Personal Jet Ski

[Wranklefrankie]

Hello,

I have recently purchased a jet ski, and was told by a friend that it is against the law if I use my truck to drive onto the beach to drop of the ski near the water.

Can anyone confirm this? If so, would it be better to hire a Thai to drive it down, as I see some guys using their motor-scooters

to drop them off on Kata Beach.

Thanks

[LivinginKata]

I believe it's illegal to take your truck onto the beach. Yes, I know, the Thais do it every day, but we farangs have to most careful not to break any laws. You might get away with it on a beach with no jet ski guys.

Best you contract a Thai, know to the jet ski mafia, and get him to launch & recover your jet ski.

[DrDave]

I could be wrong, but my understanding was that no new jet ski registrations could be made except for a new one that is replacing an old, registered jet ski that will be taken out of service. This is due to the ban on jet skis that will be going into effect in 2011, and is intended to keep the number of active jet skis on Phuket at the current level, or lower until the ban goes into effect.

Not sure how you could register your new jet ski without replacing one that you had previously registered. In any event, I would think that the jet ski guys on the beach won't be too happy to see a new one appearing, since theoretically, they are not permitted to increase the size of their rental "fleet".

[LivinLOS]

Technically I thought you needed some kind of 'captains license' for any water craft.. One that you cant get as a non thai..

Of course those rules dont get enforced, until they do !!!

[LivinLOS]

“Jet-skis are considered a type of boat. So, every jet-ski has to be registered with the Phuket Harbor Master.

There are five beaches in Phuket where boat sports, including jet-skis, are allowed to operate. These are Kata, Karon, Patong, Kamala and Bang Tao. At these beaches, there are floats in the sea that designate specific areas for swimming.”

Monday, April 23, 2001 Pol Col Paween Pongsirin, Superintendent of Kathu Police Station.

[Wellington]

Hello,

I have recently purchased a jet ski, and was told by a friend that it is against the law if I use my truck to drive onto the beach to drop of the ski near the water.

Can anyone confirm this? If so, would it be better to hire a Thai to drive it down, as I see some guys using their motor-scooters

to drop them off on Kata Beach.

Thanks

It might save you a lot of hassle if you sold the beastly machine on to some other unsuspecting Farang before you find out the hard way that JEt Skis are not popular anywhere in Phuket.

[smartecosse]

just what the beaches need

another jet ski...................

the thais that operate the rental ones will not be happy at all if you just tool up and put yours in the water as as far as they will be concerned you are taking money from their pockets

[Wolfie]

The Jet Ski mafia boys will rip you to pieces... and knowing the bunch that hang around Kata beach this will not be a pleasant experience. I do think your best bet is to get rid of it as soon as you can!

[Wranklefrankie]

Hello,

Anyone care to buy a used Jet Ski?

Sell Cheap.

I bought it used, and it has registration, but I had NO IDEA of the laws, both the Mafia side and the legal side.

I live near Fishermans Way so I have access to Chalong Bay. Is there someone I could "make a donation" to inorder to

have it, or is this a lost cause.

From what Wolfie said, THAT is what I would be afraid of.

I saw 2 guys each with trucks pull right up to Kata and drop off their skis, and park their trucks near the resturants. Had a full day of riding, but when they returned, and drove back onto the beach to retrieve their skis, they were blocked in by a Thai Squad Pick-Up, and a big deal was made out of it. The farangs just sat there while the police talked with themselves. A "donation" was made, (hand full of 1000's ) by the farangsand the blockade was quickly moved, and the guys pulled away with no trouble.

I don't plan to run around the tourist beaches. I plan to go to the islands in the south and do some kite surfing, away from all the tourists.

Maybe I should just keep hiring long boats, and get rid of the ski.

Thanks all, Thanks Wolfie! I'd really prefer to remain in one piece.

[Ping]

(Assuming that this isn't a troll) I am surprised you didn't make these sort of enquiries prior to acquiring it. But...

Although the response by LivinLOS (above) is likely to be closest to the mark, it is somewhat dated, so I would suggest that prior to disposing of the jetski, you open the following link and send an email:

http://www.phuketgazette.com/issuesanswers/index.asp

The response (from the Phuket Harbourmaster, police or both) is likely to be reliable since it will be published in the Gazette (ie in the public domain) and therefore somewhat authoritative.

I would be surprised if the jetski mafia gave you any problems, though, since you will not be competing for their trade. If something along the lines of LivinLOS' advice still stands, I'd have a friendly word with the jetski lads on the beach from which you propose to launch. Approached correctly, I think you will be pleasantly surprised...

[LivinginKata]

A few years ago a neighbour bought a Jet Ski from one of the Patong jet ski operator's, and paid a monthly fee for collection from his home, and deliver back, whenever he wanted to use the darned thing. He never had a problem with the guys on Patong Beach. Great deal for them as he paid a high price for an old model, he spent a fortune on repairs, got fed up with it, and sold it back for a low price.

[Ping]

Nice story Alex - I suppose he bought a boat?

[LivinginKata]

Nice story ..... - I suppose he bought a boat?

It's a true story, and no boat. He moved back to Southern England and opened a Thai restaurant, staffed by his new Thai g/f and her family ....