Security of craft a top concern for BRP

Jets Marivent UK, the UK and Eire’s official importer and distributor of Sea-Doo® Personal Watercraft and Sport Boats, is quick to ease British owners’ minds about the security systems in place which should make them ‘less attractive’ to thieves. This follows a boatUS report last week that Sea-Doo® personal watercraft were in the top ten list of stolen marine vessels in the United States.

Since 1995, all Sea-Doo® Personal Watercraft and Sports Boats have been fitted with a digitally encoded security system (D.E.S.S), which utilises a digitally encoded microchip in the lanyard, uniquely programmed to each watercraft allowing the engine to be started.

Each craft’s engine management system contains an ECM (Engine Control Module) which communicates with the microchip in the key in order to identify that the key in place is the correct one for the craft. In much the same way as an immobiliser system fitted to a car, the engine will not start without this confirmation. Only authorised Sea-Doo® Dealers using a Vehicle Communication Kit and specific software on their PC can program the key.

“PWCs are smaller and more manoeuvrable than other marine craft, which is why it is important to develop reliable security systems” says Paul Francis of Jets Marivent UK. “It may therefore be that the security and safety systems BRP build into their craft contribute to the fact that they are the lowest on the list of stolen personal watercraft in the US. We are also pleased that Seadoo is currently the only Personal Watercraft to have a security system as standard which is recognised by a major marine insurer, ‘Mardon Marine’, giving SeaDoo Customers preferential terms on their insurance premiums”.

Continuing with security in mind, BRP have also just launched two new compact alarm systems for use on all types of boats and outboard engines. The alarm will sound if attempts are made to unhook the engine, whilst the smart electronic ‘tow away’ sensor, which is able to identify a false alarm such as that caused by extreme weather conditions or a dramatic change in tide, will continue to keep the craft from being moved without the owners knowledge. More info on www.jetsmarivent.com