Exploration

The Last Caretaker Jet Ski: Why the CS-17 Courier Skimmer Won't Move, How to Unlock It and What It Costs

Last Updated: October 11, 2026

A jet ski that won't move is missing its engine: craft a Petrol Engine Cylinder from 1 Storage Cylinder and 1 Alloy Frame, fit it to the back of the CS-17 Courier Skimmer and fill the skimmer with petrol. Both unlock at skill Tier 9. The skimmer itself costs 4 Alloy Frames, 1 Battery Cell, 2 Connector Ports, 1 Storage Cylinder, 1 Cooling Radiator and 1 Advanced Alloy Mesh.

Recipes and unlock tiers are cross-checked (B): the community wiki matches the game 0.8.5 item data (September 15, 2026 build) and Steam answers up to September 2026. Single-source details are kept apart in the player reports box.

Jet Ski Build List

Choose how many jet skis to build. The list adds up the parts, crafts and electricity, with the Petrol Engine Cylinder each one needs to move.

Jet skis to build (1 to 20)Include a Petrol Engine Cylinder for each jet ski

Parts needed for the jet skis entered above
Part	Amount
Alloy Frame	5
Battery Cell	1
Connector Ports	2
Storage Cylinder	2
Cooling Radiator	1
Advanced Alloy Mesh	1

Crafts: 2
Electricity to craft: 10
Skill tier needed: Tier 9

Each craft needs 5 electricity (the wiki lists 5 Wh). Recipes are cross-checked (B): the wiki Crafting table matches the game 0.8.5 item data. The parts themselves are crafted items; this list does not break them down further.

Why Your Jet Ski Won't Move

The skimmer does not move on petrol alone. Without a Petrol Engine Cylinder on its back it just floats, and you can turn the handlebars without going anywhere.

Cross-checked (B). Wiki revision 5933 and answers on five Steam threads from February to September 2026, including one after Update 5.5. Sources: Community wiki: CS-17 Courier Skimmer (revision 5933) · Steam discussion: can't get the CS-17 Skimmer to move (February 8, 2026) · Steam discussion: how to drive the courier skimmer (February 20, 2026) · Steam discussion: skimmer not working (February 22, 2026) · Steam discussion: jet ski doesn't work (May 6, 2026) · Steam discussion: jet ski does not move (September 24, 2026)

Craft a Petrol Engine Cylinder at the Fabricator: 1 Storage Cylinder and 1 Alloy Frame. It unlocks at skill Tier 9.
Fit the cylinder to the back of the jet ski.
Fill the jet ski with petrol, then get on and ride.

Cross-checked (B): the wiki recipe matches the game 0.8.5 item data, and the fix is the answer players gave on five Steam threads. Players' tips on fitting the cylinder are in the player reports box.

How to Unlock and Build the Jet Ski

You build the jet ski yourself. The CS-17 Courier Skimmer and its Petrol Engine Cylinder both unlock at skill Tier 9; plan the points in the Skill Planner.

Players connect the unlock to The Isolation, the quest that starts by climbing Unlisted Tower at about 113, -21 on the map, east-northeast of Lazarus Complex.

Cross-checked (B). March 1, 2026 recording and a February 14, 2026 Steam answer; both before Update 03. Sources: OZGamerGDU video, March 1, 2026, at 17:28: unlocking the CS-17 Courier Skimmer · Steam discussion: quests needed to build the jet ski (February 14, 2026)

CS-17 Courier Skimmer

Unlocks at skill Tier 9 · 5 electricity to craft

4 Alloy Frame
1 Battery Cell
2 Connector Ports
1 Storage Cylinder
1 Cooling Radiator
1 Advanced Alloy Mesh

Cross-checked (B). Game 0.8.5 item data (build 25191271, September 15, 2026) matching wiki Crafting revision 7364. Sources: Community wiki: Crafting table (revision 7364) · Community item listing: CS-17 Courier Skimmer (game 0.8.5)

Petrol Engine Cylinder

Unlocks at skill Tier 9 · 5 electricity to craft

1 Storage Cylinder
1 Alloy Frame

Fuel: Petrol

The jet ski runs on petrol, like the Salvage Gyro. Fuel only helps once the cylinder is fitted.

Cross-checked (B). Wiki revision 5933, the Update 02 notes and Steam answers from 2026. Sources: Community wiki: CS-17 Courier Skimmer (revision 5933) · Official Steam announcement: Update 02, Ocean – The Final Frontier (February 11, 2026) · Steam discussion: jet ski doesn't work (May 6, 2026)

Make petrol from oil in the fuel and gases guide, and count the barrels you need with the Fuel & Storage Calculator.

Towing the Jet Ski With Your Boat

The mooring cable comes out of the skimmer's nose. Take it from there and attach it to the back of your boat to tow the skimmer.

Cross-checked (B). Wiki revision 5933 and a February 24, 2026 Steam answer. Sources: Community wiki: CS-17 Courier Skimmer (revision 5933) · Steam discussion: can't detach the skimmer's mooring cable (February 24, 2026)

A skimmer on tow lowers your boat's top speed.

