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Are Brakes, Reverse, and Neutral Available on Jet Skis?

The very first watercraft had only one mode, forward. There was no fancy this or that, you got on and went. The idea was so new that they had air-cooled engines, the thought of using the water around the craft to cool the engine wasn’t considered until years later. At least, that was the first Sea-Doo built in the 1960s.

Today’s watercraft have far more than forward. You have reverse and brakes, yes there is something that slows you down. There are a lot of confusion and misconceptions about these drive systems, even to this day, as many of them been around for over a decade.

It’s because of this, I felt the need to write an article. And since they’re all a part of the same system, I’m making one super post on the subject.

Do Jet Skis Utilize A Braking System?

Yes, brakes come on most newer watercraft.

The way brakes work is by using an electric actuator to lower the reverse bucket, generating drag. Since this drops the reverse bucket, if you keep holding the brake lever in, you will go into reverse. In a way, you could say the brake is simply putting the craft into reverse.

You’ll discover that not all watercraft come equipped with brakes. Some have both forward and reverse capabilities, while a few can only move forward.

Braking has made driving and docking so much easier, as shown in the video below.

Slowing Down Without Brakes & Docking

If you lack brakes, letting go of the throttle slows you down. It won’t be as fast as having brakes, but you do slow down.

When letting off the throttle, you need to keep in mind that you must give some gas to steer.

To dock without brakes or a way to go backwards, you simply spin it in a circle at idle speed. This kills your momentum. Point it where you want to go, then turn off the engine as you coast toward that point.

Can Jet Skis Also go in reverse?

Yes, most watercraft will come with reverse, even older models.

There are only a few models, usually the cheapest options, that don’t it.

Reverse may come from a manual lever you pull or a trigger on the handlebars that controls an electric actuator that redirects the thrust.

The video below does a fantastic job showing the reverse bucket in action as it redirects the trust.

Can Jet Skis be put in neutral?

Neutral is the balance point between forward and reverse.

There’s no true neutral because the impeller is connected directly to the engine, so it’s always processing water.

This gives you better control around the dock as you can steer in neutral, but it also means you need to shut the engine off once docked to keep the craft from wandering away.

How To Drive

The video below shows me on a Sea-Doo going over the control systems.

History Of Watercraft Braking

I need to make a note of the history of braking for watercraft, as it’s not always been a thing.

Even to this day, a braking system is not on every model, some even lack a reverse on top of that!

Sea-Doo

In 2009, Sea-Doo introduced the first-ever braking system called iBR (intelligent braking and reverse).

This innovation was groundbreaking, even though Sea-Doo initially focused on promoting suspension as their key feature. This featured caused Sea-Doo to win awards for how effective it is.

The braking system idea gained so much popularity, that the other major manufacturers eventually created their own versions.

Yamaha

Yamaha was not going to be left behind as the market loved the braking technology.

In 2015, Yamaha released its version called RIDE.

Yamaha calls the RIDE a “dual-throttle” system.

Since it was a different name, Yamaha even tried to pass it off as a first of its kind, but really it was them catching up to Sea-Doo from 6 years before.

Kawasaki

As of 2022, Kawasaki has models with their own versions that slows you down when going at speed.

Kawasaki does it a little different, forward and reverse is done on the right handle bar.

iBR vs. RIDE Vs. KSRD

Sea-Doo has all the legal stuff to call it “braking” and a patent too. Though Yamaha’s and Kawasaki’s version may not be 100% the same, they’re not bad either.

I find each one has its own unique advantages.

For beginners, iBR is easier to grasp and forgiving. In emergencies, RIDE performs well, and KSRD benefits from the convenience of having forward and reverse controls on one side of the handlebars for easier docking.

The simple fact is that they’re all fine, and boaters are safer because of it.

Can A Manual Reverse Be Used To Slow You Down?

I get this one a lot.

Using the manual reverse lever as a way to slow you down at speed is not recommended.

Doing so above idle speed can damage the reverse system.

PWCs Don’t Have A Transmission

The engine is connected directly to the impeller by a driveshaft.

So if the engine is on, the impeller is spinning and the jet pump is processing water. This means you can still move even in neutral, just very slowly.

Sea-Doo does have iDF, which is very similar to a transmission, but you must shut the engine off to switch it, and it’s more about freeing debris.

How Reliable Are The “Transmissions”?

As already covered, they don’t have a traditional transmission, but uses a bucket to redirect the trust.

Since this setup is so simple, only an electric motor moving a bucket, I would say it’s more reliable than most people give it credit. To be fair, Sea-Doo did have issues when they first released iBR, but they’ve been getting so much better at it that it’s rock solid if you ask me.

There are nuances, like you need to make you have a good battery, as reverse bucket does draw a lot of power. You could get a check engine light if your battery is too weak, as determined by the onboard computer.

Can You Override iBR And RIDE?

If something happens to your watercraft where the bucket won’t move, and you’re stuck in the drive position, there is not much you can do.

I’ve seen sticks and simple manufacturer defects keep the bucket from moving and thus you from moving. This often means you got to swim it back or get the folding paddle and coast back in.

If nothing is blocking the bucket from moving, and you need to inspect the drive, you can override it and raise and lower the bucket. Each manufacturer has different ways to do this. Here is how to do it for Sea-Doo.

Author

Steven

I started working at a power sports dealership in 2007, I worked in parts, service counter, and as a technician before moving to sales in 2013. I created StevenInSales.com in 2014 to answer common watercraft questions I would get from people. Now managing the site full-time, I continue to provide advice and web tools for my readers about watercraft. I've owned several watercraft, with a Sea-Doo Spark as my current main PWC.

Comments

  1. Great new article, thanks Steven! Quick ?. If I have a PWC with reverse but no brake (manual reverse – 2011 Kawi STX-15f), at what speed or point is it safe to pull the manual reverse lever? I have been doing it at idle speed while docking to control my speed approaching the lift arms. Is this bad? Does the ski need to be still and not moving to pull this manual lever? Thanks.

    Reply

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