This is a rule of thumb guide for beginners. There will be variations to a technique to individual circumstances. I put this together NOT because I am an expert but there are so many starting from scratch.
Launching: At the ramp there may be a designated rigging area were I remove tie down strap and check bungs. Attach a lead rope or tether and fenders, be sure tether is not going to end up on ground or worse under jet to be sucked into Impeller. Now ready to reverse down the ramp once in the water to the depth you want. ( If still dark turn your headlights off your going backwards you wont need them. Other people using the ramp wont be blinded by your lights trying to reverse down. ) I leave parker’s only on. Release D shackle on chain to bow, grab the tether, then release winch and unhook it from bow. Using the tether to control the tempo that the ski slides into water, now walk or ride it to safe spot on the jetty not at the bottom of the ramp go out near the end is more practicable. Otherwise some boaties will get cranky about not using your brain and I dont blame them. You need to leave enough space for another boat and trailer to use the ramp (at least). While you park your car and trailer. I have seen a couple of times jet ski’s doing this, fortunately it wasn’t a busy day and they may well took this advantage. One time out a dingy done it on a busy day infuriating others. I mention the tether as this I have witnessed skiers guilty of not having one on more than a couple of times. Were do you leave your ski on the jetty if you cant tie it up ?
Drive Off: I now do this it is so much simpler. Attempt on quite day at the ramp or dam. Preparing is as above with tether and fenders. Once trailer is buried and the jet can pick up water. I start engine let idle and touch control into forward this will hold ski in place while I release chain shackle and the winch. Jump on put into reverse maybe a shake, slight throttle and back off trailer. Find a spot out of the way, tie up and go park trailer.
Drive On: To simple not too. Again practice on quite day. I stop off from jetty and attach fenders and lead rope to tie up. Moor normally out the end or out of the way. Sometimes you may be gone a little to collect trailer. I don’t want my ski getting bumped into and make sure your lead rope is tied well. Reverse the trailer in deep enough for jet to pick up water. Jump on ski and bring around to trailer. Just idle straight up trailer, should current or misaligned happen simply touch reverse to stop forward motion and the forward again idle only and trailer rollers will straighten ski you may need to touch throttle to ease up trailer. Leave in Forward idling and connect winch and shackle then kill button on ski.
NOTE: The practice of burying your trailer is not conducive to a long life for some components on it. Like bearings and will need to be monitored regularly, Bearing Buddies are great modification to your trailer (see page on bearing buddies). A good hose down for trailer when cleaning ski.
Shallow Fall Ramp Drive Off: Referring to shallow angle of fall is like a steep drop off/angle or not so steep a drop off/angle. Example comes to mind is that Shut Harbour ramp is shallow drop off/angle. I am unable to put my trailer in deep enough without burying tow vehicle in water. That is not what you want, you want to avoid you rear wheels touching salt water. So here I have discovered to reverse vehicle as close as normal. Ski is well out of water remember we don’t want to start ski with out jet in water. I release the trailer chain from bow and then slowly unwind winch. Unwinding winch means releasing the ratchet, be sure ski slides back with the release of strap ( give it a push ) But keep control of winch handle it shouldn’t be over whelming. Don’t let a heap of strap out and then push. Ease the ski back down to have arse end in enough water for jet to pickup water and lock ratchet on winch. Most of ski should still be on trailer just hanging a bit out the back. Jump on ski and start only idle dont ref, once idling touch forward control/accelerate just touch to engage. This will hold ski in position while you dismount to disconnect winch strap, remount and reverse off. Avoid over reffing as you are in shallow water and don’t want to pick up anything as per normal.
Shallow Fall Ramp Drive On: Place the trailer the same as drive off drive ski half on or more leave in forward being sure jet is picking up water. Dismount connect winch and put ratchet in locking position and wind up strap to firm only. Hit kill button and winch up and chain to trailer.
Some Don’t Do’s: Don’t Piss about on the ramp unstrapping ski, putting bungs in or loading esky none of this. Do it out of the way or if available the rigging area. Boatie’s have dim view of jet skis in general. Don’t worry there are boatie’s that piss about. Don’t block the entrance/exit of ramp at waters edge. Don’t create wake around the ramp and jetty area. Don’t leave headlights on when dark, your reversing and wont need them and they will blind anyone else trying to reverse down ramp. DON”T forget ya Bungs.
Jet Ski North Queensland 