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
Springfield, Virginia 22161

Personal watercraft insurance helps to insure you and your personal watercraft against accidents, vandalism, and liability.

Respecting the rights of others, including anglers, swimmers, skiers, boaters, divers and others so they can enjoy their recreational activities undisturbed.

*  Make sure to show consideration to all recreationists on and around the waters.
*  Be courteous to other boaters while in boat ramp areas. Launch and retrieve your boat as quickly as possible.
*  Keep the noise down, especially around shore.
*  If crossing private property, be sure to ask permission from the landowner(s).

Sweden’s Artemis Racing said on Friday it will remain in the America’s Cup sailing regatta following a fatal accident last month, but that it will not be ready in time for the start of preliminary races scheduled for early July.

The participation of Artemis in the regatta, slated to begin on July 4 and go into September, was thrown into doubt after its 72-foot (22-metre) catamaran capsized and broke apart on May 9 during a training session, the second time one of the controversial multihulled boats has flipped in San Francisco Bay.

One of the most important part that is covered under a PWC policy is you. A watercraft insurance policy typically insures you against many common liability losses regardless of whether you operate it yourself or loan it to another person.  In situations like these, you may be covered for:

*    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 using your craft
*    Physical damage to the hull, machinery, and equipment
*    Injury to you caused by an uninsured watercraft operator
*    Towing assistance if you break down on the water

Travel Responsibly

*    Travel only in areas open to your type of boat.
*    Carry a Coast Guard approved life vest (PFD) for each person on board.
*   Always operate your boat at a safe speed.
*   Always have a designated lookout to keep an eye out for other boaters, objects and swimmers.
*    Never jump a wake. If crossing a wake, cross at low speeds and keep a close lookout for skiers and towables.
*    Comply with all signs and respect barriers. This includes speed limits, no-wake zones and underwater obstructions, etc.
*    Make every effort to always go boating with apartner.
*    Make certain your trailer is in proper working order and that your lights work and your boat is secure on the trailer before you travel to your destination.
*    When trailering your boat, balance your load including items stowed inside your boat.
*    Don’t mix boating with alcohol or drugs.

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.

Artemis Racing will continue its challenge for the America’s Cup, although it will miss some early rounds of the trials as it recovers from the fatal capsizing of its first boat last month.

Connect-A-Dock floating dock systems are versatile, the modules can be configured end to end or side to side, as long and wide as you wish and for many different applications or configurations on water or land.  Its 5 minute (per module) attachment system means easy installation and the rotationally molded polyethylene construction ensures many years of dependable service.

While boating laws vary from state to state, once you find the government agency in your state that handles boating, the rest of the process should be simple. Here are a few examples of possible state agencies: the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Parks and Wildlife or the Game and Fish Commission.

A simple way to start your search is to search online by typing in “your state + boating regulations”. Many states have their boating regulations published online or in a downloadable handbook.

The owners of personal watercraft, like those made by Jet Ski and WaveRunner, also have state regulations they must follow. For example, Michigan requires anyone born after December 31, 1978 who wants to operate a personal watercraft to take a boating safety course – either online or in a classroom setting. Watercraft insurance, while not required, is also highly recommended.

Each state has its own list of equipment that must be kept on the boat at all times. However, there is one piece of safety equipment that needs to be on every boat – at least one life jacket or personal flotation device for each person on board. In most states, any flotation device must be Coast Guard approved. And, they must also be easy to access.

Smaller boats are generally simple to operate so many states allow young children to operate watercraft with less than 6 horsepower motors with no supervision. Boats with larger motors often require adult supervision for child operators.

Regulations vary by state, but in most cases, teen operators are generally given larger horsepower limits once they’ve received a boating safety certificate from a state approved training course. Boating safety courses for adults may help to lower your boat insurance rates.

Full boat operational privileges are usually available to those 16 and older. Most states to don’t have boat operator license requirements for adults, however boat owners can save on their boat insurance coverage if they successfully complete an approved boating safety course. Check with your boat insurance company for details

In most states, boats need to be registered and must display their registration number on each side bow, above the waterline. The number must be in a place where it can be easily read. This registration is usually handled at the Department of Motor Vehicles, although some states also have a Marine Board.