Introduction

PERSONAL WATER CRAFT

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 INTRODUCTION

More than 20 years have elapsed since our personal watercraft (hereinafter the “PWC”)
first appeared on the market, and now the PWC has become a product that occupies a
major place in the world of marine pleasure just like outboards and motorboats.
The increasing opportunities for the use of the PWC by people are accompanied by the
increasing needs for more of the product knowledge of the PWC and its servicing
techniques and skills. And we, who handle our own PWC, should commit ourselves to
enhancing the product reliability through improved servicing skills and user
enlightenment of safety.
This book has been produced as a textbook for those PWC servicemen who receive
Marine YTA training. The text contains important basics that are required to better
understand the engines, propellers, hulls, and so on that are involved in the PWC.
Therefore, you are requested to carefully read and understand the contents of this
textbook so you will be knowledgeable enough to win customer reliance. Also if,
together with this book, you use the CAI (Computer Aided Instructions) containing
animation, we assure you that you will be able to get further and more effective learning
and knowledge.

Marine Business Operations

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.

YTA PWC Text

Issued in December 2008

All rights reserved
memo Compiled and issued by:
Marine Business Operations
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
 WHAT WE LEARN IN VOLUME
INTRODUCTION
This volume gives an extensive discussion of the
environments, structures, features, etc. involved in
PWC. It also gives the least possible amount of the
rules and manners you must observe in the marine
industry.

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 CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 4
WHAT IS PWC? HISTORY AND LINEUP
INTRODUCTION……….………………....…1-1 INTRODUCTION……….………………....…4-1
WHAT WE LEARN IN CHAPTER 1…....1-1 WHAT WE LEARN IN CHAPTER 4…....4-1
DEFINITION OF PWC…...………….…...1-2 HISTORY AND LINEUP...………….…...4-2
WHAT IS PWC?………….………..…1-2 HISTORY OF YAMAHA PWC…...…4-2
RIDING STYLE……….………….…..1-3 2008 LINEUP………….………….…..4-3
FIELDS IN WHICH THE PWC PLAYS AN
ACTIVE ROLE………………………….…...1-6
PLAY FIELDS……..…….…...………......1-6
STORAGE FIELD……………………......1-7 CHAPTER 5
MARITIME RULES AND
MANNERS
CHAPTER 2
INTRODUCTION ………………………...…5-1
STRUCTURE
WHAT WE LEARN IN CHAPTER 5.…...5-1
CAPTAIN'S RESPONSIBILITIES………....5-2
INTRODUCTION ………………………...…2-1
CAPTAIN'S RESPONSIBILITIES.....5-2
WHAT WE LEARN IN CHAPTER 2.…...2-1
SAFETY AND MANNERS…………..…..5-2
STRUCTURE OF PWC……….………...2-2
LAW………………………………..………....5-4
ENGINE……………………….……....2-2
RULES OF THE ROADS.………..……..5-4
FUEL / INTAKE SYSTEM………..……..2-2
EMISSION REGULATIONS…..………....5-5
LUBRICATION……...……………..……..2-2
IN THE US MARINE INDUSTRY .……..5-5
EXHAUST SYSTEM…….………..……..2-2
IN THE EUROPEAN MARINE
COOLING SYSTEM……..………..……..2-3
INDUSTRY………………………………..5-6
BILGE SYSTEM……..……..……..……..2-3
ELECTRIC SYSTEM…..……..…..……..2-3
JET PUMP UNIT…..……..………..……..2-3
PWC BODY……….……..………..……..2-4

CHAPTER 3
MARKET
INTRODUCTION………………………....…3-1
WHAT WE LEARN IN CHAPTER 3.…...3-1
PWC MARKET……………………...…..3-2
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SALES QUANTITIES
TRANSITION…………………………3-2
SALES QUANTITIES
DISTRIBUTION…………………………3-2
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 INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1. WHAT IS PWC?
INTRODUCTION
WHAT WE LEARN IN CHAPTER 1
In this chapter we will learn about the definition of
the PWC and the fields in which the PWC is used.

