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Personal Watercraft (PWC)
Why are Personal Watercrafts treated differently to normal powerboats?
A personal watercraft is unlike most powerboats because of the following: it has a fully enclosed hull, does not retain water taken on if it capsizes, and is designed to be operated by a person standing, sitting astride or kneeling on the vessel, but not seated within the vessel. They also do not have a skeg and prop, which can help slow down a normal powerboat and also limits a normal powerboat to a certain depth of water.
Why are there more restrictions on PWC than other power boats?
While the majority of riders do the right thing, it is public concern over the behaviour of a minority of riders that has led to some of the restrictions currently in place. So it is up to us all to be safe and responsible.
What is a PWC Exclusion Zone?
A PWC "Exclusion Zone" means the waters you are not permitted to drive a PWC are in the Exclusion Zone at any time.
What is a PWC Restriction Zone?
A PWC "Restriction Zone" means the waters you are not permitted to use a PWC for 'irregular driving' within 200 metres of a river bank or shore when you're in the Restriction Zones.
What is 'irregular driving'?
It is a term used to describe when you drive a PWC in a circle or other pattern or weaving or diverting, or surfing down or jumping over or across, any swell, wave or wash. You should operate a PWC generally in a straight line within 200 metres of the shoreline.
Why is noise such a big deal?
One of the most common complaints received about PWC is noise. This tends to happen when riders congregate near residential or popular recreational areas and drive around repeatedly in the same area. Simply put, it can aggravate other people. If you’re driving a PWC, you should always be considerate, particularly when it’s early in the morning as noise travels a long distance in calm conditions. Also when winds are blowing towards residential areas, the noise travels there too. You need to take care in environmentally sensitive areas. It’s best not to drive your PWC continuously close to residential, picnic or recreation areas.
Maintenance and fuelling
It’s important to always keep your PWC in good order. You can do this by regularly checking the main features before you leave home, the ramp, mooring or wharf. The major causes of breakdown are engine failure, fuel shortage or contamination, mechanical failure and battery failure.
Maintenance checklist
- Check your registration number
- Look at your steering control – make sure it’s working properly.
- Check your fuel and oil supplies. Top up if necessary.
- Make sure your engine compartment is adequately ventilated. Simply sniff for fumes before you try to start your engine.
- Look for any leaks in fuel lines, fuel or oil tanks or the exhaust system.
- Check your batteries. Make sure the terminals are safely secured and properly charged with fluid at proper levels.
- Check your engine hood cover is latched securely.
- Make sure the pump/intake area is free of debris.
- Look for cracks and other damage to the hull.
- Test the throttle. Make sure that it is in proper working order.
- Check that the lanyard cut-off switch is in proper working order and that it is attached to your wrist or your lifejacket.
- Make sure you have enough rope for mooring and towing.
- Check your choke and fuel reserve controls.
- Keep the hull free of damage, algae and other growth.
- Be sure your engine is free of grease and oil build-up, and that it’s properly tuned.
Fuelling
It’s important that you fuel your PWC on land. Not only is fuel dangerous, it’s also a significant source of water pollution. Be aware of overfilling – fill the tank slowly so you avoid a spill. Watch the vents and use absorbent material to collect any overflow. Also, be sure not to put those materials into the PWC or the water.
PWC safety tips
There are some key safety tips for you to remember when you hit the water on your PWC.- You should always wear your lifejacket.
- You should always wear a safety lanyard attached to your wrist or lifejacket and to the PWC’s lanyard terminal so that it will stop the engine if you fall off.
- Relax when you ride. Do not ride with your elbows locked. Bend your arms and knees slightly when you ride to allow for any swells and wakes.
- Do not cut blind corners.
- Use your mirror and check over your shoulder before turning.
- You must travel on the right hand side particularly on narrow waterways and slow down.
- If your PWC has a watertight compartment, it may be useful to carry items such as sunscreen, water, a flash light and a mobile phone.
- You must obey any speed limits and restrictions that may be in force. Be sure to follow the nautical rules.
- Keep a lookout at all times and always look behind you before you turn. Be aware that swimmers may be obscured behind the swell, waves and wake.
- You should always go easy on the drink – waves, wind and weather multiply the effects of alcohol. One third of all boating fatalities involve alcohol. Never ride your PWC under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- If you experience difficulty with your PWC, return to shore. If this isn’t possible then stay with your PWC and do not attempt to swim to shore. A PWC is easier for rescuers to see than a person in the water.
- Make sure you exercise care, courtesy and common sense. Make your ride enjoyable for everyone.
- Keep an eye on the weather for any change in conditions.
- Make yourself a better and safer rider and familiarise yourself with the way your PWC handles.
- Irregular riding carries a host of risks. You may forget to be aware of traffic in the vicinity of your vessel, or misjudge speed and distances off. Remember – care, courtesy and common sense on the water.
- You should never allow anyone to place their hands, hair or feet near the jet pump intake and always keep clear of the jet nozzle and never allow jet thrust to enter any of your body cavities. It can cause you severe injury
- Wake or wave jumping is not recommended by most PWC manufacturers because of the possibility of back injuries.
