ABC3 Section 8

1. ABC3 Section 8 State of Pennsylvania Boating knowledge, laws, rules and regulations

2. Legal Responsibility United States Coast Guard Federal laws Equipment requirements Safety recommendations Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Additional equipment requirements Educational requirements Registration

3. Enforcement • Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission’s Waterways Conservation Officers and the USCG can stop and board your vessel. They have arrest authority. • Yield right of way, stop vessel and stay in position until police have passed

4. Great boating opportunities 85,000 miles of rivers and streams 76 Natural lakes / 5,266 acres of water 200,000 acres of man-made lakes 63 miles of Lake Erie shoreline / 735 square miles in PA Delaware River provides 56 miles if tidal waters / Atlantic Ocean access Recreational boaters continue their boating education Knowledgeable boaters are safer boaters Visit Pennsylvania www.fishandboat.com to stay current with laws and regulations Continuing Education

5. Registered in the state in which primarily used (waterborne) Reciprocity privileges: Have valid registration in other state Up to 60 days Documented boats: Must also be registered in the state of principle use Display valid registration decal Use of Commission launches requires either a boat registration or PA launch permit Waters Of Principle Use

6. Registration and Titling Registration: • required on all motorboats and boats propelled by electric motors • state issued alpha-numeric registration numbers • renewed on a two-year cycle by issuing a decal • expire on March 31 • address changes reported within 15 days

7. Registration and Titling Numbers and letters must be painted, decaled or otherwise affixed to forward half of each side of vessel Number must read from left to right Number must be at least 3” high, bold, BLOCK letters Certificate on-board when in operating

8. Registration and Titling Letters and number’s color must contrast with its background Letters must be separated from numbers by spaces or hyphens No other numbers may be displayed on either side of bow Decals must be affixed on each side of the vessel within 6 inches and on the same level as the numbers

9. Registration and Titling Titling: • Establishes ownership • Issued when boat is sold or when ownership is conveyed • Required on 1997 and newer PWC

10. U.S.C.G. Documented Vessels U.S. Citizens only may have a large vessel documented (at least 5 net tons) through the USCG Documentation number must be not less than 3 inches high, permanent, and clearly readable on an, integral structural part of the boat Have the name and hailing port of the boat together in one place on the hull, at least 4 inches high and clearly readable – usually on the stern Must be additionally registered in PA – need to display only the valid registration decal

11. Hull Identification Numbers (HIN) An alpha-numeric 12 character number Engraved into transom fiberglass IDs manufacturer, and serial # and date

12. Required Equipment • LIFE JACKETS ARE REQUIRED – no exceptions Each person in a boat must have a wearable, USCG-approved, correctly sized and fitted and serviceable life jacket. WEAR IT! Children under 13 must wear when underway on any boat 20 feet or less in length and all canoes and kayaks On Pittsburgh District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes (only), everyone in boats less than 16 feet in length and in all canoes and kayaks must wear.

13. From 1 November to 30 April boaters MUST wear a life jacket on boats less than 16 feet in length or any canoe or kayak MUST be worn by anyone towed / skiing / PWC / sailboarders Appropriate for the water sport includes impact rated for towed persons / PWC One immediately available throwable floatation aid in boats over 15 feet long Throwable floatation aids are not required on canoes and kayaks regardless of length Required Equipment

14. Same as federally required equipment, except: Sound devices - boats 40 – 65 feet in length must carry a whistle AND bell Visual Distress Signaling Devices required only on Lake Erie illegal to use docking lights while underway – use last 100 feet approaching dock, buoy or pier Fire extinguishers must be installed so that they are immediately available, within arms reach of the operator or passenger, away from the fuel source Required Equipment

15. Recommended Equipment (not required by law) Paddles or oars Bailer Anchors with sufficient rode Fenders Mooring lines First Aid Kit Extra clothing Charts and compass Food and water Sunscreen and sunglasses Marine radio or cell phone Spare fuses and bulbs Tool kit / flashlight / gas can Visual Distress Signals Float Plan Recommended Equipment

16. Marine Environment International Marine Pollution Regulations

17. Waste and Trash Use pump-out stations No waste products over the side Brief all aboard about not dumping anything Use trash bags and take waste to shore

18. Waste and Trash Plastics, oil, fuel and sewage damage the marine environment Make it your boating practice to bring all waste back to the shore for treatment

19. Oil / Fuel Spills Spills: Thimble of fuel or more should be reported to: US Coast Guard and Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection Marine Pollution and Oil Spill precaution placard are required on boats 26 feet and longer by law as reminders Fines up to $10000

20. Aquatic Nuisances To prevent the spread of non-native fish and mollusks in our waterways, boaters should follow these simple rules: • Trailer boaters should remove visible mud, plants, fish or animals from boats and trailers prior to transport to another body of water. • Scrape any mussels from boat or outdrive, and flush hull, bilges & water holding compartments with hot water (at least 120º F). • Do not release plants or fish, including bait, into a body of water unless it came out of that same body of water.

