This website is informational only. This site is intended for the review by adults only.  No representation is made or warranty given as to its content. User assumes all risk of use. PWCOffshore.com, its owners and its suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Warning - although PWC riding is great fun, riding personal watercraft (PWC) in the ocean is not for the beginner and is for adults only.  Offshore PWC riding can be extremely dangerous resulting in serious injury or death.  The information on this site is for adults and strictly the opinion of the writers on this site.  We are only PWC enthusiasts - please do your own research and make your own judgments regarding what products you purchase and how & where you ride your watercraft (PWC).  We are not certified mechanics nor are we certified mariners or certified maritime navigators.  Do not take anything you read on this site as guidance from a "professional."  By reading this site, you agree to take whatever information or input you receive on this site at your own risk.  If you are inexperienced or a beginner we recommend against riding in the open ocean.  We encourage you to take a boating safety course and consult with the Coast Guard regarding PWC, boating, rider safety and maritime navigation before you consider riding PWC offshore, in the ocean.  For more boating safety information, go to the Coast Guard's website at http://www.uscg.mil/  or call the US Coast Guard at (310) 732-2042 for more information.  Have fun and be safe and never ride in the ocean unless you know what you are doing.     

SoCal Latitudes and Longitudes:
Reference Only Note that these are Southern California Lat and Longs taken directly from the charts, this means unless it says "entrance" the main buoys are likely a few nautical mile off shore. We suggest that once you get there, you GPS mark and save a location closer into the harbor entrance. This information is for reference only, please confirm accuracy of these latitude & longitude numbers on your own prior to offshore riding. We recommend you purchase your own maritime navigation chart and use that chart as your primary lat/long reference.

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Santa Barbara: N34-24.07 W119-40.76
Ventura Harbor: N34-14.45, W119-16.74 
Port Hueneme F1Horn/Channel Islands Harbor: N34-09.27 W119-13.82 
Long Beach Main Buoy: N33-41.40, W118-11.01
Catalina Avalon Bay: N33-20.80, W118-19.36
Catalina Isthmus Cove: N33-27.43, W118-29.42
Backside (West/Pacific-side) of Two Harbors on Catalina:  N33 25.33, W118 30.51   
Corona Del Mar/Newport Beach: N33-35.06, W117-52.69
Dana Point: N33-27.26, W117-41.49 (Actual entrance)
Redondo Beach: N33-50.36, W118-23.79
Marina Del Rey: N33-57.50, W118-27.63 (South Entrance)
Marina Del Rey: N33-57.81, W118-27.86 (North Entrance)
Point Dume: N33-59.61, W118-48.29
Oceanside Harbor: N33-12.10, W117-24.49
Mission Bay Entrance (San Diego):  N32-45.47, W117-15.79
San Clemente Island (South Side): N32-47.39, W118-22.00 (Naval Reservation/closed to public/Danger Area).

Offshore Riding & Salt Water PWC Maintenance:
Our riding requires a completely different approach for maintenance associated with fresh water riding. It involves significantly more time and more effort. After each ride:
1. You MUST have an engine flush kit.
2. You MUST flush the engine with water after every ride.  We recommend you use Salt Away (no alternative) after every ride as part of the fresh water flush (flush kit adapter required).  If you have an intercoller, we suggest you run one cycle of salt away through your craft.  Then put a fresh dose of Salt Away into your flush adapter and run it through to the point that you have maximum soap bubbles coming out of your exhaust.  Stop the flushing, then stop the craft.  This keeps the salt away in the intercooler and fighting corrosion as the craft sits until your next ride.    
3. Read your owners manual regarding flushing procedures. We flush in the following manner:  Connect the flush kit to your craft while the craft is off, turn your craft on, then quickly turn the water on, run your craft for approximately five to seven minutes with the water/flush running through it, then turn the water off, then the turn the engine off. Never allow your craft to be off while the water is running through your craft.  Also, to avoid overheating, never allow your craft to run for extended periods of time without the water/flush running through the craft.   
4. Spray your craft down with water and soap, ensure you get full coverage over your craft and trailer (we use salt away here also).
5. Sponge down your craft with soap and water, rinse clean.
6. Remove your drain plugs.
7. Cover your after market air intake with a plastic zip tie bag - spray down the entire engine compartment with water and salt away. Ensure your water spray stays clear of the engine's air intakes.  Never wash down your engine compartment while the engine is running. 
8. Shammy your craft dry to avoid water spots (especially if you own a black craft).
9. With your drain plugs removed, drive your truck to an incline (back to the ramp) and allow the craft's engine compartment to drain out all of the water.
10. Stow your craft with the seats off (if garaged) or with a wedge under the seat to allow the water to evaporate.
11. Keep a coat of carnuba wax on your craft to avoid salt water pitting on your craft.
12. We place a light coat of Fluid Film anti-corrosive spray on our engine. Avoid air intakes and belts.
13. Place a light coat of Fluid Film anti-corrosive spray lubrication on all moving parts on the outside of the craft (read around the pump, reverse etc).
14. Grease your trailer frequently.
15. If you have a regular painted trailer, keep a coat of carnuba wax on the trailer.
16. Rinse your wet suit, boots, gloves and life-jacket with fresh water soap and salt away. Allow to dry in an open area. As a general rule, if ANY of your gear has been in contact with the salt water, it needs to be rinsed with fresh water.
17. Consider stowing your seats in the back of your truck for your drive home. This should enable the engine compartment to dry more quickly during the drive home or to your storage ground. Note Salt water will eat your gear if you let it. Be vigilant about maintenance.
18. Place di-electical grease on your battery connections and electrical cables / connections.
19. We keep a fresh coat of carnuba wax on our hulls. 
20. After your engine is dry, spray a light coat of Fluid Film all over your engine (avoid belts)
21. Put a light coat of Fluid Film on your pump / reverse bucket area on the outside of your craft.  Turn your stearing back and forth and move your reverse level up and down, this will get the Fluid Film into the system.    

