August 23, 2005
USA - Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA, says approximately 200 Jet Ski brand watercraft have been loaned to local, state and federal agencies this year, the 16th year the company's personal watercraft public safety loan program has been in operation. Approximately 125 loans have been made by more than 100 dealers in 38 states during the first eight months of the year. The PWC have a retail value exceeding $1.6 million. The nationwide program operates through Kawasaki dealers loaning JET SKI watercraft to public agencies responsible for marine law enforcement, recreational boating education and safety, and search and rescue.
The loan program began in 1989, started with a suggestion from long-time Kawasaki dealer Bill Goetz, owner of Jacksonville Power Sports in Jacksonville, Fla. Goetz was participating in the Kawasaki motorcycle rider education loan program and wondered if a similar program could be developed to help put more law enforcement officers on the recreational waterways.
From the program's inception through 2003, approximately 1,428 individual agencies in all 50 states borrowed in excess of 5,000 JET SKI watercraft, valued at more than $30 million.
In 2004, the program loaned about 120 units worth a retail value of over $1 million.
