Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Reckless Operation of a Vessel
Indiana law prohibits reckless operation of a vessel or the reckless
manipulation of water-skis, an aquaplane, or any similar device.
Reckless operation or manipulation is operating a vessel carelessly
in willful disregard of the rights, safety, or property of others.
Examples of illegal and reckless operation are:
- Operating a vessel at speeds that endanger human life, endanger
human physical safety or property, or prevent stopping within
an assured clear distance ahead. Be aware of and obey all regulatory
markers, including those marked as “idle
speed –A speed at which the vessel does not produce a wake, not to exceed 5 miles per hour ” or “slow,
no wake speed–A speed at which the vessel does not produce a wake, not to exceed 5 miles per hour .”
- Operating a vessel at speeds of more than 10 miles per hour
between sunset and sunrise.
- Weaving your vessel through congested waterway traffic or swerving
at the last possible moment in order to avoid collision.
- Jumping the wake–Waves that a vessel leaves behind as it moves through the water of another
vessel such that you endanger human life, human physical safety,
or property.
- Loading the vessel beyond the recommended capacity shown
on the capacity plate installed by the vessel manufacturer.
- Causing a hazardous wake or wash from your vessel.
- Boating in restricted areas without regard for other boaters
or persons, posted speeds and wake restrictions, diver-down flags,
etc.
- Operating in a circular course around another vessel engaged
in fishing or around a person swimming.
- Operating within 150 feet of a diver-down flag unless assisting the diver.
- Allowing passengers to ride on the gunwale–Upper edge of vessel's side (generally pronounced gunnel) or,
if the vessel is less than 21 feet in length, on the bow where
they may fall overboard–Over the side or out of the vessel.
Lake and channel restrictions vary depending on the size of the
waterbody or waterway. You may be restricted to speeds up to 10
miles per hour anywhere from 50 to 200 feet from the shoreline,
depending on the size of lake or width of the channel.
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