What is the difference between a ski craft and a PWC?

A ski craft is defined as, less than 13′ in length as manufactured, capable of exceeding 20 mph, and has the capacity to carry not more than the operator and one other person. There are additional regulations that ski craft operators must follow. A personal watercraft (pwc) has the capacity to carry more than the operator and one passenger and must follow the regulations set forth for a motor boat.

Some insurance companies will not insure craft exceeding horsepower maximums

Single-hull motorboats less than 20 feet in length which are manufactured after 1972 must display capacity and safe horsepower information. The maximum weight in persons, gear and motors is offered as a guide to boaters, and should not be exceeded. It is not a violation of federal or California state law to exceed recommended maximums.

However, other states may cite an operator who exceeds capacity and horsepower limitations. Some insurance companies will not insure craft exceeding horsepower maximums and some boat manufacturers will void any applicable warranties for the same reasons.

In Minnesota, PWC accounted for 3 percent of the number of boats (23,844 of 758,666), yet they were involved in 29 percent of the accidents (41 of 139), 45 percent of the persons reported as injured (22 of 49), and 17 percent of the fatalities (2 of 12).8 The Safety Board could not determine whether PWC are over-represented when compared to other types of recreational boats or if usage type varies by type of boat because accurate data on usage and exposure time for different types of recreational boats are not available. (Exposure data are discussed further in chapter 2). PWC injury reports taken from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and analyzed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) showed that over a 6-year period, the number of PWC in operation increased nearly three-fold (from 241,500 in 1990 to an estimated 760,000 in 1995), while the number of PWC-related injuries increased four-fold (2,860 in 1990 to an estimated 12,000 in 1995).9

According to the CDC analysis, the rate of PWC-related injuries (injuries per number of PWC) requiring emergency medical treatment was 8.5 times higher than the rate of injuries from motorboats. The Safety Board notes that many PWC accidents analyzed for this study involved injury but no reported property damage. The Board suspects that PWC-related injuries are not reported on boating accident forms but are being treated at local hospital emergency rooms (and are thereby entered in the NEISS data of the CDC).

The number of PWC accidents involving injury varies by State. California reported 385 PWC-related accidents during the 1996 boating season, resulting in 298 injured persons, 8 fatalities, and $508,000 in property damage. Although PWC accounted for 16 percent of the registered vessels and 14 percent of the fatalities in California, they were involved in 45 percent of all recreational boating accidents and 55 percent of the persons injured.

Collisions with another vessel made up the majority of recreational boating accidents (69 percent), and of these collisions, 71 percent involved one PWC colliding with a second.6 Similarly, Florida had 751,153 registered vessels in 1996, 9 percent of which were PWC, yet PWC accounted for 37 percent of the accidents (464 of 1,260), 48 percent of the persons injured (389 of 804), and 7 percent of the fatalities (4 of 59).7

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.20

A PWC uses a moveable nozzle connected to a jet pump, rather than a propeller, to power the vessel. This distinction affects the operating and handling characteristics of the vessel. The most notable distinction is “off-throttle steering,” a trade term for the situation that exists when an operator releases the throttle and then attempts to execute a turn. The term is an oxymoron because there is little or no steering capability when the throttle is off. Turning the PWC handlebars changes the angle of water exiting the jet pump, but without power to the jet pump, there is little or no directional thrust. As stated in the owner’s safety manual of one PWC manufacturer, “Remember, releasing the throttle completely eliminates the ability to steer the watercraft.” 2 1

This operating characteristic is likely to be counterintuitive to novice operators, particularly in situations of potential collision. When a new rider realizes there is danger of hitting another vessel or object, the operator’s typical response based on experience with other motor vehicles is to first let off the throttle and then attempt to steer away from the hazard. But closing off the throttle leaves the vessel coasting in the original direction based on the effects of momentum, and without throttle there is very limited steering control.

Personal watercraft have no braking mechanism; they coast to a stop and, while coasting, there is no turning ability. Executing a controlled-speed turn is the correct response to avoid a collision, but to a new operator this may feel like speeding toward a hazard.

