Issues

PWIA Model Legislation
PWIA model legislation encourages all states to set a minimum age of 16 years to operate a personal watercraft (18 to rent), along with other reasonable regulations such as mandatory education for all operators, use only during daylight hours, and operation at slow-no-wake speed within 100 feet of shore, anchored boats, piers, or swimmers.

Boating Safety & Education
The Personal Watercraft Industry Association strongly supports mandatory boater education, minimum age requirements, and strict enforcement of navigation and safety regulations in every state.

Law Enforcement
The personal watercraft industry supports strict enforcement of boating and navigation regulations, and works with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Power Squadron, and NASBLA.

Emissions
Personal watercraft manufacturers have achieved in 6 years emissions reductions that took the automobile industry 25 to accomplish. Since 1998 there has been a 75% reduction in hydrocarbon exhaust emissions from personal watercraft. Personal watercraft today are some of the cleanest motorized vessels on the water.

Environment
Manufacturers investments in recent years have led to remarkable technological advancements, like the new high-tech direct-injection two-stroke engines and the recently introduced four-stroke models, universally recognized as some of the cleanest and most efficient engine types.

Sound
Personal watercraft have always complied with every state and federal sound regulation, and today's models are 70% quieter than 1998 models.

PWIA offers a CD designed to educate lawmakers and other officials about new-technology PWC and other aspects of the industry. For a free copy of this CD, please email your request to info@pwia.org along with your name, organization, address, and what prompts your interest, or call 202-737-9768.