You are here
Personal Watercraft Safety Data
| Year | Fatalities | Injured persons | Accidents(a) | Sales | Number in use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 5 | 156 | 376 | 29,000 | 92,756 |
| 1988 | 20 | 254 | 650 | 48,000 | 126,881 |
| 1989 | 20 | 402 | 844 | 64,000 | 178,510 |
| 1990 | 28 | 532 | 1,162 | 72,000 | 241,376 |
| 1991 | 26 | 708 | 1,513 | 68,000 | 305,915 |
| 1992 | 34 | 730 | 1,650 | 79,000 | 372,283 |
| 1993 | 35 | 915 | 2,236 | 107,000 | 454,545 |
| 1994 | 56 | 1,338 | 3,002 | 142,000 | 600,000 |
| 1995 | 68 | 1,617 | 3,986 | 200,000 | 760,000 |
| 1996 | 57 | 1,837 | 4,099 | 191,000 | 900,000 |
| 1997 | 84 | 1,812 | 4,070 | 176,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 1998 | 78 | 1,743 | 3,607 | 130,000 | 1,180,000 |
| 1999 | 66 | 1,614 | 3,374 | 106,000 | 1,200,000 |
| 2000 | 68 | 1,580 | 3,268 | 92,000 | 1,230,000 |
| 2001 | 50 | 1,424 | 2,562 | 80,900 | 1,220,000 |
| 2002 | 71 | 1,362 | 2,225 | 79,300 | 1,220,000 |
| 2003 | 57 | 1,228 | 1,994 | 80,600 | 1,170,000 |
| 2004 | 56 | 952 | 1,664 | 79,500 | 1,250,000 |
| 2005 | 65 | 1,007 | 1,692 | 80,200 | 1,230,000 |
| 2006 | 68 | 919 | 1,631 | 82,200 | 1,190,000 |
| 2007 | 67 | 982 | 1,655 | 79,900 | 1,190,000 |
| 2008 | 45 | 920 | 1,459 | 62,600 | 1,240,000 |
| 2009 | 42 | 878 | 1,332 | 44,500 | 1,330,000 |
| 2010 | 38 | 776 | 1,221 | 41,600 | 1,270,000 |
| 2011 | 44 | 764 | 1,158 | 42,900 | 1,270,000 |
| 2012 | 58 | 721 | 1,111 | 38,500 | 1,250,000 |
| 2013 | 36 | 601 | 954 | 39,400 | 1,270,000 |
| 2014 | 34 | 592 | 891 | 47,900 | 1,200,000 |
Personal watercraft are less than 13 feet in length and are designed to be operated by a person or persons sitting, standing, or kneeling on the craft rather than within the confines of the hull.
Watercraft Number in use and Sales are estimates.
a Total vessels involved.
Fatalities, injuries, and accidents:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard, Office of Boating Safety, Boating Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual Issues), table 19 and similar tables in earlier editions, available at http://uscgboating.org/statistics/accident_statistics.php as of Sept. 15, 2015.
Sales:
1987-90: Personal Watercraft Industry Association, available at http://www.pwia.org/faq/ as of June 19, 2000.
1991-2013: National Marine Manufacturers Association, Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract (Annual Issues), table 3.1 and similar tables in earlier editions, available at http://www.nmma.org/statistics/publications/statisticalabstract.aspx as of Sept. 19, 2014.
Use:
1987-96: National Marine Manufacturers Association, data compiled by the United States Coast Guard, personal communications.
1997-98: Ibid., available at http://www.nmma.org/facts/boatingstats/statistic98.html as of June 19, 2000.
1999-2013: National Marine Manufacturers Association, Recreational Boating Statistical Abstract (Annual Issues), table 1.3 and similar tables in earlier editions, available at http://www.nmma.org/statistics/publications/statisticalabstract.aspx as of Sept. 19, 2014.
