Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Unlawful Operation of a Vessel

Florida law states that it is unlawful to operate a vessel in a reckless or dangerous manner. Specifically, the law designates the following dangerous operating practices as illegal.

• Reckless or Careless Operation of a vessel or manipulation of water skis, aquaplanes, or similar devices is the failure to exercise the care necessary to prevent the endangerment of life, limb, or property of any person. Some examples are:
  • Boating in restricted areas without regard for other boaters or persons, posted speeds and wake restrictions, diver-down flags, etc.
  • Failing to follow the navigation rules
• Improper Speed is operating at speeds greater than posted speeds and that are not reasonable and prudent based on boating traffic, weather conditions, visibility, or other potential hazards. If no limits are posted, you should operate a vessel so that it does not endanger others. Vessel speed always should be maintained so that the vessel can be stopped safely. Specifically, it is illegal to:
  • Operate at a rate of speed that endangers the life or property of any person.
  • Operate at greater than "idle speed, no wake" in a posted "no wake" zone.
• Exceeding Maximum Loading or Horsepower is the failure of a vessel operator to ensure that their vessel is loaded safely and not overpowered. Florida law prohibits a person from operating a monohull vessel less than 20 feet in length while exceeding the maximum weight, persons, or horsepower capacity as displayed on the capacity plate installed by the vessel manufacturer.
• Riding on the Bow, Deck, or Gunwale is allowing passengers to ride on the bow, gunwale, transom, seat backs, seats on raised decks, or any other place where there may be a chance of falling overboard.

Remember ...

• As an owner of a vessel, you may be responsible if you allow others to operate your vessel in violation of Florida law.
• The operator is responsible for his or her vessel's wake and any damage it may cause.

Manatee Protection Zones

The Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act establishes over 20 manatee protection vessel speed zones on Florida waters. It is illegal to violate any of these posted zones. In addition, it is illegal to harass, hunt, capture, or kill any marine mammal, which includes manatees. You must obey these vessel speed zones.

• Vessel Exclusion Area: An area marked with a vertical diamond shape with a cross in the center that indicates all vessels or certain classes of vessels are excluded from the area.
• "Idle Speed, No Wake" Zone: A designated area known to have a large number of manatees. You must not annoy, molest, harass, disturb, collide with, injure, or harm manatees; and you must operate at idle speed, which is at a speed no greater than that which will maintain steerageway and headway.
• "Slow Speed, Minimum Wake" Zone: A designated area where manatees are known to congregate. In a slow speed zone, vessel operators must operate fully settled in the water and proceed at a reasonable and prudent speed with little or no wake to avoid either intentionally or negligently annoying, molesting, harassing, disturbing, colliding with, injuring, or harming manatees.
• Maximum 25 MPH Speed Zone: A controlled area within which a vessel's speed must not exceed 25 miles per hour. If at 25 mph your vessel's bow rises and restricts visibility, or your vessel produces an excessive wake endangering other vessels or natural resources, you must reduce your speed further.
• Maximum 30 MPH Speed Zone: A controlled area within which a vessel's speed must not exceed 30 miles per hour. If at 30 mph your vessel's bow rises and restricts visibility, or your vessel produces an excessive wake endangering other vessels or natural resources, you must reduce your speed further.
• Maximum 35 MPH Speed Zone: A controlled area within which a vessel's speed must not exceed 35 miles per hour. If at 35 mph your vessel's bow rises and restricts visibility, or your vessel produces an excessive wake endangering other vessels or natural resources, you must reduce your speed further.

Manatees may be in many places. During most of the year, manatees may be found in fresh or salt waters, preferring calmer rivers, estuaries, bays, and canals. In the winter, manatees seek warmer waters and often congregate in the discharge areas near power plants or natural warm water springs. Boaters should avoid manatee habitats and use caution when traveling in known manatee travel corridors. It is illegal to harass, hunt, capture, or kill any marine mammal, including manatees. Any act that disrupts a manatee's normal behavior is punishable by a fine of up to a $50,000, one-year imprisonment, or both. Read more about protecting manatees and their habitat.