The most common misunderstanding by new jet ski owners is how shallow they can run.
Many of these new owners were once or still are boat owners and think that since a jet ski doesn’t have an outdrive it’s possible to travel anywhere in the water, which is not true.
There are a few steps for operating a jet ski in low waters so you avoid sucking things up. Let me explain why it’s so bad and how to avoid damaging your jet ski.
How Shallow Will A Jet Ski Go?
A jet ski can operate in water as shallow as 3 feet, roughly waist-deep for most people, but that doesn’t mean you should.
It’s critical to understand that you’re essentially riding a very powerful vacuum. If you’re not cautious, the jet ski’s pump can suck in anything nearby, including rocks, sand, and debris.
Many people assume that because a jet ski doesn’t have an exposed propeller or outdrive, it’s safe to run in very shallow water. That’s a common misconception. In reality, running a jet ski in less than 3 feet of water puts it at serious risk of sucking harmful material into the intake.
Why 3 Feet?
You should never start a jet ski in less than 3 feet of water. The pump draws water in through an intake grate to create thrust, and anything near that intake, such as sand, small rocks, or even sticks, can get pulled in too.
While the intake grate helps block larger objects, it won’t stop finer materials like sand or small rocks. These can easily enter the system, leading to damage or reduced performance.
Damage includes destroying the impeller, wear ring and other parts of the jet pump housing. It’s a mess that ruins the weekend for many jet ski riders.
Why Not Add a Protective Mesh?
You might wonder why jet ski manufacturers don’t install a protective mesh over the intake. There’s a good reason for that, and I cover it in more detail in this article.
Starting a Jet Ski In Shallow Water
Never start or run a jet ski in water less than 3 feet deep. When the jet ski engine is on, the impeller is spinning, even in neutral or reverse, because they use a direct drive system for a transmission. With boats, you put them in neutral and the propeller stops, a jet ski does not do this, it keeps spinning.
I always recommend getting into waist-deep water before starting your jet ski. A trick I use is to stand waist-deep, place one foot on the reboarding ladder, and push off with the other foot to glide into deeper water before starting a jet ski.
I’ve seen people at boat ramps jump onto their jet skis while still in less than a foot of water. Before I can stop them, they start the engine and suck up rocks, sand, and debris. That often ruins their day, since they have to haul it in and get the pump cleaned out and repaired. It’s also a expensive thing to fix!
Some manufacturers, like Sea-Doo, include a wear ring to help protect the pump if something gets sucked in. But it’s not foolproof — once the wear ring is damaged, it has to be replaced.
How to Beach A jet ski
When approaching the shore, always turn off the jet ski engine before you reach shallow water.
If you can already see the bottom, it’s usually too late, you risk sucking in sand or damaging the pump.
Instead, aim toward the beach and, when you’re about 5 jet ski lengths away, turn off the engine and let your momentum carry you in.
Even if you don’t make it all the way, you’ll usually be close enough to hop off and walk the jet ski the rest of the way to shore.
An even better idea is to not beach and instead keep it floating and use a screw anchor to keep it in place.
Will You Suck Up Debris If You Go Fast In A Jet Ski?
Yes, even if you can do 60 mph on a jet ski over shallow water, you still have the risk of sucking stuff up into the jet pump.
It’s best if you can avoid shallow areas at all costs. Also, be aware when the water level is down, many boat ramps will let you know, or it will be obvious the ramps are way down.
You might get lucky a few times, but eventually, you can suck something up if you travel over shallow areas. No matter how fast you go on your jet ski, you could suck something up.
I Didn’t Drive Through Shallow Areas But my jet ski still Sucked Something Up?!
This is a common reaction I hear from people.
They don’t remember sucking anything up, and some even think I’m wrong or lying about the issue with their jet ski.
But I don’t blame them. On a jet ski, sucking something up in shallow water isn’t always obvious. Sometimes the engine suddenly shuts off, making it clear something went wrong. Other times, you don’t hear or feel anything, but the next time you try to start the engine, it won’t turn over.
If a rock is large, it can jam the impeller and instantly stop the engine. If it’s smaller, it might get stuck and spin with the impeller, cutting into the wear ring. Sometimes the rock just bounces around inside and gets spit out the back, only leaving behind a bit of wear ring damage.
You often don’t notice because jet ski engines are loud and everything happens underwater, you won’t hear the rock grinding away at the wear ring.
Sticks and tree bark are even worse because they’re quiet and often float, blending into the water. They can get sucked in, cause damage, and be gone before you even know it.
That’s why I always tell people: wait at least 24 hours after a heavy rain before riding. Rain and wind knock sticks into the water, and they float around just waiting to get sucked into your pump.
How To Unclog a Jet Ski
There’s no easy way to say it… if you sucked something up, you’ll need to take your jet ski in for repairs.
If it was rocks or anything hard, there’s a good chance the impeller, wear ring, or even the entire jet pump housing may be damaged.
If it was just sticks, it likely only damaged the wear ring, but it still needs to be checked.
Believe it or not, I’ve seen people suck up all kinds of things — even snakes, maps, and other debris floating in shallow water.
Below is a photo of a jet pump that sucked up a paper map.
The best thing to do is take your jet ski to a repair shop. The pump usually needs to be removed, and a few parts may need fixing.
Simply switching into reverse won’t unclog the pump. Some Sea-Doo models have an iDF system that can help clear debris, but not all do, and it’s not perfect.
Trying to fix it yourself isn’t recommended. The impeller has sharp blades, and working around it can be dangerous.
In rare cases, you might get lucky, turning off the engine and rocking the jet ski back and forth could loosen whatever’s stuck.
But most of the time, what gets sucked in is lodged tightly due to the pump’s power, and professional repair is the safest and smartest option.
Is Sucking Something Up Covered Under Your jet ski Warranty?
No, sucking something up shallow water debris is NOT covered under your jet ski warranty.
It’s not the manufacturer’s defect, so it cannot be covered.
Is Sucking Stuff Up Covered Under My Insurance?
Generally, no, but I’ve rare cases of jet ski insurance companies covering it.
I wouldn’t go expect your jet ski insurance company to pay for it, especially if it means your rates will increase, but there are some circumstances that they might cover, and it might be worth it.
How Much Does It Cost To Fix?
You might be wondering how much it would cost you to fix jet skis after sucking something up?
It depends on the damage.
- Wear ring: $50–$200
- Impeller: $100–$400
- Tools (if DIY): You’ll need an impeller removal tool and basic mechanical tools.
- Labor: 1–2 hours, often $150/hour or more
At a repair shop, total costs usually range from $400 to $1,000, but it could be more or less depending on the damage and shop rates.
jet ski Won’t Take Off Or Is Sluggish
If your jet ski won’t take off or feels like it’s slipping, you’ve likely sucked something up.
I have a post here that can help you with that.
Is Sucking Stuff Up A Huge Problem For Jet Skis?
After reading this, you might be worried that you’ll suck something up every time you ride. But don’t stress! As long as you follow a few simple rules, it’s rare.
Stick to at least 3 feet of water, avoid shallow areas, and stay aware of your surroundings. If you do that, your chances of damaging the jet ski jet pump are low.
I’ve owned and ridden many jet skis and have only sucked something up once — just bad luck. It can happen, but it’s not common, and I fixed it and moved on.
