2024 Watercraft Regulations - 8

2 0 24 WATERCRAFT REGULATIONS
WATERCRAFT SAFETY EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
A B C D
All Boats
X X X
X
All Boats
All Boats
X
X
X
X
X
X
All Boats
All Boats
Class A (Less than 16Ft.), Class B (16Ft. - <26Ft.), Class C (26Ft.-<40Ft.), Class D (40Ft. and up)
FLOTATION DEVICES
U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device (PFD) for each person on board (refer to pages 11 and 16 for additional information).
A minimum of one (1) U.S. Coast Guard approved throwable device must be on board
Only U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (PFD) or U.S. Coast Guard approved ring buoys shall be carried.
All persons aboard personal watercraft and all persons being towed by a watercraft shall wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable personal
flotation device (PFD).
All children 12 years of age or under are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD) while watercraft is
underway (refer to page 11 for additional information).
LIGHTS
From sunset to sunrise all motorized watercraft and sailboats must display red and green combined lantern in the front of the boat and a
white light aft visible 360 degrees when underway.
All watercraft at anchor or adrift between sunset and sunrise must display a white light to show all around the horizon and visible for two miles.
Hand-powered watercraft must have lighting ready at hand to avoid collision.
From sunset to sunrise no other lights which may be mistaken for navigation lights shall be used.
Different classes require different lighting (refer to pages 10-11 for further description of lighting requirements).
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
All Boats
All watercraft with inboard engines, compartments where fuel tanks or combustible material may be stored; double bottoms not sealed
to hull; closed living spaces; or permanently installed fuel tanks must have the proper fire extinguisher (s) (refer to pages 11-12 for further
description of extinguisher requirements).
SOUND PRODUCING DEVICES
All Boats
All Boats
All motorized watercraft shall have an efficient sound producing device on board (refer to the table on page 11 for further description of sound
device requirements).
REGISTRATION
All motorized watercraft must be registered (refer to page 10 for additional information on watercraft registration).
AIS (AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES) DECAL
All watercraft must have the annual AIS decal and have it displayed properly.
All Boats
Inflatable watercraft less than 10 feet in length and all solid and inflatable paddle boards regardless of length and all devices defined as
water sport toys are exempt from the decal requirement.
AIS decals are available from automated license selling agents, any WGFD Regional Office or online.
RACES, REGATTAS AND TOURNAMENTS
The Commission may regulate the holding of regattas, motorboat or other
boat races, marine parades, tournaments or exhibition. It shall adopt
regulations concerning the safety of motorboats and other vessels and
persons thereon, either observers or participants. Whenever a regatta,
motorboat or other boat race, tournament or exhibition is proposed to
be held, the person in charge, at least thirty (30) days prior thereto, shall
file an application with the Department for written permission to hold
the regatta, motorboat or other boat race, marine event, tournament or
exhibition. The application shall set forth the date, time and location of
the proposed event and such other information as the Commission may
by regulation require.
RIDING ON GUNWALES OR BOW DECKING PROHIBITED;
EXCEPTIONS
No person operating a motorboat shall allow any person to ride or sit
on either the starboard or port gunwales thereof or on the decking
over the bow of the vessel while underway unless such motorboat is
provided with adequate guards or railing to prevent passengers from
being lost overboard. Nothing in this section shall be construed to
mean that passengers or other persons aboard a motorboat cannot
occupy the decking over the bow of the boat to moor the watercraft to
a mooring buoy or to cast off from such a buoy, or any other necessary
purpose.
RIVER FLOATERS
It is illegal to beach a watercraft and enter upon private land without permission
from the landowner. It is illegal to " tie off " or anchor a watercraft
in waters over private land without permission of the land owner.
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WHO CAN ENFORCE WATERCRAFT LAWS
All Department law enforcement officers and any other peace officers
of the state or any of its political subdivisions otherwise authorized by
law may enforce state law and rules and regulations of the Commission.
Any person operating a watercraft shall, upon observing a visual or
hearing an audible signal from a law enforcement officer enforcing state
law and rules and Commission regulations, bring the watercraft to an immediate
stop. No person, after observing a visual or hearing an audible
signal from a law enforcement officer, shall attempt to elude a law enforcement
officer by watercraft or any other means. Red or blue rotating
or flashing lights shall not be displayed and sirens shall not be used on
watercraft except as authorized for watercraft operated or used by law
enforcement and emergency watercraft.
For purposes of this section, any Department law enforcement officer
and any other peace officer may:
I. Stop, halt, inspect or board any watercraft;
II. If there is probable cause to believe a watercraft and associated
trailer are stolen, seize the watercraft and associated trailer.
A defaced, altered, removed or destroyed vessel Hull Identification
Number (HIN) is prima facie evidence that the watercraft
and trailer are stolen.
STATUTORY DEFINITIONS OF TERMS AND PHRASES
* " Careless operation " means any person who operates any watercraft
in a careless or heedless manner so as to be indifferent to the person
or property of other persons, or at a rate of speed greater than will
permit him in the exercise of reasonable care to bring the watercraft to

2024 Watercraft Regulations

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2024 Watercraft Regulations