Personal watercraft with steering damper

A personal watercraft comprising:

• a hull;
• a deck disposed on the hull, the deck defining:
• a pedestal at a lateral center of the deck;
• a left gunnel on a left side of the deck;
• a left footrest laterally between the left gunnel and the pedestal;
• a right gunnel on a right side of the deck;
• a right footrest laterally between the right gunnel and the pedestal;
• and
• a reboarding platform at least in part rearward of the pedestal,
• the hull and the deck defining a volume therebetween;
• a straddle seat connected to the pedestal;
• a motor disposed in the volume;
• a jet propulsion unit operatively connected to and driven by the motor, the jet propulsion unit comprising:
• a jet pump;
• a venturi connected to the jet pump;
• and
• a steering nozzle pivotally connected to the venturi, the steering nozzle being pivotable about a steering nozzle axis to steer the personal watercraft, the steering nozzle have a nozzle arm;
• a steering column pivotally connected to the deck, the steering column being pivotable about a steering column axis;
• a handlebar connected to an upper portion of the steering column;
• a steering arm connected to a lower portion of the steering column;
• a push-pull cable connected between the steering arm and the nozzle arm such that pivoting of the steering column about the steering column axis pivots the steering nozzle about the steering nozzle axis,
• the steering column defining a receptacle between the handlebar and the steering arm, the receptacle having a generally forwardly facing opening;
• and
• a steering damper disposed at least in part in the receptacle, the steering damper comprising:
• a first portion connected to the steering column and being movable with the steering column;
• a second portion connected to the deck, the steering column being pivotable relative to the second portion, the first portion being movable relative to the second portion, movement of the first portion relative to the second portion damping pivoting of the steering column about the steering column axis;
• and
• a damping level selector adjusting a level of damping provided by the steering damper, the generally forwardly facing opening of the receptacle providing access to the damping level selector.