Jet ski-ing Dangers

Yeah
and the tossers who came thru the anchorage at porth cariad at full chat last weekend just missing some swimmers, what excuse have we got for them? and the noise, dream on that they are quiet, they aint!!
stu
 
Well said Big Mik. I have been reading with interest as a responsible skier. Those of us that are responsible (and believe me there are a lot more than you think) really do want to work with all water users towards safe fun on the water, thats why we get qualified, have datatags and make sure we are fully insured (including public liability insurance) before going out on the water.

It saddens me to see so many nasty comments about our sport when you MAY only have experienced one side of it. Do what those of us that care do... find out the truth before passing comments. My fiance and I have friends who ski, sail, canoe, windsurf and swim and we make it our business to find out as much as possible about each others sports.

Enviroman - Jet skis today are not the oily nasty machines of old. The beach we and a lot of other skiers use has a seperate area for jet skis well away from bathers and other beach users and has this year again won a blue flag award. This is something that would not be possible if jet skis were the filthy machines you claim them to be. Out of curiosity may I ask how many yachts are fitted with a two stroke engine and of those engines how many are regularly serviced to ensure a clean environment? Jet skis today are mainly 4 stroke. Much quieter, cleaner and more efficient than the 2 stroke engines. Have a look at some brochures, visit some websites, mybe even talk to a few of us, we are ALWAYS happy to talk about our love of this sport much like you about yours. Find out, and then say they leave oil all over the water we all love so much.
 
Ok, lets get this straight, no one on here is suggesting that the visitors we have had to the forum of late are louts or antisocial. It is refreshing that from within your sport you (from the jet ski forums and clubs) recognise the problems and have also shown disdain toward the loutish behaviour that we both see and no doubt experience each time we go out on the water.

What I think you do not seem to grasp, the boaters I talk to all complain about the behaviour of 'most' of the jet skiers they are forced to endure when hoping for a quiet relaxed weekend sail.

I suggested you are on a hiding to nothing, and stand by that.

Fer example, I can walk into a showroom and buy a 200+ bhp machine in the morning and be launched by midday. Now I do not advocate licencing as a rule, but these craft are dangerous (see recent news) and silly powerful, in experienced hands safe, but the other side of the coin, the side we see, at best a nuisance at worst a statistic.

As to my comment on the spout, er, sorry, but a 20ft high water spout has no other purpose than 'pose-ability' like the motorised fins on Porsche 911 summats.

Cards on table, for half an hour I think a jet ski is the best fun to be had on the water then...... well, what then,

For those that have got bored of staying out of the way off shore, they come in to look at the boats at that harbour or anchorage, though, in order that everyone can be impressed they must whizz about the boats at 20 kts, pulling tight turns or even as experienced by a few, trying to swamp cockpits of the boats with their wash.

I have been driven out of anchorages on numerous occasions by rogue skiers. The analogy of pulling wheelies on a bike near your families who are trying to enjoy a picnic was, I thought excellent.

I am not trying to pick a fight, you asked what we thought and this is how I think about your sport, it is unfortunate for you who is by admission, a well rounded and thoughtful jet skier who in the right circumstances would be fascinating to watch if you can control the ski like some I have seen, flipping etc.

BUT, most, are for want of a better word, planks.
 
Well argued. but should we not be accepting that there are large elements of the pwc fraternity who are competent well intentioned boaters, and that though you might personally have some negative perceptions of local use, this is not always mirrored everywhere. If the pwc users are adopting tactics to evangelise and police, those people should be encouraged.

Carrot usually better than stick.
 
As with most debates and topics, just like the Jeremy Vine show, this thread has become a place to voice anger. People only voice their opinions when they're angry, thus the majority of calls to shows like Vines and posts on threads like this will all be one sided.
When we're angry about something, we all become blinkered.
All of you that are so against skis, still haven't noticed the support from the PWC side. It's enough to make the responsible become angry at you just for being as ignorant as the tossers who can't ride a ski properly.
 
