In an effort to get my wife and one of my sons on the water I purchased a personal water craft (PWC). My questions are: How will it be viewed if I launch the PWC at the "sailing club"? What if someone recogises me on a PWC?
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Nautical No-See-Ums
Steven, PWC's may be one way to introduce your family to the world of boating. However, please consider the following: 1. Educate them on how to properly and safely use the jetski at slow speeds. 2. Keep them away from every sailboat you can see. 3. Keep them away from every cottage you can see. 4. Sell the jetski as soon as possible. They may have the most irritating noise ever invented and are involved in way too many accidents. By the way, would you buy the kids motorcycles to introduce them to driving? Good luck at the club!
Steven, PWC's may be one way to introduce your family to the world of boating. However, please consider the following: 1. Educate them on how to properly and safely use the jetski at slow speeds. 2. Keep them away from every sailboat you can see. 3. Keep them away from every cottage you can see. 4. Sell the jetski as soon as possible. They may have the most irritating noise ever invented and are involved in way too many accidents. By the way, would you buy the kids motorcycles to introduce them to driving? Good luck at the club!
It's a question of balance and manors.
Now back to reality. I would do whatever it took to try and interest others in my family to enjoy the water. Pwc's can be a pain when used at full throttle and confined to the same area over and over again. Possibly the towing of this craft, behind the sailboat, until out in open water before use will help answer your question. That way there is interest in the best performance for the sailboat to this area. The use of these craft anywhere around anchored craft should not be allowed. Where you see water sliing and wake boarding is a good site as long as there is a high degree of awareness for skiers down in the water. Above all is the use of good manors! Heed what others need for their enjoyment of the area and find a balance. My kids had drag racing cars to learn to drive with. If they remained on the honor roll at school, aquired zero motoring infractions and keep out of all trouble this priviledge stayed in effect. We captured 3 high school championships in a row. Motorcycles were just too slow. Find the balance and go forth. YOU MUST ride tall so there is no mistaking that you are the one aboard when you chose to do so. Ray S/V Speedy
Now back to reality. I would do whatever it took to try and interest others in my family to enjoy the water. Pwc's can be a pain when used at full throttle and confined to the same area over and over again. Possibly the towing of this craft, behind the sailboat, until out in open water before use will help answer your question. That way there is interest in the best performance for the sailboat to this area. The use of these craft anywhere around anchored craft should not be allowed. Where you see water sliing and wake boarding is a good site as long as there is a high degree of awareness for skiers down in the water. Above all is the use of good manors! Heed what others need for their enjoyment of the area and find a balance. My kids had drag racing cars to learn to drive with. If they remained on the honor roll at school, aquired zero motoring infractions and keep out of all trouble this priviledge stayed in effect. We captured 3 high school championships in a row. Motorcycles were just too slow. Find the balance and go forth. YOU MUST ride tall so there is no mistaking that you are the one aboard when you chose to do so. Ray S/V Speedy
Check The Sailing Club By-Laws...
Steven, If you are a member of a private sailing club, I'll check the club's by-laws before launching your PWC using boat ramps that are owned by the club. Because of the annoyance of the noise generated by PWCs, I've heard that some of the sailing clubs have started banning them from using their facilities, just like the US Park Service has started banned them from some lakes. Check to see if something like this has been written in your by-laws before launching: "Boats or vessels which are self propelled or propelled by wind and owned by club members shall be allowed to be launched using club boat ramps and hoist slings. Vessels that are exclude from using club boat ramps and hoist slings are personal watercraft (PWC). A PWC is defined as a vessel of less than sixteen feet that uses a motor powering a water jet pump, as its primary source of motive power and that is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on, or being towed behind the vessel, rather than in the conventional manner of sitting or standing inside the vessel...." Fair Winds. Clyde
Steven, If you are a member of a private sailing club, I'll check the club's by-laws before launching your PWC using boat ramps that are owned by the club. Because of the annoyance of the noise generated by PWCs, I've heard that some of the sailing clubs have started banning them from using their facilities, just like the US Park Service has started banned them from some lakes. Check to see if something like this has been written in your by-laws before launching: "Boats or vessels which are self propelled or propelled by wind and owned by club members shall be allowed to be launched using club boat ramps and hoist slings. Vessels that are exclude from using club boat ramps and hoist slings are personal watercraft (PWC). A PWC is defined as a vessel of less than sixteen feet that uses a motor powering a water jet pump, as its primary source of motive power and that is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on, or being towed behind the vessel, rather than in the conventional manner of sitting or standing inside the vessel...." Fair Winds. Clyde
Muffler, safety, manners
I just re-read the message below. We try to keep these forums positive. Then I edited it to include positive suggestions only. Safe operation is a real issue. These are powerful, highly maneuverable machines. There are a number of new and unpredictable ways to get into danger on the water. For instance, a teen died off Fairport Harbor last summer hopping the wake of a large speedboat on a calm day, and ramming the passing boat going the other way on the other side of it. We saw two kids fall off a jet ski in open water on Lake Erie. If the throttle had jammed, and we weren't nearby, an hour in the cold water would have been life threatening. Make sure you and your loved ones really understand safe operation before open riding. A boating course would be a minimum here. Manners really means operating at speed more than a mile or more from anchored boats, the shore, or other immovable places where people are enjoying the water. A jet-ski is really scary to swimming children, and their parents. It means giving a wide berth to vessels under sail, or rowing. It means really leaving no wake in the marina. Finally, can you get a muffler for the exhaust? The noise of these machines is a problem at almost any distance over open water. If this is still a rant, I apologize now. David Lady Lillie
I just re-read the message below. We try to keep these forums positive. Then I edited it to include positive suggestions only. Safe operation is a real issue. These are powerful, highly maneuverable machines. There are a number of new and unpredictable ways to get into danger on the water. For instance, a teen died off Fairport Harbor last summer hopping the wake of a large speedboat on a calm day, and ramming the passing boat going the other way on the other side of it. We saw two kids fall off a jet ski in open water on Lake Erie. If the throttle had jammed, and we weren't nearby, an hour in the cold water would have been life threatening. Make sure you and your loved ones really understand safe operation before open riding. A boating course would be a minimum here. Manners really means operating at speed more than a mile or more from anchored boats, the shore, or other immovable places where people are enjoying the water. A jet-ski is really scary to swimming children, and their parents. It means giving a wide berth to vessels under sail, or rowing. It means really leaving no wake in the marina. Finally, can you get a muffler for the exhaust? The noise of these machines is a problem at almost any distance over open water. If this is still a rant, I apologize now. David Lady Lillie
What's the difference between a vacuum & a Jetski?
The location of the dirtbag! OK, just a little levity!!
LaDonna
The location of the dirtbag! OK, just a little levity!!
LaDonna- Status