Jet boats are one of the tools that provide the best water experience, whether you are sporting or having fun. A jet boat does not require excellent skills for you to operate it. Your interest and desire to explore newer things in boat riding increase your knowledge with time. However, it needs your energy and dedication, and you should be more patient because it is not a walk in the park.
As you explore this interest in boat riding, it may not be enough. There are many additional things you can learn, including the tricks involved. They create beautiful memories and experiences that you won’t trade for anything. So, what tricks can you do on a jet boat?
Tips for Riding a Jet Boat
Regardless of the time you want to go skiing, there are several tricks you can learn with your boat jet. Some of them include;
- Drive over the wake
Your wake created by your jet boat determines the tricks you can perform in the air. When you ride over the wake, it feels different from riding on a choppy or smooth surface. However, you should drive over the wake for a while before you start jumping.
It is a simple task that you should not be worried about, especially if you are in the company of your friends and have more than one boat. As they drive in one direction, you should ride perpendicular to the wake created by their boats. However, keep off from passing nearby because it can easily result in dangerous collisions.
If you are alone, you can create a wake with circles and cut through them. Riding over the wake requires leaning slightly back to keep the bow on the water surface. In addition, ensure that your legs support the body but keep them loose so they can easily adjust to height differences. Finally, your knees should be stiff when jumping over a wake. You can learn this by observing other jet boat riders; look out for events that you shouldn’t miss. For example, you can search ‘what is the best time of the year for water sports in Miami’ for beginners.
- Carving
You make sharp turns through carving, which helps you maintain control. Carving involves turning handlebars towards where you want to go and slightly leaning your body in the same direction. Is it difficult to control a jet boat? It can be tasking, but here is a tip for beginners;
While turning, ease the throttle but not completely because when you don’t engage the thruster, you won’t achieve the direction you want to go.
After turning the throttle, ease the handlebars back to the neutral forward position and then re-engage the throttle. When carving, remember that it is a gradual process; therefore, you may not get the whole technique for the first time. In addition, it requires an open area for practice and enough space for going forward and turning.
- Donuts
It is an easy-to-learn fun trick where you rotate while in a fixed position. When performing donuts, you should focus on maintaining balance. Donuts are achieved by turning your handlebars in any direction, leaning towards it, and then switching your weight to the opposite foot.
Ensure that your feet are in the right position to keep the front of your jet boat from dipping in the water. For successful results, ensure you are well-balanced.
- Circles
Most jet boat tricks need wake or waves. There may be no waves depending on where you are riding from. In instances of lakes and rivers, you may have to create your waves for a better experience. Riding in circles helps you continuously make circles, and it does not need sharp turnings like when carving. However, it depends on the preference of your size circle.
To achieve circles, turn your handlebars and lean towards them. Circles need you to start wide and learn to make them smaller as time goes by. It may take a longer to realize how it feels, so keep going. Proceed to make more sharp turns; it enables you to return and use the wake you had created earlier.
Can two people ride a jet boat? Many boat riders are self-taught or have acquired the skills from other people –so you can ride with a companion. If you are a learner, consider these helpful tips in your boating experience:
- Jet-sprinting
When jet-sprinting, you should lift off the throttle, turn into a corner then accelerate through it. It is the most convenient way than maintaining full throttle through the curve. Hitting a curve at full throttle loses some speed, although there won’t be thrust for picking up the speed while moving through the turn.
- Turning
As you turn around, ensure you hug the curve on the inside unless the waters are shallow or you are experiencing obstacles in your way. Staying outside the curve may cause rollover as it limits room for boat slide, delays in driver’s reaction, or a speed increase.
- When departing from shallow water, point the bow at an angle towards the direction you wish to go. It makes it easier for you to roll towards the direction of interest. In addition, the jet boat draws less water, thus moving to where you want to be.
These jet boat tricks are things you learn over time and perfect gradually. They require much time, practice, focus, and determination until you become the best. When you are uncomfortable with some of these tricks, keep off. All in all, prioritize your safety as you have fun. When you get subjected to injuries, it becomes hard for you to perform the tricks.