PWC Safety
Personal watercraft offer you and your family a thrilling, fun way to spend time at the lake on a hot, sunny day. With a twist of the throttle, you can shoot across the surface of the water, kicking up spray in your wake. Put simply, it’s exhilarating. However, you should also be following best safety practices when you’re on your personal watercraft to stay safe and avoid hurting others. Your local personal watercraft dealer, Specialty Recreation & Marine, is in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. We’ve provided this list of safety tips so you can operate your PWC without incident.
Preliminary Inspection
Before you take your craft to the water, inspect your PWC in your garage or shed. Look for loose hose connections, damage to the hull and anything else you might have missed that could impair your PWC’s performance. If you can’t fix something yourself, don’t be afraid to call the Specialty Recreation & Marine service department to schedule an appointment with our talented mechanics.
Check The Weather
The weather on water, particularly at the ocean, can change on a dime, so it’s important to look at the forecast before you leave to see how conditions will be where you’re going. Warm weather with clear skies or only partly cloudy conditions is what you’re seeking. Don’t ride in lightning or thunderstorms, hail or heavy rains. Your watercraft is small and incapable of riding out a storm, so delay your trip if the weather isn’t good.
Safety Gear Check
You’ll want to make sure that you fill your waterproof storage compartments with everything you’ll need in case of an emergency on the water. This includes a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, signals or flares, a horn or whistle, a life jacket that you should always wear, sunscreen, your phone and charger plus a radio in case you can’t get a signal. Have plenty of water to drink plus some snacks since you’ll be out far from shore for the majority of the time.
Patience At The Ramp
At the ramp, it’s important to give everyone the space they need to launch their watercrafts and bring them back in from the water. Crowding up on people will make them anxious and more likely to mess up the process, in addition to raising the hackles of people you’re about to join in the water. Be patient and pull aside ahead of time to get your own craft ready to launch, with tow rope attached, drain plug inserted and everything you need in the waterproof compartments.
When you’re coming back from the water, slow down well in advance of the ramp so you don’t splash or startle anyone or worse, collide with a dock or another watercraft. Practice patience again and wait your turn to use the ramp. You’ll have a much easier and more pleasant time on the water this way.
Following Rules Of The Water
When you’re out on your PWC, you need to follow common sense practices as well as the rules and regulations of the body of water you’re in. First, don’t drink or use drugs before you operate your PWC. You’ll not only lose focus and slow your reflexes, but alcohol will reduce blood flow to your extremities, making it more likely you’ll suffer shock or hypothermia if you land in the water.
Give other water users a wide berth, particularly swimmers, and slow down around other boats and watercraft. Pass other crafts on the right and signal your approach when you can with your horn or whistle. Operate your craft during daylight hours and in good weather conditions.
If you’re still in search of the perfect PWC to take for a spin on the lake, come see us! Our showroom has plenty of new and used personal watercraft for sale and our staff will be more than happy to assist you in narrowing down your choice. Specialty Recreation serves Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, as well as nearby Spokane, Washington, to the west.
