Here’s How Jet Skis Work

There’s nothing more fun on a hot summer day than hitting the water on a jet ski. But how do jet skis work?

The basic principle is pretty cool: jet skis move through water in a similar way to how rockets move through space. Rockets use high-pressure gas to generate thrust, whereas jet skis and other personal watercraft use a jet drive to create a powerful stream of water. Your jet ski has a jet propulsion engine, which has an impeller that uses rotating fan blades to suck water into the engine and then forcefully eject it. These two motions—sucking in water and then ejecting it back out—are what propel the jet ski forward.

Jet skis have throttles, similar to those on motorcycles. Applying more pressure to the throttle will make the jet ski accelerate more quickly. While jet skis don’t have brakes, most do have a feature that can reverse the direction of the impeller, leading to backwards movement.

Bonus tip: if you’ve got kids, or are just young at heart, you can build a model jet ski at home to see first-hand how they work! All you need is a long, sausage-shaped balloon, a plastic bottle and a sink or tub filled with water.

Now that you have a better idea of how jet skis work, it’s time to go out for a spin on one. Come on down to lovely Madeira Beach, Florida, and check out Woody’s Watersports. We know you’ll enjoy taking in stunning scenery and making new memories while riding on one of our rental jet skis! Make your reservation today.