FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 31, 2006

Contact:
Elinore Boeke, 202-737-9768
Brian Berry, 202-777-3524

Summer Boating: Personal Watercraft Sales Grow; PWC Accidents Still
Decline

More Boaters Turn to Family-Friendly, Environmentally-Friendly PWC to
Enjoy the Water

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The 2006 summer boating season is coming to an end,
and the personal watercraft industry takes great pride that boaters
continue to turn to personal watercraft (PWC) as their boating choice,
and accidents continue to decline.

According to United States Coast Guard statistics, in 2004 "the
number of reported injuries involving PWC use continued along a
downward trend and has decreased every year since 1996."(1) The
Coast Guard data shows there has been a 59 percent decrease in PWC
accidents from 1996 to 2004, and more than 99 percent of PWC are
operated accident-free.(2) Meanwhile, the total population of
registered PWC in the United States and the sale of new units continue
to rise and have steadily increased for the past several years. In
2005, 1.55 million PWC were in use in the U.S., up 58 percent since
1996.(3)

"As a boater myself," said Maureen Healey, Executive Director of
PWIA, "I was initially concerned that summer gas prices might impact
the amount of time people would spend on the water, but I am pleasantly
surprised at the number of boats we see each and every day on the
water."

Mandatory boater safety education and strict enforcement of boating
laws are critical to improving safety on the water and reducing the
number of boating accidents, according to PWIA and others in the
boating safety community. "PWIA works tirelessly to enact state laws
to require PWC operators to first pass a safety course before leaving
the dock," said Healey. "With 35 states having adopted all or part
of our model legislation, it's clear our efforts are making a
difference to reduce the number of PWC accidents.

As PWC-related accidents continue to decline, sales of new PWC have
been strong, since 2002 hovering around 80,000 PWC units sold each
year. Three-passenger models have contributed significantly to this
climb and account for the vast majority of PWC on the water today and
nearly 90 percent of all sales in 2005. The more fuel-efficient,
environmentally-friendly four-stroke models also dominate the
marketplace, accounting for at least 80 percent of sales.(4)

Analyses are predicting continuing increases in 2006.(5) A national
study conducted in May 2006 by the Recreational Marine Research Center
and National Marine Manufacturers Association suggested the forecast
may be on the right path. The study found that 94 percent of boaters
planned on hitting the water this past summer despite rising gas
prices, and overall boating participation actually increased by 2.3
million boaters in 2005, to 71.3 million. (6)

"Rising gas prices have not deterred many boaters from enjoying the
water as some might have expected," said Healey. "We are seeing
that many boaters are turning to personal watercraft because they are
remarkably fuel efficient, less expensive and easier to maintain than
larger, costlier boats."

PWC have also been increasingly utilized by many public safety and
rescue organizations. Since 1989, more than 15,000 vessels have been
loaned through manufacturers and their local dealerships to law
enforcement, fire and rescue, and marine mammal research organizations
across America. If calculated at the 2005 average retail price of
$9,495 per PWC, manufacturers' investment in this program has
exceeded $142 million.


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1) U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard,
"Executive Summary Boating Statistics - 2004", Boating Statistics
(2004).
2) U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard,
Boating Statistics (1996).
3) National Marine Manufacturers Association, 2005 Recreational Boating
Statistical Abstract.
4) Dave Crocker, "2005 U.S. PWC sales climb 10%," PowerSports
Business (November 14, 2005).
5) Jeff Hemmel, "PWC on the Rebound," Boating Industry: In the News
(July 2006).
6) NMMA, op cit

PWIA represents the four manufacturers of personal
watercraft-American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AquaTrax®); BRP US Inc.
(Sea-Doo®); Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (JET SKI®); and Yamaha
Motor Corp., U.S.A. (WaveRunner®). As a result of remarkable
technological advancements, modern personal watercraft are up to 90
percent cleaner and 70 percent quieter than those produced prior to
1998. PWIA advocates for states to implement reasonable guidelines
such as mandatory boating safety education for PWC users, a minimum age
of 16 to operate a PWC, use only during daylight hours, the
establishment of no-wake zones, and strict enforcement of boating
safety and navigation laws. Model legislation and other information on
personal watercraft can be viewed at www.pwia.org.

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