Skipper’s Corner – Long Island Boating World

The United States makes up 48% of the jet ski world market and 12% plus of the boating market. Most, if not all, are manufactured outside of our country. They are considerably less expensive than boats to purchase and maintain, and most can carry more than a single passenger. You won’t see many 70-year-old riders, as the market is pointed to the younger market, mostly younger males but certainly not exclusively. Of late, there has been a smaller market targeted to fishermen with bait boxes, rod holders, coolers, etc.
Jet skis first appeared as one-person stand-up versions in the early 70’s. The market has grown exponentially once the seated versions arrived. The speed of jet skis ranges from 47 MPH at entry models to top speeds in excess of 67 MPH for high-performance models, and some reach as high as 80 MPH. The average pleasure boat for family cruising and fishing does between 20 and 40 MPH. The law mandates that you cannot operate any type of watercraft in the bays at more than 45 MPH, and there are large areas where only 12 and 5 MPH is posted and legal There are high-performance racing boats that can top jet ski speeds but those are a small market and are mostly used in ocean competition and must otherwise follow the same rules as everyone else in the bay. Presently, in most states you need a boating license to operate a watercraft due to the number of accidents involving them over the years, of which 70% of those accidents involved males under the age of 30. Of that figure, 82% of deaths were males in that age category. You can see where this is going.

Basically, a child of 14 can operate a jet ski if they passed the boating safety course and they have their boating license on them. Many young folks have small boats they run across the bay that top out at maybe 25 MPH. But with jet skis, you give a young person a machine that can go from almost twice to three times that speed. Do you think that is wise? I certainly don’t
I know of one fisherman who was minding his own business when he was broadsided by a jet ski and lost his leg. Was it intentional? My friend Bob was recently in a channel when a jet ski came screaming down and swerved only 6 ft. from his bow, dousing him and his companion. Was speed an issue? Was it intentional? Of course. Only a few weeks ago, a fleet of approximately 25 jet skis blew through under the Meadowbrook Bridge like a wild horde of Huns disturbing all the sensible boaters around them. Many boaters relate how jet skiers have played “Chicken“ with them, leaving the sensible boater no room to maneuver safely, while others have been circled by jet skiers making a whirlpool around them. They follow boats to jump wakes, come up behind and peel out, kicking water into your boat. This is “Fun”? Not to me and most sensible boaters who are out to enjoy a day in nature on the water. Jet skis also speed through shallow creeks boats can’t access, their wakes eroding the edges of the wetlands and destroying habitat and nurseries for fish, birds, and shellfish.
Not every jet skier falls under this shroud of irresponsibility, but many do. The time has come for some controls. The potential speed of jet skis must be reduced to a plausible speed at which marine police and other law enforcement can apprehend a Jet Ski Jerk. Marine police must have more access to jet skis themselves. Jet skis used by younger riders should have governors on their engines to keep the speed more in tune with their youthful capabilities. Strong penalties should be enforced for harassing normal boaters, and the size of jet ski registration numbers should be twice the size as on boats so they can be identified. I don’t care how much it messes up their snazzy graphics.
It works both ways. Jet skiers respect boaters and boaters will respect jet skiers. There is room for everyone out on the water, but there is no room for screwing around whether you are a jet skier or a yachtsman.
Thanks to my friend Bob for the input.
Be safe out there,
Captain Eddy