Personal Watercraft Safety: Life Jackets and Powersports F&I

Torque Group • August 31, 2021

Prioritizing safety is one of the chief ways to ensure your continued enjoyment of your personal watercraft (PWC). There are many ways to protect yourself from harm, from acquiring the right Powersports F&I (Finance & Insurance) products that guarantee your financial security, to investing in the right gear to wear during your rides.

The life jacket: the most important gear

The life jacket is essential for water safety. Even experienced PWC riders and good swimmers should wear a life jacket during their rides. This is because falling off your PWC could lead to panic. A life jacket will keep a panicked swimmer afloat, thus preventing drowning.

Falling off a PWC could also cause injury, which can drastically impair your swimming ability. Thankfully, a life jacket will allow even someone in great pain to keep their head above the water.

The ideal life jacket

When it’s time to go shopping for a life jacket, pick one that’s a size up. If your T-Shirt size is Large, you should therefore buy a life jacket that’s Extra Large. This will ensure your life jacket is neither too tight nor loose but just right for you.

When trying on life jackets, make sure to buckle every belt, tighten every strap, and zip up every zipper. Then lift the life jacket up from the bottom; if the life jacket is a good fit, you won’t be able to raise its shoulders over your head. A well-fitting life jacket will stay as close to your body as possible when you’re submerged.

Other life jacket tips

Before using the life jacket during a PWC ride, test it in a shallow pool to make sure it works properly and that it’s an appropriate and comfortable fit.

Read and observe the life jacket’s instructions.

Only purchase life jackets approved by the Coast Guard and designed specifically for PWC riding.

Life jackets wear out over time. For this reason, they’re best replaced every 3 to 5 years.

Powersports F&I

While the life jacket offers protection against drowning, Powersports F&I products keep you safe from the steep financial repercussions of PWC damage, breakage, and loss. This way, such products also give you the peace of mind necessary for good mental well-being.

Powersports F&I products can protect you in a variety of ways. For instance, Total Loss Protection and GAP 150 offer financial aid should your PWC get stolen or irreparably damaged during an accident; Platinum Care Maintenance provides coverage for maintenance services; and Extended Service Contracts offers protection against costly repairs due to mechanical breakdowns.

If you’d like more information about Torque Group’s other Powersports F&I products, please visit our products page.

By Pat Blogs October 24, 2025
The most devastating thing that could ever happen to a vehicle owner is losing their vehicle to theft or unsalvageable damage. GAP Total Loss Protection helps ease the grief and burden of vehicle loss. Go to Torque-Group.com to get the best Powersports GAP Total Loss Protection for your customers.
By Pat Blogs October 24, 2025
Is your F&I team performing at peak level? It must be if you want to increase profit and retain loyal customers. Learn more about F&I trainings at Torque-Group.com.
By Pat Blogs October 24, 2025
When a dealership manages its own reinsurance company, they not only have more control over their F&I products, but they also earn from the underwriting profit. Learn more at Torque-Group.com
By Pat Blogs October 24, 2025
An extended service contract may be the last thing your customers want, but with the right coverage, you can change their mind in an instant. Learn more at Torque-Group.com.
By Pat Blogs October 24, 2025
Your vehicle's battery is probably the most ignored part of your vehicle. You only give it attention when it stops working. Go to Torque-Group.com to get the best battery replacement program for your Powersports dealership customers
By Pat Blogs October 24, 2025
After-sales products like extended service contracts, battery replacements, and more boost a dealership's sales and profit. Enhance your F&I department with regular trainings. Learn more at Torque-Group.com
By Pat Blogs October 24, 2025
Dealership owners should consider establishing their own reinsurance company as this gives them more control over the F&I products they offer customers, including vehicle service contracts. Learn more at Torque-Group.com
By Pat Blogs October 23, 2025
ATVs and UTVs are fun to ride, but when they break down repairs usually take a backseat because the owner wasn't financially prepared for this unexpected expense. Learn more at Torque-Group.com
September 23, 2025
One of the most neglected components of a vehicle is the battery. No one really pays attention to it until it dies. Go to Torque-Group.com for premium battery replacement coverage for ATVs, UTV, and more.
September 16, 2025
F&I managers and agents determine financing solutions and after-sales products for dealership customers. This means they play a vital role in every sale the dealership makes. Learn more at Torque-Group.com.
Show More