Coast Guard Presents BRP an Award
Bombardier Recreational Products Receives USCG Boating Safety Award
Sep 7, 2008
Bombardier Recreational Products has received an award for improving boat safety from the United States Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety for the implementation of a new braking system now available in its popular Sea-Doo line of personal watercraft (PWC). Bombardier Recreational Products is major manufacturer of recreational boating equipment, producing products under the well-known the Johnson, Evinrude, and Sea-Doo brands.
In the press release announcing this award, Chief of the Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety Captain Mark Rizzo said, "The braking capability of this new design is not just an evolutionary improvement, but a revolutionary improvement to the safety of these vessels. Although this new braking system should help prevent some accidents, the Coast Guard continues its efforts to educate PWC riders to keep a safe distance from other vessels."
iBR - Intelligent Brake and Reverse
Intelligent Brake and Reverse (iBR) was designed by Sea-Doo to perform several functions. It offers the first on the water braking system ever put into use, reverse controls accessible from the handlebars, and a variable trim system. The new control system allows a PWC operator to keep both hands on the handlebars and thus improves their situational awareness of immediate surroundings.
Operators of iBR equipped personal watercraft will find a brake lever on the left handlebar that controls the braking system. The iBR braking system works by cutting power delivered by the engine, dropping the jet nozzle reverse gate, and then reapplies power to increase reverse thrust. Use of iBR significantly reduces stopping distance of a personal watercraft. Intelligent Brake and Reverse works in concert with what Sea-Doo calls Intelligent Throttle Control (iTC) to improve control and maneuverability of their PWC products. An added feature found in the iBR is that once the craft is stopped, squeezing the iBR lever puts the watercraft into reverse, which can facilitate docking.
PWC Safety Improvements Coming in 2009
Bombardier Recreational Products will offer its iBR system on select 2009 Sea-Doo personal watercraft. The Coast Guard recognized Bombardier's braking system innovation with its Boating Safety Award in the hopes that use of the new technology will reduce personal watercraft accidents and their untoward related deaths and injuries.
The stated mission of the Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety is "Reducing loss of life, injuries, and property damage that occur on U.S. waterways by improving the knowledge, skills, and abilities of recreational boaters." Additional boating safety information can be viewed at their website.
