Maine State Watercraft Regulations 2021

1. America’s Boating Course3rd Edition • State and Local Regulations • Chapter 2 Section 8 • Maine • The Way Life Should Be. • >>

2. Links to Boater’s Guide at www.maine.gov/ifw • 2 • >>

3. Definitions • Terms new in this section: • Internal Waters – means all the waters under the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of Maine • Point – means eleven and one-quarter degrees of arc. There are 32 points in a 360 degree circle. The navigation light’s arc of visibility is expressed in points. • Water Safety Zone – the area of water within 200 feet of any shoreline, whether the shoreline of the mainland or of an island.

4. Unlawful Operations • Unlawful Permitting Operation - • For the owner of a watercraft to negligently permit another person to operate the watercraft in violation of the law • Operating to Endanger – • Operating any watercraft, water ski, surf board or similar device so as to endanger any person or property • Swimming Area – • A motorboat cannot be operated in • area marked or buoyed for swimming

5. Watercraft Speed Regulations • No operations of watercraft at speed greater than headway speed permitted • Within “water safety zone” • Marina or approved anchorages • Headway speed means the slowest speed at which it is still possible to maintain steerage and control • All boats must proceed at a safe speed for the conditions in which they are operating • >> • 5

6. Boating & Alcohol • Criminal violation to operate or attempt to operate any watercraft while under influence of alcohol or drugs • Must complete a blood-alcohol test when requested • 21 and older- Having a blood alcohol content of .08% or more • Under 21 – Having any amount of blood alcohol content • Alcohol Can Affect Your • Reaction time / Balance / Coordination / Vision • Judgment / Susceptibility to hypothermia • Penalties: Fines, Suspension of boating privileges and Vessel Registration and in some cases imprisonment. • >> • 6

7. Reckless Operation • Reckless Operation includes - • Operating at unsafe speed • Operating near swimmers or diver • Towing skiers in an unsafe area • Overpowering a boat • Operating near dams • Cutting through a regatta or parade • Overloading a boat • Bow riding • >> • 7

8. Towed Activities • Water skiing, wake boarding, barefooting, tubing, knee boarding, parasailing • The Towing Team • Operator handles the boat • Observer must be at least age 12 and watches the persons being towed • Permitted between ½ hr before sunrise and ½ hr after sunset only • The Persons Being Towed • Responsible for self • Communicate w/observer using hand signals • Wear USCG approved life jackets (impact rated, not inflatable) • 8

9. Personal Flotation Devices All vessels, including rowboats, canoes and kayaks, must have minimum of one USCG approved, wearable PFD for each person on board Boats greater than 16 ft. must have a throwable device • Must Wear Requirements • Children 10 years of age or under at all times, except when docked, anchored, or moored • Everyone aboard a PWC (cannot be inflatable) • Anyone being towed behind a vessel • >> • 9

10. Termination of Voyage • Law enforcement officers may terminate the voyage of any boats, including kayaks, canoes, and rowboats if they find an imminently hazardous condition • 2. Examples are, but not limited to: • a. Insufficient or inadequate life jackets • b. Overloaded boat • c. Operating while intoxicated • d. Fuel in the bilge

11. PWCEquipment • PWC, an inboard boat with water-jet propulsion operated by sitting or standing or kneeling on top of the boat, have special equipment requirements different from other motorboats • Provided by Operator • Life jacket –must be worn Floatation aid / impact-rated is recommended, inflatable not allowed • Lanyard & Cut-off Switch If equipped • Sound signaling device – whistle or horn • Visual Distress signal (Can substitute with a 3 feet by 3 feet orange distress flag) • 11

12. PWC Operating Restrictions • No operation between sunset and sunrise • Reckless operation • Weaving through traffic • Jumping wakes • Playing “chicken” • Not recommended to have • Children seated in front of operator • Children onboard whose feet cannotreach the deck • 12

13. Accident Reporting • Must file a report within 24 hours with: • If involving - • Personal Injury, • Death or Disappearance of Person, or • Involving Property Damage of $2000 or more • Maine Department of Inland Fisheries 14

14. Registration Procedure • Motorboats are required to be registered annually with the State of Maine • Documented vessels are exempt • Bill of sale for your boat • Proof of payment of sales tax • Not required for out-of-state boats used • less than 60 days on Maine inland waters • Owners of any vessels located in Maine, • including documented vessels, must pay Maine • Excise Tax • Motor boats operating in Maine waters • must purchase and display the Lake & River • Protection sticker (Milfoil sticker) • http://maine.gov/ifw • >> • 14

