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{{Short description|Recreational watercraft that uses an inboard engine powering a pump-jet with an impeller}}
{{redirect|Jet ski|the brand-name watercraft|Jet Ski|other uses|Jet Ski (disambiguation)}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2012}}
[[File:Couple of teenagers riding a jestski splashing on the Mekong in Laos.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|A watercraft on the [[Mekong|Mekong River]]]]
[[File:Waveboat 444.jpg|thumb|right|upright|A personal watercraft Waveboat conversion]]
A '''personal watercraft''' ('''PWC''')—sometimes referred to as a '''[[Jet Ski]]''' (despite this being a specific product line by Kawasaki) or '''water scooter—'''is a primarily [[recreation]]al [[watercraft]] that is designed to carry a small number of occupants, who sit or stand on top of the craft, not within the craft as in a [[boat]].
Prominent brands of PWCs include Kawasaki (Jet Ski), Sea-Doo, Yamaha, and Taiga.
PWCs have two style categories. The first and the most popular is a compact [[runabout (boat)|runabout]], typically holding no more than two or three people, who mainly sit on top of the watercraft as one does when riding an [[All-terrain vehicle|ATV]] or [[snowmobile]]. The second style is a "stand-up" type, typically built for only one occupant who operates the watercraft standing up as in riding a [[motorized scooter]]; it is often used more for doing tricks, racing, and in competitions. Both styles have an [[inboard]] engine driving a [[pump-jet]] that has a screw-shaped [[impeller]] to create thrust for propulsion and steering. Most are designed for two or three people, though four-passenger models exist. Many of today's models are built for more extended use and have the fuel capacity to make long cruises, in some cases even beyond {{convert|100|miles|km|order=flip}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=Personal Watercraft|publisher=boats.com|url=https://www.boats.com/explore/pwcs/personal-watercraft/}}</ref>
Personal watercraft are often referred by the [[trademark]]ed brand names of [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries Motorcycle & Engine|Kawasaki]] ([[Jet Ski]]), [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]] ([[WaveRunner]]), [[Bombardier Recreational Products|Bombardier]] ([[Sea-Doo]]), Elaqua (E-PWC) and [[Honda]] (AquaTrax).
Personal watercraft boat conversion kits exist as Waveboats.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.obmagazine.media/superyacht-tenders/sealver-waveboat-z-line-hevo/ | title=SEALVER WAVEBOAT Z-LINE – HEVO | ONBOARD Magazine }}</ref>
The [[United States Coast Guard]] defines a personal watercraft, amongst other criteria, as a jet-drive boat less than {{convert|12|ft|m}} long.<ref>US Coast Guard "Annual Boating Statistics, 2006". [http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/Boating_Statistics_2006.pdf uscgboating.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090902191629/http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/boating_statistics_2006.pdf |date=2009-09-02 }}</ref> There are many larger "[[jetboat]]s" not classed as PWCs, some more than {{convert|40|ft|m}} long.
==History==
[[File:Vincent Amanda boat.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Vincent ''Amanda'' at the [[London Motorcycle Museum]]]]
Water scooters—as they were originally termed—were first developed in the United Kingdom and Europe in the mid-1950s, with models such as the British 200cc propeller-driven [[Vincent Motorcycles|Vincent]] ''Amanda'', and the German ''Wave Roller''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110811175104/http://archive.wmlnj.org/var/www/TheWestfieldLeader/1956/1956-10-04/pg_0018.pdf archive.wmlnj.org/var/www/TheWestfieldLeader/1956/1956-10-04/pg_0018.pdf].</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=iSUDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA98 books.google.com/books?id=iSUDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA98&lpg=PA98].</ref> Two thousand Vincent Amandas were exported to Australia, Asia, Europe and the United States.<ref>[http://www.voc.uk.com/net/docs/17/17-553-14.pdf www.voc.uk.com/net/docs/17/17-553-14.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101204839/http://www.voc.uk.com/net/docs/17/17-553-14.pdf |date=2014-01-01 }}.</ref>
[[File:1961 Sea Skimmer.jpg|thumb|1961 Sea Skimmer / Aqua Skimmer could reach speeds up to 40km/h]]