Engine maintenance:
1. Do so in accordance with your owner's manual.
2. Endurance riding involves long durations of full throttle RPM's resulting in significant heat and stress on the craft's engine.
3. We change our oil every 8 - 12 hours which is frequently. Use your judgment based on your riding style.  
4. We are currently running synthetic blend (Motul 10-40), and just transiitoned one of our ULTRA 250's to Amsoil full synthetic.   
5. We are transitioning some of our craft to full synthetic Amsoil racing marine oil with anti-corrosive properties to combat the moisture and salt water found in ocean riding.  
6.  Change your oil often and use quality oil (we use synthetics / I use AMSOIL).

Training:
Consult with your doctor before starting any training regime.
1. There is a reason many endurance racers are triathletes, Iron Men or Marathon runners. This sport requires stamina, strength a lot of will power and a tolerance for pain. We all feel those burning quads during and after full throttle runs for 60 minutes.
2. Cardio, cardio and more cardio. Biking and running are great for this sport, but between the two, we recommend biking. Biking is easier on the joints and there is a deeper cycle in the leg movements that is consistent with endurance riding.
3. The best way to train is to ride PWC and ride hard, the more the better. The only problem is time and money; we all work and the money associated with fuel and dock fees makes riding every day prohibitive.  Especially if you own the ULTRA 250x. All of those ponies are thirsty and requires a lot of fuel.
4. So how do you train? We have found that the closest land related sport to Endurance riding is mountain bike riding. Riding endurance is a complete body workout and difficult to match but mountain bike riding, especially climbing is a great training regime for race preparation & training. There are consistent muscle groups used in mountain bike riding and endurance riding. The glutes and quads get a workout as they act as shock absorbers for the constant pounding taken on the craft.  
5.  Do you own a sport quad (ATV)?  If so, go out and ride hard and long (and safe) and you will get a good quad and forearm burn.  
(Below - member of PWCOFFSHORE cross training in the desert on Raptor 700)
 
6. Augment the mountain bike riding or standard biking with good old standard deep knee bends, and many of them (yes, go all the way down and all the way up, many times - trust me you will feel it and it will help).
7. Hit the gym and do shoulders, it takes a lot to hold on to contemporary PWC, especially the Kawi ULTRA 250 w/250 horsepower.
8. Working your traps (back) is key to hanging on to your craft as well. Traps can be strengthened through pull ups and bent over dumbbell rows.
9. Leg extensions and kav extensions are also recommended. Again, hit the gym.
10. Do what you can to strengthen your lower back in the gym! (as mentioned earlier, consider wearing a large width weight belt while riding endurance). 

Injuries:
1. Endurance riding involves continuous full throttle speeds in big ocean which results in big air and a potentially violent ride . The most common injury we see are broken ankles. How do you avoid? It's hard to do so, when you get air your feet come out of the tray. When the craft hits the water gravity sucks you back into the tray quickly and potentially violently. If your ankle is out of line, you could have issues. Consider the Hydro-Turf Lifter Wedges to keep your feet more tacked in (remember to get the glue also, also remember that it may be counter productive if your double them up / two sets that is- you will be more locked in but could sustain injuries due to being TOO locked in).
2. Face/teeth:  Wear a helmet. Offshore endurance riding involves big waves and big speed (68-71 mph) which equates out to big air and a potentially violent ride. You will have face plants into your handlebars, if you're not wearing a helmet you could lose some teeth. A full face helmet takes care of this problem. I have known riders who also wear a mouthpiece.
3.  Neck Injuries:  Falling of a PWC at en 50 mph causes quite a jolt to the body and if you land the wrong way, potential whip lash.  A neck collar appears to be growing in popularity for the offshore rider. 
4.  5/26/2007 - one of our ULTRA 250 riders hit a swell at 63 mph off the coast of Catalina resulting in the craft bucking back and his body propelling forward and his neck, specifically his atoms apple crashing into the handlebars.  Result was a minor neck injury.  That rider has now transitioned to wearing a neck brace with wrap around protetion.          

Endurance Riding and Nutrition:
Your PWC must be in superb shape, and so should you. Consult with your doctor prior to making any changes in your diet.
1. The PWC offshore endurance scene usually has the hardest core riders.  Having a few beers and then riding is for the novice.  Not only is it ignorant to drink and ride, you lose tremendous efficiency when you have alcohol in your system and then try to ride hard for a respectable distance. If you're even remotely serious about endurance riding and or racing, your system will be clean before you hit the water.
2. Low body fat and high muscle mass is the name of the game. And, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate (drink lots of water!).
3. There are multiple ways of getting there. The bottom line is lots of training and a healthy diet. Again, consult with your doctor regarding diet. For us it is all about lean meats, fruits grains and vegetables. Watch out for the fatty foods, heavy pastas, creams and do yourself a favor - no fast food.
4. You need your cardio.  Therefore if you smoke, we suggest you quit.