If you plan on making the most out of your PWC this year, make sure to do it safely by following the watercraft safety tips listed in this post by Synthetic Oil Inc. in San Diego.

Are you looking forward to taking your PWC to the waters this year? Since these marine vessels are ideal for fishing, practicing water sports, exploring, and navigating through the vast blue, they are undoubtedly one of the most fun crafts to operate through the water. Riding a personal watercraft is fun and thrilling; however, it still poses some significant risks, such as colliding with an object or another watercraft, being thrown off by speeding, or getting entangled in the machine's moving parts among other dangers. To prevent any hazardous situation, you must learn and have basic safety practices in place; to that end, this post by Synthetic Oil Inc. shares a few essential watercraft safety tips.

To make the most out of your watercraft this year, give it proper maintenance by adding high-quality oils to its engine, like AMSOIL 10W-40 Synthetic Marine Engine Oil. To place an order on the top-performing synthetic oil in San Diego, call Synthetic Oil Inc. at (800) 653-0323 or explore AMSOIL's online store.

How to Have a Safer Watercraft Ride

Read the Operator's Guide Thoroughly

For starters, it's important to note that the better acquainted you get with your personal watercraft's operating instructions and safety precautions, the better owner and safer operator you'll become, hence the importance of reading your operator's guide thoroughly. Ideally, it would help if you took the time to read your operator's guide before riding your watercraft; doing so will allow you to become familiar with the equipment's maintenance requirements and schedule, troubleshooting instructions, and of course, safety information.

Research the Legal Requirements Regarding Watercraft Safety

Since water-based activities like fishing and boating play a crucial role in California, you can find a few state laws regarding PWC usage. As you might expect, these laws are created and enforced to improve safety for all watercraft enthusiasts; that's why you must take the time to research and understand these regulations and guidelines before getting out on the water. Amidst all the state laws you can find concerning boating and the use of your watercraft; here are the most important ones:

• In California, a person must be 16 years old or older to legally operate a personal watercraft powered by a motor of 15 hp or more.
• Any operator or passenger of a PWC must wear a life jacket approved by the Coast Guard.
• All vessel operators 40 years of age or younger are required to obtain and carry a Boater Card on board to operate in waterways within the state of California legally.
• Look into the online resources available on the Division of Boating and Waterways of the California State Parks website page for more information about the state laws and regulations regarding personal watercraft usage.

Take a Boating Safety Course

As described above, all operators between 16 and 40 years of age must obtain a Boater Card to operate a PWC in California's waterways legally. If you want to get a Boater Card, you must take a boating safety education course that meets the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways requirements. Plus, it's important to note that, once you obtain your Boater Card, you must carry it with you whenever you are operating your PWC in the state waterways. Besides being a legal requirement, obtaining a boating safety education certificate is a great way to learn about the rules to operate your watercraft safely, the environmental hazards to be wary of, rescue tips, among other knowledge regarding watercraft safety.

Another important watercraft safety tip you should follow is to give your marine engine a synthetic oil change in San Diego. For more information about the most reliable oils for your PWC, call Synthetic Oil Inc. at (800) 653-0323 or explore AMSOIL's online store.

Check Your Watercraft Before Each Ride

Another way to improve your watercraft safety is by always performing a pre-ride inspection before heading out to the water. Otherwise, you run the risk of having an engine breakdown while operating the PWC, hence the importance of performing a thorough equipment inspection to spot any wear or deterioration before launching the watercraft to the water. Among all the pre-ride checks recommended inside your operator's guide, here are the top things to do:

• For starters, check your fuel tank to ensure it's filled.
• Check fluid levels.
• Ensure all drain plugs are tight.
• Open the engine compartment and search for fluid leaks or gasoline vapor odor.
• Look for cracks on the hull.

Finally, Always Wear a Life Jacket When Riding

Life jackets are undoubtedly the most crucial piece of gear you must wear in the water. It doesn't matter if you can swim for 100 miles or operate your PWC at a high level of skill; you still need to wear a life jacket to keep you safe in case you fall aboard and stay afloat waiting for help; hence, always wear a life jacket when riding your watercraft.

Choosing high-quality lubricants can help you keep your watercraft in top running condition. To explore the full line of AMSOIL products, browse through the online store and find the oils with the most effective protection for your marine engine, like AMSOIL 10W-40 Synthetic Marine Engine Oil. For more information about the most reliable synthetic oil in San Diego, call Synthetic Oil Inc. at (800) 653-0323.