lights on pwc

[soupdan]

What are the laws on wave running (jet ski's) at night? If my ski has lights, is it legal?

 

[Scaaty]

Re: lights on pwc

I'd say illegal as heck, but ...well, an interesting question..aint all water craft supposed to have lights?

 

[tommays]

Re: lights on pwc

No

Thats why there are not any that come with lights at least in NY


Tommays

 

[Jeff Walkowiak]

Re: lights on pwc

believe it or not some states do allow it with running lights, so check with your state,, however it is a dumb thing to do in my opinion, too many things can happen

 

[Bondo]

Re: lights on pwc

Ayuh,..........

Jet-Fleas are Illegal to operate After Dark in New York State...............

 

[Rob454]

Re: lights on pwc

i think jet skis are illegal to operate after sundown
Rob

 

[fourwinnsdook]

Re: lights on pwc

I really don't see how they could pass that law if they have all the safety devices as boats like lights Etc. It would be like making it illegal to ride a motorcycle at night.

 

[hbski]

Re: lights on pwc

boating laws

check each state. I used my GTX (properly equiped with navagation lights) to go night fishing and for shuttling my GF and kids to a fishing spot, but I never broke idle speed to do so and we had a full moon, glassy water......

 

[Rob454]

Re: lights on pwc

I really don't see how they could pass that law if they have all the safety devices as boats like lights Etc. It would be like making it illegal to ride a motorcycle at night.

But they dont have the safety devices that boats do
no horn
no lights ( granted unless you add them and you still need a rear pole light)
no flares or signaling devices ( i bet 99% of jet skiers have no idea what they are actually required to carry I didnt when i had them)
No throwable flotation device
No bailing system other than the syphon or the ( possibly if youre smart)added on electric bilge pump
There are many reasons jet skis shouldnt be allowed at night and I had them for years and I think its a lame idea

The first one I can think of your average jet skier gets in enough trouble during the day, and if you never rode jet skis ( and your average rider will only be able to ride for so long until they get tired. it took me months of riding every weekend and working out to get to the point where I could stay on the ski for a long time in rough water without getitng tired) they have a fatigue factor that boats really dont. I rode jet skis in a few local endurance races and I also rode for pleasure I took many a trip from Long beach to Catalina on a jet ski and I can tell you that UNLESS youre in shape ( and even then) fatigue will set in.
Combine that with a rough sea, darkness and a fatigued rider you have a recipie for disaster. legal or not its really not a smart thing to do IMO
Rob

 

[hbski]

Re: lights on pwc

But they dont have the safety devices that boats do
no horn
no lights ( granted unless you add them and you still need a rear pole light)
no flares or signaling devices ( i bet 99% of jet skiers have no idea what they are actually required to carry I didnt when i had them)
No throwable flotation device
No bailing system other than the syphon or the ( possibly if youre smart)added on electric bilge pump
There are many reasons jet skis shouldnt be allowed at night and I had them for years and I think its a lame idea

The first one I can think of your average jet skier gets in enough trouble during the day, and if you never rode jet skis ( and your average rider will only be able to ride for so long until they get tired. it took me months of riding every weekend and working out to get to the point where I could stay on the ski for a long time in rough water without getitng tired) they have a fatigue factor that boats really dont. I rode jet skis in a few local endurance races and I also rode for pleasure I took many a trip from Long beach to Catalina on a jet ski and I can tell you that UNLESS youre in shape ( and even then) fatigue will set in.
Combine that with a rough sea, darkness and a fatigued rider you have a recipie for disaster. legal or not its really not a smart thing to do IMO
Rob

Actually, since I ride in the ocean (and do the LB2CAT run as well), I do have flares, whistle, horn, VHF, GPS, compass, oars, first aid kit..... I also have the proper navagation lights for running at night and my Sea-Doo GTX is more like a small boat @ 11 feet and 850lbs. However, I don't ride in the ocean at night, and wouldn't go out on a lake at night if it were choppy, nor would I go far from shore nor without moonlight and definately wouldn't go much over idle. It's actually illegal to run a PWC at night in CA, but permissible in NV & AZ with the proper equipment.

I do agree that an alarming number of PWC riders are clueless idiots, but not all of us.

 

[Rob454]

Re: lights on pwc

Actually, since I ride in the ocean (and do the LB2CAT run as well), I do have flares, whistle, horn, VHF, GPS, compass, oars, first aid kit..... I also have the proper navagation lights for running at night and my Sea-Doo GTX is more like a small boat @ 11 feet and 850lbs. However, I don't ride in the ocean at night, and wouldn't go out on a lake at night if it were choppy, nor would I go far from shore nor without moonlight and definately wouldn't go much over idle. It's actually illegal to run a PWC at night in CA, but permissible in NV & AZ with the proper equipment.

I do agree that an alarming number of PWC riders are clueless idiots, but not all of us.

I didnt say all jet ski riders are unprepared. just most of them. For the first year I rode nobody told me I had to have things on my ski to be legal. I learned as I went.
Rob

 

[LoganMartin Boater]

Re: lights on pwc

I'm in Alabama and thought it was illegal to put lights on pwc's. I'm wrong and surprised. We have some of the strictest boating laws in the nation. I can see how fun it would be in a full moon environment, but it would be difficult for a boat to see you I would think. Especially, if you were stranded in the water broken down. I'm 50, I might would do it(a little more common sense) , doubt I'd let my 18 year old take the waverunner out at night. Dave

 

[eksitko]

Re: lights on pwc

As For PWC night time operation:
I have ridden my yamaha 1300 at night in my local area without lights, even if i added lights it would still be illegal.
The reason is, a PWC is not a boat, it has no sides to contain passengers. A boat is a vessel in wich the occupants sit inside. A PWC is a vessel that occupants sit on. That slight difference of sitting in or on is what dictates that PWC are not operated at night-time.
so you can put lights on them carry safety equipment etc..,but untill you build some freeboard into your PWC it must remain in port at night.