You just fell overboard! The shock of the cold water causes you to gasp for air. It takes your breath away! With all this gasping, hyperventilation will kick in, which can reduce blood flow to the brain and your oxygen supply. This may cause dizziness and confusion. Along with the hyperventilation, there is a claustrophobic feeling of not being able to get enough air and this increases the potential for panic. And if that’s not enough, the ability to hold your breath is almost impossible! And your respiratory problems are just the beginning. In addition, your Cardiovascular Responses can then include rapid heart rate (up to double or more of your normal heart rate) and some irregular heartbeats. This increased workload on the heart puts even the healthiest individuals in danger of a heart attack.

Cold Water Immersion When Riding Your PWC

Cold Water Immersion When Riding Your PWC: It’s not cold in the summer, so what’s the problem? Well, in Idaho, even summer water temperatures can hover around 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Our body’s response to immersion into 50-degree water is something we don’t have a lot of control over.

Cold water immersion will play out in four stages:

Cold Shock Response – first 3-5 min
Cold Incapacitation – 5–30 min
Hypothermia – 30+ min
Circum-rescue Collapse – during and after rescue

Fog Signals on the Water for Personal Watercraft

The law also prescribes signals to identify vessels navigating in or near areas of restricted visibility. Upon hearing a fog signal apparently forward of the beam, the operator should reduce speed to the minimum at which the boat can be kept on course, unless it has been determined by radar or other means that the risk of collision does not exist. If necessary, the operator should use reverse propulsion. In any event, navigate with extreme caution until any danger is over.

Motorboats: Making way through the water, sound, at intervals of not more than two minutes, one prolonged blast. Under way but stopped and making no way through the water, sound, at intervals of not more than two minutes, two prolonged blasts in succession, with an interval of about two seconds between them.

Sailboats or Vessels Not Under Command, Restricted in Ability to Maneuver, Towing or Pushing Another Vessel, or Engaged in Fishing with Nets or Trawling: Sound at intervals of not more than two minutes, one prolonged followed by two short blasts.

Boats at Anchor: Ring, at intervals of not more than one minute, a bell rapidly for about five seconds. In addition, one short blast followed by one prolonged and one short blast may be sounded to give warning of position and of the possibility of collision to an approaching vessel. ¦ Boats less than 39 feet 4 inches (12 meters) in length may, instead of the above, make an efficient sound signal at intervals of not more than two minutes. ¦ Boats less than 65 feet 7 inches (20 meters) are not required to sound signals when anchored in a federally designated anchorage area.

What safety equipment must I have on my boat or personal watercraft?

The carriage requirements vary depending on the size and type of boat, time of use, and number of people aboard. Consult the “ABCs of the California Boating Law” at http://www.dbw.ca.gov/pubs/ABC/reqequip.pdf for details. In general, you must carry a type B fire extinguisher, a whistle or horn, visual distress signals (flares), and all passengers must wear properly fitted PFD’s.

Required Safety Equipment for Personal Watercraft (PWC)

All equipment requirements for regular motorboats also apply to PWC. In addition to those requirements:Each occupant must wear a USCG approved wearable PFD; if the PWC is equipped with a cut-off or kill switch, it must be attached to the operator or operator’s clothing. inflatable life jackets are NOT approved for use on PWC. Operation of Your Personal Watercraft NOTE: Children under 13 are specifically prohibited from operating a PWC unless accompanied on board by a person at least 18 years of age who can lawfully operate the PWC.

Why You Should Have A Helmet As Part Of Your Water Sports Equipment

Why is a helmet important? Because head injuries are not to be taken lightly. They can occur suddenly and unexpectedly in all kinds of situations, from mishaps while cycling, or as a result of a motor accident, or simply from falling.