I think you and Big Mik have to accept that the majority of people on this forum have a jaundiced view of your so called 'sport'. I applaud your efforts to bring some sort of order to it. But so far this year I have seen three jet skis in a row hitting a sand bank. It is marked on my chart so presumably it was on theirs - or do they go to sea without one? If so, is that not a bit irresponsible? I saw a young child fall off a jet ski at speed. It was sitting on an adults lap with no restraint and, as far as I could see, no life jacket. I saw a pod of three jet skis buzzing a divers boat with a diving flag up. I could go on. With this sort of demonstration of incompetence and lack of regard for other people using the sea, what is one to think? I am afraid that I will remain in the opposition camp until there is a clear improvement in manners and knowledge of the conventions of using the sea.
 
So, to sum up, unless we agree whole heartedly with you and thank you and all Jet Skiers for being such wonderful ambassadors for a safe, quiet, selfless and high skilled sport we are ignorant.

You also fail to grasp that a forum is also a place where views can be exchanged, frank exchange often encouraged to show a point of view.

You have arrived trying to convince us that we are all wrong and there is no problem with Jet Ski behaviour, we are all blinkered? So who is the ignorant?
 
Watersport dangers

Any Watersport is dangerous and the idiots that follow these pursuits are brainless, unless it is me doing it ofcourse, then its ok .... ! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: Jet ski-ing Dangers - ref. wave wimp

I see your in a case of denial, I've just read some advertising for jetskis and they burn 12 gals per hr. Thats about 10 x more than a car and there's not cat converter. They're also reffered to as muscle craft, full on throttle fun etc. Like I say they have got quieter but do the math if you got 9 craft in close proximity you got a lot of noise in one place.

If they're so benign, please tell me why the wildlife dissapears when they are opperating?

Answer honestly, would you like someone to have some full throttle fun around your family with a 200kg 70mph motor bike at your local beauty spot?

Wake up and smell the coffee, or as you seem to prefer the petrol fumes!
 
Re: Jet ski-ing Dangers - ref. wave wimp

well its an agree to disagree stale mate.
it is true we did enter your forum, but only to state our case.
Your convinced the good guys are the minority, so at least we made some head way.
PWC use is young, extremely young compared to many hundreds if not thousands of years of sailing evolution.
We do admit our rogue element, and the 'debate' could go on for ever.
Its just going to end in a nit picking session. and go on and on. it aint' good for either side.
i have to disagree about the wildlife green issue, but i have my own experience on that and its Lakes not sea use.

Its a free world, its a free sea, if you guys see bad riders report em, We are only on this thing once, and we all want what we think is the best time on it.
Enjoy life, Enjoy your sport.
 
Re: Jet ski-ing Dangers - ref. wave wimp

Nowhere did I comment on fuel consuption (having just checked my last post) I merely stated that the newer machines are cleaner than the old ones.

In terms of the beauty spot comment no I wouldn't but then I actully treat others as i would like to be treated (old fashioned I know and maybe in this day and age a bit naive) and bear this in mind when I am out on the water.

As for the wildlife from what I have experienced (limited I know) it does not tend to disappear. I and other skiers at my local beach have seen seals swimming along so close to us you can see their whiskers (now that really is amazing).

Woofy - Thankyou for aknowledging that those of us who have posted here do recognise that there is a loutish element and that we do dislike it (lets face it, if we didn't care we wouldn't post). You say you would like to see if I can control a ski? I dont do stunts, have never done 70 mph and am happy to go slowly around sailing vessels to admire their beauty as well as being as unobtrusive as possible. Look at my user name. I am a wimp. I just like to be on the water, just as you do.

As you have said we are on a hiding to nothing here and while we all know that we will never see eye to eye I hope some of you have seen that some of us really do care. Thats all from me. enjoy the water, however you use it.
 
Re: Jet ski-ing Dangers - ref. wave wimp

It seems to me that this is a classic case of "shooting the messenger". The jet skiers who are posting here largely seem to be concerned about the louts, but they then find themselves being taken to task for the louts behaviour.

I will freely admit that I don't like JS's, because of the way that they are so frequently used/abused, but it doesn't seem to be very constructive to be having a go at people who are clearly wanting to do something about it. I think that a bit more diplomacy on our side may help to foster a more productive relationship with the "other side".

