Fishaholic
New member
Went fishing at Sodwana for a long weekend break. First day out, what a disaster! Heres the story, maybe someone can also learn a few things like I did!
Sea was a bit rough, after about 2 hours trolling, stopped to pack everything away to go out. Started my Kawasaki STX jetski to head back, only for it to die after a few seconds. OK, must be small problem, try to start again. After a while it started. Died again as soon as I power up. Now it doesn't want to start. OK now its not funny.
Decided to anchor, because the south wind is pushing me further away fast. First time I used the anchor, doesn't want to hold on bottom. Another thing I never thought about is where to tie the end of rope. So i'm sitting with it in hand. Tried to start again. Started. Pull in anchor, find cable ties broken. Tried to give more power slowly, died again. OK, got more cable ties, now anchor holds, but still slipping. Anchor too small for wind blowing. Seems that after standing for a while it starts again. Removed one spark plug to see if its dry. Looks OK. Waited a while, because now the battery low alarm also came on. Got it started, went back to launch very slowly, kept it just on 2000 rpm, as soon as I give more power it starts to run roughly. Just behind backline at launch tried to give more power again to see if I can make it through surf. Died again.
OK, got my wife (panic a lot by now) to get guys doing surf training to help me. A boat Siyafunda helped me. I had a nylon tow rope. On our way in it broke, lucky just before surf. Used their anchor rope. Had to jump in to get the rope around the tow clip in front. Safely in. Thanks again for the guys that helped me!!! Didn't got time to thank them properly, they went on with their training.
The next day I read my manual, pumped out some fuel, and got a LOT of water. The day before I went out I topped up the ski with about 20L fuel (or rather water), at the Sodwana campsite fuel pumps. I think the problem was that I was the first in the morning to get fuel, had to wait for them to open. But it could also be a leak on tank or fillup pipe.
Phoned Dustin the next morning for advice. (Thanks for helping Dustin) Drained all fuel, and filled up again, this time in town, checking it firstly in cut off coke bottle. Let it run for a while. Only way to test was to go out fishing the following day, which was also our last day. It ran OK all day.
Some lessons learned:
1. Check fuel before filling up in cup first. Not sure if one gets fuel water separator filters for jetskis? Another option is to use the Razor fuel filter funnel tipe thing. Will have to investigate. Anyone that have something like this on their jet ski?
2. Dual battery may be a good investment.
3. Make some small rope attached to front of ski to again attach anchor rope, (heavy enough to also attach tow rope as well), with some sort of trip line to retrieve.
4. A 1.5 kg anchor too small. What size do you normally use offshore?
5. Normal nylon tow rope the guys put in safety kit, too light. Will get something stronger.
Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Sea was a bit rough, after about 2 hours trolling, stopped to pack everything away to go out. Started my Kawasaki STX jetski to head back, only for it to die after a few seconds. OK, must be small problem, try to start again. After a while it started. Died again as soon as I power up. Now it doesn't want to start. OK now its not funny.
Decided to anchor, because the south wind is pushing me further away fast. First time I used the anchor, doesn't want to hold on bottom. Another thing I never thought about is where to tie the end of rope. So i'm sitting with it in hand. Tried to start again. Started. Pull in anchor, find cable ties broken. Tried to give more power slowly, died again. OK, got more cable ties, now anchor holds, but still slipping. Anchor too small for wind blowing. Seems that after standing for a while it starts again. Removed one spark plug to see if its dry. Looks OK. Waited a while, because now the battery low alarm also came on. Got it started, went back to launch very slowly, kept it just on 2000 rpm, as soon as I give more power it starts to run roughly. Just behind backline at launch tried to give more power again to see if I can make it through surf. Died again.
OK, got my wife (panic a lot by now) to get guys doing surf training to help me. A boat Siyafunda helped me. I had a nylon tow rope. On our way in it broke, lucky just before surf. Used their anchor rope. Had to jump in to get the rope around the tow clip in front. Safely in. Thanks again for the guys that helped me!!! Didn't got time to thank them properly, they went on with their training.
The next day I read my manual, pumped out some fuel, and got a LOT of water. The day before I went out I topped up the ski with about 20L fuel (or rather water), at the Sodwana campsite fuel pumps. I think the problem was that I was the first in the morning to get fuel, had to wait for them to open. But it could also be a leak on tank or fillup pipe.
Phoned Dustin the next morning for advice. (Thanks for helping Dustin) Drained all fuel, and filled up again, this time in town, checking it firstly in cut off coke bottle. Let it run for a while. Only way to test was to go out fishing the following day, which was also our last day. It ran OK all day.
Some lessons learned:
1. Check fuel before filling up in cup first. Not sure if one gets fuel water separator filters for jetskis? Another option is to use the Razor fuel filter funnel tipe thing. Will have to investigate. Anyone that have something like this on their jet ski?
2. Dual battery may be a good investment.
3. Make some small rope attached to front of ski to again attach anchor rope, (heavy enough to also attach tow rope as well), with some sort of trip line to retrieve.
4. A 1.5 kg anchor too small. What size do you normally use offshore?
5. Normal nylon tow rope the guys put in safety kit, too light. Will get something stronger.
Any suggestions will be appreciated.