Personal watercraft are a type of recreational boat designed for riding entertainment

Personal watercraft are a type of recreational boat designed for riding entertainment. Because PWC are powered by an engine and intended for the transport of person(s) on water, they fall within the Coast Guard category for motorboats. Although the Coast Guard tracks statistics on a recreational vessel type (Class A inboard motorboat) that includes personal watercraft, the Coast Guard has no official definition of personal watercraft.

The first commercially successful personal watercraft, the Jet Ski, was introduced by Kawasaki in 1974. Models from the late 1970s and early 1980s were designed for a one-person, stand-up operation. During the mid-1980s, the sit-down style became popular, and it now accounts for 97 percent of the units sold.

Most PWC sales are controlled by five companies12 that actively market between 30 and 40 different models designed for one, two, or three persons. Current PWC sales run about 200,000 units per year, and the 1998 models range in cost from $4,799 to $9,399. PWC constituted more than one-third (36 percent) of all new recreational boats sold in 1997 and represent $1.2 billion of annual sales.13

See the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) for the full text of current regulations that apply to Marine SI engines:

40 CFR part 91 Original exhaust emission standards and compliance program
40 CFR part 1045 Exhaust emission standards for 2010 and later model year engines
40 CFR part 1060 Evaporative emission standards
40 CFR part 1065 Engine-testing regulations for 2010 standards
40 CFR part 1068 General compliance provisions for evap standards and 2010 exhaust standards
Summary of exhaust emission standards and evaporative emission standards
Direct Final Rule — 2010 Technical Amendments : Technical Amendments for Marine Spark-Ignition Engines and Vessels (published September 16, 2010)
Fact Sheet: Technical Amendments for Marine Spark-Ignition Engines and Vessels | PDF Version (2 pp, 495K, EPA-420-F-10-047, September 16, 2010)
Direct Final Rule | PDF Version (7 pp, 78K, published September 16, 2010)
Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule (published October 30, 2009)
Federal Register Notice
See Greenhouse Gas Reporting for more information.
Final Rule: Control of Emissions from Nonroad Spark-Ignition Engines and Equipment (published October 8, 2008)
Fact Sheet: EPA Finalizes Emission Standards for New Nonroad Spark-Ignition Engines, Equipment, and Vessels | PDF Version (5 pp, 205K, September 2008, EPA420-F-08-013)
Final Rule (PDF) (348 pages, 5.4MB)
Final Regulatory Impact Analysis (PDF) (808 pp, 8.5MB, September 2008, EPA420-R-08-014) Instead of downloading the entire document, you can access individual chapters.
Summary and Analysis of Comments (PDF) (480 pp, 3.1MB, September 2008, EPA420-R-08-016) Instead of downloading the entire document, you can access individual chapters.
See the May 18, 2007 Proposal and the August 14, 2002 Proposal for the proposed rules and the related fact sheets and technical support documents.
Final 2005 Technical Amendments – Procedures for Testing Highway and Nonroad Engines and Omnibus Technical Amendments (published July 13, 2005)
Fact Sheet: Regulatory Announcement: Changed Test Procedures for Nonroad Engines and Heavy-Duty Highway Engines | PDF Version (4 pp, 134K, EPA420-F-05-036, July 2005)
Federal Register Notice
Technical Support Document and Summary & Analysis of Comments (PDF) (115 pp, 1663K, EPA420-R-05-008, June 2005)
See Proposed Technical Amendments for the proposed rule, fact sheet, and technical support documents (published September 10, 2004)
Final 2002 Technical Amendments to 40 CFR part 91 (published November 8, 2002)
Federal Register Notice | PDF Version (207 pp, 1.1MB)
Other related documents regarding the final rule are available at: www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/nonroad/2002/cleanrec-final.htm
Proposal for Cleaner Recreational Vehicles with Proposed Technical Amendments to 40 CFR Part 91.
Final 2000 Technical Amendments (published April 25, 2000)
Federal Register Notice
Proposed Rule: Federal Register Notice | PDF Version (8 pp, 63K, February 1999)
Final 1997 Amendment to 40 CFR part 91 (published April 2, 1997)
Federal Register Notice
Final Rule for New Spark-Ignition Marine Engines (published October 4, 1996)
Federal Register Notice | PDF Version (83 pp, 890K)
Fact Sheet: Emission Standards for New Gasoline Marine Engines | PDF Version (4 pp, 13K, EPA420-F-96-012, August 1996)
Regulatory Impact Analysis (PDF) (85 pp, 414K, June 1966)
Nonroad Engine and Vehicle Emission Study Report (Publication no. EPA-21A-2001 or EPA460/3-91-002, November 1991)
This “nonroad study” quantifies the contribution of nonroad sources to air pollution, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM). The study covers 10 equipment categories, including: lawn and garden equipment, farm and construction equipment, recreational vehicles, marine vessels, and airport service equipment.

