A Beginner’s Guide to PWC Safety

There’s no better way to experience the waterways than to cut through the water with your powerful new personal watercraft (PWC). It’s an excellent way to spend time with friends and makes for an all-around great afternoon. But you need to be careful out there. With other riders, local regulations, and the sheer power of your PWC, many things can go wrong if you’re not careful. Using this short guide, you can take all the appropriate measures to ensure your time on the water is both fun and safe.

Safety Gear

You’re never prepared if you don’t have the right gear! To ensure safety on your PWC, make sure that every passenger has a life jacket. You’ll also need a whistle or horn, and carrying a radio and cell phone is not a bad idea. All these things are necessary because if you get stuck out on the water or have an emergency, you’ll need some way to signal for help.

Follow the Basic Rules and Recommendations

Depending on your state, there are differing rules for PWC. But in general, you’ll be safe if you yield to watercraft without an engine, keep to the right when approaching another PWC head-on, and leave plenty of space when passing another boat. Finally, of course, don’t drink and ride. Alcohol impairs your judgment and reaction time, so it’s just reckless to operate a PWC while under the influence. Operate your PWC sober, because you’ll have plenty of fun on the water without alcohol.

Additional Considerations

Aside from legal considerations, there are also a few other guidelines to keep in mind before riding on the water. First of all, remember that your PWC has capacity limits, so don’t bring more people on board than it can hold. Also, try to stay in sight of the shore if possible. It might be tempting to take off and explore the most distant parts of the ocean, but if you go out too far, people on shore won’t be able to see you. It’s always good to ride in a part of the water where someone can see you and call for help in case of an emergency.

We hope that these PWC safety tips have been helpful. If you have got any questions or would like to check out our selection of PWCs for sale, be sure to visit Team Mancuso Southwest in Houston, TX. We proudly serve all those in Sugar Land and Galveston.