Statistics showing relative risk of a serious accident among verious types of watercraft, as compiled by California Dept. of Boating and Waterways.

Despite the preponderance of evidence implicating PWC (jetskis) and other thrillcraft, California's new mandatory boater education and licensing law is being crafted to exempt rental thrillcraft from the full education and testing requirements called for by the bill. The same industry lobbyists who demand the rental exemptions would like to apply the new education requirements to non-motorized kayaks, canoes and sailing dingies. RBOC (Recreational Boaters of California), apparently showing its true colors as a shill for the powerboat industry, seems to have bought into the deal.

More commentary on State Assembly Bill AB 1458 is at www.BerkeleyWaterfront.org/1458

previous photo - - - - - - - - - - - - next photo