Jet skis, also known as personal water craft, were originally called water scooters. They were first developed around the mid -1950s in Europe and the UK. Around 1965, Clayton Jacobson II of Australia is widely believed to have developed the prototype of the jet ski as we know it today. Not surprisingly, Jacobson was an avid waterman and motocross enthusiast who quit his banking job to develop the water scooter. What made this different from other “boats” is that his water scooter had an internal pump-jet rather than an outboard motor. This was a good thing as the cost of boat rentals tend to be more expensive than that of a jet ski rental cost.
U.S. Coast Guard defines personal water craft as a jet drive boat that is less than 13 feet in length. Essentially, jet skis, or PWS, are recreational watercraft that a rider sits or stands on, and not inside of as in a traditional boat. Regardless of style, renting jet skis will be less than that of renting other traditional watercraft. The single seater stand up jet ski is usually used for tricks and racing and in competitions. The sit down variety typically holds two or more people and is usually used for more tame recreation.
There are many non-recreational uses for jet skis as well. For instance, because they do not have external propellers, they are safer for wildlife and swimmers, and so are preferred over small motorboats for use in rescues. FEMA uses them in flood rescues and lifeguards for some potential drowning situations. Because they are economical, fast and maneuverable, law enforcement uses them in many cases as well. The U.S. Navy likes about them that they are remotable and do not take up a great deal of storage space. For all these reasons, jet skis have become very popular in all types of fishing, in fact, jet ski or PW fishing is the fastest growing segment in the industry. Especially for commerce and law enforcement use, businesses prefer to buy their watercraft rather than continually incur the expense of renting.
Rental cost will vary depending on various factors such as location, type and duration of rental. Because of the potential speed, most rental venues will require the driver to be either over 21 or possess a boating safety education certificate. Safety equipment is usually included in the rental cost. On average, jet ski rental cost is between $50.00 and $100.00 for one half hour, though for an hour it will cost you in the lower to mid $100.00 range.
