Before people actually buy a personal watercraft they often rent one from a Lake Powell boat rentals company. Personal watercrafts are boats less than 16 feet long that use internal combustion motors to power water jet pumps. There are many brands of personal watercraft, including Jet Ski®, Sea Doo®, Wave Runner®, Tiger Shark®, and Wet Jet®. There are mandatory boating safety courses associated with operating personal watercrafts, very often available online. Personal watercrafts are disproportionately involved in boating accidents, with many of these avoidable tragedies being caused by new operators who don’t keep a proper lookout or who operate recklessly.
 
Although they are preventable, personal watercraft accidents are often more serious than other kinds of boating accidents and frequently involve collisions with other vessels and result in concussions and other head trauma. A common danger of personal watercraft use (due to the need for vigorous physical activity) is that of dehydration, which actually impairs reaction time and awareness and increases the chance of accidents. Severe skin damage from the sun is also a common result of time spent on a personal watercraft.  Also, some injuries result when users get too close to the water in-take on the underside of the hull.
 
These are some basic guidelines that should always be followed when enjoying activities on Lake Powell, including personal watercraft rides.  Always wear a properly fitting, Coast-Guard-approved lifejacket; always use the provided engine-stop accessory (such as a lanyard around the wrist) that automatically shuts off the engine if you fall overboard; constantly  look for other boats, divers, skiers, and swimmers; keep a wide distance from the shoreline and other boats (at least 50 feet); never use waves and wakes as ramps; never operate under the influence of any amount of alcohol or drugs; always observe the local legal age limitations for operation; stay hydrated and sun-screened; don’t stand when in motion; stay away from the underside of the hull; and shut the engine off when people are in the water.
 
Most personal watercraft accidents occur with operators who are borrowing or renting the craft, suggesting that lack of knowledge and the unfamiliarity with the techniques and the etiquette of riding are contributing factors. If you’re lending your personal watercraft, it would be advisable to give a demonstration.  If you are renting, follow all rules, regulations, and instructions provided. Many operators do not know that personal watercrafts take considerable time and distance to come to a complete stop and that they can’t stop abruptly or be steered when the power is off.      
Other important things to remember include keeping advised of weather forecasts; learning the right-of-way rules; securing loose items in the boat; having a fire extinguisher; and having a spotter for watching skiers. When you’re ready to rent a personal watercraft from Lake Powell Offshore Marina, take the time to review the safety rules, and have fun!     

One of the questions people typically ask when discussing the exciting possibility of a family houseboat vacation from Lake Powell Bullfrog Marina is how much will it cost. A houseboat vacation is often less expensive than expected. Shared ownership of a houseboat is an excellent and affordable option for the majority of vacationers.  Shared, or fractional, houseboat ownership provides a cost-effective way to have access to a boat that is more luxurious and offers more amenities than a rental boat at a fraction of the cost of owning your own houseboat. Offshore Marina at Lake Powell offers all turn-around houseboat services for multi-owner houseboats stored in the Bullfrog area.  In addition to turn around services, Offshore Marina offers shared owners: houseboat storage, fueling service, and cleaning/repair/maintenance services at lower costs than Bullfrog Marina. Also, because many houseboats are large enough to hold a dozen or more people, three or four families can share the costs, making houseboating an extremely affordable, and memorable, vacation option.
 
In addition to services and storage of shared owners’ houseboats, Offshore Marina provides affordable rentals of ski boats, personal watercraft and water toys for Bullfrog Marina area vacationers. Because Offshore Marina has the premier boat service repair facility at Lake Powell, the fleet of rental watercraft is well maintained and frequently serviced.  In addition, life vests and ski ropes are available with any rental at no additional charge. Rentals are an affordable and popular addition to any boating trip, and it is important to reserve your rentals in advance to ensure availability.
 
Other than the houseboat and water-toy rental costs, additional costs to consider include groceries and fuel. Many houseboat enthusiasts find that bringing along frozen meals from home cuts the cost-and the cooking-while on the lake. The Grill and Store at Offshore Marina's Chevron provides a one stop shop for fuel, food, and souvenirs whether you’re headed home or just beginning your vacation.
 
A houseboat vacation is a surprisingly affordable vacation option and the perfect way to de-stress, experience Lake Powell, and enjoy friends, family, and sunshine. Lake Powell Bullfrog Marina is a perfect place from which to launch your houseboat vacation. For additional savings, check out the coupons and specials offered by Offshore Marina.

Perhaps this year you’re considering a new kind of vacation—a floating reunion—on a rented houseboat from Lake Powell Bullfrog Marina, or perhaps it may be your first summer as a new houseboat owner at Lake Powell. Families with no previous boating training are given plenty of on-hands instructions, orientation, and information in order to have wonderful vacation experiences at this beautiful, magical, memorable vacation spot. However, it’s always a good idea to brush up on some basic houseboat safety practices.

Some basic navigation dos and don’ts: do chill out, relax, and have a good time. Designate a backup navigator to go through the orientation with you. Keep alert and never operate under the influence—not even a bit. Do remember that your houseboat (that could weigh up to five tons and travel at 20 mph) has NO brakes and takes a lot of time and space to maneuver. Be very careful when approaching dock-like-things. You should practice using barely enough power to maintain steerageway (minimum speed with control). Finally, remember that turning the wheel of the houseboat causes the stern (or back of the boat) to react first (e.g. turn wheel to right—stern swings left).

Before leaving on your adventure, be sure to leave your float plan, itinerary,and phone number with someone on shore. When on the lake, it is very important to read the rules and regulations of the waterway and to learn the marking systems and signaling rules (e.g. when approaching, keep right); Remember that you are legally responsible for causing any wake damage, so MAKE NO WAKE (that means no waterskiing from the houseboat!); and do turn off your engine and generator when approaching swimmers, thus keeping them away from your propeller and avoiding carbon monoxide issues.           

Be sure to review the operating and safety procedures of the boat.  Immediately after boarding, ensure that everyone is aware of the location of safety equipment on board. Check fire extinguishers and know how to use them. Have every person find a proper-fitting life jacket, encourage low-level adult swimmers to wear theirs, and review the lifejacket rules with children and their parents. Demonstrate person-overboard procedures to your party and designate your most medical-savvy passenger as your first-aid attendant.

Before your departure, go over houseboat fueling instructions.  While fueling, remember that no one should be smoking or using an electrical appliance, a light, or pilot light. Be sure to keep all doors and windows shut while fueling so that gas vapors don’t get inside. Do ventilate with a blower before restarting the engine. Don’t tinker with the engine—leave that for mechanics. The experts at Offshore Marina have the know-how and experience to answer any questions you might have so that you can be prepared, be safe, and have fun on your house boating vacation.

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