Safety Policy

Effective Date: May 28, 2026

Safety is a condition of every rental, guided ride, and tour with Englewood Jet Ski. Jet skis are powerful personal watercraft, and every guest is expected to follow Florida law, posted waterway rules, staff instructions, and the operating boundaries provided before departure.

By booking, checking in, riding as a passenger, or operating a jet ski, you agree to follow this Safety Policy. Failure to follow safety rules may result in refusal of service, early termination of the ride, removal from the water, and loss of riding privileges.

1. Required Safety Briefing

Every renter, operator, and potential operator must participate in the required pre-ride safety briefing before leaving the launch area. This applies even if the guest has prior boating or jet ski experience.

The safety briefing may include, but is not limited to:

How to start, stop, steer, slow down, and safely control the jet ski.
How to use the engine cut-off switch and safety lanyard.
How to keep a safe distance from boats, docks, swimmers, other jet skis, kayaks, paddleboards, and wildlife.
How to follow idle-speed, no-wake, slow-speed, and manatee-zone signs.
Where guests are allowed to ride and which areas are off limits.
What to do if weather changes, visibility drops, equipment issues occur, or someone falls off.
Emergency procedures and how to contact staff when assistance is needed.

2. Life Jackets Are Required

Every person operating, riding on, or being towed behind a personal watercraft must wear a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved, non-inflatable wearable life jacket at all times while on the water.

Life jackets must remain fastened while riding.
Inflatable life jackets are not allowed for jet ski use.
Guests may not remove, loosen, exchange, or misuse life jackets while on the water.
Children may ride only when they can wear a properly fitted life jacket and safely remain seated for the full ride.
Englewood Jet Ski staff may refuse or stop a ride if a properly fitted life jacket is not available for a guest.

3. Engine Cut-Off Lanyard

The jet ski operator must attach the engine cut-off switch lanyard to their person, clothing, or life jacket before operating the watercraft. The lanyard must stay attached while the jet ski is running.

Do not operate the jet ski without the safety lanyard attached.
Do not wrap the lanyard around the handlebars or leave it loose.
If the operator falls off, the lanyard is designed to stop the engine.
If the lanyard detaches accidentally, stop riding and reconnect it before continuing.

4. Age, Rental, and Boater Safety Requirements

Englewood Jet Ski follows Florida personal watercraft rules and may apply stricter safety requirements when needed based on conditions, rider ability, equipment, insurance requirements, or staff judgment.

A person must be at least 18 years old to rent a personal watercraft in Florida.
A person must be at least 14 years old to operate a personal watercraft in Florida.
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 who operates a vessel powered by 10 horsepower or more in Florida must meet Florida boater safety education requirements.
Operators must carry required identification and boating safety documentation while operating, when applicable.
All potential operators must complete the required pre-ride instruction before operating.

For full details about operator eligibility, required documents, temporary boater certificates, and Florida boating requirements, please review the Englewood Jet Ski Boater Requirements page.

5. No Alcohol, Drugs, or Impaired Operation

Operating or riding on a jet ski while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or any substance that affects judgment, coordination, balance, reaction time, or awareness is prohibited.

Do not consume alcohol before or during your ride.
Do not operate after using recreational drugs, illegal drugs, or impairing medication.
Guests who appear impaired may be refused service for safety reasons.
No refund is owed when a ride is refused, stopped, or canceled because of unsafe or impaired behavior.

6. Reckless Riding Is Not Allowed

Guests must operate responsibly and maintain control at all times. Reckless, aggressive, or unsafe operation is not permitted.

Prohibited behavior includes:

Racing, chasing, spraying, circling, or intimidating other riders or vessels.
Weaving through congested vessel traffic.
Jumping wakes too closely or when visibility is blocked.
Swerving at the last moment to avoid a collision.
Riding too close to docks, seawalls, bridges, anchored boats, swimmers, kayaks, paddleboards, or wildlife.
Operating outside the approved riding area.
Ignoring staff instructions, guide instructions, posted signs, channel markers, or waterway restrictions.
Standing, stunt riding, intentional sharp turns, or unsafe passenger behavior.
Towing tubes, skis, ropes, floats, or other devices unless expressly offered and supervised by Englewood Jet Ski.

7. Speed, Distance, and No-Wake Rules

Operators must maintain a safe speed for conditions and must slow down whenever traffic, visibility, weather, wildlife, or waterway restrictions require it.

Follow all posted idle-speed, no-wake, slow-speed, minimum-wake, manatee-zone, and restricted-area signs.
Slow down near docks, marinas, boat ramps, bridges, shorelines, swimmers, paddlers, anchored boats, and congested areas.
Stay alert for changing boat traffic, shallow areas, sandbars, floating debris, fishing lines, crab traps, and marked hazards.
Keep a safe following distance from other jet skis and boats.
Do not assume another boat or rider sees you.

8. Riding Area and Boundaries

Guests must stay within the riding area, route, or tour path provided by Englewood Jet Ski. Boundaries may change based on weather, tides, marine traffic, equipment, wildlife activity, or staff judgment.

Do not enter restricted areas, swim zones, marked conservation areas, shallow seagrass areas, or private docks.
Do not beach, ground, anchor, or tie off the jet ski unless specifically instructed by staff or a guide.
Do not take the jet ski into the Gulf, inlet, pass, channel, sandbar, marina, or restaurant dock area unless that route is approved for your rental or tour.
Guided tours must remain with the guide unless instructed otherwise.