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 DEFINITION OF PWC

DEFINITION OF PWC
WHAT IS PWC?
PWC stands for Personal Watercraft. It presents an
appearance quite different from those of common
boats. It takes in water from the craft's bottom and
jets out the water with forth out of the stern, thereby
achieving propulsion. You straddle a PWC as on a
motorcycle while riding it and shift your weight
when making turns.

1. Size
The PWC is built of a body of quite a small size for
its engine, thus contributing to its excellent dynamic
performance.

2. Appearance
The PWC is a vehicle that is contrived so that it can
run on the water freely like a motorcycle on land.
You can imagine its appearance with the chassis
and tires of a motorcycle replaced by a hull

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 DEFINITION OF PWC
3. PWC Bottom
The PWC bottom is free from such projection as
can be found on the bottom of an ordinary boat.
This enables a PWC to run in waters as shallow as
about 60cm deep.

RIDING STYLE
You straddle the seat like a motorcycle while riding
a PWC. The riding technique is much the same as
that of a motorcycle except that the PWC features
the dynamic performance of a boat.

1. Riding style
The sitting posture in which you straddle it like a
motorcycle and the standing posture in which you
take an erect posture on it.

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 DEFINITION OF PWC
2. Operating the PWC
Steering the handlebars allows a PWC to change
its course, which can be done more quickly with
your weight shifting as on a motorcycle.

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 DEFINITION OF PWC
3. Vehicle capacity
The PWC allows one to 4 person to ride on it.

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 FIELDS IN WHICH THE PWC PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE
FIELDS IN WHICH THE PWC
PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE
PLAY FIELDS
The PWC is a vehicle that features very excellent
dynamic performance. This feature makes PWC
very popular among people on seas, rivers, and
lakes across the world. PWC are also popular
items on the list of rentals because they are
relatively easy to operate. The PWC features
another advantage of being capable of access in
immediate proximity to a drowning person in the
water and is thus used for life-saving at sea etc.
1. Pleasure
The most prominent field in which the PWC is used
is that of pleasure. The sense of speed and brisk
turning performance offered by the PWC makes it a
popular vehicle on seas, lakes, and rivers.

2. Rescue
Rescue on the waters is the PWC strong point. The
PWC bottom is free from any projections, which
protects a person to be rescued from being injured
by such projections. What is more, the PWC can
run even in shallow waters, which makes it possible
to attempt rescue in almost any places.

3. Rental
For promotion of marine-related pleasures, marinas
and marine shops rent out PWC to people who
want to enjoy marine pastime.

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 FIELDS IN WHICH THE PWC PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE
STORAGE FIELD
The PWC, which is compact in size and light in
weight, can be carried easily by car, with no need to
store it near the beach.Thus, many of such PWC
are kept in inland shops or at home.
When a PWC is towed by car, a specific trailer is
used. This trailer can be used for storage purposes
or an up-down rack.

1. Marina
Places like marinas, where they keep a lot of PWC,
use racks for storage.

2. Shop
Some marine shops also keep PWC of their
customers. According to access to the planing area,
these PWC are kept either in a set with a trailer or
on a rack.

3. Home storage
Unlike a boat, a PWC can be carried easily by car,
so many people keep their PWC at home.

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 FIELDS IN WHICH THE PWC PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE

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 INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 2. STRUCTURE
INTRODUCTION
WHAT WE LEARN IN CHAPTER 2
In this chapter we will learn about the structural
features of the PWC as we compare them with
those of the motorcycle.

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 STRUCTURE OF PWC

STRUCTURE OF PWC
ENGINE
The engine mounted on a PWC is based on a
motorcycle one. The direction of power
transmission is different on a PWC from that on a
motorcycle. There are no differences in the basic
units such as the cylinder block, except for
accessories like the intake/ exhaust system, cooling
system, etc. which are substantially different.

FUEL / INTAKE SYSTEM

The basic structure of a PWC is the same as that of
a motorcycle, but the greatest concern with a PWC
is how its fuel or intake system should be drained of
the water coming into it so that it can be properly
run on the water.

