Scott Cohoon from Craig Cohoon Water Sports gives us his top tips for getting it right first time….

With craft getting bigger and more powerful all the time the potential for using your ski to tow family and friends on boards, skis and toys is growing with every season. PW are frequently used to tow skiers, especially into the surf, even at competition level. For many of you, this year will be your first foray into watersports, so we asked an industry guru for his advice on buying a board and how to avoid the expensive pitfalls.

A wakeboard package consists of…….

A board and bindings, but adding a padded bag is always a good idea too.

Make sure you avoid………

Cheap gear. A full setup for £150 may sound like a great deal but if you are using it more than a couple of times a year your ability will soon outgrow your bargain board and you will be forced to shell out for a more advanced one anyway. Cheap bindings are often made of rubber and tear very quickly, the same goes for second hand gear which can be damaged or nearing the end of its life with few outward signs of wear. You can be sure that branded equipment from your local board store will come with a warranty that will protect you should the worst happen and you need to replace your board.

For the full story pick up your copy of Jet Skier & PW magazine - click here to subscribe

Here are a few tips for towing your PW and how to maintain your trailer to ensure it stays in good working order over time.

-       Always check the condition of the trailer especially if the trailer is used in salt water.

-       Always check that brakes and cables are not seized or kinked. Always check tyre pressures and conditions including the spare.

-       Check the lighting board and connections.

-       Check the condition and length of breakaway cables.

-       Ensure that the jockey wheel works and can be secured.

-       Make sure the towing vehicle is powerful and heavy enough for the watercraft that is being towed.

Before you go spending your hard-earned cash you might want to glance through these pages to learn a bit more about personal watercraft.

There are four main types of PW available. The choice of which one you should go for is a personal one, dependent on your circumstances and the circumstances in which you want to use your ski. Ask yourself questions about your strength, fitness, lifestyle, cash-flow, what you want to use the craft for and you should be able to find a PW that fits your requirements.

Standup Craft

A solo craft is also known as a stand-up for the simple reason that it has no seat and you must stand whilst riding it. The handlebars on a solo are attached to the top of a handlepole. The handlepole itself is hinged where it connects to the body of the craft and can be lifted to suit most riders heights. Because of the narrow hull and the high centre of gravity, a solo is hard to master and require some athletic ability. Once you're up though, solos are a whole heap of fun. Solo machines are also capable of performing incredible freestyle tricks even if their riders aren't. Solos have the smallest power outputs of any PW though many 'aftermarket' parts are available for tuning.

Sport craft

A sport craft is also designed to carry one rider. Unlike solos, sports craft have a seat. They're not as difficult to master as a solo, but they are still relatively unstable.

Deep water boarding can be a little troublesome for heavier riders, but once aboard and underway the petite dimensions of a sport craft means it can corner more aggressively.

Two seaters

Two seaters Easy to ride and still a barrel of laughs, 2-seaters can be enjoyed by most people at most times. Not quite as grippy as a sports craft, a 2-seater still nips around the corners with enough speed to keep a firm grip. And the extra perch means that a friend or loved-one can ride pillion too.  The advantage of a longer seat and hull is increased stability at both high and low speeds. Boarding the craft from dry-land or in deep water is a cinch, although at slow speeds, with another bod onboard stability can suffer. Larger engined 2-seaters are formidable watercraft, whereas those fitted with smaller lumps are much more gentle. 2-Seaters should not be used to tow inflatables, skiers or boarders as there is not enough room for the pilot, spotter and the person being towed.

Three and four Seaters

If 2-seats just aren't enough, then a 3 or 4-seater should provide enough seating for the whole family. Immensely stable, these craft epitomise the new breed of easy-to-use PW and are the most popular selling models.

3 and 4-seater craft are extremely versatile as they still perform well with a solo rider aboard. You can cruise, thrash around or tow with a multi-seater. One aspect to take into consideration with these larger craft, is that they are big machines. They take a bit of muscle power to launch and retrieve and a little more space in the garage.