Law May Dampen Personal Watercraft Thrills Starting Monday, Rentals Come With Warning About Speed Limits
Jumping wakes is one of the most exhilarating maneuvers on a personal watercraft, owners say.
People who regularly ride their personal watercraft on Lake Coeur d’Alene know they’ll break the law if they get closer than 100 feet to a boat.
In fact, county law requires that boaters go no faster than 15 miles per hour within 100 feet of another boat. It also requires no wake when within 100 feet of a dock or other structure, the shore or a person in the water.
Still, breaking those rules is one of the most common crimes committed by operators of personal watercraft on the lake, Kootenai County marine deputies say.
“One thing you’ll hear is they weren’t aware of it,” said Deputy Dwayne Butz.
As of Monday, anyone renting a personal watercraft on Lake Coeur d’Alene - or any other lake in Idaho - will convince no one with that excuse.
That’s when a new state law goes into effect that requires businesses that rent personal watercraft to inform clients of state laws. One new law is nearly identical to Kootenai County’s distance limitations.
In addition, Kootenai County has placed similar rules on boats along the Spokane River. Boats on the river can come within 50 feet from another boat before reducing speed to 15 miles per hour.
“That’s going to really affect the river out there,” Butz said.
“It’s sometimes like a freeway.”
Rental clients now have to sign a form stating they’ve been informed of the state laws and carry that form with them on their watercraft. The form includes a description of the person authorized as operator to keep customers from loaning the craft to friends.
“It’s going to make it easier on us,” said Deputy L.E. Peterson.
But not on J&J Jetsports Jetski Island, a rental business that operates off The Coeur d’Alene Resort boardwalk.
“Now I have to read this to everybody,” said Brian White, an employee, holding up a long list of rules and regulations.
“We’ve got to have the forms on them and they’ve got to watch the video.”
The Idaho state Parks and Recreation Department is sending all rental businesses a short video made by a personal watercraft company that explains safe operation of the machines.
Although J&J Jetsports is supposed to be showing it on Monday, its owners don’t expect to receive the video until later in the week.
White and his boss, Mark Janes, said they already give good instructions to their clients.
“We’re pretty strict, too,” White said. “There is no second warning.”
Just because personal watercraft riders can’t get too close to other boats doesn’t mean they can’t have fun.
“I generally stay on the second or third wake back,” said Steve Garaylde of Blanchard, after being stopped by marine deputies Saturday for coming too close to the 100-foot limit.
“You can’t generally jump on the first one anyway,” he said. “It’s too much whitewater.”
Garaylde was given a warning and a safety inspection before he sped off to jump more choppy waves.
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