Keeping Your Boat Legal, Functional, and Safe

Are you aware of what the requirements are for your boat per the laws of your state? How often do you check equipment to be sure that you are legal should the Shore or Lake Patrol board your vessel?

Maintaining a boat is more than changing the oil and filling it with gas. It is an ongoing process for as long as you are a boat owner. Obviously, you want to abide by the law, but more importantly, you want to make provisions for those unexpected events that require immediate action.

If you are unsure or have forgotten what the required items are for your boat, check into that before you take the boat out. Many of the requirements of motor boats are the same for personal watercraft (PWC) such as jet skis.

Paperwork

You must always have your Boater Safety Certification Card with you along with the Certificate of Boat Registration, and the boat must have a current Validation Decal. These are required for PWC and powerboats alike. You can find out more about a Vessel Safety Check decal from the U.S. Coast Guard when you click here.

Life Jackets and Flotation Devices

Life jackets on the boat

Personal flotation devices are required for every person on board. In most states, for children ten and under and anyone riding a PWC, the life jacket is required to be worn at all times. (Check your state regulations for updated requirements). PFDs have to meet the state requirement for type I, II, III, or V. If the boat is over sixteen feet, you should have an additional PFD.

If you are pulling skiers or riders on towable tubes, make sure they are wearing life jackets that fit properly and secure. Even if they are good swimmers, each participant should be wearing a PFD appropriate for that sport.

Fire Protection

All water-borne vehicles must have a Type B-1 fire extinguisher. You should check it periodically to be sure it has the required charge. Ignition safety switches are required only on a PWC.

Flame arrestors are required on any length boat that has an inboard motor or a stern drive. All PWCs are required to have them.

A ventilation system and a muffler are required on any kind of watercraft.

Emergency Audio Devices

A horn, whistle, or bell is required on any craft that is in federally controlled waters.

Fog can be very dangerous on the water. If you ever hit a fog bank, slow down immediately and give some time for the fog to lift. The horn, bell, or whistle can be a lifesaver in a deep fog, keeping someone from running into your craft. Just remember, if you can’t see them, they can’t see you either.

You should study your regulations to understand how to use sounds in the fog to let others know you are there.

Lights and Distress Signals

A visual distress signal for the daytime is required on any vessel over sixteen feet.

A PWC cannot legally be operated during nighttime hours, so there are no requirements for nighttime visual distress signals or navigation lights. However, navigation lights are required on all motor boats. The visual distress signal for nighttime is required on boats in federally controlled waters.

Anchoring and Mooring

Although you might not find it in the manual, the anchor is definitely a piece of equipment that you want to have on every trip. It is actually better to have two anchors for times when the current is fast or if it is exceptionally windy.

If you have a fishing boat, it can become very annoying when the current keeps your boat turning. With one anchor, you may be constantly spinning around making it impossible to cast and reel in without turning around in the boat and following whatever direction the boat takes.

If you are near shore, you can use the front tie off rope to secure that end to the bank and drop the anchor in the back. This usually keeps the boat in relatively the same direction. If the current and/or wind are high, it may be necessary to use a V anchor with the anchors spread, allowing for more holding power and control. This is also the best way to anchor off when you are away from shore.

If the current is extremely high, drop the V anchor at the end of the boat that is facing the current and the regular anchor at the opposite end.

Whenever you leave the boat, be sure to tie it off. Trusting the anchor to hold your place can leave you stranded and the boat in the middle of the lake.

In Conclusion

There was a time when you could get in deep trouble should your boat break down on the waterways. People had to depend on radios to get out an SOS. Today, a cell phone is the standard piece of equipment to carry for the emergencies that can potentially leave you stranded in the water.

Learn the number of the lake or shore patrol and have it handy so you can find it instantly when you need it. It is also a good idea to inform friends or relatives of your whereabouts and your expected time of return. Depending on the length and location of your trip, you may want to prepare a float plan, or similar document, and give to someone on shore, in case they need to locate you. You can click here for a sample from the U.S. Coast Guard.

About the Author

Jane Warren is an avid outdoor water enthusiast who enjoys boating, swimming, diving, towable rafts, and just about anything else related to outdoor water sports. She spends part of the year in Grand Cayman, where she has a boat that gets plenty of use almost every day. She and her husband are both certified scuba divers; Jane competes in the swim competitions sponsored throughout the year on the island; and she and her friends enjoy being pulled on the inflatable tubes behind their boat.

Out of this love of water sports, Jane started TowableTubesDirect.com, a website that provides information and reviews on water sports equipment including towable tubes. One brand of equipment highlighted on her site is Airhead water tubes– owned by Kwik Tek. A current best seller in the Airhead line is the Airhead mega slice tube – perfect for 2 riders!