Pwcs at night

[Star_Burst]

I dont see why we are not aloud to to use pwcs on the water at night? given the fact that its night you would have your pwc with the same lights as a boat and then have the coast guard designate like a green flashing strobe to be a pwc at night also each person on board to wear a white strobe on their pdfs for when they bail. Reason being if on a small lake like by me theirs little to no boats on the water and I like to fish from my sea doo also a ski with lights would be sick !

 

[captain scale]

I dont see why we are not aloud to to use pwcs on the water at night? given the fact that its night you would have your pwc with the same lights as a boat and then have the coast guard designate like a green flashing strobe to be a pwc at night also each person on board to wear a white strobe on their pdfs for when they bail. Reason being if on a small lake like by me theirs little to no boats on the water and I like to fish from my sea doo also a ski with lights would be sick !

I think it has to do more with the nature of the vehicle and the driving habits. Most people drive skis fast and most skis are noisy. I think it has more to do with the safety issues and a little to do with noise disturbances. Don't expect the laws to be overturned!

 

[stripesace]

in some states its perfectly legal to operate a PWC at night... provided all the nav lights meet the required laws of your state. My state (AL) for example does not expressly prohibt the use of PWCs at night so long as they have the correct operating lights. A phone call to our marine police division said "nothing we can do if your running lights as required by law."

 

[Star_Burst]

Wow really . I must move cuz I like to fish till dark and here in ohio if i fish till dark in a cove with my ski I would have to ither sneek back to the dock or sleep on the water.

 

[voodoo]

The problem I have fishing off mine is the splash that wakes me up and that awful headache from hitting the hull just as I go into the drink, I prolly lost good fish from snoring too, this is what the others on the river tell me.

 

[captain scale]

There may be some truth to that! If a pwc was retrofited with the proper lighting and safety equipment it may in fact be legal. I'm sure the law is assuming that the jet ski is in stock condition and as is cannot be used at night. The best alternative would be to have a jet ski shuttle where the ski slides up into a sport deck and makes it a boat with all the necessary lighting.

 

[Star_Burst]

I wonder who to ask about this in ohio ? Because I am willing to make my pwc light up like christmass tree

 

[Dr Honda]

There may be some truth to that! If a pwc was retrofited with the proper lighting and safety equipment it may in fact be legal.

I wonder who to ask about this in ohio ? Because I am willing to make my pwc light up like christmass tree

It's not an Ohio law. It's a Fed law passed down from the US Coast Guard. Back in the day, we could retrofit PWC... but since the mid 90's, they put a stop to it. The problem was... people would put on lights, and then drive them like it was day time. It was just to dangerous.

Since it's a fed law... and the "Greenies" don't like us anyway... it's something that will never get changed.

With that said... some states will allow it, but if you are up on lake Erie, you won't be able to.

Besides... a first gen SeaDoo isn't something I would want to fish off of. When sitting still, you can tip over if your balance gets off center, and there isn't much room for your gear.

 

[Star_Burst]

I dont fall off my sea do even when i turn into a wave im like a cat atleast at the lakes i go to not huge waves like erie i even made a seat that i put on top of my front storage bin and sit on the front of my ski ill have to post a pic . whats with evey one hating sea doos yeh true some people are complete idiots always getting banned from waterways and such i think they should be more strict on the boaters education courses and put the online test back to the old format were their was no pics or diagrams

 

[Dr Honda]

I dont fall off my sea do even when i turn into a wave im like a cat atleast at the lakes i go to not huge waves like erie i even made a seat that i put on top of my front storage bin and sit on the front of my ski ill have to post a pic .

Please do. Yesterday, I just tried to spin around, and sit backward on my 90... and it was work to do that. (just wanted to kick back, and relax in the sun) On my 3 seater... and can stand and move around without any issues.

whats with evey one hating sea doos yeh true some people are complete idiots always getting banned from waterways and such.

Well, I hate to say, there are 2 things why people hate us.

1) the old fishermen who hate everyone think that every lake is theirs. Around where I live there are about 10 lakes that have limited horse power for fishing, and there is one that is used for recreational use. There are always guys fishing, and they get pissed when you go out and start making waves. Unfortunatly... these are the same people who go to town meetings, and yell at the local congressman.

2) we (as a community) have given our selves a bad rep. People go out and buy the newest 200 hp jet ski, and ride it like it's a big go-kart, and ignores every rule/law out there.

 

[Star_Burst]

Im too scared to loose my 1400$ ski to act a fool

 

[Dr Honda]

Im too scared to loose my 1400$ ski to act a fool

Some people have more money than brains. Ive seen people with brand new, $10k skis, and they beach it on gravel. AND.... it's not that they kill it early, jump off, and pull it onto the beach. They ride right up on the beach, and you can hear the gravel go into the pump, and the grinding on the bottom of the hull. (idiots)


I only have $370 into my Si project, but I treat it like I just spent $10k on it.

 

[05GTXSC]

Over three quarters of the lakes here in Maine have a no PWC law and I don't think it will be long before it is all of them. To be honest with you I can't blame them. People abuse there rights with these things speeding in and out of shore whipping around not paying attention we had on last year that almost hit my sister while we where skiing behind our real boat. These things are just down right dangerous to the people who don't know what they are doing. I think that people should have to have a license to operate any watercraft. I think that would make a big difference on how people act and ride. I also think we need more lake patrol there are just not enough wardens in the state of Maine to cover every lake and I think there needs to be. People need to start getting pulled over and fined for doing stupid things not just a stern talking to.

 

[Star_Burst]

I think if you cant handle getting your motorcycle liscense you shouldent be able to get your pwc liscense both pretty much the same equipment.