Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Summary

You've completed the material of Chapter 4 of the online boating safety course!

You should now:

• Know which vessels need to be registered and how to do so
• Be able to correctly place certificate numbers and registration decals on a vessel
• Know where to find the HIN number
• Know the age restrictions on operation
• Be able to list the unlawful behaviors that should be avoided when operating a vessel
• Be able to explain the dangers of consuming alcohol or drugs while boating and the penalties for doing so
• Be able to identify classifications and uses of personal flotation devices (life jackets) and state the legal requirements
• Know the legal requirements for fire extinguishers, backfire flame arrestors, ventilation systems and mufflers
• Know the legal navigation light requirements
• Know the legal requirements for visual distress signals and sound producing devices
• Know requirements for other equipment such as diver down flags or state-required equipment
• Understand the legal requirements specific to PWCs– A vessel, less than 16 feet in length, that is propelled by machinery and designed to be operated by an individual sitting or kneeling on the vessel rather than sitting or standing in the vessel.
• Know the legal requirements for towing a skier with a vessel
• Understand how to properly dispose of waste, oil and trash and properly use MSDs
• Know when and how to report a boating accident.

If you haven't already completed the Chapter 4 review exercise, click here to take the Review Questions for Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating. Or, go through the interactive Flash animation below.