Before you start looking thru the boat classifieds for a new boat for sale or maybe a used boat for sale, you need to stop to think about getting acquainted with the basic sailing rules and regs. These may affect the kind of boat you purchase and how you intend to use it. The amount of registered boaters continues to rise annually and though the amount of lethal accidents has appears to level off over the last few years, the quantity of sailing congestion and traffic has not.

Every year it appears like there are more boaters on our inland waters and major gateways and your local county law enforcement is now constantly monitoring them for violations. Below are some boating regulations to help keep you safe. People between the ages of 12-15 may operate a boat provided they are accompanied by an adult. This regulation varies from state to state, so check your local authority first.

Cruising in Prohibited Areas - Proscribed areas are routinely marked with buoys, beacons or diver down flags. Be cautious to check for proscribed areas at your local launch site or keep away from marked areas. Slow-No Wake: Marked areas require that you operate your boat as to not make a wake and at minimum speed

Riding on Bow: It is generally unlawful to ride on the bow, unless supplied with seating, or gunwale of a boat that's traveling at a speed greater than slow-no wake speed. Unacceptable Distance: It isn't lawful to operate a boat when traveling greater than slow-no wake speeds inside a hundred feet of coastal waters less than three feet deep, any berthed or anchored vessel, any dock or raft, a marked swimming area.

Failure to control Speed: It is unlawful to operate a boat at a speed that would cause danger to property or life or speeds that make it difficult for you to safely manage your vessel including, speeds greater than 55mph on little inland lakes, faster than reasonable speeds in serious conditions, speeds greater than slow-no wake speeds with people riding on bow. Reckless Operation: Includes operation your vessel that threatens the protection of others or the property of others. It is illegal to tow skiers from dusk to dawn.

Boats towing skiers must be provided with a wide angle rearview mirror or have someone else on board, twelve years or older, to watch the skier. Each occupant must wear a life preserver or life jacket, if provided with a kill switch wire must be attached to the driver, inflatable life jackets aren't sufficient or authorized for PWC's, can only be operated during daytime hours and can't be used from nightfall to dawn, must maintain at least fifty foot distance from other objects including boats, shore, docks, swimmers unless moving at no-wake speed, jumping the wake of another vessel or driving intolerably close is illegal, it is illegal to operate the vessel in a delegated area for showering, fishing, swimming or in a prohibited area, operated the vessel while drunk (blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher), it is illegal to operate the vessel inside 50' of a diver down flag. Note : there are further needs and rules for PWC private watercraft.

Alcohol and Drugs: In some states, alcohol is involved in as much as 25% of cruising accidents. It is unlawful to operate your boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In most states, if you've a blood alcohol level higher than 0.1 percent you are guilty of a misdemeanor. In some states it's 0.08%. If you are BAL is 0.07%, your local Sheriff can apply other tests to establish if you're under the influence. Your blood alcohol level is conditional upon your weight, your metabolic rate and how much food is in your belly. Heavier folks or people that have recently eaten will have a higher toleration to the results of alcohol. Blood Alcohol levels - FOR REFERENCE just for a medium size adult male weighing roughly 175lbs his blood alcohol level will be as the following, one drink in hour - .016 two drinks in one hour- .032 three drinks in 1.5 hours- .048 four drinks in two hours- .064 five drinks in 2.5 hours- .08 six drinks in 3.5 hours - .096 For a huge size adult male weighing roughly 225 lbs, one drink in hour - .01 two drinks in one hour- .02 three drinks in 1.5 hours- .03 four drinks in two hours- .045 five drinks in 2.5 hours- .06 six drinks in 3.5 hours - .067 Blood Alcohol Levels and How it Feels Physically : .02 relaxed feeling .05 less alert and physical coordination and impairment starts .07 legally drunk in several states According to this reference info, it's obvious a few drinks over a period of a couple of hours perhaps enjoyed and managed, but four or more drinks without regard for your size places you and others in danger. So as one says on the T. V. don't drink and drive and if you opt to drink do so responsibly.

As always, these are just basic guidelines, please check your local state authority for your specific rules and regulations.

Boating Questions, Boating Tips, rules

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