Jet Skis

The problem with reporting him to the police is one of identification. On a nice day the river is swarming with them. Most of which are just showing off which is tolerable (just). All the prat has to do when he sees the RIB approaching is mingle with the rest of them and how can you tell which is which?
 
As a Jet Skier of some 15 years experience, I sympthise with your problem, but don't recommend retailiation (or moronic cheese-wire stunts)... The huge majority of Jet Skiers are responsible water-users who are just as pissed off by the antics of a small minority as you are. "These people" (as they are called hereabouts) make it increasingly difficult for the rest of us to go about our chosen pastime, and we hate them as much as you do.

If you have a persistant problem in your area, contact the Personal Watercraft Partnership (www.pwpuk.org, email chris at pwpuk.org) and ask them to look into it. The PWP does excellent work resolving issues between Jet Skiers and other water-users, they work extensively with police, harbour-masters and local authorities to "control" Jet Skiers, and set up specific skiing zones away from everyone else.

Incidentally, all new Jet Skis are sold with Datatag, a security and ID system that includes a large identification number stuck to both sides of the hull (see pic below).

SXR%20action%202.png

That number identifies the Ski and its owner. Most Skis will have that number on, although there's nothing to prevent anyone removing the number if they want.

Jet Skis are a very emotive issue, but let's not confuse nuisance with criminality. Just because you don't like them, that doesn't mean they should be legislated against. If they are doing something illegal, then the law already has powers to deal with them. If they're just annoying you because you generally find them annoying, well that's tough.
 
Yes I appreciate what you were saying about registration as it stands and that would be 'ideal', however in some areas they're are already at the licence stage - as pointed out by Teredo's post.

By the way I'm no great lover of PWC's 'specially when they show little or no consideration for others- afloat or on the beach.

In the mouth of Portsmouth harbour some of them tie up a lot of the Queens Harbour Master Patrol's time in trying to keep them in check (and usually out of harms way) during the season.
 
Teredo has got that wrong...those are Datatag numbers, and nothing to do with compulsory licensing or registration.

QHM also has a couple of Jet Skis which they use to keep an eye on all traffic around Portsmouth (I went on patrol with them last summer), and they have very little trouble with Jet Skis in the area, thanks to the Solent Skiers Association which does a lot to keep its own house in order.
 
[ QUOTE ]
By the way I'm no great lover of PWC's 'specially when they show little or no consideration for others- afloat or on the beach.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not seen a PWC show lack of consideration /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif understand what you mean, but we must differentiate between the PWC which can be used considerately, and the driver who would undoubtedly be just as much a nuisance in a sailing boat, or any other form of transport - this is the person who throws water balloons as you / has a water pistol and thinks themselves terribly clever...

lets not put any pressure against the craft, but instead acknowledge that actually that behaviour is from a person, and is harrassment pure and simple - if they can be identified, there is enough current legislation to deal with them...
 
I know the harbour master has a Jet ski patrol and does a great job, but you obviously weren't with them on the two occasions I witnessed last year when they had to ask a couple of jet ski users to leave the main channel in the harbour mouth (where they seemed to be sat 'having a chat') because the Isle of Wight ferry was on its way through!

I should say that I live in Lee on Solent (which you will know has a popular launch area for jet ski's) and keep my boat in Pompey harbour.
 
8pm, Saturday nite last July, River Fal, just down from the chain ferry.

I think the speed limit is 8knts.

These guys were going to fast that I couldnt read the ID numbers.
JetSkiFal.jpg


What speed do you reckon here?
 
a good rate of fire, but your going to have to get pretty close to guarantee enough hits on the target to ensure a kill.

This is probably going to be more effective on such a fast moving target as a PWC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phalanx_CIWS

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Find their pub. Talk to them, even, dare I say it, stand a beer. Met some showing off by Sinah beach last summer and got chatting, mentioned that

a: some of the stunts were rather clever and yes, there were some girls who were impressed.
b: they were too close to some children pottering in dinghies and this could cause some umbrage

A beer later and the point was taken on, no confrontation and all happy. No idea how long it lasted as we went home an hour or so after.
 
Teredo has not got it wrong.

