Personal Watercraft Insurance – Reckless Operation
Personal Watercraft must be operated in a reasonable and prudent manner. Maneuvers that endanger life, limb, or property shall constitute reckless operation of a vessel and include:
- Unreasonably or unnecessarily weaving through congested vessel traffic.
- Jumping the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of such other vessel or when visibility around such other vessel is obstructed.
- Intentionally approaching another vessel in order to swerve at the last possible moment to avoid collision.
- Operating contrary to the “rules of the road“ or following too closely to another vessel, including a PWC. “Following too closely,“ is defined by law as proceeding in the same direction of another vessel and operating at a speed in
excess of 10mph when approaching within 100 feet to the rear or 50 feet to the side of another vessel that is underway unless that vessel is operating in a narrow channel, in which case a PWC may operate at the speed and flow of other vessel traffic. A narrow channel is defined as a segment of the waters of the State that is 300 feet or less in width.
