Lake Powell Bullfrog: Safety With Personal Watercraft

Prior to actually buying a personal watercraft (or PWC) many people choose to rent one from a Lake Powell boat rental agency

. PWCs are boats that are shorter than 16 feet that have internal combustion motors powering their water jet pumps. There are numerous brands of PWC, including Sea Doo, Jet Ski, Tiger Shark, Wave Runner, and Wet Jet. Mandatory boating safety courses, often online, are associated with operating PWCs. This type of boat is disproportionately involved in marine accidents, with the bulk of these avoidable tragedies being caused by new PWC operators who aren't properly watching out and who operate recklessly.

PWC accidents are typically more fatal or serious than are other kinds of boating accidents. Most of the PWC injuries and accidents involve collisions with other boats and result in concussions and miscellaneous head traumas. PWC use (which requires vigorous physical activity) often causes dehydration that can impair awareness and reaction time, thus increasing the likelihood of accidents. PWC use can also result in severe skin damage to the unwary sun-tanning operator. And many PWC operators are hurt when they get too close to the water in-take underneath the hull.

There are a number of basic safety guidelines that should always be adhered to: always wear a Coast-Guard approved, properly fitting lifejacket; always use whatever engine-stop mechanism is provided to automatically kill the engine if you fall overboard; keep a good distance (minimum 50 feet) from other boats and the shoreline; keep a constant lookout for swimmers, skiers, divers, and other boats; do not use wakes and waves as ramps; always adhere to the legal operating age limits; never use any amount of alcohol or drugs when operating the PWC; keep hydrated and sun-screened; do no stand up when in motion; keep away from the hull's underside; and turn off the engine when people are in the water.

Most accidents that occur with PWCs happen with operators who are either renting or borrowing the craft. This would suggest there is a lack of knowledge or some unfamiliarity with operating techniques or riding etiquette. If you choose to lend your PWC to someone, it would really be a good idea to give them a thorough in-person demonstration. Many operators don't know how much stopping time and distance PWCs actually take or that they aren't steerable when the power is off. There are additional illegal behaviors that increase PWC danger: turning sharply right near another boat; jumping the wakes of other boats within 100 feet of them; following other vessels too closely; chasing other PWCs around in small circles; and driving PWCs in the dark.

Other crucial things to remember about operating include keeping aware of weather forecasts; learning the rules of right-of-way; keeping loose items secure in the boat; maintaining a fire extinguisher; and using a spotter for watching skiers. When you get ready to rent a PWC from Lake Powell Bullfrog Marina, please take time to review your safety rules.

by:George Charleston

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