The public slip has been fitted with a padlocked barrier. PWCs will apply to the LA for access. Access requires the owners craft to bear the licence/reg no. Moronic and dangerous behaviour results in loss of access and possibly a court appearance. The owner will suffer loss of access even if another is driving his craft.

This control idea came from another part of the country, cannot remember where. I guess it will spread as it is working quite well as the 'licence' holders are incentivised to 'police' the rogues somewhat, as if there happens to be a swimmer or a diver killed - all PWCs will be banned.
 
Sorry, my point was that Datatag is all well and good, and in some places you can't launch without visible numbers, but it's not a compulsory license or registration scheme as such. Self-policing is definitely the way to go, and many PWC clubs do a great job of it, but there will always be a handful of morons who behave like idiots and attract attention.
 
It's a funny old world sometimes isn't it?

About 13 years ago I used to own a stand up jet ski, along with a few friends we'd regularly use the slip at the strand in Gillingham to launch. After some time it became obvious that to some people we were a naissance so we decided to get the local harbour patrol involved along with the RYA. We all bought river licences and proved we had insurance. We set up a club and met regularly with the Harbour patrol and the RYA.

'Jet skiing' rightly or wrongly started to get a bad name so to try and improve the situation the RYA started to lobby for compulsory training which most 'jet ski' clubs welcomed. Nothing happened re compulsory training and the reason was that if it applied to 'Jet Skis' then it would have to apply to all leisure craft including Yachts. The RYA dropped the idea due to negative feedback form the yachting fraternity.

So the moral of the story is... You've only yourself to blame.
 
Kev, it’s a neat move to blame yottie’s for PWCs bad behaviour.

I suppose your thinking is that with compulsory training PWCs will suddenly realise that: showering other boat users with water from the jet, roaring through nature reserves, using other boaters as turn points in silly races is moronic? I’ve witnessed these things.

No my friend, these examples are simply selfish and anti-social behaviour.

As I said before, through the controls we now have in place here, our PWCs are acting with much more thought of their effect on others.

Ps. Even these controls didn’t prevent an untrained lad on a 750cc smashing into another jet skier causing a very nasty facial injury.
 
Quote;

'but there will always be a handful of morons who behave like idiots and attract attention.'

...and those are just the people who will generate more rules and regs for all, but hey if you don't like it - tough!
 
They are indeed the morons who will generate more rules and regs, but maybe compulsory licensing and registration for all water-users is the way forward.
 
The trouble with jetskis is the only thing they are good for is showing off so they attract the sort of prat who thinks it is funny to terrorise other water users. The guy who soaked us was way past being a nuisance and was positively dangerous. He deliberately prevented one sailing club lanuching for their afternoon race. I certainly don't think we were the only ones attacked by him. This was the worst example I have seen in a long while but I have NEVER seen a PWC obey a speed limit on the river so it is completely fair to tar the lot of you with the same brush.
I just wish I had had a suitable missile to hand at the time. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
Sounds like you're lucky to be alive! An outright assault of that nature is truly shocking. All that water splashing all over you...you could have got...er...wet. I can see the headlines now: "Man Gets Wet While Boating; Copy of The Mail on Sunday Ruined; Coastguard Stands By With Towels".

Yes, you're right. We're all vicious hooligans (or show-off prats) with nothing better to do that get you wet. In the PWC code of conduct it specifically states that all "PWCs must pass within five yards of J-92s at a minimum speed of 35 knots". That comes just before the section on the how to harrass cetaceans, how to cook a sea otter once you've killed it, and which kinds of albatross make the best hood ornament for your PWC.

But the worst thing about the small minority of inconsiderate Jet Skiers is that they reaffirm the ignorant, blinkered view held by certain types of sailor that everything with an engine is a damn menace (except when they need a tow, of course) and that the only people who should be allowed on the water are themselves and a select band of friends from the Yacht Club.
 
>>>
But the worst thing about the small minority of inconsiderate Jet Skiers is that they reaffirm the ignorant, blinkered view held by certain types of sailor that everything with an engine is a damn menace (except when they need a tow, of course) and that the only people who should be allowed on the water are themselves and a select band of friends from the Yacht Club.
>>>
Very well said Sir. Indeed, not just Jet Ski users, but some dinghy sailors, some rowers, some mobo skippers...

Lets agree to be tolerant.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top