It was not until the early '80s, when the Reagan administration made wilderness areas available for commercial exploitation, that jet skis first appeared on public waters. Today personal watercraft account for one-third of all boat sales. New jet-ski models are bigger and faster than the old models. The Polaris Genesis carries three passengers and holds 600 pounds. Polaris produces jet skis with attitude.
Water is almost hypnotic.
Our lakes are drinking fountains for deer and raccoon, forage areas for frogs and amphibians, habitat for water bugs and minnows that hunt for insect larvae. Even for humble human visitors, water is a world that calms our spirits. There is drive-up access to marinas, and hundreds of lakes are located near major highways. Many of our lakes and reservoirs are set in virgin forests, along mighty rivers like the Eel and the Smith. In their naturalness they inspire reverence and humility.