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The Fascinating History of Personal Watercraft

Jul. 19 2022 Buying Guide By Jet Ski of Miami

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Personal watercraft, or PWC, have a very interesting history. They were only developed in the latter part of the 20th century, so they’re still a relatively new marine product. If you’ve ever been curious about how personal watercraft came into existence, this history will get you up to speed. Share some of your favorite facts with fellow riders!

Early Days

Europe was the first place where the idea for a PWC came into existence. Tiny “water scooters” were made on a small scale that could be ridden around, but they weren’t very powerful. It was only when Norwegian-American inventor Clayton Jacobson II was considering a recent motorcycle crash he had experienced that a new type of PWC was developed. Jacobson felt that being able to get the same adrenaline rush as a motorcycle, but on the water, could be a lot safer for riders, since it wouldn’t hurt to fall into the water. So he developed multiple prototypes of stand-up and sit-down personal watercraft during the 1960s.

Bombardier Recreational Products, the manufacturer behind Ski-Doo® snowmobiles, took one of his designs and created the Sea-Doo®, a large yellow sit-down PWC that was bulky and not incredibly practical. So personal watercraft went back to the drawing board during the 1970s.

1980s Advances

PWC really took off during the 1980s, when multiple manufacturers came onto the scene to release their own models. Kawasaki® released their popular JET-SKI® during this decade, while Yamaha® created their WaveRunner® PWC. Sea-Doo® even re-entered the game with updated models that were sleeker and faster than before.

Today’s PWC come in such a wide range of options that you can find one to suit nearly any type of riding you want to do. Whether you work as a Coast Guard rescuer or you simply want to cruise around the water having fun, there’s a personal watercraft for you.

Stop by our Miami, FL, dealership location to check out our selection of new and used PWC for sale. Jet Ski of Miami is proud to serve our customers in Hialeah, FL.