Project Summary

This project was an exciting change from the typical consumer product we are assigned to design. It gave me a chance to work on and learn about how a specific group of people use a typical vehicle to accomplish their jobs. Everyone I talked to was very supportive and helpful through my research portion of the project. I had the opportunity to enjoy a warm, beautiful Saturday afternoon out on the Inter Coastal Waterway riding along with two officers from the Department of Natural Resources. After about eight hours riding with these two very different people, you learn about the person behind that cold authoritative tone. I had a very enjoyable time making jokes, comparing winter tans, and watching a breathtaking sunset. The day was not all fun and games by any means. We still stopped boats for not obeying NO WAKE signs, checking life jackets, and occasionally fishing licenses of commercial fishermen. One of them told me that he would rather talk to someone he stopped and make them understand what they did and how to fix it than to hand them a ticket and drive off. I also had the chance to visit with the Chatham County Police Marine Patrol. They actually use two older Seadoos as part of their fleet. Talking to them I gained a better understanding of how they use those to do roughly the same job that the DNR does. They use the PWCs on the local rivers. In one of the conversations I learned that sometimes the different local agencies ride together, maybe a Chatham County officer rides with the DNR or Coast Guard or vice versus. A point made by the Marine Patrol was that sometimes they fall off and need to be thrown clear of the PWC. This bit of information is one of the reasons I chose not include a backrest on my vehicle. After doing more Internet research and a primary sketches, I ran into some design problems. The folks at the local Yamaha dealership had been really helpful when I started looking around, so I went and asked if I could use a boat for a few minutes and stick some cardboard on it and take some pictures of it. They thought I was nuts at first but let me do it, which was very helpful at solving the windshield problem I was facing. Combining all the information I had gathered from all the different people, places and experiences, I put together a design criteria and a concept of a personal water craft for law enforcement officers.

Project Brief

Design of a Personal water craft for Law Enforcement officers

The market for personal water craft has grown tremendously over the last decade with the growth in discretionary income. The volume of such water craft on popular lakes and other water bodies has grown significantly, particularly on holiday weekends.

One implication of the surge in popularity is the increase of accidents and other mishaps arising from the abuse and abuse of the craft as more unskilled people take to the water. Regulation on usage is insufficient to meet the situation. It is becoming increasingly imperative to have law enforcement presence here as in other high volume traffic.

The project brief calls for the redesign of the personal water craft to meet the specific needs of law enforcement officers. It is likely that significant parallels will be found between the needs of related departments such as paramedics and coast guards and consequently a device designed that would meet the needs of all such groups.

The growing concern about the environmental implications of the continued use of these devices must also be addressed in the redesign.

Design Criteria

One person use

3cyl 4-stroke engine 1130cc

Windshield n Spring suspension seat

Lights, siren, easy to read gauges, G.P.S.

Compartments with in reach for radio and ticket book.

Storage compartments to stow gear (flares, fire extinguisher, ropes, etc.)

Tow hook on rear

Deep-V hull

Easy to read graphics

Rear view mirrors