PRINCETON-BY-THE-SEA -- To some, Jet Skis and other personal motorized watercraft have become noisy environmental hazards, polluting the water and scaring off wildlife. To surfers who witnessed a near-drowning at Mavericks, they save lives.

Mavericks surf veteran Kenny "Skindog" Collins is proud that his Yamaha four-stroke WaveRunner, which happens to be banned in those waters, was the machine that scooped drowning surfer Jacob Trette out of the water and took him back to shore late last month. It was the only personal watercraft (PWC) out on the water that day that also had a rescue sled attached to the back.

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