Can a pair of undies floating in the sea get sucked up by my jetski and damage my motor?

Question

I frequently worry about it as I often see many pairs floating near the beach where I live and use my jetski on weekends.. I guess it must be from the college students who also live and play around that area.

Answer 1

Things like undies, plastic bags, and other junk could get sucked into the jet (pump) of your jetski and cause the unit to stop or stall.

I should not harm the motor but may cause damage to the pump. If there is a screen to prevent this type of stuff from entering the jet, you will notice a severe drop in power (may actually stop your jetski) when it covers the intake.

Answer 2

As far as getting in the motor, I don't think so, but if it gets sucked into the intake it could clog the intake and cause the motor to stall.  

As far as getting sucked into the propulsion mechanism, you'll need to look at your jetski's design.  Is there any type of screen to stop debris from getting in?  If not, what type of design is the propulsion system?  What is it made of?  

If the propulsion systems jams, what precautions has the manufacturer taken?  Will it simply stall the engine (my preference) or are there shear pins in the system?  Or, will there be so much torque that it will twist a shaft?

You really need to look at some drawings that show how the system is designed.