I'm planning on taking my XLT 800 out on the ocean, what advice can you give me?

How soon do you need to flush after you get it out of the sea? Can I drive back to my house and flush it 15 minutes later?

Is it true you need to spray out endgine compartment?

Are there any performance differences out on the ocean?

What's the biggest wave I should hit?

Spray the entire engine with Silicone spray. If you have a Walmart you can buy the Prestone brand for about $1.77 a can. Be generous. Spray the night before you ride and let it settle for a bit. Spray all of your electrical connection.

Do not ride alone stay close to shore if by yourself

#1 Do not go alone. Take a riding buddy, it can go from fun to fighting for your life in 2 seconds flat. No S.H.I.T....dont find out the hard way.

it's probably best to flush before the salt water has a chance to dry up.wash off every thing you can i ride in salt all the time,this year i guted my boat and it was obvious wear i had neglected to rinse like the only head bolts that wer rusted wer the ones under the pipe. i also have a rusted stanless prop frome my kawi standup. so yes flush everything you can. i ride a 99gp1200 and my budy rides a 98XL760 i have some prety cool pics of him with that huge boat in the air. and a hole in his hull i could put my fist thrugh. e-mail me if you want to check them out gpx1200@aol.com

I took mine to the gulf twice, one thing I noticed right away was the ski was much slower in the saltwater, about 5-7 mph. Large waves or swells can be fun, but the saltwater in your eye's and mouth is not. Seaweed is really bad, if there is any try to avoid it all all costs, nothing like having to dismount your ski and reach under to clean out the grate in the middle of the ocean! I guess the same goes for jellyfish and rays. I rode past a school of rays while out, luckily I didn't ride right over them no telling what that would have done. I did have a great experience riding with the Bottlenose Dolphins though, it was quit a thrill. Just be carefull and try not to launch off a large wave because the landing can be pretty rough.

Have fun.

make sure you know the water depth before lauching off large waves.. you don't want the tail end of your ski to hit bottom when re-entering the water...

If you have large waves breaking close to shore make sure that you have a friend riding with you that can pick up you and/or your ski so it/you don't get swept into a reef along the shoreline.


What location are you planning on riding?

We ride in the ocean all the time. We love it when it gets rough cause the seadoo's don't come out and play. Most importantly...have someone else with you on another ski or boat. If you jump waves...make sure waves are not too close to the next wave or you will smack into the next wave and that hurts. Always be looking around especially if its rough...you don't want a wave to break on you sideways and flip you. If you jump a wave..don't back off on the throttle till you're airborne or you will nose into the water. Full throttle up the face of a wave is safer and much easier when it comes to landing.

As far as cleaning...

We head straight to a car wash and pressure wash the ski..inside and out. Don't forget to clean the trailer as well.

When we get home, I flush the ski's and spray them down again with silicon...not wd40.

Take a screw in anchor if you plan on pulling your craft out of the water (if in a protected cove) This way you don't have to beach it. If you have to beach on land open to the ocean...don't walk your ski in past the breakers or you will lose it...ride it in.

Wear disposable sunglasses treated with Rain X. Wear plenty of sunblock.

[ 08-07-2002: Message edited by: DJFRANKIEB ]

FLUSH A.S.A.P. WHEN YOU PULL OUT FROM THE RAMP CRANK IT ON LET THE SALT WATER OUT. HOLD ON WHEN JUMPING WAVES, TRY NOT TO GO OUT WHEN ITS TO ROUGH.RAIN, WHITE CAPS & LIGHTING S U C K !!