9. Weather and Water Conditions

Weather can change quickly on the water. Englewood Jet Ski may delay, shorten, reroute, reschedule, or cancel a ride when conditions are unsafe or unsuitable.

Unsafe or unsuitable conditions may include:

Lightning or thunderstorms in the area.
High wind, rough water, strong current, poor visibility, or unsafe marine traffic.
Restricted access caused by local marine activity, emergency activity, law enforcement activity, or unsafe waterway conditions.
Any condition that makes the ride unsafe for guests, staff, equipment, wildlife, or other boaters.

Personal watercraft may not be operated from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise. Sunset rides must stay within the legal operating window and may be adjusted when timing, weather, or visibility requires it.

10. Wildlife and Environmental Safety

Englewood’s waterways may include dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, birds, fish, seagrass, and other protected natural resources. Guests must respect wildlife and operate in a way that protects the local environment.

Do not chase, circle, feed, touch, harass, or intentionally approach wildlife.
Slow down and follow posted manatee-zone and wildlife-protection signs.
Stay in deeper water and marked channels when instructed.
Avoid seagrass beds, shallow flats, mangroves, oyster beds, and protected shoreline areas.
Do not throw trash, food, plastic, fishing line, or any personal items into the water.
Report wildlife collisions, injured wildlife, or environmental hazards to staff immediately.

11. Passenger Safety

Passengers must follow all staff instructions and ride in a safe seated position. The operator is responsible for maintaining control and making sure passengers are prepared before accelerating, turning, or slowing down.

Passengers must remain seated behind the operator while the jet ski is moving.
Passengers must hold on using approved handholds or the operator’s life jacket straps when appropriate.
Do not switch drivers or passengers on the water unless staff or a guide gives permission.
Do not jump from the jet ski, swim away from the jet ski, or enter the water unless instructed or in an emergency.
Keep hands, feet, hair, clothing, straps, and loose items away from the jet intake, pump area, and rear of the jet ski.

12. Personal Fitness and Medical Conditions

Jet skiing can involve sun exposure, vibration, impact from waves, sudden turns, balance demands, and physical exertion. Guests should use good judgment before riding.

Guests should not participate if they are unable to:

Understand and follow safety instructions.
Wear a properly fitted life jacket.
Sit upright and hold on safely.
Maintain balance during normal riding conditions.
Reboard or assist with reboarding if needed.
Respond calmly to staff, guide, or emergency instructions.

Guests who are pregnant, recovering from surgery, or dealing with back, neck, heart, balance, mobility, seizure, respiratory, or other serious medical conditions should consult a qualified medical professional before participating.

13. Required Conduct During Guided Tours

Guided tours are led for safety, route control, wildlife awareness, and guest experience. Guests must follow the guide’s instructions at all times.

Stay behind the guide unless instructed otherwise.
Do not pass the guide.
Maintain the spacing and speed directed by the guide.
Stop when the guide stops.
Do not leave the group or enter an unapproved area.
Signal the guide immediately if you need help, feel uncomfortable, or notice an issue.

14. Equipment Care and Safety Checks

Englewood Jet Ski may inspect equipment before and after each ride. Guests must use the jet ski and safety equipment responsibly.

Do not tamper with safety equipment, GPS equipment, controls, warning labels, storage compartments, or fuel systems.
Do not overload the jet ski or exceed the approved rider, passenger, or weight limits provided at check-in.
Do not continue operating if a warning light, alarm, vibration, steering issue, loss of power, or unusual condition occurs.
Report equipment concerns immediately.
Guests may be responsible for damage caused by misuse, negligence, collision, grounding, reckless operation, or failure to follow instructions.

15. Emergencies, Falls, and Accidents

If someone falls off, the operator should stop safely, turn off the engine when appropriate, and follow the reboarding instructions provided during the safety briefing.

Do not panic or swim away from the jet ski unless remaining near it creates danger.
Stay visible and keep your life jacket on.
Use hand signals, whistle, phone, radio, or guide contact method when assistance is needed.
Do not restart or accelerate until all riders are properly seated and clear of the rear of the jet ski.
Report any collision, injury, fall, grounding, equipment issue, or near-miss to Englewood Jet Ski immediately.
For a serious emergency, call 911 first, then notify Englewood Jet Ski as soon as it is safe to do so.

16. Refusal of Service and Early Termination

Englewood Jet Ski may refuse service, delay departure, require a guided ride, end a rental early, or remove a guest from the water when safety is at risk.

Reasons may include, but are not limited to:

Failure to complete the safety briefing.
Lack of required identification or boater safety documentation.
Unsafe behavior or reckless operation.
Impairment or suspected impairment.
Failure to wear a life jacket or attach the safety lanyard.
Leaving the approved riding area.
Ignoring guide, staff, law enforcement, or posted waterway instructions.
Weather, water, equipment, or traffic conditions that make the ride unsafe.
Any condition that creates risk to guests, staff, equipment, wildlife, property, or other waterway users.

17. Guest Responsibility

Each guest is responsible for reading this Safety Policy, following all instructions, using good judgment, and asking questions before riding. If you do not understand a rule, control, route, signal, or safety instruction, ask before leaving the launch area.

Questions about this Safety Policy can be sent through the Englewood Jet Ski contact page: https://englewoodjetski.com/contact/