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There's nothing like spending an afternoon on the water on a jet ski. As your watercraft zips through the aquatic landscape and makes thrilling jumps over waves, you want this feeling of freedom to last forever. When you take good care of all your watercraft including jet skis, you can spend many exciting summers like this with functional gear. Keep your jet ski in great shape by winterizing it properly.

Clean the Exterior to Remove any Salt or Debris

Whether you ride your jet ski in the ocean, lake, or bay, your vehicle will encounter debris that must be cleaned before storage. Any grime like dirt, sand, and salt can corrode the jet ski and also wear down its appearance. To clean the exterior, remove all your gear from any storage areas. Then wash the hull to remove any algae or dirt. Spray off any salt residue with fresh water and wipe down all the surfaces with a microfiber cloth until everything shines. To make sure no moisture gets trapped in the storage compartments, leave them slightly ajar for ventilation.

Prep the Exhaust for storage

Your jet ski’s exhaust system needs to be winterized properly so that it doesn’t get damaged in the off-season. It doesn’t do well if it isn’t prepped well before storage in a cold climate. To prep your exhaust, flush the system with water to remove any sand or debris. Then, run the engine for 2 minutes at idle, stop the water, then turn off the engine.

Then, make a solution of one part water and one part RV antifreeze. Then, flush the antifreeze outlet with water. Using a bilge or water pump, send the 50/50 solution into the exhaust and repeat the flushing process. To finish, momentarily rev the throttle to fully drain the exhaust system.

Drain or Stabilize Fuel

Stagnant fuel is a significant hazard to any vehicle in storage. Before your jet ski goes into long-term storage, drain the fuel system or add a fuel stabilizer. If you plan to use a fuel stabilizer, run the engine for short spurts to make sure the solution is fully integrated. Every storage facility has its own rules for fuel storage, so ask your storage provider if you should drain or stabilize your jet ski’s fuel.

Remove the Battery

Batteries left connected in a vehicle will drain slowly over time since it isn’t being recharged periodically. When you operate the jet ski, the system recharges the battery, so this isn’t a problem during water sports season. However, it’s possible to find a dead battery in your jet ski if you forget to take it out. To save your battery, hook it up to a trickle charger while your jet ski is in storage. Check with your storage facility if a trickle charger is allowed. If not, simply charge it at home in a secluded area like a garage or workshop. Also, it’s a good idea to buy a new battery if your current one is a few years old already.

Change the Oil

Jet skis need an oil change before long-term storage. When oil remains stagnant, it can become thick and cause engine problems. For the best results, change the oil while winterizing your vehicle and put in a new filter to boot. This will prevent any gummy or thickening oil that can prevent your watercraft from working well in the next boating season.

Drain the Engine

It’s important to drain the engine so that these particles don’t remain in the engine all winter. To do this, tilt the jet ski up and turn the handles to each side. For safety, get a friend to help you hold the jet ski to obtain the best control over this process. For 20-second increments, run the engine to pump out excess water.

When there is no more water, remove the engine’s air filter and apply fogging oil into the carburetor. Meanwhile, run the engine for around 20 seconds so that the carburetor gets fully lubricated. Then, replace the air filter. Remove the spark plugs and throw them away if they are too worn or dirty. Spray fogging oil on the spark plug cylinders, cover them with a towel, then run the engine once more for around 10 seconds. Then, insert the new spark plugs or replace the old ones if they were in good condition.

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Recommended Storage Unit Size for Jet Skis

Many trailers are less than 20 feet, so a 10×20 unit is perfect for storing your jet ski. You’ll also have extra room to store your gear as well. Some people consider renting a 10×10 storage unit but it will be a very tight fit. To make sure you’re selecting the appropriately sized storage unit, we highly recommend you take a minute to measure your trailer.

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Checklist for Long Term Jet Ski Storage

Your Jet Ski needs special care when putting it into storage. Use this checklist to make sure it’s ready for the water.

1. Drain the Engine: This step needs to be done before coming to the storage facility. While you’re on on the loading dock, tilt the PWC up so the back of your Jet Ski is lower than the front. Turn it on and rev the engine a couple of times to force any excess water out of the engine. Do NOT run the engine any longer than 30 seconds to prevent the engine from over heating.
2. Clean the Exterior: Soap it up, rinse it down, and dry it off. You may want to add a coat of wax. Make sure it’s completely dry to prevent rust.
3. Add a Fuel Stabilizer: Fuel has a shelf life of about 3 to 4 months so make sure you add a fuel stabilizer to make it last longer.
4. Disconnect the Battery: Batteries will lose their charge when kept plugged in and in storage. You may also consider hooking it to a battery tender. A battery tender uses very little juice to keep the battery charged. Don’t forget to remove it from your machine after you take it out of storage.
5. Change the Oil: Water may have entered the line so be sure to change the filter and oil to protect your engine from rust.
6. Inflate Trailer Tires: For extended storage periods, inflate the trailer’s tires to prevent them from becoming flat on one side.
7. Cover Your Jet Ski: Protect your Jet Ski from dust, dirt, and the elements by placing a cotton cover over it. Avoid plastics due to moisture build up.
8. Update Insurance: When it comes to insurance be sure that your coverage is updated to include Storage Rentals of America as the storage location.

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Your Worry-Free Jet Ski Storage Solutions

The benefits of storing your jet ski with Storage Rentals of America include:

• Clean, well-lit, and affordable storage units of all sizes to accommodate any storage needs from a motorcycle to a large RV and keep them in a protected interior space.
• Short or long-term storage is available with great discounts for those looking for seasonal or temporary storage solution.
• We know that peace of mind is important that’s why all our locations are safe and secure with electronic gate access and 24/7 video monitoring.
• Convenient self-storage locations in Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, and South Carolina.

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What Documentation is Required?

You’ll need to bring in three documents when you come in and rent with us. A government issued ID like a driver’s license or passport, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance. Check with your insurance provider to see if your policy covers storing your jet ski in long term storage and bring in a copy.