Falling Off

Personal watercraft are designed with the understanding that the operator will fall off occasionally. If you take a spill, most personal watercraft have one of the following options:

• A lanyard (cord) shut-off device that shuts down the engine if the rider falls off. The lanyard is connected to a terminal on the PWC. Its other end is fastened around your wrist or clipped to your life jacket. When you fall off, the lanyard disconnects from the PWC causing the engine to shut down. The machine will glide to a stop or it will stop when it collides with something.

• Some older PWCs have an automatic idle and self-circling capacity if you fall off. The PWC will circle slowly in the area until you can re-board.

In either case, swim to your PWC, re- board carefully at the stern, reattach the lanyard (if applicable), and restart your engine. If the PWC is inverted in the water, right the craft the way the manufacturer recommends. This information can be found on the hull or in the owners manual. Contact the manufacturer if this information is not found. After righting the PWC, board and restart the engine after you have connected the lanyard to the cut-off switch. Either return to shore if your spill has made you tired or winded, or continue your ride. As always, keep a close eye on your surroundings and other traffic in the area.

In the picture above, a father talks to his daughter about the importance of a safety lanyard. Should the operator fall off, the lanyard will disconnect causing the PWC to shut down.

If your personal watercraft has stalled or will not restart, do not attempt to swim to shore. Stay with your vessel and continue to wear your life jacket. You and your PWC, together, are easier for rescuers to find than you alone, with only your head above water. Check the water intake area to be sure it is free from weeds and debris. Sometimes an engine will restart after it sits for a few minutes. Know your manufacturer's recommendations for restarting your engine. If the engine will not restart, signal a nearby vessel and ask for a tow to shore. Do not attempt on-the-water engine repairs. Most units are watertight only with the engine cover in place. Waves or wakes could easily swamp your PWC.

As mentioned in other portions of PWCSafetySchool, falling off a PWC is expected and not as critical as falling overboard from a boat. However, if a passenger falls off a PWC there are standard boating procedures you should follow.

Even if the person overboard knows how to swim, toss the person a PFD, floating cushion or other floatable object with a line attached. If the boat is underway the operator should slow down immediately. Maneuver carefully to avoid hitting the person in the water. Warn approaching boats and approach the person in the water from downwind or into the current. When trying to pick up the overboard person put the engine in neutral. If there is no wind or current you can turn the engine off.

Falling Overboard

Falling off a PWC is often part of the experience. Reboarding from the rear is covered on the previous page.

On other types of boats falling overboard can be life-threatening. Obviously, the best solution is not to have this happen. Here are some quick tips that will help people stay onboard:

1. All persons including the operator should be seated in the seats provided while the vessel is underway.

2. If it's a small vessel equipped with a pedestal seat, this should be only used for seating when the vessel is operating at a dead idle, drifting or anchored.

3. Maintain a low center of gravity (keep low) while the vessel is under way.

4. If a person needs to move while the vessel is underway they should first inform the boat operator of their request to move. Then after the operator approves they should maintain a low center of gravity and a firm grasp on an attached portion of the vessel such as seats, gunnels edge, rail etc., and move slowly to the desired seat maintaining a three point contact (two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand). If the boat is not in balance or if the move is to occur in rough water or bad weather conditions, the operator should slow the boat to a safe speed and the people or gear repositioned so the boat is in balance and the operator is confident that the voyage can continue safely.

5. Don't lean out or allow anyone to extend any portion of their body over the edge of the vessel while underway.

If someone falls overboard, the vessel's operator should reduce speed turn the bow of the vessel towards the person to keep the stern and propeller away. These actions must be done within a split second to prevent the person from being run over by the boat and hit by the propeller. Throw the person a PFD if they aren't wearing one. Keep the person in sight at all times and slowly approach the person. Approach the victim from downwind (just as you would on the PWC). If there is a current, hold your boat in the current and allow the person to float to you. If there is a wind, position your boat upwind and allow the wind to blow your boat to the person in the water, whichever is easier. If you can, throw a line (rope) to the person and pull them towards the boat. Stop the engine and pull the person on board over the stern, use a boarding ladder (if equipped), keeping the side to side, and bow to stern weight in the vessel balanced. If you fall into a swift river current from a boat or shore, float on your back with your feet pointed down river and use a back stroke to paddle to shore. Always watch downstream and avoid rocks, logs and trees stretched into the river.

Rendering Assistance

In the event of an emergency, individuals in charge of a vessel are required to provide assistance so far as they can do so without serious danger to their own vessel or the individuals on board their vessel. Assistance from other boaters can reduce the loss of life, injury or property damage resulting from boating accidents.

Capsizing

Capsizings, sinkings, and falls overboard from small boats account for 70% of boating fatalities and these facts mean you must have a greater awareness of the boat's limitations and the skill and knowledge to overcome them. If the boat capsizes put on a lifejacket (if you aren't already wearing one), make sure all passengers are wearing lifejackets and hold on to the nearest floating object. Also make use of improvised floating aids such as a cushion or styrofoam cooler. Count the number of people to make sure no one is missing. Check and treat serious or life-threatening injuries. If possible right the boat and bail out the water. If you can't right the boat, climb on to the hull and signal for help. Use signaling devices to tell rescuers you are in danger. Blow a whistle, yell or use the visual distress signal (wave your arms) to get attention. Avoid hypothermia by preventing heat loss. Keep your head out of the water, climb on the boat's hull as far out of the water as possible. If you can't get out of the water, curl into a ball or huddle with other passengers and limit your movement. Stay with the boat if at all possible. A boat is far easier to see than a single swimmer. Swimming to shore should be considered only as a last resort.

Running Aground Prevention and Response

Preventing running aground is an important boat operator competence. Following proper procedures in the event of grounding can reduce or minimize fatalities, boat damage, submerged object damage, and responses by public and private entities for salvage operations.

Although PWC can operate in much shallower water than propeller driven boats there are safety and environmental concerns regarding PWC operation in shallow water. Shallow water can become no water with the risk of injury to the operator and damage to the PWC if there's a sudden stop. As a general rule it is wise to operate a PWC within the channel marker boundaries. Avoid rocky areas and jetties because of unpredictable currents and other obvious hazards.

Always be alert to your surroundings. Ripples, boils or coloration can indicate shallow water, reefs or shoals. In coastal waters, consult a tide book. There may be good water depth in an area during high tide, but not during low tide. Know the area where you'll be boating. Check charts for possible shallow areas or other underwater hazards. Learn the meanings of numbers, shadings and symbols presented on charts. They will help insure a safe boating experience. Use caution rather than convenience. Don't guess about the depth of the water.

If you run aground you should first check the damage to the boat's hull. Make sure the boat is not sinking or taking on water. Identify the cause of the grounding (sand, rock, sharp objects, etc.) If you are in a boat, stop the engine. Raise the outdrive or outboard motor if so equipped. Shift the weight away from the area where the hull has made contact and attempt to push the vessel to deeper water using an oar or boat hook. If you are operating a PWC and it has reverse and won't damage the hull you can put it in reverse and try to back out or put your weight to one side or in a rocking motion to loosen the hull. Waiting for a higher tide may be the solution if you ran aground because of a low tide. If these fail, stay with your PWC or boat and perform the visual distress signal until help arrives. Another boater may be able to pull you free. If there are obstacles that may increase damage to the hull or if there has been serious hull damage contact the local law enforcement agency of the U.S. Coast Guard for help.