15. Registration Certificate • Shows ownership • Original must be carried on board • Must be produced on demand to an enforcement officer • Valid for one year • Persons leasing a motor- • boat must carry lease • agreement on board • >> • 15

16. Registration Numbers • Format: the letters “ME”, 4 numbers, then 2 more letters • Displayed on forward portion of bow, each side • Reads from left to right on both sides • Block letters at least 3 inches in height • Contrasting color to hull • Space or dash between letters and numbers • >> • 16

17. Correct Display of Numbers • 3’’ High • Contrasting colors

18. ValidationSticker • Shows that vessels’ registration is current. • Always placed astern (aft) of registration number. • Valid for one year. • Color coded by year for ease in identifying • >> • 18

19. US Coast Guard Document • Form of National Registration Commercial Recreational • Establishes a Boats Nationality • Recreationally Documented Vessels Must Still Display Maine Excise Tax Sticker • >> • 19

20. Safety Certificate Requirements • Boat Operators • No requirement in Maine as of 2015. • Personal Water Craft • Must be 16 years old to operate a PWC • Anyone 16 or 17 years of age must have completed an approved safety education course and carry proof of age and course completion or they may be accompanied on board by a person 18 or older. • “Accompanied” shall mean upon the vessel. • >> • 20

21. Acceptable Courses • US Power Squadrons Boating Safety Course • US Coast Guard Auxiliary Boating Safety Course • Maine State Safe Boating Course • Out of state residents with an approved boating safety certificate from their home state • Maine approved online boating courses. • >> • 21

22. Visual Distress Signals • Required when operating in coastal waters - • USCG approved day/night distress signals • Boats over 16 feet in length • Boats less than 16 feet between sunset and sunrise must carry signal suitable for night use

23. Visual Distress Signals • Required Day Signals • Distress Flag, or • 3 Flares, or • 3 Smoke • Night Signals • 3 Flares, or • SOS Light • Must be USCG Approved • Not Expired • Never use Road Flares • >> • 23

24. Sound Signaling Devices • Must be carried by all boats including • paddle boats • Used to signal other boats • Used to help indicate position during periods of restricted visibility • Mouth whistle allowed in place of a bell on boats less than 65 ft. • >> • 24

25. Protect Your Waters • Do not take the invasive species with you • Regular cleaning of your boat, motor, and trailer before and after using all Maine waters can greatly reduce the spread of aquatic nuisance species.

26. Protect Your Waters • Maine DEP addresses invasive aquatic species - • Prevention involves educational outreach and watercraft inspections at boat ramps to keep infestations from migrating from one water body to another. • Early Detection includes monitoring public waters, seeking invasive species and responding rapidly when identified. • Control tackles existing infestations directly by applying technologies and management practices that mitigate invasive species' impacts upon water quality and habitat. • DEP collaborates with lake associations, non-profit organizations, resource managers, municipalities and academia. These activities are funded by the Maine Lakes and Rivers Protection Fund sticker. • If using the watercraft again within 5 days at any other Arizona waters, replace bilge drain plug and disinfect w/at least 1 gallon of vinegar.

27. International Marine Pollution Law

28. Littering • Federal Law • Limits set by the International Marine Pollution Agreement (MARPOL) • Plastics may never be dumped • State Law • Navigation Law prohibits the deposit of any garbage in the waters of the state • >> • 28

29. Trash • Trash – especially plastics – is a huge pollutant.Plastics do not naturally decay, and they can affect wildlife in all sorts of horrific ways. • What you can do: • If you bring it aboard, take it off. • Never throw trash overboard. • This includes fishing lines and other fishing gear. • >> • 29

30. Marine Sanitation Devices • MSD holds sewage • Some MSDs can treat sewage • Utilize pump out stations • Maine has many areas that are considered No Discharge Zones. This designation extends to many federal waterways. Refer to nautical charts for designated areas • >> • 30

31. Oil pollution • Federal Law • Federal Water Pollution Control Act • Must display warning placard in engine spaces on boats 26 feet and greater in length • Discharges must be reported to the Coast Guard at 1-800-424-8802 State Law • Discharge of oil prohibited by Maine Navigation Law • Contact the Maine Bureau of Land and Water Quality at 1-800-452-1942 immediately • >> • 31

32. SUPs and wind surfing • Required to carry PFD and whistle • Easiest to wear it! • Must follow boating laws • >> • 32

33. Contact Information • Maine State • Department of Inland Fisheries • And Wildlife • 207.287.8000 • On the web: www.maine.gov/ifw • >> • 33

34. End Chapter 2 • END