Disclaimer:  We are not professional mechanics, feel free to implement the following recommendations at your own risk. 

Riders Quick Guide to Salt Water PWC Maintenance 

Offshore Riding & Salt Water PWC Maintenance:
Our riding requires a completely different approach for maintenance vs. riding in fresh water. It involves significantly more time, effort and discipline to ensure this maintenance happens after every salt water ride.  You MUST attend to your craft after every salt water ride.    

After each ride:
1. You MUST have an engine flush kit (See picture to the right).
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.  Salt Away claims to leave a coat of anti-corrosive film on the inside of your engine.  Some use Dawn Soap to flush and clean the inside of the engine.  If that is your choice, it is recommended that you also leave a coat of Salt Away flush after flushing with Dawn Soap.     
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).  Ensure you use a Micro fibre or Shammy cloth. 
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.  Consider trying S100 Paste Wax.  Its expensive but we like it.  Remember to apply from side to side vs a circular motion.  The circular motion can result in the small hairline scratches to be more visible.  Use a micro fibre application and use only a clean micro fibre towel to remove the wax.     
12. We place a light coat (very light coat) of Fogging Oil anti-corrosive spray on our engine. Avoid air intakes and belts.  LIGHT Coat. 
13. Place a light coat of Fluid Film anti-corrosive spray lubrication on all moving parts on the outside of the craft (around the pump, reverse etc).   As a general rule, we recommend fogging oil on the engine compartment / on the engine and Fluid Film on parts outside of the engine compartment. 
 ** If you ride a Kawasaki ULTRA 250/260/300, we encourage you to lightly fog the supercharger after every ride with fogging oil. 
14. Grease your trailer frequently.
15. If you have a regular painted trailer, keep a coat of carnuba wax on the trailer and ensure you always soap and rinse down your trailer after every ride.
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 (very very light coat) of Fogging Oil 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 steering back and forth and move your reverse level up and down, this will get the Fluid Film into the system.    
22.  Store your craft with a full tank of fuel to avoid water/condensation into your fuel tank.  
23. Should you anticipate not running our craft for an extended period of time, place fuel stabilizer like STA-BIL into your gas tank.  Do so in accordance with the directions.
24. Consider a trickle charger for your battery while your craft is stowed. 

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 oil.   
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.  We also like Sprectra4 for Racing. 
6.  Change your oil often and use quality oil (we use synthetics / I use AMSOIL or Spectra4).
7.  Below is a picture of an oil extractor, we suggest you purchase one to allow for frequent, less expensive oil changes.



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.