivers 60 HP.
The Sea-Doo Spark 2-Up is 9.17 feet long, 46.4 inches wide, 41.1 inches high and weighs in at 410 pounds.
In terms of horse power 60 HP is pretty much the starting point. More powerful models will deliver upto 300 HP.
So for example, a higher end performance model 2021 Sea-Doo RXP™ X 300 has an engine displacement of 1630 cc and delivers 300 HP.
The Sea-Doo RXP X300 is 10.88 feet long, 49.2 inches wide, 44.0 inches high and weighs in at 780 pounds.
Of course you have to keep in mind that the Jet Ski, unlike a Motorcycle, ATV or UTV, will need to be stored either on it’s trailer or some kind of stand or dolly. So that adds to the space requirement.
Preparing for Jet Ski Storage
Once the temperatures have dropped to a level that Jet Skiing is no longer fun, it is time to pack up your Jet Ski and store it in the garage for the winter. To do that you need to winterize your Jet Skis first. Follow these steps.
Flush the Exhaust System
Your PWC Exhaust System has been dealing with salt water if you have been on the sea. Even if you have been riding on a freshwater lake, there will likely be sand, silt and other debris trapped in the Exhaust System. You need to flush the Exhaust System with clean water. For this the PWC has to be out of the water and on a trailer, stand or lift.
To do this:
- Connect the garden hose to the flush port, but do not turn on the tap as yet.
- Start the engine of the PWC and let it idle. Now open the tap connected to the garden hose.
- Let the engine idle for 90 – 180 second (as per the instructions in the owner’s manual)
- Turn off the tap first, give the engine a couple of short bursts and then switch off.
- Disconnect the hose and blow hot air through the Exhaust System, till the air coming out is totally dry.
- Replace the cap on the flush port.
Rinse out the Jet Drive
Using the same garden hose rinse out the jet drive with fresh water. Dry both ends of the Jet Drive and spray Sea-Doo XPS Multi-Purpose Lube or equivalent available on Amazon.
Top up the Fuel Tank
Top up the Fuel Tank with fresh fuel before storage. Add a fuel stabilizer (Can-Am New OEM, XPS Fuel Stabilizer or similar available on Amazon) to ensure your fuel, and fuel system remain in good condition over the course of long-term storage.
Oil & Filter Change
This should anyway be done annually. Doing it just before long term storage is as good a time as any. Use Sea-Doo PWC/Boat Oil & Filter Change & Maintenance Kit-4 Stroke GTX RXP RXT GTI or similar (available on Amazon).
Fogging the Engine
The idea is to get some rust preventive lubricant into the engine cylinders. This is normally done by spraying Sea-Doo XPS Multi-Purpose Lube or equivalent (available on Amazon) into the spark plug holes.
The actual procedure differs from model to model, so please follow instructions on your owner’s manual.
Battery Care
If you do not do something about the battery in your PWC, it will most likely die when stored for long. To ensure that does not happen you can either
Remove the battery and put it on Battery Tender 800 (available at Amazon).
or
Leave the battery in the PWC but use a CTEK Smart Battery Charger (available at Amazon)
Deep Clean
I am sure you clean your Jet Ski after every ride. However, you have to do the cleaning a lot more thoroughly before long term storage.
Jet Skis tend to get water stains and also attract grime and marine organisms on their body & hull. Give your Jet Ski body and hull a proper scrubbing so that it starts looking shiny and as good as new.
If you are the real outdoor type and have several type of powersport machines you should consider getting the Slick Products Ultimate Cleaning Kit Bundle (available at Amazon).
It is suitable for Car, Truck, Motorcycle, UTV, Dirt Bike, Side by Side, ATV, Off-Road Truck, Jeep, Boat, Jet Ski, Watercraft, Mountain Bike, BMX, Road Bicycle, and More.
This is also a good opportunity to inspect the body and hull for any damage that might need repair.
Store a Jet Ski in your Garage
Once your PWC has been winterized you are ready to store the Jet Ski in your Garage. But just a moment there are a few other things to take care in the storage process.
Space
The dimensions of a standard three car garage is 32 feet wide and 22 feet deep. So it can easily accommodate even large SUVs (typically 16 to 17 feet long). Sedans are even shorter (typically 14 to 15 feet long).
In comparison a PWC would be around 9 to 11 feet long. So the depth of the garage is obviously not a constraint.
Ideally if you have a three car garage but you park only two vehicles, say a sedan and a SUV, then you have more than enough space for your PWC as well as some other stuff like surfboards or camping gear.
The Jet Ski can be stored in the garage
On its Existing Trailer
Without doubt this is the cheapest (most likely you already have a trailer) and the most convenient way to store a Jet Ski in a Garage. Just ensure the trailer is on level garage floor. To ensure the trailer does not move, for whatever reason, place wooden blocks in front and back of the trailer wheels.
If you need to buy a new trailer go for
Ironton Personal Watercraft and Boat Trailer Kit – 610-Lb. Load Capacity
On a Jet Ski Dolly
The other option is to keep your Jet Ski on a rack or a dolly. This will save you some space and money. It will be easier to wok on your Jet Ski too, if you wanted to.
A good buy on Amazon is
Watercraft Jet Ski Waverunner PWC Shop Cart Dolly Stand Seadoo Yamaha Kawasaki 1000lbs Capacity
Overhead Storage
If you want your jet ski to be out of harms way then a very safe place to store it in the garage is overhead. Overhead garage storage is very useful for storing odd shaped items like a jet ski.
Cover
Even when your PWC is stored inside a garage, it is best to use a cover as a protection from dust or minor hits, such as from a ladder. A cover will also protect the PWC from UV from direct sunlight. Use a breathable but opaque cover rather than a plastic one.
Bottom Line
The bottom line is that the best place to store your Jet Ski for the winter is your garage. Of course you have to do it the right way.
First of all winterize your jet ski. To do this you must
- Flush the Exhaust System
- Rinse out the Jet Drive
- Top up the Fuel Tank & add Fuel Stabilizer
- Do Oil & Filter Change
- Fog the Engine
- Take Care of the Battery
- Deep Clean
In addition you also have to consider
- Does your Garage have enough storage space?
- Will you store the Jet Ski on its Trailer or on a Dolly?
- Keep your garage damp free and at a comfortable temperature all year round.
Related Post: How To Fit A Boat In Your Garage? (What You Need To Know!)
Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and useful.