Personal Watercraft, PWC History

Personal watercraft are a type of recreational boat designed for riding entertainment (figure 1–3). 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.11

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 10

The Marine Index Bureau Foundation is a nongovernmental 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity. Its work on the Recreational Boating Accident Register was funded by the Coast Guard and by the insurance industry. 11 The Coast Guard boating accident statistics report for 1996 describes personal watercraft in the glossary: “Craft less than 13 feet in length designed to be operated by a person or persons sitting, standing or kneeling on the craft rather than within the confines of a hull.” (U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Coast Guard. 1998. Boating statistics 1996. Washington, DC. 39 p.) The Coast Guard has no regulatory definition of personal watercraft. 12 The major manufacturers of personal watercraft are Kawasaki, Yamaha (WaveRunner), Polaris, Bombardier (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 Engine power of the 33 different 1998 models of PWC ranges from 62 to 135 hp, engine displacement ranges from 639 to 1131 cc with two or three cylinders, and the vessels range from 87 to 126 inches in length.14 Most models are designed to accommodate two or three riders, but results of a PWC owner survey15 indicate that 68 percent of PWC riding is done alone. The typical personal watercraft sold in 1997 had a dry weight of about 450 pounds and a fuel capacity of 10 gallons.16

With a single rider, PWC operating weight would be about 700 pounds. The PWC owner survey was commissioned by the Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA)17 in early 1996. Owners from all 50 States who purchased their vessels between 1991 and 1995 were surveyed; a total of 11,500 surveys were mailed and 2,800 persons responded. Survey results indicated that PWC owners (a group not synonymous with PWC operators) average 41 years of age and have an average household income of $95,400.

In addition, 71 percent are married, 40 percent are college graduates, 85 percent are male, 68 percent have owned a powerboat prior to their PWC purchase, and 73 percent of the time the owner is the operator. The PWIA survey reported that the average owner uses the vessel about 7 days per month during the boating season, and on a typical riding day an average of three different people operate the vessel. In a different survey, of the readers of Watercraft

The number of PWC accidents involving injury varies by State. California reported 385 PWC-related accidents during the 1996 boating season, resulting in 298 injured persons, 8 fatalities, and $508,000 in property damage. Although PWC accounted for 16 percent of the registered vessels and 14 percent of the fatalities in California, they were involved in 45 percent of all recreational boating accidents and 55 percent of the persons injured.

Collisions with another vessel made up the majority of recreational boating accidents (69 percent), and of these collisions, 71 percent involved one PWC colliding with a second.6 Similarly, Florida had 751,153 registered vessels in 1996, 9 percent of which were PWC, yet PWC accounted for 37 percent of the accidents (464 of 1,260), 48 percent of the persons injured (389 of 804), and 7 percent of the fatalities (4 of 59).7

In Minnesota, PWC accounted for 3 percent of the number of boats (23,844 of 758,666), yet they were involved in 29 percent of the accidents (41 of 139), 45 percent of the persons reported as injured (22 of 49), and 17 percent of the fatalities (2 of 12).8 The Safety Board could not determine whether PWC are over-represented when compared to other types of recreational boats or if usage type varies by type of boat because accurate data on usage and exposure time for different types of recreational boats are not available. (Exposure data are discussed further in chapter 2). PWC injury reports taken from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) of the Consumer Product Safety Commission and analyzed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) showed that over a 6-year period, the number of PWC in operation increased nearly three-fold (from 241,500 in 1990 to an estimated 760,000 in 1995), while the number of PWC-related injuries increased four-fold (2,860 in 1990 to an estimated 12,000 in 1995).9

According to the CDC analysis, the rate of PWC-related injuries (injuries per number of PWC) requiring emergency medical treatment was 8.5 times higher than the rate of injuries from motorboats. The Safety Board notes that many PWC accidents analyzed for this study involved injury but no reported property damage. The Board suspects that PWC-related injuries are not reported on boating accident forms but are being treated at local hospital emergency rooms (and are thereby entered in the NEISS data of the CDC).

Recreational boating raises a number of issues for coastal resource managers and the public, including noise complaints, safety concerns and various environmental impacts.

Although much information is available about these issues, relatively little is known about PWC-specific impacts or how they compare to those of more traditional vessels. This lack of information impairs the development of scientifically-sound resource policy and undermines the effectiveness of PWC management initiatives.

The Safety Board initiated the current study to more closely examine fatalities and injury in addition to accident characteristics associated with PWC accidents. The study was not designed to estimate how often PWC accidents occur. For PWC accidents that occurred between January and June 1997, the Safety Board requested that State marine accident investigators provide the Safety Board with copies of their accident reports and complete a supplemental questionnaire prepared by the Safety Board specifically for this study.

