Personal Watercraft Safety

While the rest of the country cools off, here in warm Florida, the weather is still perfect for going out on the water and enjoying the beautiful weather. One of our favorite water activities is spending some quality time on our personal watercrafts (PWC). Whether you’re a sport enthusiast or prefer gentle cruising, PWCs can make your afternoon on the water that much more fun. Here at Riva Marine and Motorsports, we want you to have a great time on the water and take good care of your PWC, so we’ve provided some of the basics of safety and transport. If you’re still looking for your own PWC, stop by one of our locations in Key Largo and Miami, Florida.

Start at Home

From the comfort and convenience of home, make sure your PWC is ready for an outing on the water. Look for any damages or potential problems, like issues with the hull, loose hose connections, and any mechanical problems. Don’t go out if it looks like your PWC might need some repairs. Either see to them yourself or take them in to a professional. You might also want to get boat or watercraft insurance to protect you in the event of a serious repair or accident.

Safety Gear

No matter how many times you’ve gone out on the water, always make sure you and anyone else you’re with is wearing a life jacket. You may also want to have survival gear in the event of a serious accident, including a whistle or horn, radio, and cell phone. Having a first aid kit and a dewatering device handy is also a good idea.

Driving to the Ocean

Once you’ve got all your gear gathered, make sure you’re transporting your PWC correctly. You’ll want a trailer that can hold the weight of your PWC because overloading a trailer is dangerous and at a certain point it’s illegal.

Be extra cautious when you’re hauling cargo behind you. Leave double the amount of follow space between you and the car in front of you and slow down. Not only are your trailer tires not well suited for high-speed travel, but with the extra weight and length on your rig, it’ll be harder for you to maneuver quickly.

Safety at the Ramp

Be smart and safe when you’re at the ramp. It may be fairly busy, so be patient. Exercise patience when you’re waiting to unload your PWC into the water and be patient as you’re pulling out. Don’t let other people pressure you into hurrying you through your process.

Basic Watercraft Rules and Recommendations

The general rules for PWCs are very similar to basic driving rules. Yield to non-motorized PWCs and keep to the right of oncoming PWCs. On the water, there are no lanes to stay in, so give yourself a wide berth when passing another watercraft.

Also never ride your PWC while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Alcohol greatly impairs your judgment and reflexes, and while recreational drugs are always off limits, keep in mind any prescriptions you may be taking as well. Check with your doctor to make sure it’s okay to operate heavy machinery while taking any medications. Finally, all states have individual laws about operating PWCs. Whether you’re in Florida waters or you take your water fun somewhere else, make sure you’re adhering to all state and federal laws.

Additional Considerations

Never overload your PWC with more passengers than it’s equipped to handle. This will make for a dangerous situation and the extra weight will make it more difficult to control your watercraft. Try to keep the shoreline in your sights, no matter how familiar you may be with the area. And try to stay within sight of someone who can come assist you should you run into problems.

Emergency Situations

Make sure you’re always ready for an emergency situation. Attach a safety lanyard to your wrist or life jacket to stop your engine should you fall off. If you sustain an injury while out on the water, use your horn, whistle, or phone to alert someone you need help and wait for a rescue team to arrive.

Landing

When you’re coming back to shore, show as much patience as you did when leaving shore. It might be just as busy coming back in and everyone deserves the space to properly land their PWC. Go slow, reaching an idling speed 100 yards before you reach your landing point.

This is a lot of dry information and hopefully it’s not too overwhelming, but these are important safety measures and steps that you’ll need to take in order to have a great time out on the water. If you’re in the market for a new PWC, stop by Riva Marine and Motorsports in Key Largo and Miami, Florida.