Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Unlawful Operation of a Boat or PWC
Pennsylvania law states that it is unlawful to operate a vessel
in a reckless, negligent, or dangerous manner. The following dangerous
operating practices are illegal.
Improper Speed or Distance is not maintaining a proper
speed or distance while operating a vessel or while towing a person
on water skis or any similar device. Specifically, it is illegal
to:
- Operate at a rate of speed that endangers the life or property
of any person.
- Operate a vessel at greater than “slow,
no wake” speed if within 100 feet of:
- A shoreline
- Docks or launch ramps
- Swimmers, downed skiers, or persons wading in the water
- Anchored, moored, or drifting boats or floats
- Operate a boat less than 20 feet in length at greater than “slow,
no wake” speed while a person is standing on or in the
boat.
- Cause a vessel to become airborne (leave the water completely)
while crossing another vessel’s wake when within 100 feet
of the vessel creating the wake.
- Operate at faster than “slow, no wake” speed within
100 feet to the rear of or 50 feet to the side of another vessel
that is underway (unless in a narrow channel).
- Operate within 100 feet of anyone being towed behind another
vessel.
- Weave your vessel through congested waterway traffic or swerve
at the last possible moment in order to avoid collision.
Riding on Bow, Gunwales or Transom is
allowing passengers to ride on a vessel not equipped with railings
or other safeguards, in places where there may be a chance of falling overboard while
underway at greater than “slow, no wake” speed. This
includes passengers riding on the bow decking, gunwales, transom,
or motor cover.
Overloading is loading the vessel beyond the recommended
capacity shown on the capacity
plate installed by the vessel manufacturer.
Unsafe Conditions is operating a vessel in a condition
that causes a hazard to the occupants or others on the waterways.
Waterway conservation officers may instruct the operator to immediately
take corrective action or return to the nearest mooring for any
of these problems.
- There are insufficient personal flotation devices, fire extinguishers,
backfire flame arrestors, ventilation systems, or navigation
lights.
- The boat is overloaded or overpowered.
- The boat is leaking fuel.
- The boat is operating near dams, reservoir structures, or
discharges.
- The boat is towing a skier without an observer on board.
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