braking system according to this invention is installed to operate flaps or vanes 12 and 14 via the control pedestal 16 having handle bars 18 with brake lever means 20 connected thereto spring means 22 are interposed between the handle bar 18 and the lever means 20 to bias the lever means 20 to an extended position relative to the handle bar 18 the personal watercraft is powered by an engine driven water jet not shown forcing water from a nozzle 22 at the rear of the hull below the water line the operator sits on the seat 24 and any passenger can sit on seat 26 therebehind with reference to fig2 there it is shown how the flaps or vanes 12 and 14 are located in a compartment 26 in the hull 27 of watercraft 10 to be pivotally connected at 28 to the hull 27 to be extendible therefrom the vanes 12 and 14 have upper cam tracks 30 and 32 into which cam rollers such as roller 34 shown by fig3 is biased by means of spring biased rods such as rod 36 shown by fig3 contained within the opposite arms 38 and 40 of the control yoke 42 connected to the pedestal 16 to be rotatable about the axis of pedestal.