The Sea Skimmer was introduced in 1961 as a highly maneuverable version of a propelled surfboard. It was {{Convert|1.7|m|ft|abbr=on}} long, powered by an inboard/outboard motor and reached speeds up to {{Convert|40|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. The rider lay on the boat, controlling the speed with hand throttles and using the feet as rudders. Originally manufactured in Kansas City, operations moved to Boynton, Florida, in 1962, and the name was changed to Aqua-Skimmer. Aqua-Skimmer ceased operations in 1962 and sold its inventory to the military. Renamed Aqua Dart (Aqua Dart INC), the [[Sea Skimmer, Aqua Skimmer, Aqua Dart]] was modified for military requirements, and saw service in 1962 [[Brown-water navy|river reconnaissance]] missions in Vietnam and other military missions until the 1970s.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1961-01-15|title=1961-01-15 Dolphin Sea Skimmer at Boat Show Daily_News_Sun New York|pages=133|work=Daily News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86374359/1961-01-15-dolphin-sea-skimmer-at-boat/|access-date=2021-10-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=1961-03-23|title=Sea Skimmer Tiny Boat Big Show Stopper Tennessee Boat Show|pages=1|work=The Tennessean|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86369678/sea-skimmer-tiny-boat-big-show-stopper/|access-date=2021-10-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=1961-03-23|title=1961-03-23 Sea Skimmer 3 models The_Tennessean_Nashville|pages=24|work=The Tennessean|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86373966/1961-03-23-sea-skimmer-3-models/|access-date=2021-10-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=1961-02-19|title=1961-02-19 Mermaid with a motor Sea Skimmer made in Kansas City The_Miami_Herald|pages=175|work=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86374951/1961-02-19-mermaid-with-a-motor-sea/|access-date=2021-10-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=1962-04-23|title=1962-04-23 Tetyak to move Aqua-Skimmer to Florida Fort_Lauderdale_News|pages=4|work=Fort Lauderdale News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86375203/1962-04-23-tetyak-to-move-aqua-skimmer/|access-date=2021-10-02}}</ref><ref>Title “Evaluation of River Reconnaissance System by UDT-12 (Aqua Dart)"; National Archives and Records Administration Naval Special Warfare Group SWG Papers, Record Group 38, FY81, vol 62; Entry Number UD-UW 95, Box 21</ref>
[[Image:Cj2 wiki6.jpg|thumb|right|The first stand-up prototype]]
In the 1960s, the idea was developed further by [[Clayton Jacobson II]] of [[Lake Havasu City, Arizona]], USA. Originally a motocross enthusiast,<ref name="bot">{{cite book | author = Sampsell, Michael M.| year = 2002 | title = Boat Accident Reconstruction and Litigation | publisher = Lawyers & Judges Publishing | isbn = 0-913875-79-1 | pages = 63–4|display-authors=etal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Personal Watercraft|publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology|url=http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/watercraft.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030831113106/http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/watercraft.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2003-08-31}}</ref><ref name="frum">{{cite book | author = Action, Johnny | author2 = Adams, Tania | author3 = Packer, Matt | year = 2006 | title = Origin of Everyday Things | publisher = Sterling Publishing | isbn = 1-4027-4302-5 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/originofeveryday0000acto/page/124 124] | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/originofeveryday0000acto/page/124 }}</ref> Jacobson's idea was designed in the mid-1960s, powered by an internal [[pump-jet]] rather than an [[outboard motor]],<ref name="frum" /> made of all aluminum, and had a fixed, upright handle. Jacobson eventually quit his job in banking to devote himself to developing the idea, and had a working prototype by 1965. It differed slightly from modern personal watercraft but had definite similarities. He completed a second prototype a year later made of fiberglass.<ref name="pwc">{{cite web | url = http://www.boats.com/news-reviews/article/jet-ski-evolution | title = Jet Ski Evolution | access-date = 2011-05-19 | publisher = boats.com
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010072940/http://www.boats.com/news-reviews/article/jet-ski-evolution
|archive-date=2007-10-10
}}</ref>
The first Clayton-type PWC to reach the market was designed by [[Bombardier Inc.|Bombardier]] in the late 1960s.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Sea-Doo Launched the Personal Watercraft Industry |url=https://www.popsells.com/boat-article/how-sea-doo-launched-the-personal-watercraft-industry-130 |access-date=2014-12-11 |website=PopSells}}</ref> Bombardier's original designs were not very popular and Bombardier left the business before 1970.
