Contact: Elinore Boeke, 202-721-1621
Brian Berry, 202-777-3524
Washington, DC ¾ Personal watercraft sales appear to be stabilizing, according to new figures compiled by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). Data from NMMA show that sales are down just two percent for the 12-month period ending September 30, 2002 with 79,500 units sold. There were 81,400 units sold in the same period last year, making this the smallest sales decline since personal watercraft (PWC) sales peaked in 1995 with sales of 200,000.
This positive news comes on the heels of announcements by all five manufacturers that they will offer efficient four-stroke engines in 2003 models of personal watercraft (PWC). Four-stroke marine engines are recognized as one of the "greenest” engine types on the water today, but they are not the only way to reduce marine engine emissions. Manufacturers also offer PWC with direct-injection (DI) two-stroke, and electronic-fuel injected (EFI) plus catalyst two-stroke engines, which are nearly equivalent to four-stroke models in terms of emissions reductions.
As seven units of the national park system temporarily close their gates to personal watercraft on November 7th while they complete environmental studies on the impact of these motorboats, PWC manufacturers are proud to offer one of the most "environmentally friendly" choices for motorized recreational boating. "We welcome scrutiny of our technology," said Kirsten Rowe, executive director of the Personal Watercraft Industry Association. All of the parks that have released their draft assessments are recommending continued PWC use.
Modern marine engine technology is important to the PWC industry because it addresses many of the issues cited by industry critics, such as emissions and sound. These engines are as much as 75 percent cleaner than conventional two-stroke engines, surpassing the most stringent EPA and California emissions requirements, while saving consumers as much as $1,000 annually on fuel and oil costs. In addition, sound levels have been reduced by 70 percent compared to traditional, carbureted two-stroke engines. Those who have ridden newer PWC describe the engine sound as a “purr.”
"Makers of personal watercraft have long been committed to change," explained Rowe. "They have directed their resources to create some of the cleanest and quietest motorized boats on the water today." Modern PWC are years ahead of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2006 standards, achieving in less than a decade the magnitude of emissions reductions that took the auto industry twenty-five years to accomplish.
"We’ve responded to consumer calls for more environmentally-friendly engines, so that modern PWC are cleaner and quieter than ever,” continued Rowe. “PWC are a responsible part of the boating community, offering an economical alternative to larger powerboats for families who want to spend time together on the water.”
"We urge our critics to drop their vicious ban-PWC misinformation campaigns in favor of working cooperatively with the recreational boating community to effectively address the concerns facing our nation’s public parks and waterways,” said Rowe.
The National Survey on Recreation and the Environment 2000 reports that 20 million Americans enjoy PWC each year. Ninety-nine percent of all personal watercraft sold today are multi-passenger vessels, with three- and four-seat models the fastest-growing segment of the industry. The average buyer is around age 40. These are family vessels, purchased by families who want to spend a day together on the water, and have found PWC to be affordable, approachable, and easy to store, transport, and maintain. According to U.S. Coast Guard figures, more than 99 percent of PWCs are enjoyed accident-free each year.
Safe and responsible operation is a priority for the personal watercraft industry. PWIA actively advocates for states to set a minimum age of 16 to operate a PWC, mandatory education for all PWC users, and other regulations. Makers of personal watercraft also support strict enforcement of navigation and safety laws, and have loaned more than 13,000 PWC to law enforcement agencies for on-water patrols and search and rescue activities.
More information on personal watercraft is available at www.pwia.org.
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National Recreation Areas (park units) scheduled to temporarily prohibit PWC on November 6th:
Amistad NRA (TX)
Bighorn Canyon NRA (MT)
Chickasaw NRA (OK)
Curecanti NRA (CO)
Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ)
Lake Meredith NRA (TX)
Lake Roosevelt NRA (WA)
Lake Mead NRA (AZ/NV) - January 1, 2003
Manufacturers of Personal Watercraft
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AquaTrax) www.hondamotorcycles.com/watercraft
Bombardier Recreational Products (Sea-Doo) www.seadoo.com
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (JET SKI) www.kawasaki.com
Polaris Industries Inc. (Genesis, Virage) www.polarisindustries.com
Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. (WaveRunner) www.yamaha-motor.com
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PWIA Organization:
Web site: www.pwia.com
Source page: http://www.pwia.org/news2002/110202.htm