Safety Review

Wear your life jacket (PFD) at all times. Keep an eye on the weather and act accordingly.

Match your riding style to your level of endurance and ability. Avoid risks that could cause personal injury or property damage.

Become thoroughly familiar with the way your PWC handles. Learn its stopping distances and turning radius early on during your first rides. Learning to use the PWC's power, thrust and maneuverability to your advantage. It better equips you to handle situations that call for quick and appropriate action.

Become familiar with the area in which you ride. Learn the location of hazardous objects in the water.

Become aware of the PWC's capacity limits by checking the label on the craft or the owner's manual.

Never operate your personal watercraft after dark. It may be illegal in your state and it is always unsafe. In case of emergency, have a watertight flashlight aboard at all times.

In the event of fire aboard your PWC, wearing your PFD, swim away to a distance at which you will be safe from explosion (at least 30 feet - more if possible) quickly.

Never allow anyone to put any body part - such as hands, hair, or feet -- near the jet pump intake. That pump is powerful enough to suck them in and hold them in place. Serious injury or even drowning can occur.

Jumping the wakes of passing boats creates special risks. You may forget to be aware of traffic on the other side of the vessel. It is also easy to misjudge speed and the other boat operator's intent. Heading too close to the rear of another boat may scare or anger its captain or passengers, since they may not understand either the capabilities of a personal watercraft or your intent.

Most states now prohibit wake-jumping due to the deaths of PWC operators who failed to use good judgment. Law enforcement officials - even in states where wake-jumping is not specifically prohibited - consider it to be reckless operation and will cite an offender.

Know your local regulations!
Do not tow other boats or personal watercraft. Provide assistance, instead, by getting help from a larger boat or a law enforcement patrol.

The United States Power Squadrons have joined with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in conducting free Vessel Safety Checks (VSC) of pleasure boats. This program of checking and discussing the safety equipment onboard your vessel is designed to make your boating activities safer for you, your family and friends, and fellow boaters. No report about your boat is ever made to any law enforcement agency. If your boat meets VSC requirements, the award of the VSC decal is your assurance that your boat is properly equipped and meets the minimum Federal equipment requirements. A properly equipped boat is a safer boat.