What is a Personal Watercraft

Unlike large boats,the personal watercraft (PWC) is praised for its small stature. These vessels can be purchased between 8’ and 13’ and offer a fast wave riding experience. The size of the vessel means that it has a very small draft, and therefore can be utilized in shallow areas. Some areas of Florida restrict their use as they can cause harm to marine life within the restricted areas of the state. The vessels maintain space for up to 4 people, but the general personal watercraft will only have seating for one or two riders.

Types of Personal Watercrafts

Even if you are not accustomed to the personal watercraft world, it is likely you have seen many of these vessels tearing up the waves throughout Florida. They go by many names including Sea Do, Jet Ski, and WaveRunner. The two main types of these vessels are relatively simple. The older style and less common variety allows the one rider to stand while riding and the other style is more like a motorcycle on the water in which the riders sit lined up in a row behind the main driver.

Safety Features

It is understandable that personal watercrafts can cause a bit of fear in people who have not been adapted to this style of boating. Rest assured the vessel is quite safe when the safety precautions are adhered to. All riders are required to wear a life vest and a specialized key is attached to either the driver’s vest or the wrist. If the driver is thrown from the watercraft, which can happen while taking high bank turns, the key is pulled from the ignition thereby killing the engine and stopping the vessel.

About the Engines

Personal watercrafts are known to go fast due to their small draft. They speed across the top of the water with little drag. Although a significant amount of horsepower is not required as with larger vessels,the personal watercraft relies on either one standard two stroke or four stroke motor for an agile performance.

Engine Noise

One of the largest complaints about the personal watercraft industry is the noise from the engines. The high-pitched whine of the motors can be disturbing to some onlookers, but the newer models utilize some of the same sound dampening technology as the larger boats to reduce the overall noise. Other features of the new model vessels include electronic reverse, braking systems, no wake modes, cruise control, and even theft deterrent devices.

Popular PWC Brands

Brands for Personal Watercrafts vary in quality and it is recommended that you utilize the boat reviews from Vessel Vendor to find the right brand for you.

• AlumaSki
• Comet Boats
• Freedom Ind
• Honda
• Hover Dynamics
• Jet N Spray
• Kawasaki
• Laser Jet Performance
• Nar Water Products
• Neoteric Hovercraft
• Nichols Watercraft LP
• S O S Express
• Scat Hovecraft
• Scram Jet Inc
• Sea Doo
• Sonic Jet
• Tigershark
• WaterCraft
• Wetjet International
• Wildthing Watercraft
• Yamaha

Prices for personal watercrafts vary, but start out at around $5,000. Additional features and top-quality vessels will add to the cost, so for the best price with upgraded options, Vessel Vendor is the place to go.

Looking for Personal Watercrafts for Sale?

The brand and features are important, but optimal value for the purchase is the largest draw for perspective buyers. Vessel Vendor is the leading site for both buyers and listers in Florida. We have become number one because we offer our listers the cheapest listing fees, so they are able to get the best ROI for their vessels. With our site, listers can list their vessels through an easy to follow posting platform.

Should you have any questions about listing or purchasing a boat with Vessel Vendor please feel free to contact us through the appropriate form on our site. While you are here, remember that Vessel Vendor is not just a listing site, but an educational resource for boaters to utilize for boat reviews, information about boat styles, manufacturer summary pages, maintenance tips and so much more.