LUBRICATION
The lubrication design for a PWC, which is basically
the same as in a motorcycle, utilizes a dry sump
system because of use on the water.

EXHAUST SYSTEM
The PWC is used on the water, it may have water
flow back into its engine through the exhaust pipe.
Therefore, the PWC requires a system of
preventing such a back-flow. In addition, as the
exhaust pipe gets very hot, it may cause a hazard
in the closed watertight engine room unless it is
provided with proper heat insulation. For insulation
from such heat, water is shed around the exhaust
pipe to cool it off, thereby contributing to a safe
running environment.

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 STRUCTURE OF PWC
COOLING SYSTEM
Water is used to cool off the engine because the
PWC is run on the water. Part of the water spurting
out of the jet pump is guided into the engine room
as cooling water. This cooling water is utilized not
only for the engine but also for the exhaust pipe
and engine oil that get hot during operation.

BILGE SYSTEM
The engine room has trapped in it the water that
came in together with air. This water is called bilge,
and the structure that drains this bilge is a bilge
drain device. The PWC is equipped with a bilge
drain device making use of an electric motor or a jet
of water.

ELECTRIC SYSTEM
The basic structure of the electric system of the
PWC is the same as that of a motorcycle. The
PWC electric system is designed, however, not to
be easily affected by water that may cause rust or
poor contact.

JET PUMP UNIT

This pump unit is a device that develops propelling
force for the PWC. This unit draws in the water
around it and jets it out backward for propulsion of
the PWC.

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 STRUCTURE OF PWC
PWC BODY
The PWC body is built of light and strong FRP.
FRP tends to largely give in and is easily subjected
to concentric load, so it is devised to be of a shape
and structure that will disperse the load.

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 INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 3. MARKET
INTRODUCTION
WHAT WE LEARN IN CHAPTER 3
In this chapter we will learn about the PWC market.

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 PWC MARKET
PWC MARKET
SALES QUANTITIES TRANSITION
1. YAMAHA sales quantities transition
The annual demand for PWC levels off at 110
thousand units with a more or less increase and
decrease. Of those units, Yamaha products
account for an approximately 40% share.

2. 4-st, 2-st models sales quantities transition

This graph shows Yamaha sales over the past
three years. 4-stroke models represent the
mainstream of the sales accounting for more than
80% of the total units sold.

SALES QUANTITIES DISTRIBUTION

The main PWC market is the USA, but PWC are
sold in almost all advanced countries.

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 INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 4. HISTORY AND
LINEUP
INTRODUCTION
WHAT WE LEARN IN CHAPTER 4
In this chapter we will learn about the PWC history
and its line of products.

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 HISTORY AND LINEUP
HISTORY AND LINEUP
HISTORY OF YAMAHA PWC
Ever since its release of the world's first sitting-type
PWC, Yamaha has launched a variety of PWC.
These PWC have gone through big changes
especially in their engines - starting with a 2-stroke
twin cylinder, then a 2-stroke 3-cylinder, and then a
4-stroke - and now even with an engine using a
supercharger.

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 HISTORY AND LINEUP

2008 LINEUP
The 2008 lineup includes three 2-stroke models
and four 4-stroke models.

1. 2-stroke

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 HISTORY AND LINEUP

2. 4-stroke

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 HISTORY AND LINEUP

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 HISTORY AND LINEUP

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 INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 5. MARITIME
RULES AND MANNERS
INTRODUCTION
WHAT WE LEARN IN CHAPTER 5
In this chapter we will learn about the necessary
knowledge of operating a PWC as well as about the
maritime rules and manners including those for
PWC.

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 CAPTAIN'S RESPONSIBILITIES
CAPTAIN'S RESPONSIBILITIES
CAPTAIN'S RESPONSIBILITIES
Both small PWC and large tankers must observe
the same maritime rules at sea. In this respect,
therefore, both a PWC operator and a tanker's
captain are equal in their responsibility and
authority. Also note that if you should meet with any
trouble at sea, you will find no one or no means you
can turn to for help around you. The captain must
make judgment about everything and decide what
to do with it. You can't afford to excuse yourself by
saying, 'This is only a PWC ...' or 'I was only
playing ...'

