Lake Powell Bullfrog: Safety With Personal Watercraft
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Prior to buying their own personal watercraft (or PWC), many consumers choose to first rent one from a Lake Powell boat rental company. PWCs are those shorter-than-16-foot-long boats with internal combustion motors that power water-jet pumps. There are various brands of personal watercraft, including Wet Jet, Jet Ski, Wave Runner, Tiger Shark, and Sea Doo. Legally operating any of these PWCs requires the successful completion of a boating-safety course. PWCs have a record of disproportionately being involved in boating accidents, with a high percentage of these avoidable tragedies being caused by operators who were inexperienced, not keeping a proper lookout, and operating recklessly.
PWC mishaps are quite often more serious or fatal than are other boating accidents. Most PWC accidents and injuries deal with collisions with other boats and result in concussions and head trauma of other kinds. One common danger of the typically vigorous and physically active PWC use is that of dehydration, which can impair reaction and awareness time and increase accidents. Another common result of PWC time is that of severe skin damage from the sun. And many PWC users are injured by getting too close to the water in-take on the hull’s underside.
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.
Want to find out more about Lake Powell Bullfrog, then visit Offshore Marina’s site on how to choose the best Lake Powell boat rentals for your needs.
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