2024 Watercraft Regulations - 9

2 0 24 WATERCRAFT REGULATIONS
a stop within the assured clear distance ahead.
* " Commission " means the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission.
* " Department " means the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
* " Motorboat " means any watercraft propelled in any respect by propulsion
machinery powered by an energy source other than human
effort.
* " Operate " means to navigate or otherwise use a watercraft.
* " Owner " means a person having the property in or title to a motorboat,
excluding a lien holder or a lessee under a lease not intended
as security.
SECTION 1. AUTHORITY
This regulation is promulgated by authority of Wyoming Statutes (W.S.)
§ 31-2-101, § 41-13-102, § 41-13-104, § 41-13-208, § 41-13-211, § 41-13-213, §
41-13-217, § 41-13-218 and § 41-13-219.
SECTION 2. REGULATION
The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission hereby adopts the following
regulation governing watercraft. This regulation shall become effective
January 1, 2024, and shall remain in effect until modified or repealed by
the Commission.
SECTION 3. DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this regulation, definitions shall be as set forth in W.S.
§ 41-13-101 and the Commission also adopts the following definitions:
a. " Accompanied by an adult " means no person under the age of sixteen
(16) years shall operate or be in physical control of a motorized
watercraft on the waters of the State unless an adult is also physically
aboard the motorized watercraft and is responsible for the operation
of the watercraft.
b. " Adult " means a person eighteen (18) years of age or older.
c. " Aft " means a direction toward the back of a watercraft.
d. " Beam " means the width of a watercraft at its widest part.
e. " Bow " means the front of a watercraft.
f. " Certificate of number " means watercraft registration.
g. " Degrees of a compass " means the gradations in a compass; there
are three hundred sixty degrees (360o
) within a compass.
h. " Diver down flag " is a rectangular shaped flag either blue and white
in color (alpha flag) or red in color with a white diagonal stripe (diving
flag), not less than twelve (12) inches by twelve (12) inches and
displayed no less than three (3) feet above the surface of the water.
i. " Duplicate number or duplicate certificate " means a certificate of
number issued by the Department to replace an original certificate
of number.
j. " Enclosed cabin " means a permanent structure with hardened
sides, which is intended for human occupation.
k. " Engine cut-off switch " means a device for shutting off the engine
of a watercraft in the event the operator falls off the watercraft while
it is underway.
l. " Gunwale " means the upper edge of the side of a watercraft.
m. " HIN " means a Hull Identification Number that meets the specifications
listed in Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
n. " Length of a watercraft " means the length of the hull of a watercraft
measured in a straight line from the stem to the stern excluding the
deck, bowsprits, bumpkins, rudders, outboard motor brackets and
similar fittings or attachments.
o. " Motorized watercraft " means any watercraft powered by an internal
combustion or electric engine.
p. " Motorized watercraft dealer " means a person who is engaged
in the business of manufacture or sale of motorboats in Wyoming
and who is required to be licensed with the Wyoming Department of
Revenue to collect and remit sales tax or a person whose motorboat
sales business is outside Wyoming, but who demonstrates motorboats
in Wyoming.
* " Reckless operation " means any person who shall operate any watercraft
in such a manner as to endanger the life or limb, or damage
the property of any person.
* " Safety equipment " includes personal flotation devices, towing and
bailing devices, paddles, fire extinguishers and navigation lights,
backfire flame arresters, whistles or other sound producing devices
and ventilation systems.
* " Waters of this state " means any waters within the jurisdiction of
Wyoming.
CHAPTER 22: WATERCRAFT REGULATION
q. " No wake " means the speed of a watercraft when underway does
not cause water action that disturbs another watercraft at rest, a
dock, or swimmers, and does not exceed a speed of five (5) miles
per hour.
r. " Operator " means the person in physical control of or directing the
movement of a watercraft while it is in use. When the person in physical
control of a watercraft is under the age of sixteen (16) years, the
accompanying adult may be considered the operator.
s. " Personal watercraft " means any watercraft propelled by a water-jet
pump or other machinery as its primary source of motor power
and that is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing
or kneeling on the watercraft, rather than the conventional manner
of sitting or standing inside the watercraft.
t. " Port " means the left side of a watercraft as one faces forward while
aboard the watercraft and is denoted by a red light.
u. " Proof of ownership for temporary operation " means a notarized
bill of sale stating the name of the previous owner of the motorized
watercraft, the name of the purchaser of the watercraft, description
of the watercraft with correct HIN or a copy of a properly transferred
title, a bill of sale with correct HIN from a motorized watercraft dealer,
or a copy of a notarized affidavit by the builder of a homemade
watercraft that indicates a description of the watercraft and the date
construction was completed.
v. " Rental boat owner " means a person who rents watercraft to the
public for a fee.
w. " Safe carrying capacity " means the capacity shall not exceed the
number of persons or the weight limit, whichever is reached first, as
stated on the capacity plate affixed to the watercraft.
x. " Starboard " means the right side of a watercraft as one faces forward
while aboard the watercraft and is denoted by a green light.
y. " Stem " means the line where the port and starboard hulls join together
at the bow.
z. " Stern " means the transom or rear end of a watercraft.
aa. " Temporary operation " means the operation of a motorized watercraft
without a certificate of number during the thirty (30) consecutive
days immediately following the date of purchase.
bb. " Throwable device " means a U.S. Coast Guard approved ring buoy
or buoyant cushion.
cc. " Underway " means the watercraft is being propelled by mechanized
power, wind, or human effort.
dd. " Vessel " means every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane
on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of
transportation on the water.
ee. " Wake " means the water action caused by a watercraft that is underway
that disturbs another watercraft at rest, a dock, or swimmers,
and, the speed of the watercraft exceeds five (5) miles per hour.
ff. " Water sport toy " means a sailboard, float tube, kite board or any
aid to swimming or fishing that is not defined as a watercraft.
gg. " Watercraft " means any contrivance used or designed primarily fornavigation
on the water or is designed to be propelled by paddles,
oars, sails or motors, except devices defined as water sport toys.
Amphibious vehicles designed for travel over land and water with
9
2024 Watercraft Regulations

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2024 Watercraft Regulations
