Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Other Equipment and Regulations

Emergency Equipment

In addition to the equipment described elsewhere in this chapter, every vessel must carry:

• One oar or paddle
• One bailing bucket with a capacity of at least one gallon or a hand-operated bilge pump
• A stout rope whose length is at least equal to the length of the vessel

Diver-Down Flags

Scuba divers and snorkelers must display a diver-down flag to mark their diving area. Divers must stay within a 150-foot radius of the flag. Vessel operators must not operate within 150 feet of a diver-down flag. Two types of flags are used to indicate diving activity.

Scuba divers and snorkelers should not place a flag in an area already occupied by other boaters or where their diving operation will impede the normal flow of waterway traffic. Divers also should follow all of the water safety rules themselves.

Skier-Down Flag

Vessels towing person(s) on water skis or similar devices must display a red or orange skier-down flag whenever the towed person(s) is in the water.

Local Regulations

Local waterways may have specific equipment and operational restrictions in addition to those covered in this chapter. On Heron Lake, Santa Cruz, and Cochiti Lake, for example, motorized boating is limited to no-wake operation only. Be sure to check for local regulations before you go boating. Go to www.nmparks.com and click on “Boating” and then “Boating Waters” for specific restrictions by lake.