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23 Chapter 3 ■ Environmental Considerations When operating your personal watercraft, always consider the effect you may have on the environment. ◆ Make sure that the water you operate in is at least 30 inches deep. Riding in shallow water can cause bottom sediments or aquatic vegetation to be sucked into the pump, damaging your PWC and the environment. ◆ Avoid causing erosion by operating at slow speed and by not creating a wake when operating near shore or in narrow streams or rivers. ◆ Do not dock or beach your PWC in reeds and grasses. This could damage fragile environments. ◆ Take extra care when fueling your PWC in or near the water. Oil and gasoline spills are very detrimental to the aquatic environment. Fuel on land if possible. ◆ Never use your PWC to disturb, chase, or harass wildlife. Other PWC Considerations ◆ Regulations concerning PWCs can vary from state to state. See Chapter 4 for additional PWC regulations. ◆ A PWC is very maneuverable and responsive to slight turns of the steering control. At high speeds, a quick turn can make the PWC unstable, causing the operator and passengers to fall off. This is why most states require that everyone on board a PWC wear a personal flotation device (life jacket). Check Chapter 4 for more on personal flotation devices. ◆ Any passenger on a PWC should be able to hold on securely to the person in front of them or to the handholds, while keeping both feet firmly on the footrests. Children who are too small to be able to do this should not ride. ◆ A passenger on a PWC should never be seated in front of the operator. ◆ Keep hands, feet, loose clothing, and hair away from the pump intake area. Before cleaning debris from the pump intake, be sure to shut off the engine. ◆ The jet of water exiting the steering nozzle at the rear of the PWC can cause severe internal injuries. Anyone riding on a PWC should wear a wetsuit or other clothing that provides similar protection. Also, keep everyone clear of the steering nozzle unless the PWC is shut off. ◆ Frequently inspect your PWC's electrical systems (e.g., starter and engine gauge connections) to ensure there is no potential for electrical spark. This is important because gas fumes could collect in the engine compartment and an explosion could occur if a spark from the electrical system ignited the fumes. After fueling, sniff the engine compartment for any evidence of gas fumes. ◆ Never exceed the manufacturer's recommended capacity for your PWC. ◆ Know your limits, and ride according to your abilities. Reboarding a Capsized PWC PWCs are designed to turn over and that's part of what makes them fun, but it's also why it is very important that the ignition safety switch is attached to the operator. After a fall, the PWC could be overturned completely. You should know how to right the PWC and how to reboard from the rear of the craft. ◆ Most manufacturers have placed a decal at the rear or bottom of the craft that indicates the direction to roll your PWC to return it to an upright position. If no decal exists, check your owner's manual or ask the dealer. With this information, you should be able to roll the PWC over and reboard with little trouble. If you roll it over the wrong way, you could damage your PWC. ◆ It is a good idea to practice reboarding with someone else around to make sure you can handle it alone. Don't ride your PWC if you are very tired because reboarding would be difficult. Also, avoid riding where there are strong currents or winds, which could hamper your reboarding efforts. PWC operators need to beware of passing too closely behind another vessel. The vessel will block your view of oncoming vessels, as well as the oncoming vessel's view of the PWC. Look for the decal on the rear of the PWC to determine the direction to roll it to return it to an upright position. Blind Spot Blind Spot BOATER'S TIP Because a PWC is very maneu- verable it is possible for a PWC to get into trouble fast. Here are some important things to do when operating a PWC. • Do not ride too closely behind another PWC. If it turns sharply or if it stalls, you could collide with it; if the other rider falls off, you could run over him or her. • Always look behind you over both shoulders before making turns; another vessel may be too close behind you. • Be aware of all traffic in your boating area; don't focus just on the short distance ahead. • Always remember that operating a PWC has the same responsibilities as operating any other vessel. Copyright © 2014 Boat Ed, www.boat-ed.com

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