Scuttlebutt Magazine - May 2008 - (Page 20) Page 20 • May 2008 www.scuttlebutt.com Top ten tips for safe personal watercraft operation from BoatUS Are PWCs dangerous? According to Boat Owners Association of The United States, the answer to that question depends on who is driving. Figures from the U.S. Coast Guard and National Marine Manufacturers Association show that personal watercraft (PWCs) represent 9 percent of all registered vessels in the U.S., but account for 26 percent of reported boating accidents. Bob Adriance, editor of BoatU.S. Marine Insurance’s Seaworthy magazine, said, “More boating experience and boating safety education is the answer. BoatU.S. members, on average, have more experience and education compared to the general boating population,” said Adriance. “But you don’t need years of boating experience to understand the principles of safe PWC operation.” Adriance offered ten tips that can help PWC operators stay safe: 1. Know your state’s age and education requirements. PWC manufacturers recommend a minimum operator age of 16 years old. 2. Even if your state doesn’t require it, PWC operators should take a boating safety course, one that includes the unique handling and operational characteristics of PWCs. (The BoatUS Foundation has an online PWC course available at www.Boat US.org/onlinecourse/ watercraftcourse.htm) 3. BoatUS claims files show that 70 percent of PWC collisions are with another vessel, the majority of which are other PWCs. Try to gain on-the-water PWC experience in an area away from busy waterways – and other PWCs – where there is plenty of room. 4. Always wear a personal floatation device, attach the engine shut off cord (lanyard) to your wrist, and remove the cord when not riding to avoid unauthorized use. Never ride after consuming alcohol. 5. Loaning out your PWC can be risky business. A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report indicates that roughly 84 percent of PWC accidents involved operators who had no boating safety education or instruction. If you choose to loan out your PWC, be fully confident that your friend or family member is of legal age, has completed a boating safety course, and has the operational ability and knowledge to operate a PWC. 6. If possible, gain some experience as a passenger on other PWCs before going out alone. The insights you gain from fellow PWC operators, such as handling, rules of the road and good boating etiquette, are invaluable. 7. Before heading out, do a thorough check of your PWC, ensuring that the throttle, switches and steering 4470 Shoreline Drive, Spring Park, MN www.bluelagoonmarine.com 952-471-8000 1995 21’ Correct Craft Sport Nautique 5.8L inboard - $14,900 2003 28’ Cruisers 2870 Rogue Tw 5.0L Volvo dual prop - $78,900 1999 24’ Larson 244 Cabrio 5.0 Volvo SX - $16,900 2001 26’ Bayliner Ciera 5.7 MerCruiser - $28,900 1998 32’ Chris Craft Express Twin 5.7 Volvo - $69,000 1998 3175 Cruiser Rogue Tw 5.7 Mercs - $64,895 2007 22’ Manitou Oasis Tri-Toon Pontoon 225 Evinrude Etec - $38,900 1999 Trojan 360 Express Twin 7.4 MPI Mercs - $112,000 1996 24’ Sea Ray Sundancer 5.7 Mercruiser - $24,900 2008 10’ New Mercury 4-Stroke Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1999 16’ Sea Doo Speedster - Twin Rotex engines, EZ Loader trailer . $ 2001 19.5’ Skeeter 1950 ZX - Yamaha 200 V-Max, T8 Kicker, trailer . . $ 1999 20’ Ranger 519 Commanche Bass Boat - 225 Johnson, trailer . $ 2001 20’ Proline Sport - 200hp Mercury Verado, GPS, low miles. . . . . $ 1997 21.5’ Wellcraft Eclipse - 5.7 Mercruiser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1995 21’ Correct Craft Sport Nautique - 5.8L inboard, custom trailer . $ 2007 22’ Manitou Oasis Pontoon - 225 Evinrude Etec, trailer . . . . . . . $ 1998 23’ Campion Cuddy Allante 705 - 5.7 GSI Volvo SX, EZ trailer . $ 1985 23’ Sea Ray Weekender - 7.5 Mercruiser, trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1993 23’ Celebrity Cuddy - 7.4L Mercruiser, Bravo I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1987 23’ FourWinns 235 Sundowner Cuddy - 5.7 Mercruiser . . . . . . . $ 2000 23’ Chris Craft Deckboat 232 - 5.7 Volvo SX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1993 23’ Chris Craft 237 Concept - 5.8L 265hp, Jerde Built trailer . . . $ 1985 23’ Wellcraft Nova - 5.7 