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. Although the overall number of recreational boating fatalities has been declining in recent years, the number of personal watercraft-related fatalities has been increasing.

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 National Transportation Safety Board initiated this 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, nor are the results of the study necessarily representative of all 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.

Although the overall number of recreational boating fatalities has been declining in recent years, the number of personal watercraft-related fatalities has been increasing. 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 National Transportation Safety Board initiated this 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, nor are the results of the study necessarily representative of all PWC accidents. The Safety Board analyzed 814 (one-third) of the 1997 reported accidents and examined all of the data for the 1996 reported accidents, which the Board believes provided a substantial number of accidents to identify the most important safety issues associated with PWC accidents.

The safety issues discussed in the report include (a) protecting PWC riders from injury; (b) PWC operator experience and training; and (c) boating safety standards. The study also addressed the need for recreational boating exposure data. Safety recommendations concerning these issues were made to the manufacturers of PWC, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S. Power Squadrons, BOAT/U.S., the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, the Personal Watercraft Industry Association, and the States and Territories.

Leukoplakia is a reaction to an irritant, like rough teeth, badly fitting dentures, smoking, and smokeless tobacco. It can show up as white patches or plaques in the mouth, is usually painless, and can not be scraped off. Leukoplakia can also be a precancerous condition. Persistent patches or other changes in your mouth need a dentist’s evaluation.  See a dentist if you think you may have Leukoplakia for an evaluation and treatment.

Before setting out, make sure that your boat is well equipped with all the necessary safety essentials such as life jackets for all passengers, a well-stocked first aid kit, and a life preserver. Time is of the essence if you or one of your passengers goes overboard, so get your plan of action in place beforehand. Talk to your passengers about where to sit safely while the boat is underway and make sure to take extra time to talk to any children on the boat about being safe

Review boating safety protocols online or take a refresher boating safety course. Boating safety information from reputable sources can be found online or at your local library. There are free online boating safety courses and you can also arrange a Vessel Safety Check through your local Coast Guard Auxiliary. Taking a boating safety course may also reduce your boat insurance.

Some of the typical examples of what is not covered in a personal watercraft insurance policy is:

• Any craft that has been modified to enhance speed and performance
• Operation of a personal watercraft after dark—dusk to dawn

Because insurance needs differ depending on the type of personal watercraft you own, make sure to read the details in your policy to see what is covered and what is specifically excluded.

Not all personal watercraft policies covers everything. So make sure you know what your plan may limit or exclude. Also you may want to consider extra coverage’s such as:

• Replacement cost of personal items lost or damaged while on board
• Replace the actual cash value of your Personal Watercraft if it is damaged during use
• Roadside assistance in case your tow vehicle or trailer is damaged or disabled
• Costs of raising and removing your Personal Watercraft if it sinks

Generally Personal Watercraft Insurance policies provide coverage whether you are operating the Personal Watercraft Insurance yourself or you loan it to someone else. However, the facts and circumstances of each case will be evaluated based upon the applicable laws and policy language, in most cases, regardless of who is operating it, you would be covered for the following:

• Damage to another craft or dock
• Bodily injury or death to another person due to your negligence
• The negligence of another driver while using your PWC
• Towed water skiers or wake boarders who become injured while using your craft
• Physical damage to the hull, machinery and equipment
• Injury caused by an uninsured watercraft operator

Because some coverage’s are optional and must be selected, read your policy carefully to be certain you are getting the coverage you want and need.

A basic watercraft liability policies will typically cover only bodily injury and property damage perils related to the operation of watercraft.

Bodily Injury Liability Coverage may help prevent you from paying out of pocket for medical bills and other related costs such as loss of income, when someone is injured in an accident you caused with your boat or personal watercraft.

Watercraft insurance is an umbrella term for three types of insurance: boat insurance, yacht insurance, and personal watercraft insurance. It protects against damages to vessels powered by a motor that has a horsepower of at least 25 miles per hour (mph).

Tip Four Reach Right:  When you are going through your reach, do not let your chest come forward. You do not want to reach forward toward the buoy,  you want to keep good posture. Imagine there’s a book on your head, and you can not lean forward or the book will fall off. Obviously, you will not be at a vertical angle through the whole turn, but you are trying to achieve a straight spine through the entire reach.

Tip One Keep The Handle Close: Do not let the handle get away from you too early. Skiers tend to let the handle out when they are heading in for their edge change and they get dragged back in prematurely, throwing off their turn. You want to keep the handle close off the wakes, so you can take it out with you for the reach and be ready for a controlled extension with optimal line tension.

Get Aggressive Be aggressive and commit to the move. If you’re going to make an edge change, make an edge change. If you are going to go for a solid reach and make up some ground with an early turn, commit to it. Meekness does not belong in the course.

There’s a couple of places you can find a cleat and that’s on the boat itself or on the dock. A cleat is the metal fastener you would use to tie up a dock line or anchor line. There are many different ways to tie a cleat so we’ve made a how-to video demonstrating the most common way to do it.

When looking forwards at the bow, the starboard side is the right-hand side of the boat. The green sidelight will be located on the starboard side.