The History of Personal Watercraft

Personal watercraft, better known as PWC, may seem like they’ve been around forever. Actually, it’s barely been 50 years since they were initially developed! We’ve assembled this brief history of your favorite marine powersports machine so you can learn about how they were developed.

Early Days

Norwegian-American powersports enthusiast and inventor Clayton Jacobsen II is responsible for the first prototype of a personal watercraft. After crashing his motorcycle into a ditch, Jacobsen wondered if riding a water-based “aquatic motorcycle” might be better, since hitting the water wouldn’t be as injurious as hitting the ground. 

He set about developing a prototype, which took the interest of Bombardier Recreational Group (BRP), responsible for the Ski-Doo® snowmobile. BRP developed the Sea-Doo® PWC in the early 1970s, with a big yellow frame, but it was clunky and difficult to ride, so they soon retired the model.

1980s Expansion

During the 1980s, interest in the idea of a PWC blossomed again and manufacturers like Kawasaki and Yamaha released their JET-SKI® and WaveRunner® PWC in the middle of the decade. Sea-Doo® also returned to the market, and personal watercraft sales went through the roof!

Today

In the new millennium, dozens of brands produce their own PWC models, which are used by everyone from recreational watersports enthusiasts to the United States Coast Guard. Whether you want a sit-down or stand-up model, a one-seater or a four-seater, you’re sure to find exactly what you need in the PWC market.

Ready to check out some personal watercraft in person? Stop by our dealership in Tracy, CA, today to view our selection of new and used PWC for sale by the leading brands. We can even help you out with financing options. Tracy Motorsports is proud to serve our customers in Stockton and Modesto, CA.