Legal Responsibility

1. Legal Responsibility United States Coast Guard Federal laws Equipment requirements Safety recommendations Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Additional equipment requirements Educational requirements Registration

2. Virginia Title & Registration Title (and registration) required if boating on Virginia waters State issues registration numbers Decals are issued for calendar years and are valid for three years 15 days to report sale of vessel

3. Virginia 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. Virginia 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. Virginia Registration (cont’d) Registration Certificate Must be on board when underway Issued by Virginia DGIF

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 As of July 1, 2014, Boating safety course required • PWC operators age 14 and older • Motorboat operators 45 and younger must Beginning July 1, 2015, • PWC operators age 14 and older • Motorboat operators ages 50 and younger need to take a boating safety course. By July 1, 2016, • All operators regardless of age need to meet Virginia’s Education requirements.

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

10. Who May Operate A Vessel (cont.) • No one under 14 may legally operate a PWC, even if they possess a certificate of boating safety education

11. Boat Rentals • Renter must read and understand VGIF’s boating rules and regulations • Renter will be issued temporary certificate to operate a vessel on Virginia’s waters by rental company • PWC rental: renter must be over 14 and have a certificate (if required)

12. Exemptions • Can operate the motorboat under onboard direct supervision of a person who meets the compliance requirement • Other exemptions from requirement for Canadians, out of state boaters, US federal licensees

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

14. Regulatory Markers

15. 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 Criminal penalty: up to $2500 fine or one year imprisonment; a loss of the privilege of operating a watercraft for 12 months, and/or mandatory enrollment in the Alcohol Safety Action Program

16. 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

17. Security Zones

18. 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

19. 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

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 • No person may operate a vessel on Virginia waters that emits noise in excess of 90 db(A) • Vessels involved in marine event approved by USCG 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 State registration PFD required Lanyard required: essential for engine cutoff No night operation

48. PWC (cont’d) • Prudent operation • Speed <6 kts within 50’ of shore, persons • Speed <6 kts within 50’ of another vessel unless overtaking or crossing

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