News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2002
Personal Watercraft Sales Steady as Every Manufacturer Prepares
to Offer New Technology Four-Stroke Engines in 2003 Models
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.
# # #
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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