Play it safe when using jetskis or other personal watercraft in crowded American waters. Among other things, that means heeding sage advice of experts who strongly urge recreational boating enthusiasts to adhere to a half-dozen water safety tips and arrange suitable insurance coverage.

Just chewing on boating population statistics should be reason enough to prompt recreational boaters to exercise proper caution. There are an estimated 12.9 million recreational boats in the U.S. Of that total, approximately 1.1 million are personal watercraft, according to Elinore Boeke, of the Personal Watercraft Industry Association (PWIA), in Washington, D.C.

Citing six safety tips is recreational boater Jeanne Salvatore, Vice President of Consumer Affairs for the Insurance Information Institute in New York.

1. Know your craft and how it operates.
2. Keep apprised of local boating laws, navigational marks and signs.
3. Protect yourself by wearing a personal flotation device, eye protection, wetsuit and gloves.
4. Never operate a vehicle after using drugs or consuming an alcoholic beverage.
5. Be sure to stay to the right of other watercraft.
6. Commercial vessels, sailboats and fishing vessels have the right-of-way.

"Sticking with those safety rules is smart, but one other important thing to remember is that that when you're out on the water, you're life is at stake, so don't be careless," said Salvatore.

Florida waterways attracts large numbers of personal watercraft and other types of boating enthusiasts, prompting a spokesman for the Sunshine State's insurance regulatory agency to talk about insurance considerations.

Don't use your personal watercraft until "you check with your insurance representative to see if you're adequately covered," says Justin Glover, of the Florida Department of Financial Services (formerly known as the Florida Department of Insurance).

A savvy insurance buyer should always consider more than the cost of coverage. "Price isn't everything," says Natalia Bovee, SAFECO watercraft product manager. "Make sure you know what coverages you are getting so that you can obtain an apples to apples comparison."

Salvatore advises buying insurance specific to personal watercraft. "Most homeowners policies don't cover personal watercraft," says Salvatore. "You will likely need a separate policy that covers personal watercraft liability and property damage. That way, your boat is covered in the event you as the owner-operator are found to be liable for an accident that causes bodily injury or property damage. The boat is also covered for covered perils such as theft."

In addition to following water safety recommendations, boating enthusiasts should enroll in boating safety education courses.

"We definitely recommend that anybody who plans to operate jet skis, Sea-Doo, WaveRunner or other personal watercraft should take a boating safety education course," says Elinore Boeke, public relations manager for PWIA, the personal watercraft manufacturers trade group.

Boating safety courses are offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Power Squadron. These organizations can be contacted by logging on to www.pwia.org and clicking on "Links."

Stephen Andranian was one who took a one-day course near his Orange County home in Southern California. "It was worth my time, because I learned the rules of the waterways before I ever took out my WaveRunner."

The most important lesson in boater education? "The main thing is that a motorboat or personal watercraft is not a toy," answered Andranian. "It's a motor vehicle just like a car, meaning that you need proper training before you can operate it safely."

There may be nominal fees to cover cost of materials or there may be no charge at all. For info on the class nearest you, phone 800-336-2628.