EPA emission standards for hydrocarbon, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide reduce the environmental impact from marine spark-ignition engines and vessels. The emission standards require manufacturers to control exhaust emissions from the engines and evaporative emissions from fuel tanks and fuel lines.This page provides general information for consumers, boaters, and other users of marine vessels that use gasoline engines (or other spark-ignition engines). There are also links to the related regulations and supporting documents. Information is also available on Diesel Boats and Ships and Ocean Vessels and Large Ships.

As with most types of watercraft boats, the speed and performance of PWC have increased over the years

As with most types of boats, the speed and performance of PWC have increased over the years: 16 models introduced in the 1998 model year have engines with 100 hp or more.19 By comparison, Kawasaki’s early Jet Ski, introduced in 1974, had an output of 32 hp.

Faster models can exceed 60 mph in their stock configuration, and after-market modifications, such as three-bladed impellers or flame arrestors to increase air intake, can further increase the highend speed capability. The PWIA reports that 25 percent of all owners have made mechanical changes or modifications to their PWC; 18 percent have made engine performance modifications.

How to File a Personal Watercraft Insurance Claim in Florida

In the case of collision, accident, or other casualty involving a vessel in or upon or entering into or exiting from the water, including capsizing, collision with another vessel or object, sinking, personal injury requiring medical treatment beyond immediate first aid, death, disappearance of any person from on board under circumstances which indicate the possibility of death or injury, or damage to any vessel or other property in an apparent aggregate amount of at least $2,000, the operator shall without delay, by the quickest means available give notice of the accident to one of the following agencies: the Division of Law Enforcement of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; the sheriff of the county within which the accident occurred; or the police chief of the municipality within which the accident occurred, if applicable.

How to get a personal watercraft insurance quote online

Rating agencies are available online and are a valuable resource to help motorists make a well informed decision before choosing a company. These agencies use certain tiers which they place insurers in based on their financial stability; for example, one agency uses letter grades similar to school grading. If a carrier receives an “A” then they are regarded as having an excellent ability to compensate policyholders, a “D” letter grade would indicate a weak ability to fulfill obligations.

These agencies are a well trusted source of information and commonly suggested by government websites; the Illinois Department of Insurance website provides a list of rating agencies and will even provide company ratings to residents.

What are the rules for operating a personal watercraft such as a Jet Ski?

The laws for personal watercraft are the same as for boats, with a few exceptions: Every person on board a personal watercraft must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. If the personal watercraft has a lanyard cutoff switch, the operator must attach the lanyard to his or her person.
Personal watercraft may not be operated between sunset and sunrise.

As with other vessels, people under age 16 may not operate a personal watercraft that has more that 15 horsepower unless they are 12 to 15 years old AND supervised on board by an adult.

No person under 16 years of age may operate a motorboat of more than 15 horsepower, except for a sailboat that does not exceed 30 feet in length or a dinghy used directly between a moored boat and the shore, or between two moored boats. The law allows persons 12-15 years of age to operate motorboats of more than 15 horsepower or sailboats over 30 feet if supervised on board by a person at least 18 years of age. A violation of these provisions is an infraction. This rule applies to California…