Cross-checked (B). Two players on separate Steam threads, February 2026. Sources: Steam discussion: bug with the jet ski (February 13, 2026) · Steam discussion: mooring a jet ski to the boat (February 14, 2026)

A towed skimmer can break free, often in rough weather, and several players never found theirs again. Update 02 fixed mooring cables snapping too easily, but losses were still reported in May and August 2026.

Cross-checked (B). Steam threads from May and August 2026 and the Update 02 notes. Sources: Steam discussion: skimmer lost while towed through a storm (August 6, 2026) · Steam discussion: jet ski doesn't work (May 6, 2026) · Official Steam announcement: Update 02, Ocean – The Final Frontier (February 11, 2026)

To avoid losing it, several players dismantle the skimmer when they are done and build it again when they need it.

Cross-checked (B). Three players on two Steam threads, February and August 2026. Sources: Steam discussion: skimmer lost while towed through a storm (August 6, 2026) · Steam discussion: mooring a jet ski to the boat (February 14, 2026)

Update 6 and Earlier Changes

Channel37 added the CS-17 Courier Skimmer, which its notes also call the JetSki, in Update 02 on February 11, 2026: a fast way to cross the water, with petrol cylinder support and a mooring cable for towing.

Official (A). Official Update 02 announcement, February 11, 2026. Sources: Official Steam announcement: Update 02, Ocean – The Final Frontier (February 11, 2026)

In its October 6 Update 6 preview, Channel37 says the Jet Skimmer's controls were reworked and it is now much more stable.

The Jet Skimmer also got more weight, which changes how it handles on the waves.

Update 5.5 earlier improved the jet ski's engine and movement sounds.

Official (A). Official X preview video, October 6, 2026, posted before the Update 6 public beta; Update 5.5 notes, August 31, 2026. Sources: Official X preview video: Gyrocopter and Jet Skimmer (October 6, 2026) · Official Steam announcement: Update 5.5, Deck Drop (August 31, 2026)

See everything Update 6 adds on the update tracker. For flying instead of riding, read the Salvage Gyro guide.

Player reports, not yet verified (C)

Each of these has only one source so far. Single sources from February to August 2026; not checked in the current game.

The wiki lists a 400 L petrol tank and two DuraPack storage boxes holding up to 50 kg each.
Sources: Community wiki: CS-17 Courier Skimmer (revision 5933)
One community item listing gives the skimmer a weight of 400 kg.
Sources: Community item listing: CS-17 Courier Skimmer (game 0.8.5)
Build time differs between sources: 18 seconds on the wiki and 30 seconds in the community item listing.
Sources: Community wiki: Crafting table (revision 7364) · Community item listing: CS-17 Courier Skimmer (game 0.8.5)
The wiki says the skimmer can only be built on the water surface.
Sources: Community wiki: Crafting table (revision 7364)
Players say the cylinder slot is not marked, and that dropping the cylinder from your inventory at the back makes it lock into place.
Sources: Steam discussion: bug with the jet ski (February 13, 2026) · Steam discussion: can't get the CS-17 Skimmer to move (February 8, 2026)
In February 2026 players found no key for the headlights; one workaround was to switch on your own flashlight.
Sources: Steam discussion: skimmer headlights (February 22, 2026)
A player asked for the skimmer to be shown on the map like the boat, which suggests a lost skimmer cannot be found there.
Sources: Steam discussion: jet ski doesn't work (May 6, 2026)
Some players avoid saving while the skimmer is moored, after objects on their boat were knocked out of place on reload.
Sources: Steam discussion: mooring a jet ski to the boat (February 14, 2026)

Jet Ski FAQ

Why won't my jet ski move in The Last Caretaker?

It needs a Petrol Engine Cylinder fitted to its back. Without one the CS-17 Courier Skimmer just floats, even with petrol in it. Craft the cylinder at the Fabricator from 1 Storage Cylinder and 1 Alloy Frame (skill Tier 9), put it on the back, then fill the skimmer with petrol.

How do you unlock the jet ski?

The CS-17 Courier Skimmer unlocks at skill Tier 9, the same tier as the Petrol Engine Cylinder it needs. Players also connect it to The Isolation, the quest that starts by climbing Unlisted Tower east-northeast of Lazarus Complex.

What do you need to build the jet ski?

4 Alloy Frames, 1 Battery Cell, 2 Connector Ports, 1 Storage Cylinder, 1 Cooling Radiator and 1 Advanced Alloy Mesh, plus 5 electricity to craft. Add 1 Storage Cylinder and 1 Alloy Frame for the Petrol Engine Cylinder that makes it move.

What fuel does the jet ski use?

Petrol, the same fuel as the Salvage Gyro. Fit a Petrol Engine Cylinder first: petrol alone does not make it move.

How do you tow the jet ski behind your boat?

Take the mooring cable from the skimmer's nose and attach it to the back of your boat. Towing lowers the boat's top speed, and towed skimmers can break free in rough weather, so several players dismantle the skimmer when they are done with it.

What is the jet ski called in the game?

Its in-game name is the CS-17 Courier Skimmer. Channel37 also calls it the JetSki in the Update 02 notes and the Jet Skimmer in its Update 6 preview.

Is the jet ski changing in Update 6?

Yes. In its October 6 Update 6 preview, Channel37 says the Jet Skimmer's controls were reworked to be much more stable, and that it now has more weight, which changes how it handles on the waves.

All sources