SAFETY AND MANNERS

If you don't observe the maritime manners, you will
not only cause trouble to others but will endanger
your own safety. You must carefully watch your
manners for a safe ride.
●Be careful not to spill gasoline or oil.
●Don' go too fast.
●When taking a PWC touring, don' go alone but
with others.
●You give way first to a sail boat or dingy
approaching you.
●When going out on the sea, head straight out to
sea.
●Make sure that you stay away from the bathing
area.
●There may be someone swimming around your
moored PWC, so be careful about such a person.
●Don't race your PWC without load on a sand
beach. It will be a nuisance to others.
●Run slowly around a small boat so as not to
make waves.
●Be careful when riding in shallow waters because
divers may be there.
●Keep good distance from a fishing boat without
making waves around it.
●Be sure to slow down when going into or out of
the bay.
●Watch out for the fixed net close to the entrance
to the bay.

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 CAPTAIN'S RESPONSIBILITIES

●Remember to be considerate when coming by

car, too.
When you come by care, remember that illegal or
nuisance parking is outrageous. Enjoy your marine
jet ride to your heart's content leaving your car in
the specified parking place. Also be careful not to
do damage to vegetation or protected animals
when you come by four-wheeler or the like.
●Beautiful sea is best !
You don't feel good looking at the sea covered with
trash.
Don't leave your own trash but take it back with you.
In addition, if you find empty cans or cigarette buts,
gather them together. Each of you should
remember to keep the sea clean without causing
any trouble with people in the neighborhood.

1. Safety
For extra care about safety in riding your PWC, pay
attention to the following.
・Read the instruction manual.
・Listen to the weather forecast.
・Carry out pre-operation check.
・Ride in a proper apparel.
And so on.

2. Manners
If you don't observe the maritime manners, you will
not only inconvenience others but also endanger
your own safety.
・Don't ride under the influence of alcohol.
・Never ride into a bathing or swimming area.
・Don't ride close to anglers or divers.
・Don't ride close to a residential area.
・Don't throw trash while riding.
・Don't ride after sunset or before sunrise.
And so on. Strictly observe the maritime manners
for a safe ride.

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 LAW
LAW
RULES OF THE ROADS
1. Case 1
On the sea any and all boats and ships must in
principle keep to the right. This is a universal traffic
rule on the sea. In the case of a burdened boat,
there are three principles that it must follow. They
are called three principles of give-way navigation.
・Do not cross the route along which another boat
is heading.
・Keep well clear of another boat.
・Start keeping well clear of another boat as early
as possible.

2. Case 2

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 EMISSION REGULATIONS
3. Privileged (Right of way)
Various types of boats are traveling on the water.In
principle, therefore, a boat with greater freedom of
operation should try to keep clear of a boat with
less freedom of operation.
Right of way on the water
1. Boat of limited operation performance/ boat with
less operational freedom
2. Boat engaged in fish catching
3. Sailboat
4. Motorized boat

EMISSION REGULATIONS
Efforts began to be made to work on marine
emission control in the end of the 20th century. The
US and EU have respectively established their own
emission regulations, so the marine products sold
in these countries must comply with the respective
regulations there.

IN THE US MARINE INDUSTRY

US emission regulations include those set and
enforced by the EPA and CARB respectively. The
EPA regulations are compulsory in the US other
than in California and are designed to reduce the
total amount of HC + Nox emissions in 2006 to 25%
of the amount achieved in 1997. The CARB
regulations are set and enforced specifically in
California, which are more rigid than the EPA
counterparts.

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 EMISSION REGULATIONS
1. Star label
The CARB regulations consist of three grades with
an affixing star label provided for each of the
grades.

IN THE EUROPEAN MARINE INDUSTRY

The emissions regulations in EU prescribe the
amount of emissions allowed for each of HC, CO,
and Nox. Any model sold must meet the
requirements for the prescribed emission amount.
The prescription for HC and CO varies acceding to
the engine power but not for Nox.

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