• This site contains eBay affiliate links for which Sea-Doo Forum may be compensated.

What can cause a submersion/sinking?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Worn carbon seal is usually the number one cause of a pwc sinking after user error.
 
theinsider said:
Came across this story recently and it made me curious about what happened: http://pix11.com/2014/06/24/missing-jet-skiers-rescued-in-jamaica-bay-for-9-hours/

Beyond their obvious negligence, what could cause an engine stall and then eventually lead to the PWC being submerged? They said they floated to where they were rescued so it likely didn't submerge immediately. I don't have a lot of knowledge about the technical stuff and I'm just curious.
Click to expand...

Another possibility...exhaust system failure.

I've personally seen a ski..running like a raped ape..have to make the nearest beach asap. Thankfully there was a landing within a 100yds. Damned lucky. As it was, it was sinking while under power. When the ski came to rest a few feet from a soft shore it was sitting on the bottom in less than 1' of water. Getting it on a trailer wasn't too awfully difficult with three of us doing the moving.

Found out a coupla weeks later it was one of the water hoses feeding the exhaust system...failed at the clamp and was pouring water into the hull. Dunno if a bilge would kept up with that one.
 
Jaybeaux said:
In the US it's illegal to operate a jetski after dark.
Click to expand...

yes, I read it somewhere.

I believe you can navigate here, following the same rules of regular boat.
At least the regulation does not differentiate the size of the boat, regarding the signs light and the navigation in the dark.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Regarding that picture in the news, would the ski sink more than that? Or it would last that way due "Styrofoam" in the hull?
 
red2blue said:
Another possibility...exhaust system failure.

I've personally seen a ski..running like a raped ape..have to make the nearest beach asap. Thankfully there was a landing within a 100yds. Damned lucky. As it was, it was sinking while under power. When the ski came to rest a few feet from a soft shore it was sitting on the bottom in less than 1' of water. Getting it on a trailer wasn't too awfully difficult with three of us doing the moving.

Found out a coupla weeks later it was one of the water hoses feeding the exhaust system...failed at the clamp and was pouring water into the hull. Dunno if a bilge would kept up with that one.
Click to expand...

Isn't there something on the back you can plug to avoid water getting in?
 
theinsider said:
Isn't there something on the back you can plug to avoid water getting in?
Click to expand...

What're you gonna plug?....by the time you feel the ski taking on water...alarms start going off....the bailers can't keep up...doubt a bilge woulda managed more than buying time. Not a bad idea far from shore.

Couldn't see where the water was coming from....didn't wanna turn the ski off for fear of it not restarting...at a depth of over 100'. Just slowed the ski...popped the seat enough to see too much water in the hull...slammed the seat down and headed for the beach...asap.

Believe me...when that alarm goes off...it ain't panic...but concern ain't a strong enough term.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top