Legal Responsibility

1. Legal Responsibility United States Coast Guard Federal laws Equipment requirements Safety recommendations District of Columbia, Metropolitan Police Dept., Harbor Master and Patrol Additional equipment requirements Educational requirements Registration

2. DC Title & Registering Title (and registration) required if boating on DC waters more than 50 days District issues registration numbers Decals are issued for calendar years and are valid for one year Out of district moves must be reported within 15 days In district moves require registration within 15 days

3. DC Registration Display number and decals as follows: Number must be painted, decaled or otherwise affixed to forward half of each side of vessel Number must read from left to right Number must be at least 3” high, bold, BLOCK letters

4. DC Registration (cont.) Number’s color must contrast with its background Letters must be separated from numbers by spaces or hyphens No other numbers may be displayed on either side of bow Decals must be affixed on each side of the vessel within 3 inches of the number

5. DC Registration (cont’d) Registration Certificate Must be on board when underway Issued by DC Harbor Master

6. U.S. Documented Vessels U.S. Citizens only may have a large vessel documented (at least 5 gross tons) Documentation number must be permanent and clearly visible on the interior structure

7. Hull Identification Numbers HIN unique number Engraved into transom fiberglass

8. Who May Operate A Vessel District of Columbia requires any person who is operating or navigating a powered boat shall have in his or her possession satisfactory evidence of having completed an approved boating safety course

9. Who May Operate A Vessel (cont.) Certificate obtained by successfully completing boating safety course or passing equivalency exam approved by the District of Columbia Persons required to have certificate must have it on board and available for inspection by an enforcement officer whenever operating a vessel on DC waters

10. Who May Operate A Vessel (cont.) • No one under 18 may legally operate a vessel, unless they possess a certificate of boating safety education • No one under 12 may legally operate a vessel towing a person(s) on water-skis, an aquaplane, a parasail or similar device

11. Boat Rentals • Renter must read and understand DC’s Boating rules and regulations • Renter must be over 18 unless they have completed a boating safety course and have a certificate

12. Negligent Operation Operating in restricted areas Wake jumping, hull leaves water Failure to regulate speed Operating while under the influence of drugs or alcohol

13. Regulatory Markers

14. Alcohol and Drugs Use causes impaired balance, blurred vision, poor coordination, and impaired judgment BWI became federal offense Jan 13, 1988 Standard for BWI : 0.08% bac

15. Obstructing Navigation It is illegal to: Anchor in a channel Tie up to a buoy or other ATON Tamper with, deface, or move any ATON Obstruct a pier, wharf, boat ramp

16. Security Zones

17. Homeland Security • Observe and avoid all security zones and other restricted areas. Avoid commercial port operation areas • Do not stop or anchor beneath bridges or in the channel • Keep a sharp eye out for anything that looks peculiar or out of the ordinary. Report all suspicious activities to local authorities, USCG, or port or marina security

18. PFD Requirements • One per person (Type I, II, III, or V) • One throwable (Type IV) per boat >16’ • Children under 13 must wear one (underway <21’ unless moored or child is below deck in enclosed cabin) • Must wear on skis and PWC’s • Must have onboard all motorized and non-motorized vessels (kayaks, canoes, sail/paddleboards) • Good condition, readily accessible, and sized for user

19. PFD Law (cont’d) • When the operator of a vessel sixteen feet (16 ft.) or more in length is under eighteen (18) years of age, the operator and all other persons aboard the vessel who are under eighteen (18) years of age shall wear a Coast Guard approved personal floatation device of the proper size. • All persons aboard any vessel in the area from the southernmost point of the cove commonly known as Fletcher’s Cove in the Georgetown Channel of the Potomac River upstream to the District of Columbia boundary line at Little Falls shall wear a Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device at all times.

20. Type I: Offshore Life Jacket Minimum Buoyancy 22 pounds

21. Type II: Near-Shore Vest Minimum Buoyancy 15.5 pounds

22. Type III: Flotation Aid Minimum Buoyancy 15.5 pounds

23. Type III/V: Inflatable PFD Minimum Buoyancy 22 pounds

24. Type IV: Throwable Device Must have on board

25. Type V: Special-Use Device

26. HIGHER BUOYANCY MEANS HIGHER LIFT

27. Liquids Grease Trash Wood Paper Electrical Equipment Types Of Fires

28. Fire Extinguishers Should be on all vessels

29. Fire Extinguishers Dry chemical most common for marine use Type B required onboard Inboard or I/O engines Permanently installed fuel tanks Closed living spaces Closed compartments where portable fuel tanks are stored

30. Federal Rules For Fire Extinguishers <26 feet 1 B-1 26 feet to <40 feet 2 B-1 40 feet to <65 feet 3 B-1 Note: These are minimums

31. Charge Indicators

32. Backfire Flame Arrestor Required on gasoline engines installed after April 25, 1940

33. Proper Ventilation Required on gasoline powered boats Powered ventilation on boats built after 31 July 1980 Natural ventilation for boats built before 1 August 1980

34. Powered ventilation Proper Ventilation

35. Proper Ventilation Natural ventilation

36. Mufflers Excessive noise can prevent vessel operator from hearing signals and voices • All vessels manufactured after January 1, 1990 must be equipped with muffler system in good working order and in constant operation to suppress engine noise • You may not remove or modify a muffler or muffling system if it results in an increased noise level • Vessels involved in marine event approved by USCG or DC Harbor Master are exempt from these requirements

37. Sunset to sunrise Restricted visibility Range of visibility Example:   In vessels of less than 12 meters in length: a masthead light, 2 miles; a sidelight, 1 miles; Lights – Under Power

38. Lights – Sailboat

39. Lights under oars < 23’ or 7 meters

40. Visual Distress Signals Three hand held red flares Day and Night Service life: 42 Months

41. Or... One Hand Held Red Flare & Two Red Meteors Service life: 42 Months

42. Or... One hand held orange smoke Two floating orange smoke And one electric SOS light

43. Other VSDs Arm signal Not USCG approved Use if no other Orange flag Day signal only

44. Sound Producing Devices Boats less than 65’ (20 m) must carry a sound producing device, e.g., whistle, horn, etc.

45. Sound Producing Devices Boats greater than 65’ (20 m) must carry a bell (in addition to other device)

46. Diving/Snorkeling Flags Avoid placing in: Areas already occupied by boaters Narrow channels

47. Requirements Specific To PWC Education requirements District registration PFD required Lanyard required: essential for engine cutoff No night operation

48. PWC (cont’d) • Prudent operation • Speed <6 kts within 100yd of shore, persons • Speed <6 kts within 100yd of another vessel unless overtaking or crossing • Speed: slow, no wake in water less than 18” deep

49. Towing RequirementsBoat Or PWC No skiing or towing between sunset and sunrise PFD required for towed person PWC must be rated for 3 persons: observer required

50. Waste and Trash Sewage carries harmful bacteria: use pump out stations Do not throw any trash overboard