Safety and Insurance Concerns for Increased PWC Speed on the Water
Six years ago, the average maximum speed of all PWC was about 35 miles an hour. A few were pushing 40 mph, but most were slower. Today the average is up around 50 mph, with some high- performance models hitting 60 mph off the showroom floor. And with after-market souping up, some can go even faster. A great achievement in technology, many of you may think. Yes, but it comes with some unintended ill effects. As an avid rider with many years of experience, I feel that I could handle these high speeds in a safe manner, and yet they scare me. I am not afraid of going that fast, but of having someone else with little or no experience riding near me or a friend.
Anyone can walk into a local dealership and buy their own 60-mph “pocket rocket” and be on the water the same day. Picture yourself as that “anyone.” This may be your first time on a PWC, and in no time at all, you feel like an “expert.” You’ll be doing 180’s, 360’s and other fun stunts. You may be cruising in a narrow river channel at top speed, enjoying the wind in your hair. You will continue to feel like an expert until something unexpected happens. Perhaps a boat comes around the river bend on a collision course with you. Perhaps the boat whose wake you were jumping stops all of a sudden, leaving you no time for evasive action.
The same problems existed back in the 40-mph days, but will likely worsen as the top speeds increase. I do not believe that we should lower the capacity, but I feel that we all need to be more responsible about the way we ride, and match our speed to our skills. We need to make sure that anyone we allow to ride our crafts is well versed in safe operation, and to (kindly) point out their errors before they injure or kill someone.
In a car, 60 mph may seem slow. But there’s a lot of metal between you and other vehicles, and you have seatbelts, perhaps an airbag, and other safety gear to protect you. But your PWC is just an eight-foot-long piece of fiberglass with you sitting in the middle. There’s nothing to stop you, if you hit another boat or the shore. No airbags, no seat belts, not even brakes. Sixty mph on the water is more like 100 mph in a car. Can you really handle a car at 100 mph?
If you are considering buying your first PWC or a second one for yourself or a family member, be honest with yourself. Do you or they really need one that does 60 mph? Do you or they have the skills and the maturity to ride it safely? If there’s any doubt, consider buying one of the fine entry- or mid-level models–after all, until lately, they were the top-of-the-line, fastest machines on the market. Not only will you save a lot of money, but you may be saving a life!
Editor’s note: The increasing speed capacities of PWC are a subject of concern within the boating community. Because of the rising number of PWC accidents in California, the increase in speed capacity has become an important safety issue. Although it has been argued that this increase is market driven, the Department is concerned because excessive speed is the third leading cause of PWC accidents. What do you think? Do you, as a PWC user, want ever-faster craft? How about if it’s at the expense of safety? We welcome your comments on this important issue. By James Marriott, Member, PWC Task Force Delta Watercraft Club