In Greece, an inventor named Dimitrios T. Moraitidis, built a prototype and submitted a patent to the government of the Kingdom of Greece on the 5 June 1970, with serial number 40056.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ ΥΠΟΥΡΓΕΙΟΝ ΕΜΠΟΡΙΟΥ: ΔΙΠΛΩΜΑ ΕΥΡΕΣΙΤΕΧΝΙΑΣ |url=https://d-moraitidis.com/core/documents/patent_vespa.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303083955/https://d-moraitidis.com/core/documents/patent_vespa.pdf |archive-date=2024-03-03 |access-date=2024-05-26 |website=d-moraitidis.com |language=el}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=May 2024}} This prototype has never been made available commercially as of Moraitidis' death on 5 March 2022.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}}
Stand-up PWCs were first produced by the Japanese company [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries Motorcycle & Engine|Kawasaki]] (under the [[Jet Ski]] brand) in 1972,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/13/world/gallery/japanese-inventions-changed-how-we-live/index.html|title = Japanese inventions that changed the way we live| date=13 June 2017 }}</ref> and appeared on the US market in 1973. These were mass-produced boats to be used by only one rider. While they are still produced today, the more popular design is the sit-down variety of PWC. These sit-down runabouts have been produced by Kawasaki (Jetski), Bombardier ([[Sea-Doo]]), Yamaha ([[WaveRunner]]), [[Honda]] (AquaTrax), [[Polaris Inc.|Polaris]] (Sealion) and [[Arctic Cat]] ([[Tiger Shark PWC|Tigershark]]). As of 2010, the major manufacturers of PWCs were Kawasaki, Bombardier and Yamaha. Both Yamaha and Kawasaki continue to sell stand-up models but it is a small percentage of the overall market.
[[File:ELAQUAEPWC2.jpg|thumb|An electric personal watercraft]]
Electric PWCs were commercialized in the early 2020s. Electric watercraft are increasing in popularity as gasoline engines produce [[greenhouse gas]]es and can eject [[motor oil]] and [[gasoline]] directly into [[waterway]]s.
== Sports ==
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2024}}
PWC racing competitions take place around the world. There are several disciplines: closed circuit speed races, offshore speed races (offshore), endurance races, freestyle (freestyle) and freeride events. For all these types of events, with the exception of freestyle, there are at least two categories: saddle jets and stand-up jets. For speed races, gear is generally classified according to the degree of authorized modifications: minor modifications fall into the so-called "stock" category, intermediate modifications into the so-called "limited" category, and more extensive modifications into the category. known as "F1". In freestyle and freeride, these categories do not exist; rather, the competitors are classified according to the type of watercraft used (with stand-up or saddle).
The sport is ruled by the World Powerboating Federation ([[Union Internationale Motonautique]], U.I.M.) recognised by the [[International Olympic Committee]]. The current official world series, established in 1996, is the [[Aquabike World Championship]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uim.sport/Wys.aspx?num=3|title=Union internationale motonautique}}</ref> The sport is also established at the national level and is ruled by each national federation's member of the U.I.M. Aquabike World Championship is known among the motorsports with most different national entries for each competition, reaching up to 32 nationalities and 140 riders registered to compete in Italy in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 March 2018 |title=Il mondiale di aquabike sbarca a Olbia |url=https://www.lanuovasardegna.it/olbia/cronaca/2018/03/11/news/il-mondiale-di-aquabike-ora-sbarca-al-molo-brin-1.16581313 |website=La Nuova Sardegna |language=it}}</ref>
Other private competitions also exist, such as P1 AquaX, which is a personal watercraft racing series, first launched in the UK in May 2011 by London-based sports promoter Powerboat P1. The series attracted a mix of new and current racers to a new type of racing and in 2013, P1 rolled out a second series in the USA. Such was the uptake that the original format needed revising to cope with the influx of new riders and by the end of 2015 over 400 riders from 11 countries had registered to compete in an AquaX event.
In the United States, the main sanctioning bodies are the [[International Jet Sport Boating Association]] (IJSBA) and [[Pro Watercross]] (PWX). As of 2022, the sport is experiencing exceeding levels of fragmentation and conflict due to poor management of the sanctioning bodies and non-constructive competition between organizations. The IJSBA World Finals competition is traditionally held in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, in early October. The Pro Watercross World Finals are typically held in Naples, Florida, in November.
== Non-recreational uses ==
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2018}}
[[File:Vattenskoter Ålands Sjöräddningssällskap 2008.jpg|thumb|right|PWC with rescue platform.]]
