LAUNCESTON'S Dale Quinn is preparing to make one of the biggest crossings of his life - riding across the potentially dangerous Bass Strait on a jet-ski - and back again.
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Mr Quinn has wanted to make the 300-kilometre crossing on his 2008 Yamaha FX HO for the past few years and three other men have decided to try the challenge with him later this month.
The ride will also double as a charity event to raise money for Kiss Goodbye to MS.
Mr Quinn said himself, Rod Wilson, Mick Castles and Mick's son had spent the past six weeks planning the journey and hoped to leave Musselroe Bay in the state's North- East, stop at Whitemark Island and Deal Island to refuel before arriving in Port Albert in Victoria.
"We're hoping to do it in a day," Mr Quinn said.
"The biggest day I've done before on this jet-ski was 200 kilometres and we did that pretty easy."
The men are yet to set a date for the journey, as it depends on weather but hope to do it at the end of the month.
Mr Quinn said he had installed a fuel rack on his jet-ski to carry an additional 60 litres of fuel, bringing its total fuel capacity to more than 130 litres.
He said he would also be kitted out with a range of high-tech Lowrance navigational equipment and a state-of-the-art VHF radio for safety.
PWCs have crossed Bass Strait safely at least four times in the past, however they have all been one- way trips.
Mr Quinn said the men would spend a few days in Victoria to recover and then, if the conditions were okay, would return by jet-ski, as it was a lot cheaper than by boat or plane.
He said he wasn't scared about the trip.
"As long as I'm on top of the water and not in it, I should be fine," he said.
"And we can go pretty fast."
To donate to the men's cause, visit Kiss Goodbye to MS and click on the Bass Strait Jet Ski Challenge page.