Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 54

2020
This article reviews key regulatory and safety information that
boaters must know before venturing out on the water. The
annual Boating Regulations Recap brochure also highlights new
regulations that were recently approved by the Pennsylvania
Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC). The Boating Regulations
Recap paired with the Pennsylvania Boating Handbook provides
boaters with comprehensive safety information to use when
operating watercraft on Pennsylvania waterways.

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

* A United States Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket is
required for each person on board. In addition, one throwable
device is required on boats 16 feet in length or longer.
* Children 12 years of age and younger must wear an approved life
jacket on Commonwealth waters when underway on any boat 20
feet or less in length and in all canoes and kayaks.
* All water skiers and anyone towed behind vessels, personal
watercraft operators and passengers, and sailboarders must wear a
life jacket. Inflatable life jackets are not acceptable for these activities.
* Wearable life jackets must be "readily accessible" or in the
open where they can be easily reached. Throwable devices must
be "immediately available" or within arm's reach. A PFD that is
stored in a protective covering or sealed in its original packaging is
not readily accessible or immediately available.

Mandatory cold weather life jacket wear

From November 1 through April 30, boaters are required by law to
wear life jackets on board boats less than 16 feet in length or any canoe
or kayak. This regulation went into effect in 2012 and is intended to
protect boaters from dangers of cold water shock if they fall into the
water. Recreational boating fatalities that occur in Pennsylvania from
November through April are primarily due to the effects of cold water
immersion. When water temperatures are less than 70 degrees F, cold
water shock is a major factor in boating fatalities. Victims who wear
a life jacket when exposed to cold water have potentially life-saving
advantages such as insulation from the cold, buoyancy for victims
who are unable to tread water and reduced risk of aspiration of water.
In an effort to reduce the number of fatalities related to cold water

Mandatory boating education
HP OF MOTOR RESTRICTIONS OF USE
PWC

All PWC (personal watercraft) operators, regardless of age,
must have a Boating Safety Education Certificate.
Persons 11 years of age or younger may NOT operate.
Persons 12 through 15 years of age may NOT operate with any
passengers on board 15 years of age or younger or rent a PWC.

0-25hp
Greater

None

than 25hp

54

Persons 11 years of age or younger may NOT operate.
Persons born on or after January 1, 1982, may not operate unless
they have obtained and have in possession a Boating Safety
Education Certificate.

Information All Boaters Must Know
immersion, PFBC has amended regulations to require life jackets to
be worn on small and unstable boats during the period most noted for
cold temperatures.

Boating accidents

Boating accidents must be reported in writing by the boat
operator or owner to PFBC when:
* A person dies or disappears.
* A person is injured and requires advanced medical
treatment beyond first aid.
* Damage to the boat and other property totals more than
$2,000, or there is a complete loss of the vessel.
Boating accident reports can be downloaded from PFBC's
website at www.fishandboat.com/Boat/BoatingBasics/
Documents/pfbc260.pdf or obtained from any of our regional
law enforcement offices.

Water-skiing and similar activities

* It is unlawful to operate a motorboat at any speed with a person
or persons sitting, riding or hanging on a swim platform (teak
surfing) or swim ladder attached to the motorboat, except when
launching, retrieving, docking or anchoring the motorboat.
* It is unlawful to operate a motorboat at any speed when towing
a person on water skis or other devices using a tow rope of 20
feet or less.
* Wake surfing is excluded from the 20-foot tow rope requirement.
* Boats engaged in the activity of wake surfing are limited to
slow, no-wake speed when within 200 feet of the shoreline,
docks, launch ramps, swimmers or downed skiers, persons
wading in the water, anchored, moored or drifting boats and
other marked areas.
* It is unlawful to operate a motorboat propelled by an outboard
motor, inboard/outboard motor or water jet while a person is
wake surfing in or on the wake of the motorboat, unless the
propulsion system is specifically designed by the manufacturer
for that activity.
* Skiing is illegal between sunset and sunrise.
* In addition to the operator, a competent observer must be in
the boat in a position to observe the towed person.
* Conventional water-ski tow ropes may not exceed a length
of 80 feet.

Specially regulated waters

Additional regulations such as speed limit and slow, no-wake
areas affect boaters on specific waterways. Boaters should read all
regulations posted on the bulletin boards at access areas. Know
the waters you plan to boat before you go.
By understanding boating regulations and safety
information, you will be prepared while on the water. Visit
www.fishandboat.com.

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2020	

www.gonefishingpa.com
http://www.fishandboat.com/Boat/BoatingBasics/Documents/pfbc260.pdf http://www.fishandboat.com/Boat/BoatingBasics/Documents/pfbc260.pdf http://www.fishandboat.com http://www.gonefishingpa.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020

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