Childern & Personal Watercraft
Owned... Rented... Borrowed... ... BE EDUCATED
"Too often we are seeing instances where an adult will rent a personal watercraft and then allow family and friends operate it with little or no regard to age or boating education and training laws or requirements" - Boating Safety Division - USCG
- Take a boater education class with your children
- Beware of all manufactures' recommendations & local laws concerning operation by children.
Who can Ride?
- Manufactures recommend operators be at least 16 years old. Check your state laws, the minimum age will likely be higher!
- Riders whose feet reach the foot well floor.
- Those wearing appropriate equipment including:
- U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets
- A wetsuit bottom or clothing that provides an equivalent level of protection
- U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets with a speed rating (operators may not exceed the speed listed on their life jacket)
- Those who are able to hold on to handholds or person in front of them
- Persons who meet their states education requirements
What You Should Know Before You Go...
Keep a sharp look Out!
Safe Operation
- Always attach engine shut-off lanyard.
- Never allow passengers to ride in front of the operator.
- Always stay clear of intake grate & water jets.
- Ensure your child or teen understands a PWC is not a toy.
- Scan constantly for people, objects, and other watercraft.
National Statistices Show:
In one year 112 children under 12 were injured on PWC's.
25%
of these were operators, in violation of state laws and manufactures' recommendations.
80%
Of these operators did not have formal training.
Statistics
- Lack of experience and excessive speed caused 60% of the accidents when the operator was age 12 or less
- Collision result in more enjuries and deaths than any other type of PWC accident
- Most PWC accidents occur in the first 20 hours of operation
Find our more
NASBLA (National Association Of State Boating law Administrators). www.nasbla.org
PWIA (Personal Watecraft Industry Association. To learn more about manufacturer's recommendations by way of the above, visit www.pwia.org/
Page Updated: January 5, 2012