A father and 11 year old son were cruising off Ocean City Maryland in their recently acquired PWC.   The father told the NRP investigating officer he was struck on the port quarter by another PWC causing major structural damage.  He had been maintaining a steady course and did not see the other PWC until it was too late to react.  The striking PWC was a rental with one person aboard and seemed not to understand he was the burdened vessel based upon both operators' statements and damage to both the PWCs.   The operator of the burdened vessel was cited for failing to yield to a vessel on his starboard in a crossing situation.  Alcohol was not involved.  No one was injured despite major damage to both PWCs.
ocean City