2024 Watercraft Regulations - 12

2 0 24 WATERCRAFT REGULATIONS
the extinguisher does not meet the requirements of this section
and shall be recharged.
iii. Fire extinguishers shall be readily accessible aboard the watercraft
and in such condition as to be ready for immediate and effective
use.
iv. Fire extinguishers shall be U.S. Coast Guard or Underwriters
Laboratory (U.L.) approved. Fire extinguishers are classified by
number and letter or letter and Roman numeral according to the
type of fire they shall be expected to extinguish and the size of
the extinguisher. The " letter " indicates the type of fire:
A. " A " is for fires of ordinary combustible materials;
B. " B " is for gasoline, oil and grease fires; and,
C. " C " is for electrical fires.
v. Fire extinguisher requirements for watercraft are as follows:
A. Fire extinguishers approved for watercraft shall be portable
of either 5-B or 20-B classification in good and serviceable
condition that are stamped with their date of manufacture. A
portable fire extinguisher older than twelve (12) years from
the date of manufacture stamped on the container shall be
considered expired and removed from service.
B. Watercraft less than twenty-six (26) feet in length. At least
one (1) 5-B type approved portable fire extinguisher is required
or the watercraft shall have an approved fixed fire extinguishing
system installed in the machinery spaces.
I. This requirement shall not apply to outboard watercraft
less than twenty-six (26) feet in length if the construction
of such watercraft shall not permit the entrapment of explosives
or flammable gasses or vapors.
C. Watercraft twenty-six (26) feet to less than forty (40) feet in
length. At least two (2) 5-B type approved portable fire extinguishers
are required or at least one (1) 20-B type approved
portable fire extinguisher is required. If an approved fixed
system is installed, one (1) 5-B type is required.
D. Watercraft forty (40) feet to less than sixty-five (65) feet in
length. At least three (3) 5-B type approved portable fire
extinguishers are required or at least one (1) 5-B type plus
one (1) 20-B type approved portable fire extinguisher are required.
If an approved fixed system is installed, two (2) 5-B
types are required.
E. Aboard watercraft model year 2017 and older, B-I type fire
extinguishers in good and serviceable condition may be
substituted for 5-B fire extinguishers, and B-II type fire extinguishers
in good and serviceable condition may be substituted
for 20-B fire extinguishers.
h. Engine cut-off switches.
i. No person shall operate a motorized watercraft less than twenty-six
(26) feet in length on plane or above displacement speed
without utilizing an engine cut-off switch, unless:
A. The main helm of the watercraft is within an enclosed cabin; or
B. The watercraft was not equipped with an engine cut-off
switch by the manufacturer.
SECTION 6. BOAT RACES, REGATTAS AND WATER SKI
TOURNAMENTS
No regattas, watercraft races, marine parades, tournaments or exhibitions,
trials thereof or other similar events shall be held without prior
written authorization from the Department.
a. Department authorization shall not be granted for any regattas, watercraft
races, marine parades, tournaments or exhibitions or trials
thereof, without first assuring that:
i. When the Department authorizes an event, water markers,
buoys or regulatory signs shall be placed during the hours of
the event by the person granted authority for the event to warn
other watercraft operators of a controlled area prohibited from
entering by anyone other than contestants of the event. The
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markers, buoys or regulatory signs shall conform with those adopted
for use in the State; and,
ii. The person granted authority for the regatta, watercraft races,
marine parades, tournaments, exhibitions or trials shall satisfy
the Department that adequate safeguards and controls exist to
protect human life, limb and property.
SECTION 7. WATERWAY MARKING SYSTEM
a. The Department may restrict and guide watercraft use on waters by
placement of such buoys, markers or regulatory signs as it deems
necessary. All users of watercraft are required to obey the buoys,
markers or regulatory signs. The buoys, markers or regulatory signs
signify restricted areas, danger areas and information pertaining to
watercraft operation in specific areas. Standard markers used are
as follows:
i. A diamond shape of international orange with white center shall
indicate danger. The nature of the danger may be indicated by
words or well known abbreviations in black letters inside the diamond
shape, or above or below it on white background;
ii. A diamond shape of international orange with a cross of international
orange against a white center without qualifying explanation
shall indicate a zone from which all watercraft are excluded;
iii. A circle of international orange with white center shall indicate a
control or restriction. The nature of the control or restriction shall
be indicated by words, numerals or well known abbreviations
in black letters inside the circle. Additional explanations may be
given above or below in black letters;
iv. A rectangular shape of international orange with white center
shall indicate information, other than a danger, control or restriction
that may contribute to health, safety or well being. The message
shall be presented within the rectangle in black letters;
v. Letters or numerals used with regulatory markers shall be black
in block characters of good proportion and spaced in a manner
that shall provide maximum legibility and visibility; and,
vi. No buoys, markers or regulatory signs shall be placed upon the
waters of the State without prior approval of the Department,
except that divers or persons snorkeling shall place a diver down
flag(s) upon the water in the immediate area of their activity.
A. No person shall operate or permit the operation of any
motorized watercraft on the waters of this State within one
hundred (100) feet of a diver down flag(s) that has been displayed
to indicate the presence of a person diving or snorkeling.
Diver down flag(s) shall not be placed in areas already
occupied by other watercraft.
I. The diver down flag(s) shall be displayed only when diving
or snorkeling is in progress, and shall be displayed so
as not to impede normal watercraft traffic.
b. No person shall alter, damage, deface, destroy, move, remove, tie
off to, or otherwise modify any Department approved buoy, marker
or regulatory sign.
SECTION 8. PERSONAL WATERCRAFT
a. No person operating a personal watercraft shall cross or jump the
wake of another watercraft within one hundred (100) feet of the watercraft
creating the wake.
b. No person shall operate a personal watercraft unless the watercraft
is equipped with an engine cut-off switch installed by the manufacturer.
When a personal watercraft is underway, the engine cut-off
switch shall be attached via a lanyard to the operator of the personal
watercraft in such a manner that in the event the operator is ejected
from the personal watercraft the engine shall stop.
c. Personal watercraft are prohibited on certain waters; refer to Section
9(b) of this regulation.
SECTION 9. WATERS ON WHICH THE OPERATION OF WATERCRAFT
IS RESTRICTED OR PROHIBITED
a. No person shall operate a motorized watercraft at a speed that causes
a wake within one-hundred (100) feet of a drifting, trolling or an
2024 Watercraft Regulations

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