Towing a jet ski means one of two things: hauling it to the lake on a trailer, or pulling a broken-down one back to shore behind another vessel. Both go wrong in predictable ways. On the road, the usual problems are an overloaded vehicle and a poorly checked trailer. On the water, the usual problem is a flooded engine from towing too fast. This guide covers both, with the Idaho rules that apply on Lake Coeur d'Alene.
TL;DR
- Check your vehicle's towing limit in the owner's manual and on its VIN plate before you hitch anything. Never guess from the model name.
- Tow a disabled jet ski slowly, at the manufacturer's stated speed, unless you have the correct hose clamp. Towing too fast can flood the engine.
- Use a strong, non-stretch rope or strap, not a tow-sports rope, and keep everyone clear of the line.
- Towing a person on a tube or skis is a different job, with its own Idaho requirements: a rated craft, an observer and life jackets.
- Renting means no hitch, no trailer and no tow home. We cover rentals on the lakes around Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake and Coeur d'Alene.
Table of Contents
- Towing a jet ski to the lake
- Towing a disabled jet ski on the water
- Towing people is a different job
- Our view: skip the hitch if you're visiting
- Rent instead of towing
- FAQ
- Sources
Towing a jet ski to the lake
Start with the vehicle, not the trailer
Whether your car can pull a jet ski depends on the gross train weight (GTW) printed on the VIN plate. If no GTW is listed, the vehicle should not be used for towing. So the question "can my sedan pull one?" has no general answer. Read your manual, add up the weight of the jet ski, the trailer and the gear you load on it, and stay under the number the manufacturer gives.
A single-ski trailer is much lighter than a boat trailer, which is why many mid-size cars and SUVs can handle one. But "many" is not "yours". The plate and the manual decide.
Check the trailer every time
Tire pressure, wheel bearings and brakes (if your trailer has them) are the three things to look at before each trip. Routine trailer maintenance is the base of safe towing, and bearings that sit in lake water are the usual weak point. Beyond that, walk around the rig:
- Coupler latched and locked on the ball, with the safety pin in.
- Safety chains crossed under the tongue.
- Lights working: brake, turn and running.
- Jet ski strapped down at the bow and stern, with the hull sitting on the bunks.
- Drain plugs and loose gear secured. Anything loose on the deck can fly off at highway speed.
For a longer checklist, this boat trailering safety checklist is worth a read before your first trip of the season.
Parking the rig at Coeur d'Alene
Bring a plan for where the trailer goes once the ski is in the water. Our guide to boat trailer parking rules in Coeur d'Alene explains the 48-hour cap, and our launch planning guide helps you pick a ramp before you arrive.
Towing a disabled jet ski on the water
A jet ski that dies on the lake can't simply be dragged home. Failing to follow the manufacturer's speed limit can flood the engine and cause hydrolock. Without a running engine there is no exhaust pressure to keep water out, so water pushes back through the exhaust.
Know your brand's speed limit
The limits differ by maker. According to BRP's operator guidance, Kawasaki advises no more than 5 km/h (about 3 mph) and Yamaha suggests 8 km/h (about 5 mph). Sea-Doo allows up to 24 km/h (15 mph), but only after the water supply hose is clamped. Those are metric figures from the source, and the mph conversions are ours. Your owner's manual is the final word for your model.
| Brand | Maximum tow speed | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Kawasaki | 5 km/h (about 3 mph) | None stated |
| Yamaha | 8 km/h (about 5 mph) | None stated |
| Sea-Doo | 24 km/h (15 mph) | Water supply hose clamped |
The clamp that saves the engine
The most reliable protection is a seacock or a purpose-made hose clamp on the engine's water supply hose. Many riders mark that hose with bright tape so they can find it in seconds, not while the boat drifts. One rule matters more than the rest: remove the clamp before restarting the engine, or you risk serious damage.
Even with a clamp, slower is usually better. Experienced boaters say a slow, controlled tow home is generally safer, since it lowers the chance of the rope snapping, being pulled into the jet unit or swamping the disabled craft.
Rope, rider and positioning
- Rope: use a strong, non-stretch towrope or a webbed nylon strap, not a rope made for tow sports. A floating line reduces the risk of it getting sucked into the jet.
- Length at slow speed: a 20 ft line is enough for slow towing.
- Length at higher speed: around 40 ft lets the ski ride in smoother water behind the wake. The downside is that other boaters may not see the rope and try to cross between the vessels, so watch your surroundings.
- The rider: at higher speeds, keep the rider off the dead ski. It has no steering or brakes, so it is safer for the rider to ride as an observer on the tow vessel. At slow speeds, a rider can act as a balancer so the nose-heavy ski doesn't pitch-pole.
One more point from the forums: never let the tow vehicle cross the wake of the other craft while towing, and keep an eye on the line at all times.
Towing people is a different job
Pulling a tuber or skier behind a jet ski comes with legal requirements. According to the Idaho boating handbook, the personal watercraft must be rated by its manufacturer for at least three people: the driver, an observer and the person being towed. The observer faces backward, and everyone involved wears a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Sea-Doo's guide to towing a tube or skier covers technique in more detail.
Local rules can go further than the state handbook. County sheriff's offices enforce their own speed, wake-zone and equipment rules, so check the lake you are on before launching. Our posts on Coeur d'Alene boating rules and fines and the alcohol rules are a good starting point.
Our view: skip the hitch if you're visiting
We rent Yamaha WaveRunners, so we see what trips up visitors. Most of the stress of jet ski day comes before the ski touches the water: borrowing a truck, finding a ramp, then worrying about the drive home. If you're a tourist in Coeur d'Alene, that is a lot of risk for one afternoon.
Our advice is simple. If you own a ski, treat towing as its own skill: check the plate, check the trailer, learn your brand's tow speed and carry a clamp. If you don't own one, rent. We offer pickup and limited delivery, and the safety equipment comes with the rental. For a dead engine, the answer is the same on every lake: call for help, stay calm and tow slowly.
— Life is better on water.
Rent instead of towing
Our jet ski rentals at Liberty Lake and Newman Lake are priced at $250-$425. Each additional hour is $75. A $500 damage deposit per jet ski applies. Wakeboards and tubes are $50 each. Boat rentals carry a $1,000 damage deposit per boat. See the full rental prices or the main site to book.
FAQ
What is the best way to tow a jet ski that has broken down?
Tow it slowly, at or below the speed your manufacturer recommends, using a strong non-stretch rope. If your brand calls for it, clamp the water supply hose first. Keep the rope visible and keep other boats away from the line.
Can a Toyota Camry pull a jet ski?
There is no blanket answer. Towing capacity is set by the manufacturer and shown on the VIN plate and in the manual. Add up the combined weight of the ski, trailer and gear, and stay under your car's rating. If the rating isn't listed, don't tow.
Can I tow a person and a jet ski at the same time?
Towing someone on a tube or skis requires a watercraft rated for at least three people, a rear-facing observer and a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for every person, per the Idaho handbook. Towing a second craft adds other risks. Keep it to one job at a time.
Do your rentals include a trailer or towing?
We offer pickup and limited delivery to certain lakes. Contact us through our site to confirm what applies to your lake and dates.
Sources
- BRP operator's guides
- Idaho boating handbook
- How to tow a jet ski, GJW Direct
- Towing a jet ski behind a boat, Jetdrift
- What's the right way to tow a disabled jet ski, boatsales.com.au
- Jet ski towing tips, Intrepid Cottager
- Towing a tube or skier with a personal watercraft, Sea-Doo