I suppose I'll be shot down for saying this. Such is life! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
Re: Jet ski-ing Dangers - ref. wave wimp

As a raggie, I can say that I have been out on a JS a few times, and thoroughly enjoyed it. They are great fun.

I agree with Nigels's comments above about cross exposure and education. It would do the JS'ers some good to realise how hard they are to spot, and the effects of their wake, and it would do the sailors some good to realise how hard the stand up models are to ride at slow speeds.

I am aware of one case in the Orwell of a moboer with two JS's onboard... and a favourite past-time was buzzing up and down the channel in the Mobo creating a large wake for the JS's to hop over.... now... this looked extremely good fun... it was just in the wrong place.... this was dealt with very easily.... a few people complained to the lock operator who also control the relevant section of the river... and the lock operators refused to let him lock either in or out.... different approach, same effect.... and a resulting inability to continue being a pest...

FWIW, I too praise the responsible owners that have posted here. They are obviously aware that a thoughtless idiotic minority are spoiling for many a hobby/sport that really can be good fun, and IMHO have done their cause a lot of good in exposing us to a more considered side of their sport.
 
Re: Jet ski-ing Dangers - ref. wave wimp

Hi NAS,

Whilst generally agreeing with your points, I'm afraid that in my experience there is not 'an idiotic minority'.

Quite the contrary, there is an idiotic MAJORITY, and that is something even the well intentioned efforts of wavewimp and the other JS posters, are going to find it damned difficult to change WITHOUT some form of formal control. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I appreciate and applaud their efforts (as I'm certain many others here do) in trying to change what is now a pretty hardline 'anti' attitude, and hope for everyone's sake they are successful. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Cheers Jerry
 
Re: Jet ski-ing Dangers - ref. wave wimp

[ QUOTE ]
Whilst generally agreeing with your points, I'm afraid that in my experience there is not 'an idiotic minority'.

Quite the contrary, there is an idiotic MAJORITY, and that is something even the well intentioned efforts of wavewimp and the other JS posters, are going to find it damned difficult to change WITHOUT some form of formal control.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know whether its a minority or a majority, but I'm certain that it will seem like a majority. The problem is that the well-behaved PWCs, by definition, play in areas where they don't annoy and therefore don't get noticed. The ones that do get noticed are the ones that play close to other people, and hence annoy.

It's the annoying (and sometimes dangerous) ones that need to be tackled, and the first step must be to ensure some sort of identification. Would video help?
 
Re: Jet ski-ing Dangers - ref. wave wimp

[ QUOTE ]
well its an agree to disagree stale mate.
it is true we did enter your forum, but only to state our case.
Your convinced the good guys are the minority, so at least we made some head way.
PWC use is young, extremely young compared to many hundreds if not thousands of years of sailing evolution.
We do admit our rogue element, and the 'debate' could go on for ever.
Its just going to end in a nit picking session. and go on and on. it aint' good for either side.
i have to disagree about the wildlife green issue, but i have my own experience on that and its Lakes not sea use.

Its a free world, its a free sea, if you guys see bad riders report em, We are only on this thing once, and we all want what we think is the best time on it.
Enjoy life, Enjoy your sport.

[/ QUOTE ]

Keep up the good work BigMik - trouble is I have only once this year amongst the hundreds of skiers around seen ONE who was attempting to stay within the 8 knot speed limit at his launching place. The rest just jump on and flat out through the swimmers and moored boats.

And rather too often they hit and hurt or kill other people in or on the water. How many more people have to be killed? Or have their holidays ruined?

Skiers on the whole seem to disregard the rules: both the laws designed (harrumph!) to protect us all, and the elementary rules of basic safety that to the rest of us are common sense.

And I still want to have a go on one!
 
Re: Jet ski-ing Dangers - ref. wave wimp

[ QUOTE ]
I see your in a case of denial, I've just read some advertising for jetskis and they burn 12 gals per hr. Thats about 10 x more than a car and there's not cat converter. They're also reffered to as muscle craft, full on throttle fun etc. Like I say they have got quieter but do the math if you got 9 craft in close proximity you got a lot of noise in one place.

If they're so benign, please tell me why the wildlife dissapears when they are opperating?

