/New Jersey commuter rides a Jet Ski to Brooklyn for work every day

New Jersey commuter rides a Jet Ski to Brooklyn for work every day


… to a Lyft from the Danforth Avenue Station. It wasn’t cheap, and it took awhile — almost two hours.

jersey city light rail station


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When I got to David’s I couldn’t help but notice that his building looked like a hotel. When we spoke on the phone, he said I could shadow his workday from around 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.. These two thoughts made me wonder if David’s whole life was like a vacation.

hotel-like entryway


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So, what kind of guy jet skis to work anyway? As you might’ve guessed, David seems like an incredibly chill person. He even tried on his wetsuit for me to take his picture since he won’t have to wear it in the water for another month or so.

wetsuit


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For now, he just wears this wetsuit-like jacket over his clothes when it’s chilly out.

wetsuit


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Most people check the weather before leaving their home each morning, but David also checks wind speeds and directions for his morning commute using an app called IKitesurf.

jet ski


Joey Hadden/Business Insider


David’s apartment building is less than a five-minute walk from the dock where he parks his jet ski.

jet ski


Joey Hadden/Business Insider


As we approached the dock, David said his jet ski was the one on the end.

jet ski


Joey Hadden/Business Insider


I assumed David would have a waterproof phone case, but he doesn’t need one. The front compartment of his jet ski keeps all of his things dry.

jet ski


Joey Hadden/Business Insider


It was big enough to fit my backpack and David’s backpack.

jet ski


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This is everything David and I brought with us to Brooklyn — two backpacks, two life vests, two fenders, and some rope.

jet ski gear


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Fenders keep his jet ski from getting dinged up on the dock.

fenders


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The jet ski can hold three people safely, and the seat is comfortable.

jet ski


Joey Hadden/Business Insider


David spent about $1,000 on his jet ski, and it costs him $60 a gas fill-up every two weeks. Before jet skiing, David spent $18 a day on his commute.

jet ski


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David started jet skiing to work in April and he plans to do so until November.

jet ski


Joey Hadden/Business Insider


If he keeps this up, he’ll be saving money on transportation by next year.

jet ski


Joey Hadden/Business Insider


After I suited up, David offered to take my picture before we got out on the water.

jet ski


Joey Hadden/Business Insider


First, David had to pull the jet ski off of the ramp and reel it in with an attached rope.

jet ski


Joey Hadden/Business Insider


… and took the jet ski out for a quick spin around the harbor.

jet ski


Joey Hadden/Business Insider


Then, it was my turn to get on. I was a tiny bit nervous, but I’m pretty sure I didn’t show it.

jet ski


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It wasn’t scary, though. I thought I would feel like I was about to fall off the whole time, but I didn’t …

jet ski


Joey Hadden/Business Insider


… and even when we started to go faster, I was relaxed and having the time of my life.

jet ski


Joey Hadden/Business Insider


It was pretty cool to see the New York City skyline start out appearing so small …

jet ski


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At one point during the trip, David turned to me and said: “Wanna swing by the statue?”

jet ski


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He was referring to the Statue of Liberty, and as you can tell by this photo, I said yes. This made me think about how even though I live in New York, I don’t go out of my way to experience it the way David does.

jet ski


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We slowed back down as we got closer to the dock in Brooklyn.

jet ski


Joey Hadden/Business Insider


When we arrived, David held onto the dock as I disembarked the jet ski first.

jet ski


Joey Hadden/Business Insider


Then, he began to tie his jet ski to the dock.

jet ski


Joey Hadden/Business Insider


David removed our belongings from the dry compartment …

jet ski


Joey Hadden/Business Insider


… and we put our life jackets in the same compartment before leaving the dock.

brooklyn dock


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David works in Red Hook — a Brooklyn neighborhood known for its industrial seaside vibe.

brooklyn harbor


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When I saw David’s office, it all started to come together.

NY Trolley Co


Joey Hadden/Business Insider


As previously mentioned, David owns the New York Trolley Company, and his offices are his trolleys.

NY Trolley Co


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David deals with paperwork at home and commutes to Red Hook about three times a week to clean and maintain his vehicles.

NY Trolley Co


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