Is It Safe to Beach a Jet Ski? (2022 Update)

Have you ever wondered whether it’s safe to bring your jet ski right up on to the sand? Well, let’s address that concern.

You can ride up and park a jet ski on most sandy beaches without hull damage such as scratches and holes. Where damage typically occurs is when there are large pebbles amongst the sand and in this case, we recommend that you anchor your jet ski in waist-deep water for safety.

It should be noted that the engine needs to be off before you reach the sand, otherwise you’ll be running it dry which could cause engine damage, similar to if you started your jet ski on its trailer.

Parking Jet Skis on a Beach

You’ve probably seen it before where you find a photo with dozens of personal watercraft all lined up. This is probably the result of a group ride to one destination.

While it looks great, the main reason why riders choose to park on the sand as opposed to leaving their jet ski in the water like boats and yachts is convenience. They’re seeking to avoid getting their shorts wet and indeed I’ve done the safe as well multiple times.

Then you’ve got the other main reason which is the threat of dragging anchor. If you do have to anchor your jet ski, then chances are that a current of more than 5-knots could start dragging your ski as the anchor itself can’t hold. I’ve heard of guys getting larger anchors (the type for fishing boats) but the main challenge is the space available in the front locker.

Essentially, parking a jet ski on a beach is the best means by which to secure it if you’re going for a walk or using the toilets.

Tips For Success

In writing this, I figured you’ll want to make sure you get it right the first few times you do it.

I can recommend that you:

1. Choose the Right Beach

Don’t just choose any beach to come and park yourself. You’ll want to gauge the conditions before you get up there. Even from 10 meters away you can quite easily see if the sand has any high density of rocks of pebbles that could scratch your hull.

2. Come in Dead-Straight

It’s best to line yourself up dead straight on the beach. if you come in at an angle, then you could actually tip yourself over when the bottom of the hull strikes the sand, or even flip the jet ski on to its side. If you’re out there on your own, then this could be challenging to upright. Also, you don’t want excessive speed where you beach yourself too far up because you are the one that needs to get this 1,000-pound machine back into the water!

3. Turn Your Engine Off

As you come up onto the beach, you’ll want to have your engine off. Essentially you’ll use the momentum from your ski to get you up the beach. But here’s the thing – the slant or angle of the beach will cause your impeller to push itself deeper and potentially suck up sand or debris if the engine itself were running. So we really do this as a safety measure.

4. Anchor Yourself Properly

While I see guys all the time beaching their jet skis and walking away, I like to add a sand anchor just in case for peace of mind. The scary notion of coming back to a jet ski that has floated away isn’t just theory, because it’s happened before to some guys I know. Keep an eye on those tides as well!

In Summary

After a few tries, beaching your jet ski is relatively easy. Just be prepared for the sudden slow down as the hull strikes the sand. Choose your beaches carefully, take it easy the first few times and most importantly….have fun out there!