Personal Protection Items for Sea-Doo Riding
By Craig Nicholson, The Intrepid Cottager
Renting a Sea-Doo personal watercraft is a sure recipe for an exciting day of amazing jet-ski adventure on the Kawartha Lakes. These pristine lakes, part of the world famous Trent Severn Waterway, are located only a short drive from the Greater Toronto Area. Nothing beats the refreshing freedom of skimming across these clean, clear waters on a hot summer day, with a light breeze whipping your hair and cooling your skin. Or the sheer exhilaration of riding a Sea-Doo watercraft!
Like most of us, your first impression of Sea-Doo riding probably came from personal watercraft images in social media, boating magazines and manufacturer brochures. Typically, they portray smiling jet-ski riders, wearing nothing more than life vests and bathing suits, enjoying sunny days, sparkling waters and blue skies. And those are exactly the kind of carefree summer days that make renting a Sea-Doo from Kawartha Adventure Rentals unbeatable fun!
Your jet ski rental includes a temporary boat license and three adult life vests. It also includes all the required, onboard safety equipment. And based on our long experience in the Sea-Doo rental business, Kawartha Adventure Rentals also offers this proven advice. It’s about what you can do to help make your fun on the water even more memorable – for all the right reasons.
In the real world, riding totally carefree all day isn’t always the best way to go. You can totally imagine yourself carving the waves on that Sea-Doo watercraft for many hours under the blazing sun. But it’s all too easy to forget that constant exposure to the sun can be painful later. That’s because the cooling effects of water and breeze can disguise the normal early warning signs of too much sun on your skin.
Similarly, did you know you could become dehydrated on a steamy hot day even though you’re surrounded by water? So it’s also important to drink lots of (non-alcoholic) fluid throughout your ride.
These are just two reasons why Kawartha Adventure Rentals highly recommends that each rider take along a few simple personal protection items for Sea-Doo riding. But first, let’s talk life vests…
As already noted, your Sea Doo rental comes with three life vests. These aren’t just for show. In the personal watercraft community, they are always worn by everyone on board a jet ski to keep you safe if you fall off. But Kawartha Adventure Rentals wants you to know that your life vest also serves two other important purposes.
One, your life vest provides a fail-safe shut off for your PWC if you fall off. By always keeping the starter key tether cord attached to the handy clip on your life vest, it will disconnect when stretched, shutting off the PWC engine. Thus, your personal watercraft can never get away from you or leave you stranded in the water.
Two, your life vest provides your first line of protection from the elements. It protects your upper chest, shoulders and upper back from sunburn and also provides a windbreak for your torso. Your life vest doesn’t cover everything, but it’s a good start.
That’s why Kawartha Adventure Rentals recommends enhancing this basic protection by assembling a personal kit to carry with you. Here are some suggestions about what it should include…
Sun Protection
Lotion or Cream
Choose a top sun lotion or cream like Sun Bum, with an SPF suitable for your skin type and sensitivity – the higher the better as far as we are concerned! Whatever you choose, it should definitely be water resistant. But understand clearly that no sun lotion can withstand exposure to water for long, so the only sure way to avoid suffering a painful burn on the water is to re-apply it often to exposed skin. Even on those hazy days when burning sunrays can still penetrate to your skin.
And remember when you’re riding any jet ski, PWC or Waverunner, that you’re essentially locked into a seated position for the day. This means that the most vulnerable parts of your skin to burning are: the back of your hands (which are always on the handlebars) & arms; the tops of your thighs and the backs of your ankles & calves (due to the seated position); and your face, back of neck and ears. And don’t forget that the water around you also acts as a reflecting magnifier of sunrays, increasing the chances of getting burned. Unfortunately, a Sea-Doo watercraft has no overhead canopy or other built-in rider protection, so your best bet is to lather on the sun lotion!
Riding Gloves: Experienced riders quickly learned that sun lotion alone doesn’t always do the trick. The best way to protect your hands from burning is by wearing a pair of riding gloves like the ones we offer in the Kawartha Adventure Rentals Store. Gloves also have the added plus of providing extra grip on the handlebars. They also protect your palms and fingers from possible blisters that can occur because your hands aren’t used to the pressure of hanging on.
Peaked Ball Cap
A peaked ball cap not only protects your head and forehead from sunburn, but it can also help keep long hair out of your eyes. The trick is keeping the hat on while riding because the wind tends to catch the peak and flip it off. So you need a cap that can be worn tight. It’s also a good idea to use a short tether with alligator clips on either end – one fastened to the cap, the other attached to your life vest. This way, if it does come off while riding, you won’t lose it in the water. If neither of these is workable, try wearing the cap with the peak at the back so the wind won’t be as likely to catch it. At least your scalp will be protected from burning – it’s hard to apply sun lotion to your head!
At the very least, take a ball cap with you and always put it on when stopped or floating. After all, some protection is better than none!
Long Sleeve Shirt
Sometimes, despite best efforts, you can feel your skin burning or sense you’re getting too much sun. This is the time to put on a long sleeve shirt, preferably one that’s made of quick-drying material like Dri-Fit. This will protect your arms and shoulders from frying, without being too hot to wear.
Eye Protection
It’s also important to protect your eyes while Sea-Doo riding. The combined glare from the sky and off the water can make seeing difficult. It may potentially even cause some eye damage, including burned eyelids. That’s one reason why wearing sunglasses is essential. Another is to deflect away any breeze or wind generated by your forward momentum. To say nothing of keeping any flying insects from hitting you in the eyes.
Your best bet is wrap-around style sunglasses that also provide some side protection. They should fit snuggly, but also secure them with an eyeglass strap at the back, preferably one that floats just in case they go overboard.
Foot Protection
The tops of your feet and ankles are particularly vulnerable to sunburn while Sea-Doo riding. They also may be the hardest location to keep sun lotion working long since they may get wet most often. That’s why Kawartha Adventure Rentals recommends wearing some kind of water shoes while riding. This quick-drying and water shedding footwear can also be helpful in protecting the bottoms of your feet while wading in the water or walking on uneven ground when ashore.
Carrying these personal protection items can certainly make your Sea Doo ride more enjoyable. And prevent unexpected discomfort that can set in after your incredible day of the water. In addition, Kawartha Adventure Rentals also suggests you carry a few other items with you on your Sea-Doo rental: a fully charged cell phone, proper ID, credit card & cash.
Now you’re really ready to ride!