Mercruiser 260hp, storage trailer . . . . . . $ 1993 23’ Excel 23SE - 5.7 Volvo SX, one owner, priced to sell! . . . . . . $ 1999 24’ Wellcraft Martinique 2400 - V8 Volvo Penta, Ez trailer . . . . . $ 1996 24’ Sea Ray Sundancer - 5.7 Mercruiser, ‘04 Trailer . . . . . . . . . . $ 1999 24’ Larson 244 Cabrio - 5.0 Volvo SX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1996 24’ Sea Ray Sundancer - 5.7 Mercruiser, mint condition!. . . . . . . $ 2001 25’ Larson Cabrio - 5.7 Volvo dual prop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1999 25’ Larson Cabrio - 5.7 Volvo Penta, ‘01 Ez Loader trailer . . . . . $ 2002 26’ Wellcraft Martinique - 5.7 EFI Volvo, 280hp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1974 26’ Skiffcraft - V-8 OMC, totally restored. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 0 8,995 19,850 19,995 19,000 12,000 14,900 38,900 15,500 7,250 9,250 6,500 21,000 13,900 6,500 11,900 21,900 24,900 16,900 19,995 28,900 23,999 44,900 19,900 2001 26’ Bayliner Ciera 2655 - 5.7 Mercruiser BIII, Lake Mtka boat . . . $ 28,900 1980 26’ Skiffcraft - V8 Mercruiser, recently painted, nice. . . . . . . . . . . $ 26,900 1975 26’ Slick Craft - Big block Mercruiser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 7,500 1996 27’ Regal 27 Ventura - 7.4 Mercruiser, Bravo III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 23,900 2003 28’ Chaparral 280 SSI - 6.2L 320hp, Bravo III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 54,000 1988 27’ Sea Ray Sundancer - Twin 4.8 Mercruiser, good condition . . $ 14,900 1983 27’ Sea Ray Amberjack - 5.7 Mercruiser, 260hp, trailer included. $ 17,900 1986 27’ Sea Ray Amberjack - 5,7 Mercruiser, 260hp, priced to sell!. . $ 15,500 2003 28’ Cruisers Yachts 2870 Rogue - Tw 5.0L Volvo dual prop . . . . $ 78,900 2007 28’ Lake Assault - 225hp Honda 4-Stroke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 32,995 1978 28’ Carver 2866 Santa Cruz - 7.4 Mercruiser, Sleeps 4 . . . . . . . . $ 10,000 1983 29’ Wellcraft 2900 Express - Tw 5.0L 220hp Mercruisers . . . . . . $ 10,000 1999 29’ Sea Ray Sundancer 290 - Twin Merc 5.0 EFIs I/Os . . . . . . . . $ 66,500 2007 29’ Proline Grand Sport - Twin Mercury 250hp Verado . . . . . . . . $119,000 1980 30’ Sea Ray Weekender - Twin 5.7 Inboards, bimini, covers . . . . $ 14,900 1998 31’ Cruisers 3175 Rogue - Tw 5.7 Mercs, MINT . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 62,000 1985 32’ Wellcraft St. Tropez - Twin 5.7 Mercs, 260hp. . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 25,900 2000 32’ Chris Craft 328 EC - 5.7 EFI Volvo SX drives. . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 85,900 1998 32’ Chris Craft Express - Twin 5.7 Volvos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 69,000 1995 32’ Bayliner Avanti Sunbridge - Twin 5.7 Mercs . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 39,900 1989 32’ Wellcraft St. Tropez - Twin 5.7 Mercs 260hp . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 26,995 1989 33’ Century Grande 330 - Twin Merc 5.7 I/Bs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 19,000 1982 33’ Trojan 10 Meter - 5.7 Crusaders, 270hp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 55,000 1988 34’ Wellcraft Grandsport - Twin 7.4 Mercruisers 340hp. . . . . . . . $ 42,900 1959 35’ Chris Craft Roamer - Twin 283's. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 35,000 1982 36’ Chris Craft 360 Comdr FB - Twin 7.4 I/Bs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 35,000 1999 36’ Trojan 360 Express - Tw 7.4 MPI Mercs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $112,000 1985 36’ Tiara 3600 Open - Twin 454s 350hp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 75,000 1998 40’ Trojan Express - Twin 7.4 MPI, gen, air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $117,000 For more information on these boats and to see many many more Visit our website at www.bluelagoonmarine.com PWC SAFETY CONCERNS CONTINUED ON PAGE http://www.scuttlebutt.com http://www.boatUS.org/onlinecourse/watercraftcourse.htm http://www.boatUS.org/onlinecourse/watercraftcourse.htm http://www.boatUS.org/onlinecourse/watercraftcourse.htm http://www.bluelagoonmarine.com http://www.bluelagoonmarine.com http://www.bluelagoonmmarine.com
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