If you’re taking a Boat ED test or Quizlet, one of the questions you might encounter is, “What is the risk when a PWC passes too closely behind another boat?”
The answer is fairly straightforward: if a PWC passes too closely behind your boat, a blind spot may occur, and may therefore cause a collision.
A collision between two vehicles, whether on land or water, is extremely dangerous and might even be fatal. This is why it’s imperative that watercraft and boat owners understand the risks associated with water safety.
Let’s take a closer look into PWC and boat safety, along with how to avoid blind spot collisions!
What Happens When a PWC Passes Too Closely Behind Another Boat?
The official Boat-Ed website has provided an easy-to-understand explanation for this question.
In a nutshell, the boat you’re passing behind will essentially obscure your view of other oncoming vessels, as well as said vessel’s view of the PWC, due to its large size.
If one or both vessels are moving at full speed, it’d be extremely difficult to steer out of the way, therefore increasing the risk of a collision.
As such, it’s important to maintain a proper lookout when navigating your PWC to prevent such danger from occurring. Always keep a respectable distance between you and another vessel.
How Common Are PWC Accidents?
When it comes to recreational boat accidents, PWCs rank second place.
According to Hofmann & Schweitzer, construction and maritime lawyers located in New York and New Jersey, 18% of reported recreational boat accidents in 2017 involved a PWC. In total, PWCs take up 24% of all recreational boat injuries and 21% of recreational boat deaths.
Unfortunately, PWC accidents are quite common. Alongside piloting while inebriated, the primary causes of these deaths are speeding, operator inattention, and operator inexperience.
Due to this, PWC owners are legally required to have a boating license or certificate or at least have completed a safety course, before piloting a watercraft. Since the US Coast Guard classifies PWCs as vessels, they’re subjected to the same laws given to 30-foot yachts.
With how powerful PWCs are, they offer little to almost no protection for riders. Other than protective vests or life jackets, the only other safety equipment PWCs have is an emergency engine cutoff lanyard that’s attached to the vessel’s operator.
PWCs can operate at astonishingly great speeds, with some going over 80 mph. The fastest jet ski in the world is recorded to go at 127 mph. This jaw-dropping record was set by Uva Perez while riding a turbocharged Yamaha FZR WaveRunner.
Keep in mind that PWCs don’t have breaks like land vehicles do, and may require extended stopping distances to completely halt their movements. Steering is likewise a difficult endeavor, especially if you’re piloting at extreme speeds.
With that being said, how can users stay safe when piloting a PWC without ruining all the fun?
PWC Safety: How Can You Stay Safe and Avoid Blindspots When Operating a PWC?
There are several rules you need to follow when operating a PWC. Due to all the risks involved, make sure you follow all the instructions properly and tick all the boxes before each ride.
Maintain Proper Lookout at All Times
The fifth rule of the US Coast Guard’s navigational instructions states the following: “To make a full appraisal of the situation and prevent the risk of collision, every vessel should maintain a proper lookout by sight and hearing at all times.”
Unlike roads, bodies of water don’t have proper safety nets, traffic lights, signs, or lane marks to help us with navigation. Due to this, it’s extremely important to be aware of your surroundings while piloting your PWC. Here are some safety practices to follow:
- Pay close attention to diver down flags and other similar signals
- Keep an eye out to nearby boat traffic
- Look at both sides and behind before initiating a turn
- Stay a safe distance from shore
- Don’t directly follow behind another watercraft or other vessel
- Don’t attempt to spray other boaters or jump boat wakes
- Don’t ever use a watercraft at night, even if it’s equipped with navigational lights
- Always carry a handheld VHF radio or cellphone, along with a basic first-aid kit and sunscreen, in your PWC compartment
Be Aware of Blind Spots
Keep clear or large boats and their blind spots. If you see a boat or another vessel heading your way, immediately alter your course to prevent a potential collision. Give yourself enough room to change course in case an unexpected situation might occur.
Make use of proper radar equipment so you’ll be warned as soon as it detects nearby objects. Marine radars should always be operational and active when piloting a watercraft.
It’s likewise important to prevent passengers from creating blind spots on your PWC while you’re navigating.
Maintain a Safe Speed
Always maintain a safe speed when operating your watercraft. Doing so allows you to immediately take proper and effective action to avoid your watercraft from colliding with another vessel, object, or landmark.
According to US boating laws, you shouldn’t ever operate your watercraft at speeds of over 10 mph in the proximity of 50 feet of another vessel. PWCs should also stay at least five lengths away from the vessel in front of them.
The maximum legal speed of PWCs is 65 mph. However, some states have speed restrictions of only 10-40 mph. Thus, it’s worth checking your area’s maximum speed limit before riding your PWC in the selected body of water.
The bottom line here is this: drive with courtesy and don’t pilot your PWC in a reckless or negligent manner.
Final Thoughts
Passing too closely behind another boat increases the risk of collision due to blind spots. This is especially true if the boat you’re passing behind is larger than your vessel.
Boat safety is extremely important and should be taken seriously, so make sure to review and take the proper tests before riding a PWC. Otherwise, fatal accidents that are entirely avoidable may occur. Similar to driving laws, boating laws should be followed to a T.