[[File:Rescue Water Craft Training for Lifesaving and Water Rescue.JPG|thumb|right| Training preparedness Rescue Water Craft]]
[[File:Police-Jetski.JPG|thumb|right|PWC used by the [[Polizia|Italian police]] in [[Venice]]]]
PWCs are small, fast, easily handled, fairly easy to use, and affordable, and their propulsion systems do not have external propellers, making them in some respects safer than small motorboats for swimmers and wildlife. For these reasons, they are used for fishing, one of the PWC industry's fastest-growing segments.
Lifeguards use PWCs equipped with rescue platforms to rescue water users from trouble, as well as flood survivors, and carry them to safety. Police and rangers use them to enforce laws in coastal waters, lakes and rivers. {{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} A PWC combined with a wash-reduction system, carrying waterproof loudspeaker equipment and GPS for instructions and distance measurement, has reportedly{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}} been used by assistant coaches for rowing sports on the River Tyne.
Further, PWCs are used by the U.S. Navy as surface targets.{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}} When equipped with GPS, electronic compass, radar reflector, and a [[radio modem]], the PWC can be controlled remotely with a two-way link. Its small shipboard footprint allows it to be stored in and deployed from the smallest of vessels, and it has been used for target practice for armaments of sizes from {{convert|5|in|cm|abbr=on}} [[cannon]] to [[small arms]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}}
US Special Forces use the Kraka Jet Board.<ref>{{cite web | title=POTD: U.S. Special Forces' New Jet Board | date=4 August 2025 | url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/potd-u-s-special-forces-new-jet-board-44822059 }}</ref>
==Hazards==
{{main|Personal watercraft–related accidents}}
[[File:Personal watercraft warning sticker.jpg|thumb|right|300px|PWC warning label indicating risk of body cavity injuries]]
Apart from the obvious hazards of collisions and mechanical breakdowns common to all [[vehicle]]s, operating or riding a PWC can involve a risk of [[Body orifice|orifice]] injuries.<ref>Jim Stingl, "Have fun on your watercraft, butt beware," ''[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]'', 28 June 2000, 1.</ref><ref>Roy Scott Hickman and Michael M. Sampsel, [https://books.google.com/books?id=_qceAQAAMAAJ&q=body%20orifice%20injection ''Boat Accident Reconstruction and Litigation''] ([[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]]: Lawyers & Judges Publishing Company, 2003), 71, 78.</ref> These injuries are typical of the kinds of injuries that waterskiers experience as a result of falling into the water at speed.<ref>See Romano RL. Burgess EM. Medical Implications of Water-skiing, Clin Orthop, 22: 140-145 (1962).; David Pfanner, Salpingitis and Water Skiing FRCS The Medical Journal of Australia, 2/1964.; Moore A. T.: Water-skiing in Symposium on Injury in sport. Edited by Armstrong JR, Tucker WE; London Staples, 1964; McCarthy GF. Hazards of water-skiing. Med J Aust. 1969; 1:481; David C. Morton, Gynecological Complications of Water Skiing M.R.C.O.G. Gosford District Hospital, New South Wales Medical Journal of Australia, June 20, 1970. The first waterski reports of this kind of injury appeared in the early 1960s and continue today. Prior to that time there were no reported injuries of this type. Similar reports of this kind of injury have occurred at water slide parks and other similar facilities. Once again, the occurrence rate for this kind of injury appears to be very low.</ref> Such injuries can occur from simply falling in the water at speed or they can occur from the output end of the pump jet. A rider who falls (or is ejected) off the back can land directly in the path of the PWC's high-pressure jet of water. Unless a rider is appropriately dressed in garments made out of a strong, thick substance like [[neoprene]] (as is commonly found in [[wetsuit]]s), the jet may penetrate any orifice it reaches. All major PWC manufacturers warn about this risk and recommend that passengers wear wet suit bottoms or equivalent protection. The American Waterski Racing Association recommends that all of their racers wear wet suit bottoms for this same reason.
