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 plenty of basic safety guidelines that should always be followed when you operate: always wear an approved (by the Coast Guard) properly fitting lifejacket; always use the available engine-stop mechanism just in case you fall overboard; keep at least a 50-foot distance between your craft and others and between you and the shoreline; keep a constant watch for other boats, skiers, divers, and swimmers; never use wakes and waves as ramps; always observe the legal minimum operating age limit; never use any drugs or alcohol when you’re operating; keep yourself adequately hydrated and sun-screened; keep seated (don’t stand up) when you’re in motion; stay away from the hull’s underside at all times; and keep the engine shut off when there are people 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 safety hints to remember include keeping alert for weather conditions; becoming aware of the rules for right-of-way; making loose items secure within the boat; having a person onboard as a spotter for skiers; and maintaining a fire extinguisher. When you’re going to rent a PWC from Lake Powell Bullfrog Marina, please make time to review the safety rules.

Looking for Lake Powell Bullfrog, then visit www.offshoremarina.com to find the best advice on Lake Powell boat rentals for you.