The goal of the supplemental questionnaire was to obtain additional information concerning the accident characteristics and details concerning personal injury that have not previously been available from State boating accident reports. State accident reports and supplemental information were the sources of the Safety Board’s accident information.

Personal watercraft (PWC) are a type of recreational boat that has become increasingly popular in recent years. Manufacturers estimate that about 200,000 PWC are sold each year and that more than 1 million are in current operation. PWC now account for more than one-third of the new recreational boat sales in the United States.

Although the overall number of recreational boating fatalities has been declining in recent years, the number of personal watercraft-related fatalities has been increasing. At the time of the National Transportation Safety Board’s 1993 recreational boating safety study, there were only 26 personal watercraft fatalities a year, and the Safety Board did not believe that separate consideration of PWC was warranted.

However, in 1994, the number of PWC fatalities began to increase noticeably because the number of PWC in operation increased. Preliminary numbers for 1997 indicate 83 PWC fatalities. PWC are the only type of recreational vessel for which the leading cause of fatalities is not drowning; in PWC fatalities, more persons die from blunt force trauma than from drowning. The increase in fatalities and the distinctive way in which fatalities occur prompted the Safety Board to examine the nature of PWC accidents.

However, one still has to be careful with a value of equipment. If the ship or boat is going to trade and fifty thousand dollars, then it is advisable to hire a broker to get the best price for your boat. Apart from this, if you do not want to handle matters yourself, then there are a lot of people and companies that can help you sell or buy a new boat and used. They tend to be the agents and have been in business for a long time and know what most of the magazines have no idea about. Many have online databases with date and accurate information so you can see from the comfort of your home.

As noted above, is only useful and rewarding if your boat is of high value, because otherwise you can get nice deals and deal yourself only. There are also popular boat shows in many places and cities that occur throughout the year and these places are filled with people who are looking for a good deal. Therefore, the negotiation of a vessel that has not previously owned is a significant problem.

Determining the value of your PWC before you sell it

Estimate the exact value of your boat may be very inaccurate if the aid is not an expert. This is especially true if one has never bought or sold a vessel. This could lead to the inexperience of many errors in the process of trading ships, it is imperative that timely assistance from other resources in order to take the total amount that can be achieved.

Although the purchase of a ship, it is vital that you know exactly what the person wants, the prices at which sold and that current trends in shipping. Otherwise, one might end up buying a very old and outdated piece of trash that will never be used, and also close to fork out a large sum of money for it.

There are several ways in which the value of a boat you can find out with precision. Most importantly, of course, reading about it. Several magazines and newspapers are printed by various boating people who give information on the latest trends in navigation. Given the current picture of what to buy and what to sell, what is the price that may be of a certain type of vessel, whether a small houseboat, boat, sail boat or huge.

Even boats and race boats are widely discussed by the fans. From these magazines and ads, you can compare different brands and models and also more recent varieties of ships. All information is very updated and research and people who depend on them for business are greater than twenty million euros. Thousands of boats are bought and sold through these documents and it also can read and get the exact knowledge without having to hire an expensive marine surveyor or broker.

The Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) defines a personal watercraft as a vessel that uses an inboard motor powering a water jet pump as its primary source of power. The vessel is designed to carry from one to three persons and to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel rather than by the conventional manner of sitting or standing inside the vessel. A State’s definition of PWC may also include the length of the vessel and horsepower.

The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent Federal agency dedicated to promoting aviation, railroad, highway, marine, pipeline, and hazardous materials safety. Established in 1967, the agency is mandated by Congress through the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974 to investigate transportation accidents, determine the probable causes of the accidents, issue safety recommendations, study transportation safety issues, and evaluate the safety effectiveness of government agencies involved in transportation. The Safety Board makes public its actions and decisions through accident reports, safety studies, special investigation reports, safety recommendations, and statistical reviews.

Information about available publications may be obtained by contacting:
National Transportation Safety Board
Public Inquiries Section, RE-51
490 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20594
(202)314-6551

Safety Board publications may be purchased, by individual copy or by subscription, from the National Technical Information Service. To purchase this publication, order report number PB98-917002 from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road