GET THE FACTS ABOUT TODAY'S PERSONAL WATERCRAFT

• What is a PWC?
The official definition of a personal watercraft varies from state to state, but they are generally recognized as a vessel which uses an inboard motor powering a water jet pump as its primary source of motive power, and which is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel, rather than the conventional manner of sitting or standing in the vessel. PWCs are manufactured by BRP (Sea-Doo®), Honda (AquaTrax®), Kawasaki (JET SKI®), and Yamaha (WaveRunner®).

• Who rides personal watercraft?
Many people are surprised to learn that 99 percent of all personal watercraft sold today are multi-passenger vessels, with three- and four-seat models the fastest growing segment of the industry. In 2005, the three-person models accounted for approximately 90% of total sales. These are family vessels, purchased by families who want to spend a day together on the water, and have found PWC to be affordable, approachable, and easy to store, transport, and maintain. The National Survey on Recreation and the Environment reports that 20 million Americans enjoy PWC each year.

• How many families are directly impacted by the PWC ban at Biscayne National Park?
The ownership numbers listed below demonstrate that thousands of South Florida familes are not allowed to enjoy their vessel on the public waters of Biscayne National Park.

• What is the process to get PWC back into Biscayne National Park?
For PWC to re-enter Biscayne National Park, the new superintendent of the park must have an environmental assessment conducted to determine PWC effects on the park. We encourage the superintendent of Biscayne National Park to start the environmental assessment today to let sound science decide the fate of PWC. Unfortunately, park officials have declined to implement an environmental assessment, consequently depriving PWC users of the even a slight chance of re-entering the park.

Since 1999, all national parks have been forced to conduct an environmental assessment to let PWC back into the park as a result of a frivolous lawsuit brought by an extreme San Francisco anti-boating group. This lawsuit forced the National Park Service to ban PWC in many of its parks in 2000 pending site-specific environmental assessments that conclude PWC use is appropriate and presents no unique impact on the environment. While this extreme anti-boating group was successful in creating an obstacle for PWC, we have beaten them at their own game by proving that PWC pose no significant environmental threat. Fifteen park units have concluded these environmental assessments in the past several years and all fifteen have found in favor of personal watercraft.

• Are PWC environmentally-friendly? What about emissions?
PWC are among the most environmentally friendly motorized boats on the water. As a result of remarkable technological advancements made by manufacturers, all PWC sold since 1998 have incorporated emissions controls that make them up to 90% cleaner. PWC now run on direct injection and four-stroke engines that enabled them to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2006 marine engine standards years ahead of schedule. Sales of four-stroke PWCs now account for over 80% of all sales.

• Don’t the propellers damage sea grasses?
No, contrary to allegations about the harm caused by PWC propellers, PWC do not cause harm because personal watercraft do not have propellers! PWC are designed and operated by water propulsion. They intake water and by process of a pump emit the same water from a rear maneuverable outlet. With a PWC, a swimmer can climb aboard from the rear of the vessel without concern of a propeller-related injury.

• How many PWC are there?
The National Marine Manufacturers Association reports that 79,500 PWC were sold in the U.S. in 2004, with an average price of $9,226. NMMA estimates that in 2004, there were approximately 1.48 million PWC owned in the U.S. According to Ehlert's Powersports Business, nearly 90 percent of all PWC sold in 2005 were three-passenger models, and 80 percent featured new-technology engines, such as four-stroke and direct-injection.

• Has the PWC impacted visitation to Biscayne National Park?
The park has figures that since 2000, park visitation has increased at an anemic rate. Local PWC dealers estimate that as many as 90% of their customers used to boat at Biscayne National Park. If the 17,000+ South Florida families who are currently banned were allowed back in the park, surely park visitation would surge.

• What is the safety record of PWCs?
According to U.S. Coast Guard figures, more than 99 percent of PWCs are enjoyed accident-free every year. A 2002 report published by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management and the NOAA Coastal Services Center concludes, "there is little data or evidence to suggest that PWC are inherently more dangerous than other recreational vessels."

• How loud are personal watercraft?
PWC have always complied with every state and federal sound regulation, and are well within the sound range of other motorboats. Thanks to industry investments in hull insulation and other technologies, today's PWC are up to 70 percent quieter than 1998 models, and manufacturers are working to bring their customers even quieter vessels in the future.