World record Jet Ski

[Grant Lamontagne]

Every now and then I get the urge to have an adventure, and I have numerous in mind, but one that keeps coming up is to join a group that makes an annual run from the tip of Florida to the Bahamas on Jet Skis.  I am terrified of the ocean, but I still think this would be a lot of fun.  I think it's about 200 miles or so, which is an awful long run in a Jet Ski, and well beyond the range of their small fuel tanks, so you need to come up with ways of running efficiently and carrying extra fuel, which is another problem as they are not usually set up for carrying much in the way of cargo and/or supplies.

While I'll probably never actually do it, it is fun to think about from time to time, and while researching long distance Sea Doo trips I came across this:

http://www.pwcworldrecords.org/portfolio-view/longest-journey-on-a-personal-watercraftaquabikejetski/

Basically these two guys from South Africa rode Sea Doos all the way down the West Coast of the USA and stopped in Panama, a distance of over 17,000kms, or 10,000miles.   

Imagine spending 95 days on a Sea Doo!   

Over three months of your life chafing on a nylon seat, wind and waves in your face...

I think I'd be good for the Bahamas trip, but I don't think I'll be taking a shot at that record any time soon! 

Def

[yud]

Interesting idea, do they use chase boats with extra fuel?  Also that would be what about 6-7 hours assuming good weather.

Personally I dream about making the trip from Mackinaw to Montreal via canoe/kayak

[Grant Lamontagne]

From the videos I've seen on YouTube the Bahamas trip is done with custom built racks That hold extra fuel cans.

For the record holders I figure they must have had a chase boat with fuel, or someone on land following them and resupply in them.

Def

[yud]

yeah it looks like they were landing every so often based on their facebook.

And Alvaro de Marichalar (first to cross the Atlantic) had a chase boat.

[David]

Glad they to do it.      Its more than I could handle.     

[ColoSwiss]

Def on a jet ski.

[David]

And was at the start. Just think of 200 miles of that!   

[Grant Lamontagne]

yeah it looks like they were landing every so often based on their facebook.

And Alvaro de Marichalar (first to cross the Atlantic) had a chase boat.

They would have to- there's no way they could have eaten, slept and carried enough supplies and fuel with them for a trip of that magnitude.  Unlike the Bahamas trip, which is largely unsupported and they have to bring everything with them.  In that case I think I would opt to bring a small kayak and tow it behind, loaded with supplies.  The drag would be minor and in worst case scenario it could be cut loose if need be. 

Def

[yud]

yeah it looks like they were landing every so often based on their facebook.

And Alvaro de Marichalar (first to cross the Atlantic) had a chase boat.

They would have to- there's no way they could have eaten, slept and carried enough supplies and fuel with them for a trip of that magnitude.  Unlike the Bahamas trip, which is largely unsupported and they have to bring everything with them.  In that case I think I would opt to bring a small kayak and tow it behind, loaded with supplies.  The drag would be minor and in worst case scenario it could be cut loose if need be. 

Def

True, although the smallest sail boat to cross was about 5'4" so aside from fuel a self supported jet ski trip is theoretically possible.

Have you ever towed a kayak?  I wonder how they would react to the speed.

[zepla]

Oh men, do not do it! A collegue of mine had a 3 hour ride on a jetski and he could not sit for two weeks! And that was just three hours. The inside of his legs where burning red and he told me further up between his legs, it was the same situation. It really hurts by the look on his face but the rest of us could not help doing nothing but  and of course 

Some say; you have to try everything in life. I say; for some things, you already really know how it will end up.

[Grant Lamontagne]

yeah it looks like they were landing every so often based on their facebook.

And Alvaro de Marichalar (first to cross the Atlantic) had a chase boat.

They would have to- there's no way they could have eaten, slept and carried enough supplies and fuel with them for a trip of that magnitude.  Unlike the Bahamas trip, which is largely unsupported and they have to bring everything with them.  In that case I think I would opt to bring a small kayak and tow it behind, loaded with supplies.  The drag would be minor and in worst case scenario it could be cut loose if need be. 

Def

True, although the smallest sail boat to cross was about 5'4" so aside from fuel a self supported jet ski trip is theoretically possible.

Have you ever towed a kayak?  I wonder how they would react to the speed.

I don't know how much speed you would actually need to do it.  I think you would have to experiment and find the optimal speed for fuel consumption, which is probably nowhere near top speed.  At most reasonable speeds I would think that a kayak with a skeg would follow along nicely.  I haven't towed one with a jet ski but I have towed them behind other kayaks before and you really don't feel them very much back there, especially if they have a skeg to keep them in line.

Oh men, do not do it! A collegue of mine had a 3 hour ride on a jetski and he could not sit for two weeks! And that was just three hours. The inside of his legs where burning red and he told me further up between his legs, it was the same situation. It really hurts by the look on his face but the rest of us could not help doing nothing but  and of course 

Some say; you have to try everything in life. I say; for some things, you already really know how it will end up.

Yes, that was something else I'd wondered about.  I recall seeing photos from the Tour De France a number of years ago where they had to have guys in convertibles driving alongside the bikes while the riders stood up on the pedals and had people in the cars apply ointment to thy cyclists' nether regions.  That didn't seem like fun, nor did it seem like anything I really wanted to experience either.

But I thought maybe there would be less chafing since my legs and hindquarters would be more or less stationary on a Sea Doo.

Def

[zepla]

yeah it looks like they were landing every so often based on their facebook.

And Alvaro de Marichalar (first to cross the Atlantic) had a chase boat.

They would have to- there's no way they could have eaten, slept and carried enough supplies and fuel with them for a trip of that magnitude.  Unlike the Bahamas trip, which is largely unsupported and they have to bring everything with them.  In that case I think I would opt to bring a small kayak and tow it behind, loaded with supplies.  The drag would be minor and in worst case scenario it could be cut loose if need be. 

Def

True, although the smallest sail boat to cross was about 5'4" so aside from fuel a self supported jet ski trip is theoretically possible.

Have you ever towed a kayak?  I wonder how they would react to the speed.

I don't know how much speed you would actually need to do it.  I think you would have to experiment and find the optimal speed for fuel consumption, which is probably nowhere near top speed.  At most reasonable speeds I would think that a kayak with a skeg would follow along nicely.  I haven't towed one with a jet ski but I have towed them behind other kayaks before and you really don't feel them very much back there, especially if they have a skeg to keep them in line.

Oh men, do not do it! A collegue of mine had a 3 hour ride on a jetski and he could not sit for two weeks! And that was just three hours. The inside of his legs where burning red and he told me further up between his legs, it was the same situation. It really hurts by the look on his face but the rest of us could not help doing nothing but  and of course 

Some say; you have to try everything in life. I say; for some things, you already really know how it will end up.

Yes, that was something else I'd wondered about.  I recall seeing photos from the Tour De France a number of years ago where they had to have guys in convertibles driving alongside the bikes while the riders stood up on the pedals and had people in the cars apply ointment to thy cyclists' nether regions.  That didn't seem like fun, nor did it seem like anything I really wanted to experience either.

But I thought maybe there would be less chafing since my legs and hindquarters would be more or less stationary on a Sea Doo.

Def

Alright, just one more job on my "jobs I prefer not to" list 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'm not sure which side would be better to be on in that arrangement. .... 

Def

[zepla]