PWC have evolved a lot in the past ten years, from the days when only stand-up Jet Skis® were available, to today’s wide variety of choices. The make-up of the sport’s participants has changed, as well, from predominately young and male, to all ages, both male and female.  While these changes are good, we now have new factors to think about. PWC riding has grown to near epic proportions: about 33% of all boats sold in the United States last year were PWC. Such rapid growth has caused a lot of growing pains, both within the boating community and outside it. Waterfront landowners complain about our existence, as do some environmentalists.

There are several reasons for the conflicts. A lack of education about boating laws and etiquette on the part of some PWC operators is one of the biggest problems, as is the lack of common sense. Just as in any other sport or other event, there are rules that need to be followed. Some are written laws, while others are just plain common sense or courtesies.

You probably wouldn’t appreciate driving along the roadways among thousands of others who have no knowledge of the laws of the road. Would you get in a car with an untrained driver? No. Would you get in the car with a drunk driver? No. Would you give the keys to your new car to your 10-year-old? Of course not.

Many of you probably agree with me, but how many of us have or would let a 10-year-old operate a PWC, especially one who has had no training? How many of us have or know someone who has operated a PWC after they have been drinking? We all need to think of PWC as more than “water toys.” They can cause the same damage, injuries and deaths that a car can. We need to educate ourselves, our friends and our children before we allow them to operate our PWC.

Our actions speak for themselves, and then some. When a PWC rider spends his or her time riding recklessly, or annoys others, it affects all of us. Another boater will sit there and curse all PWC riders, the waterfront landowner who is tired of hearing the continuing noise of a rider who will not move on will call the police, the city council and/or his or her legislator. Do not ride in a fashion that will affect the rest of us, and if you see someone doing so, point it out to them. Peer pressure is the best weapon.

Whenever possible, try to do something nice for someone or something that will shine a brighter light on our sport. Tow in a disabled boater if possible; pick up litter around the water or launch ramp. Slow down, wave and say hello to those fishermen as you pass them. Let’s kill all of them with kindness, rather then kill ourselves with stupidity.

As the number of PWC sales continue to grow, and they are expected to, we all need to police ourselves. We need to band together and work to be seen positively rather than negatively. You can join a local club, or start one yourself if there isn’t one in your area. You can contact the IJSBA for more information on clubs. [Ed. note: See Club Corner in this issue.] If we fail to do this, I can almost guarantee you that those who dislike or do not know us will win. There will be more legislation and more sites we are banned from. Let’s give a little effort today to save a lot later. By Jim Marriott,  Member PWC Task Force Delta Watercraft Club