Lake Powell Bullfrog: Safety With Personal Watercraft

Before actually buying a personal watercraft (or PWC), many people often rent one from a Lake Powell boat rentals shop. PWCs are less than 16 feet in length and use internal combustion motors for powering water-jet pumps. There are different brands of personal watercraft, including Jet Ski, Wet Jet, Sea Doo, Tiger Shark, and Wave Runner. All of these PWCs require successful completion of boating safety courses in order to legally operate them. PWCs have been disproportionately involved in boating accidents in general, and many of these avoidable tragedies were caused by inexperienced operators who didn't keep a proper lookout and who operated recklessly.

Accidents on PWCs are often more serious and fatal than accidents on other boats. The bulk of PWC accidents and injuries come from collisions with other vessels and they result in head trauma such as concussions. One typical danger of PWC use (because of the vigorous physical activity involved) is dehydration, which can impair reaction time and awareness to the point of causing accidents. Skin damage from the sun can also be severe when an operator neglects to prevent it with adequate sunscreen. As well, many PWC users sustain injuries when they get too close to the in-take for the water underneath the hull.

There are basic safety rules that are always recommended: always wear the best-fitting, Coast-Guard approved life jacket; always use the manufacturer's engine-stop mechanism on your wrist in case you fall overboard; keep at least 50 feet between you and other boats and you and the shoreline; constantly watch out for skiers, divers, swimmers, and other boats; don't use waves and wakes as ramps; always obey the legal operating age rules; never use drugs or alcohol while operating; keep yourself sun-screened and hydrated; never stand up when in motion; don't go near the hull's underside; and keep the engine turned off when people are nearby in the water.

Most accidents on PWCs happen with operators who are renting or borrowing the craft. This suggests that a lack of knowledge and unfamiliarity with the techniques and etiquette of riding contribute to the accidents. If you choose to lend your PWC to someone, it would be a good thing to give an actual demonstration. Many operators don't initially know that PWCs take quite a bit of time and distance to completely stop and that they can't stop instantly or be steered when the power is turned off. Also, there are illegal behaviors that increase the danger on a PWC: turning sharply close to another boat; jumping another vessel's wake within 100 feet of it; following other boats too closely; chasing other PWCs in small circles; and operating after dark.

Other safety-related facts good to remember are: keep advised of weather conditions; become aware of the right-of-way rules; secure any loose items on the boat; have a skier spotter on board; and maintain a fire extinguisher. When you're about to rent a PWC from Lake Powell Bullfrog Marina, do make the time to go over all of the safety rules.

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