European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 25, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Above sailing students return Loc Sebastian Inlet after a Tew hours in the Atlantic rowing through the narrow Intel to the Waters i the Indian River. A my photo Wiar oort we a Bod Accident was set up by a Wale Cratt manufacturer As a safety demonstration the engine shut Oil automatically As soon As the rider left the throttle when he hipped out of his Craft. Making Waves with personal watercraft Lett hungry pelicans wait Lor the leftovers As two Sebastian Inlet los Herren clean their catch Byer Dreyfuss associated press like an aquatic if Jil into h Punk is Over Waves roaring Al up to 40 Miles per hour maybe higher a one Man Walter crash with a thrill seeking icon Agor Al Iho controls the sight worries us.1 Marine officials and emergency workers they say users of May overestimate their a fitly 10 handle Iho Light but powerful machines and a Jet hurl or killed As a Rosuch personal Waier Craft often Cascci water scooters. Or Jel so is alter the name of a i Pang Brand Are powered by an internal combustion eng no lha operates a water Jet pump the operator May sit land or Kneel Asho operates the Craft which May look Liko a Dana l boat of in simpler versions a Wal Orborne motorcycle. An estimated 150,000 personal Wale Craf t arc in us in the United Stales to Jalin h dans Washington based government re Lions manager for the Nal tonal Marino manufacturers association a Trade group however exports say they Are not always in use sately. Use of such Wato Crall us no Permil led in West Germany an arc spokesman said very severe injuries Anci deaths Are occurring researcher Dee Vernberg said she and two colleagues lat lied personal Waler crafts injuries reported to Iho Oade county Fla trauma registry which records cases a fought to Miami area Hospital emergency Laci ties they published their findings in a Letler to the journal of the american my Eiichi association. Tho stud of ported to a oaths and 11 injuries Between september 19s5 and August 1988 both of those killed were riders Vern Borg says one hit a seawall and the other hit another vessel Tho study also says that six of those injured a arc swimmers of water skiers who were struck Lay a personal watercraft. This is just the top of the iceberg said Vernberg. Voting riders seem so to the most Likely to misuse personal Waie Crait says Cap Mae Lampear. Deputy commander of the Florida Marine Pauol District encompassing Oade and Broward counties by the very nature of the beast personal watercraft Aso very exciting to operate to said Tiey re Quick. Tast easy to Man Euver they tend to make you sort of How Caulion to the the Young rider who died tier striking a seawall had been land my upside Down and backward when the Accident occurred Lampear says per a Nal a or Craft operators Seurh Omen nol to be familiar with boats in general much . They re on Caid coast guard of ficus Richard p began in some areas they rent Bergen who is chief of Iho co Slimer and regulatory affairs Branch at the coast guard head Carlers in Washington. Having never operated this Type of Emit they gel in Emo on the water and they run into hopi Ever Borgen Points out a personal water Crak is nol a speedy toy it is a boat Andis supposed to conform to boating rules of operation Lampear said thai in Florida violator re lace tines and possible jail terms much in the manner of car Drivers. There is no regulation tailored to personal watercraft but Federal and state of tidal As Well As the personal Waie Crall Industry association a Branch of Iho Marine manufacturers organization me developing proposals. Tho coast guard is working with the National boating safety advisory Board a Federal body and expects to see recommendations in november Bergen said in Addision. The Psia is working Wilh lawmakers and regulators in Florida Texas new Jersey Massachusetts and new Hampshire id Institute controls said Nancy Linden government relations representative Lor the Trade group. 1 to Aro concerned trial those very Safe vessels on some occasions Are nol being operated safety said Linden Tho Psia Calls on users to Soltow the navigational rules of the Road to Wear a coast guard approved personal flotation device and to operate the Craft in a Safe and prudent in addition in roc0mfner 1ds that personal watercraft not be rented to those younger than 16, and nol be owned by those younger than 14. The age difference Jakes into account the idea that an has More time in which to become proficient in his Craft s operation Linden says and she said rental agencies will receive a ten minute instructional video and educational package to help them show their customers How to operate the Craft solely she said. The stars and stripes Page 15