Such orifice injuries can result in permanent disability or death.<ref>Bernard Descottes, Fouzi Lachachi, Issifou Moumouni, Sylvaine Durand-Fontanier, and Ramy Geballa, "Case Report: Rectal Injury Caused by Personal Watercraft Accident," ''Diseases of the Colon and Rectum'' 46, no. 7 (June 2003): 971-972. The 16-year-old patient described in this case report was deceased. The autopsy revealed that the primary cause of death was [[toxic shock syndrome]] caused by the rectal tear.</ref><ref>David P. Parsons, Harry A. Kahn, John T. Isler and Richard P. Billingham, "Case Report: Rectal Injury Caused by Personal Watercraft Accident," ''Diseases of the Colon and Rectum'' 42, no. 7 (July 1999): 959-960. The patient described in this case report survived.</ref> For example, in 2006, the [[California Court of Appeal]] for the First Appellate District upheld a $3.7 million [[Napa County]] jury verdict against [[Polaris Industries]] arising out of one such incident (which had devastating effects on the victim's lower abdomen).<ref>[https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=13883367061646455004 ''Ford v. Polaris Industries, Inc.''], 139 Cal. App. 4th 755, 43 Cal. Rptr. 3d 215 (2006). The plaintiff survived due to the heroic efforts of [[UC Davis Medical Center]] personnel (the court noted that she required "massive resuscitation") but was permanently disabled by her injuries; for example, she has no bowel control.</ref>
It is also possible for multiple riders on the same PWC to sustain orifice injuries in a single accident, as actually occurred in a 2007 accident at [[Mission Bay (San Diego)|Mission Bay]] which resulted in a [[San Diego County]] jury verdict affirmed in full on appeal in 2014.<ref name="Colombo">[https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=17317476377459507274 ''Colombo v. BRP US Inc.''], 230 Cal. App. 4th 1442; 179 Cal. Rptr. 3d 580 (2014). As the appellate court explained in its opinion, this case was delayed after the PWC owner initiated a proceeding in federal court under the [[Limitation of Liability Act of 1851]].</ref>
Another noteworthy risk of injury is known as off throttle steering, which results from the lack of steering capability while off throttle in certain models of PWCs. This can result in death or serious bodily injuries.
While also rare, [[spinal injuries]] can occur while surf jumping and, potentially, wake jumping.<ref>Am Surg. 2002 Jul;68(7):624-7. "Pattern of injury from personal watercraft". Haan JM, Kramer ME, Scalea TM; J Trauma. 2004 Dec;57(6):1308-10. "Thoracolumbar fractures associated with the use of personal watercraft". Carmel A, Drescher MJ, Leitner Y, Gepstein R.</ref> The PWC manufacturers' owner's manuals all include warnings regarding jumping at excessive heights, or operating a PWC if there is a prior history of back injury. The current on-product labels say "Jumping wakes or waves can increase the risk of spinal/backbone injuries (paralysis)".<ref>2001 Joint USCG/Industry Label Project, Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 2001, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp71-81; Labeling for Personal Watercraft.</ref> The current Kawasaki owner's manual provides: "Slow down before crossing waves. Do not ride if you have a back condition. High speed operation in choppy or rough water may cause back injuries."<ref>JT1100-G1 Owner's Manual, page 53-54</ref>
Another rare, but unique injury risk with jetboats, is being sucked into the intake side of the pump jet. Current PWC products contain on-product warnings that state: "''Keep away from Intake Grate'' while the engine is on. Items such as long hair, loose clothing, or PFD straps can become entangled in moving parts and result in severe injury or drowning".<ref>2001 Joint USCG/Industry Label Project, Injury Control and Safety Promotion, 2001, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp71-81; Labeling for Personal Watercraft</ref>
There have been fatal accidents involving PWCs. In a notable case, U.S. astronaut [[Alan G. Poindexter]] died in 2012 from injuries sustained in a Jet Ski accident in [[Florida]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.space.com/16386-astronaut-alan-poindexter-dies-jet-ski-accident.html|title=Former NASA Astronaut Alan Poindexter, 50, Dies in Jet Ski Accident|website=[[Space.com]] |date=2 July 2012}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Aqua scooter]] (of historical interest)
* [[
* [[
* [[Video games]] featuring personal watercraft:
**
** ''[[Splashdown (video game)|Splashdown]]''
** ''[[Wave Race]]''
*** ''[[Wave Race 64]]''
*** ''[[Wave Race: Blue Storm]]''
* [[Kawasaki Jet Mate]]
* [[Wetbike]]
* [[Yamaha Jet N Cat]]
* [[Yamaha Superjet]]
* [[Yamaha Wave Blaster]]
== References ==
{{Reflist|40em}}
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Personal watercraft}}
* [
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Personal watercraft| ]]
[[Category:Water sports equipment]]
[[Category:English inventions]]
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