The innovative personal watercraft loan program was developed in response to the growing awareness by the law enforcement community that the vessels are a useful enforcement tool. Manufacturers have loaned more than 13,000 watercraft (estimated retail value of $65 million) to hundreds of state and local law enforcement, rescue and boating education agencies.

Quick response is key in any type of emergency rescue. Around the nation, personal watercraft (PWC) are fast becoming the vessel of choice in water rescues. Since 1989, the manufacturing members of the Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA) have loaned almost 13,000 watercraft (estimated retail value of $65 million) to hundreds of law enforcement, rescue and boating education agencies. There is no cost to taxpayers for this program.

The PWC loan program was developed in response to the growing awareness by the law enforcement community that PWC are a useful enforcement tool. It is also a success because increasing financial limitations in many public safety agencies' budgets make the outright purchase of any new vessels a challenge.

PWC exhibit a number of unique safety features that make them ideally suited for rescue and enforcement situations. They are quick, maneuverable and have a shallow draft that allows for operation in areas where other boats can't go. Because there are no exposed propellers or other moving parts, the risk to a swimmer or victim is significantly reduced. Additionally, PWC are easily launched from almost anywhere, and they handle well in most rough water conditions.

Furthermore, their ability to be taken from "static to dynamic" gives rescuers the ability to follow the victim in waterallowing for repeated attempts at rescue.

Safe, reliable and able to be quickly deployed, the PWC is a "jack-of-all-trades" in water enforcement and rescues. Public safety agencies across the country depend on them for a wide variety of functions including:

• towing stranded boats
• pulling in tired swimmers
• searching for missing persons
• inspecting out-of-the-way waterways
• patrolling shallow lakes and rivers
• enforcing regulations in harbors and at marinas
• saving stranded surfers and sail boarders
• removing dangerous debris
• transporting paramedics

Lifeguards find PWC well suited for quick response in ocean or rough water conditions. In the time that it takes a lifeguard to swim to a rescue, a personal watercraft can be there and back. Response time is cut dramatically, and the watercraft's size and lack of propeller make it possible to come right up to a victim in the water.

Many law enforcement agencies use PWC for patrolling. They are stable enough to allow officers to stand up to observe the interior of a boat they are approaching -- an important consideration in law enforcement. And, since many boaters do not expect law enforcement officials to be riding PWC, officers are able to approach an illegal activity unnoticed. PWC are also more economical to operate than full-sized vessels, sometimes using one-quarter the gasoline of regular patrol boats. This is an attractive feature for most publicly funded agencies.

How to Participate in the Loan Program

It's simple! Get in touch with your local dealer who will initiate the loan. Please keep in mind that this program is not mandatory for dealers and, although most are enthusiastic, a dealer's ability to participate depends on his/her availability of appropriate watercraft. Dealers will need an original letter on agency letterhead addressed to them, that details the intended uses of the watercraft, and a statement that the insurance or indemnification coverage will be provided by your agency.

Your Agency Must Agree to the Following:

1. The watercraft will be used exclusively for purposes directly related to the agency's mission or role in patrol, enforcement, rescue or education;
2. The watercraft will be used exclusively by persons who have received qualified instruction in the operation of the watercraft;
3. Agency will exercise appropriate care to protect the watercraft from damage or deterioration;
4. Agency will return the watercraft to the dealer promptly at the end of the loan period;
5. Agency must provide and maintain, at its own expense, adequate Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability covering the use of the watercraft during the time the watercraft is in agency's possession.

Success Stories

Atlantic City, NJSix boaters, out on a sightseeing tour, were in danger of crashing into the pilings of a pier after their 18-foot inboard lost power. The lifeguard's quick thinking and PWC saved the passengers from harm and the boat from any damage. The lifeguard tied a line to his PWC to keep the boat from crashing while the boaters were put into a lifeguard boat and taken to shore.

Narrowsburg, NYCivil Air Patrol Cadets were canoeing the rapids of the Delaware River when a canoe with two cadets capsized. One cadet, injured from a bang against the rocks, was unable to free herself against the current. After a futile attempt from rangers stationed nearby to reach the cadet, a ranger on a PWC was radioed for help. The cadet was helped to the bank by the ranger on the PWC and was given medical attention for her injuries.

Duncansville, PA A 19-year-old amateur PWC champion was working in his father's shop when he got a call from the Fire Department saying that a family of four was trapped in rising flood waters. Conventional methods of rescue weren't working due to the current, and the department thought the champion might be able to maneuver his PWC through the waters. It didn't take much time for the young man to rescue all four members of the family. Two miles away a 16-year-old girl was swept off of a bridge and clung to bushes while 30-mph waters rushed over her. The young man again saved the victim from the flood waters using his PWC.

Marina, CAMarina Department of Public Safety Ocean Rescue Team members responded to a call from the southern coast of Monterey County to assist the Coast Guard in putting a fresh crew aboard one of their rescue craft that had been on an overnight rescue. The crew was exhausted and had a passenger that was badly injured. PWCs were launched in an area inaccessible by boat, and rescue team members were able to put a fresh crew on the Coast Guard boat and recover the injured passenger.

Ocean City, NJThe newly pumped 8th Street beach was dangerous for about ten swimmers when they were pulled away from the beach by the strong undertow. A lifeguard was about a block away when he was radioed for help. The lifeguard was able to pull up right next to the swimmers on his PWC and keep them safe until more lifeguards arrived for backup.

Kelowna, B.C. A young man on a PWC saved a family clinging to an overturned boat in seven-foot waves on Okanagan Lake. The man carried the small children to shore while a boat assisted in rescuing the parents. As soon as he returned to shore, he was sent out to rescue a windsurfer stuck in the middle of the lake.

Cedar Falls, IowaTwo children were wading in the Cedar River near the mouth of Snag Creek when a rush of water pushed them over. The children were able to climb into a tree until they could be rescued. Firefighters attempted to take a flatbed boat to the rescue, but were unable to make it through. A PWC was then used to maneuver to the children who were rescued without injury.

Lowry, VAA man and his girlfriend, were relaxing at Canary Beach when the man realized someone was struggling about 100 yards from shore. The man used his PWC to quickly get to the man who was exhausted trying to stay afloat. The rescuer towed the man to shore unharmed.

Huntington Beach, CAHuntington Beach city lifeguards received two PWCs and in six months used them in six rescues. One rescue in particular involved a PWC towing a boat that had drifted too close to shore after running out of gas.

Monroe Co., MIA man making a turn in his small boat fell overboard leaving two small children stranded inside the boat. The man couldn't reach the children who drifted about 400 yards away. Rescuers were alerted to the situation by people on the shore. A PWC was quick to get to the man and take him to safety, while other rescuers helped the children in the boat.

Seaside Park, NJAn East Rutherford man on a PWC saved four occupants of a sail boat who were lost in the water after their boat overturned on the bay. Rescuers received a call that people were in trouble, but when they got there the man had already saved the passengers.