21. Aquatic Nuisances • Pump fresh water through engines before leaving the area • Empty water out of kayaks, canoes, rafts, etc. • Let boat, PWC's, trailer and equipment dry for at least 5 days. • STOP spread of Rusty Crayfish, Round Goby and Quagga Musses

22. Mufflers Excessive noise can prevent vessel operator from hearing signals and voices • All vessels manufactured after January 1, 1990 must be equipped with muffler system in good working order and in constant operation to suppress engine noise • You may not remove or modify a muffler or muffling system if it results in an increased noise level

23. Who May Operate A Vessel Boating Safety Education Certificates are required: • To operate a personal watercraft • For persons born on or after January 1, 1982, to operate boats powered by motors greater than 25 horsepower.

24. Who May Operate A Vessel Certificate obtained by successfully completing boating safety course or passing equivalency exam approved by PA Persons required to have certificate must have it on board and available for inspection by an enforcement officer whenever operating a vessel on Pennsylvania waters

25. Who May Operate A Vessel All PWC (personal watercraft) operators, regardless of age, must have a Boating Safety Education Certificate. Persons 11 years of age or younger may NOT operate. Persons 12 through 15 years of age may NOT operate with any passengers on board 15 years of age or younger, or rent a PWC.

26. Boat Rentals Renter must read and understand PFBC’s boating rules and regulations PWC rental: renter must be over 16 and have a Boating Safety Education Certificate

27. Safe Boat Operation IT IS ILLEGAL TO Operating in restricted areas Wake jumping, hull leaves water Failure to regulate speed Operating while under the influence of drugs or alcohol

28. Alcohol and Drugs Use causes impaired balance, blurred vision, poor coordination, and impaired judgment BUI is Federal and State offense. BUI: adults 0.08 and minors 0.02 blood alcohol percent You may be stopped and tested for BUI

29. Security Zones Stay at least 100 yards from military, cruise-line & shipping Operate at slow, no wake speeds when w/in 500 yards Check with local authorities and refer to charts for data Stay away from dams and power plants

30. Homeland Security • Observe and avoid all security zones and other restricted areas. Avoid commercial port operation areas • Do not stop or anchor beneath bridges or in the channel • Be observant and report any suspicious activities to USCG or local authorities • Always secure and lock your boat when not on board

31. Diving/Snorkeling Flags Avoid diving and snorkeling in areas already occupied by boaters and in narrow channels Boaters keep at least 100 feet away from diver down flag

32. Special attention is required to prevent propeller strikes Persons engaging in towed water sports, SCUBA divers and snorkelers, and even persons over-board are susceptible All aboard must be briefed on these procedures, their role, and display of a “person in water” orange flag to warn other boaters When persons are near the boat the engine must be shut off, and transmission engaged to prevent accidental start and to stop propeller free-wheeling Approach persons in the water from down wind, slowly, and from the helmsman side for clear visibility. Water Sports

33. Requirements Specific To PWC Boater Safety Education Card 12 years old (16 to rent) Impact rated PFD Attach engine cut-off lanyard to operator No night operations Have sound producing device Have fully charged type B fire extinguisher

34. Operational Requirements Idle speed only within 100’ of shoreline, persons in water, docks, launch ramps, anchored / moored boats, and no-wake zones Idle speed only within 100’ of another vessel unless in narrow channel Stay at least 100 feet from a person being towed

35. Do not cause a boat to become airborne or to leave the water completely while crossing another boat’s wake when within 100 feet of the boat creating wake Boats must be operated at a rate of speed that does not endanger the life or property of any person A lookout must be maintained at all times to avoid collision Do not weave through congested traffic Do not operate a boat 20 feet or less above no-wake speed while a person is standing on or in the boat Operational Requirements

36. Do not operate a pontoon boat while a person is riding outside the passenger-carrying area Do not operate a motor boat above idle speed with a person riding outside the passenger area or while the person is riding on the bow decking, gunwales, transom or motor covers Do not operate a motorboat at any speed with a person sitting , riding or hanging on a swim platform or swim ladder attached to a motorboat Water skiing is illegal between sunset and sunrise Towing of persons in or on the wake of a boat is illegal Operational Requirements

37. Operational Requirements Impact rated PFD required for all being towed Must have competent observer PWC must be rated for 3 persons; observer, operator and skier

38. Accident Reporting Stop and provide assistance; exchange information Death or disappearance – notify PFBC immediately Written accident report filed within 48 hours, if death, missing or medical treatment beyond first aid If vessel is lost, or damage is over $2,000, report must be filed within 10 days Downloadable accident report form at: www.fishandboat.com

39. Accident Reporting