Boarding and re-boarding
When you’re boarding or re-boarding from the water, always make sure you approach your PWC from behind. Pull yourself carefully aboard, making sure to keep your weight centered on the boat. It’s a good idea to practice getting off and re-boarding in progressively deeper water. Do this close to the shore until you are always able to re-board when you can’t stand on the bottom.
Remember to reconnect the lanyard in order to start the engine.
Falling off
If you fall off a PWC, the lanyard will disconnect once you enter the water. This will shut down the PWC’s engine and make it stop. You’ll find some older PWC have an automatic idle and self-circling capacity. If you fall off, the PWC will circle slowly in the water until you can re-board. In either case, swim to your PWC, re-board carefully at the stern, reattach the lanyard and re-start your engine.
Remember: Keep a close eye on your surroundings and other vessel traffic that may be in the area.
If your PWC has stalled and won’t restart, don’t attempt to swim to shore. You should stay with your PWC as you’ll be easier to spot by rescuers.
If you have a passenger that falls off a PWC, it’s best you slow down immediately. Manoeuvre the PWC, taking care not to hit the person in the water. Warn oncoming vessels and approach the person in the water from downwind or in the current. When you’re trying to pick the person up, make sure you turn off the engine or place the it in neutral.
Steering
You’ll find most PWC have a steerable nozzle at the stern through which water is forced, and helping to propel the boat. The direction in which the nozzle is aimed is controlled by the handlebar or steering wheel. The nozzle is located at the aft end of the pump housing and the direction that it is pointed controls the direction of the exiting water. You should refer to your PWC owner’s manual for more specific operating instructions.
For steering control, power to the pump must be maintained. If the engine is allowed to idle or shut down during a turn, you’ll lose all power and the PWC will continue to move in the same direction, regardless of any movement of the steering controls. If you back off the throttle, the steering capability of the PWC will lessen. Make sure you give yourself plenty of room and be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Some newer PWC models have off - throttle steering capabilities, which will give you enough thrust for steering when the throttle is reduced.
Others will drop rudders into the water if the jet has been idle for a certain length of time. Again, you should refer to your PWC manual to determine whether your PWC has these capabilities.
All PWC are equipped with a safety ignition cut off key called a lanyard, which is designed to stop the engine if you fall off your PWC. Lanyards are an important safety device, which can be attached to the your wrist when you’re operating the PWC or, in some cases, your lifejacket.
Noise and pollution
You should always be considerate when it comes to noise, particularly at these times:
Noise can be annoying not only because of its level, but also because of the type of noise being created. It is important that you consider the effects of your activities on those surrounding you and on the local residents.
Even if your vessel is relatively quiet, it becomes offensive noise if you run it early in the morning or stay too long in the same area. The less number of complaints you get, the greater your chance to enjoy the sport.
You should be aware that it’s an offence to deliberately discharge garbage, oil and other waste into the aquatic environment. If you do so, you will be penalized.
Take it easy
PWC have a number of performance and handling characteristics that set them apart from other small powered vessels. They are very powerful for their size, nearly always propelled by a water jet rather than propellers, are highly manoeuvrable and can operate in quite shallow water.
PWC can also be more difficult to handle in a ‘close quarters’ situation than other powered vessels, due to a lack of off-throttle steerage and, for many older models, no reverse thrust or braking method. These are some of the reasons PWC are subject to a number of specific requirements governing their licensing and use.
Equipment
Personal watercraft are designed to operate in a wide range of conditions, from flat water to surf. The nature of PWC riding means you can get quite wet and when it comes to equipment, there are some items that need consideration.
- Lifejackets – whether you’re the operator or a passenger, you must always wear an appropriate lifejacket
- Safety lanyard – you must have one. It automatically cuts off the power if you fall off
- Wetsuit – they keep you warm and can help you float
- Helmet – not compulsory but work considering for additional head protection
- For equipment specific to tow-in surfing
Towing from a PWC
PWC can be great fun and when used responsibly they provide an exhilarating way to enjoy our waterways. A PWC is a ‘vessel’ and, like other powercraft, the operator is responsible for the safe use of the craft and the safety of those onboard or being towed.
While a PWC may be limited in general towing capabilities when compared with dedicated tow vessels such as wakeboard boats, a PWC does however provide a unique ability to operate in surf zones and that is why they are used for tow-in surfing. Regardless of where a PWC is used, it is necessary to observe the rules and regulations for safety navigation, and to apply care, courtesy and common sense.
Driver and observer
When you’re boating and doing tow sports, the driver and observer need to work as a team. As a driver you keep lookout ahead and also control the boat. As an observer, you face backwards and keep an eye on the person being towed and any craft approaching from behind. When you’re observing, you tell the driver if there are any issues.
If you’re towing from a PWC, you still need to have an observer. The guidelines for an observer are the same, no matter what type of craft.
If you’re driving, you must:
- hold a valid Boaters Card
- be responsible for the safety of the boat and the towed people
- be aware of, and keep, the minimum distances-off that apply to boat and the people being towed
- know all the standard hand signals
- not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- observe the towed people and report any issues to the driver
- tell the driver about any craft approaching from behind
- know all the standard hand signals
- not have hearing, sight or other disabilities that could affect their capacity to observe
- not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
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