Answer honestly, would you like someone to have some full throttle fun around your family with a 200kg 70mph motor bike at your local beauty spot?

Wake up and smell the coffee, or as you seem to prefer the petrol fumes!

[/ QUOTE ]

Like in a previous topic about stolen boats, can you backup those claims?

My own experience:

My PWC counts its engine use in metric hours, ie 4.9 hours etc.

My car (Peugot 307 Petrol 2.0 litre engine) driving from Newquay to Guildford was running for 4.5 hours, and covered 290 miles - the fuel low warning light was lit when I arrived at home and I will need to fill it within the next 15 miles, else I'll most likely run out.

So 4.5 hours use, 80 litre fuel tank.

My PWC, going around the Isle of Wight, slow gentil cruise, 3.8 hours, will use almost all my fuel. Just short of 4 hours is counted on the skis clock - this does not include time when the engine isn't running. The ski has a 64 litre tank.

The ski has used the same if not less than my car. Thats based on hours of engine running time, the ski has only covered 70 miles, whereas the car has travelled just short of 300 miles.

To back-up your end of the arguement, if I pin the throttle I can use a full tank in less than 2 hours, and if I was allowed to drive my car like that at full throttle I guess it would run out of fuel very quickly also, if someone can arranged for me to drive my car like that up the M1 legally I'd be happy to test that theory.

Wildlife, many scientific surveys have been conducted here in the UK and in the states concerning lakes etc, and concluded that PWC's are no worse than other craft. Yes any moving, or powered craft creating a wash, and noise will cause animals to move - don't single PWC's out, small mobo's will have the same effect.

However some rogue PWC users and some rouge small speed boat owners will stay in one area, so that will have a greater effect on wild life. Again it isn't just PWC's so don't single them out.

You obviously recycle, switch lights off, and care about the environment - so anything which uses non-renewable fuel is bad. There are electric PWC's out there, I bet you could re-charge one of those from a solar panel - can you do that with your mobo?
 
Re: Jet ski-ing Dangers - ref. wave wimp

If I do 56 mph average in my car and my car does 44mpg I burn 1.3 gal per hr. So, there or there abouts, according to the advertisements you told me to look at it is roughly ten x more polluting and that is not taking into account there is no cat converter on a JS. Personally speaking it is not very often I see a JS going for a gentle run as you describe!

Is your ski a 4 stroke muscle craft /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif as the advertisments descride. I think a way forward should be that only 4 stroke skis are sold. Unfortunately, still 50% of the craft I see for sale are of the 2 stroke variety.... Do a search on Google. Likwise your comment about the wildlife is skewed, these craft operate close to shore, unlike MBs and they also operate in packs concentrating the noise where they can disturb wildlife & gull colonies. It is well documented by the RSPB that young nesting birds have been observed falling out of the clifftop nests when sppoked by these craft as they cannot yet fly.

So in short the way forward, as I see it, is to only sell 4 stroke mcs, have 1000m JS free zone extending from the shoreline as well as having a registration / licsencing system.

Like I say, why do the laws that protect the majority of people on land from wreckless motor bike use & aggresive behaviour suddenly stop at the shoreline? I guess it is only a matter of time before there are more tragic accidents that brings in tighter legislation.

As the old saying goes if you can't see there's a problem you are part of it!
 
Re: Jet ski-ing Dangers - ref. wave wimp

A all boats create a wake, large mobos create larger wakes than PWCs as they are larger and displace more water.

My craft is a 4-stroke, but like all second hand craft, there are also a lot of older 2-stroke outboard engines available as well.

Interestingly, my old 2-stroke which was direct injection used less fuel than my new 4-stroke, but on the other hand it doesn't burn oil.

All your points are correct and true, except that you make all your points sound as if it is only PWC's which cause these problems, all motorised craft create noise, all craft including birds who swim create a wake.

As for the law, the rules don't stop on the shoreline, within 300 yards or meters (always get confused) there is a 10knot speed limit all the way around the UK, and on the solent this is increased to 1000.

At that slow speed there should be very little engine noise and a lot less wake.

However the authorities do little to enforce existing laws.
 
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