Boating Regulations
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COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE 2021 Boating Handbook with Regulations and Statutes BOATING SAFELY COURSE INFORMATION 303-291-7575 • www.register-ed.com cpw.state.co.us DEAR COLORADO BOATER: Owner/Boat Information You are among Colorado’s 81,647 recreational boaters who annually visit marinas, lakes, and rivers seeking an Name of Owner outdoor recreational experience. In order to ensure that your experience is a safe and enjoyable one, it is important for you to know and follow the regulations and guidelines Name of Boat found in this brochure. Boat CL# The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Boating Regulations are based upon Colorado’s Statutes mostly found in title 33 and Colorado Parks and Wildlife Rules and Regulations, but uses layman’s terms rather than legal language in most Personal Contact Information instances. Not all provisions of law pertaining to boating are included here. Consequently, this brochure is not suitable for use in law enforcement or in litigation. To find Owner’s Cell Phone exact state statutes and Colorado Parks and Wildlife Rules and Regulations please refer to https://cpw.state.co.us/ aboutus/Pages/Regulations.aspx. Owner’s Home Phone This brochure is one of many resources available through Owner’s Home Address Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Boating Safety Program utilizes the experience, training and knowledge of the state’s experts in recreational-related matters, including public access, information, safety, education, and marine law Emergency Contact Information enforcement. Home Marina Phone To see all the boatable waters in Colorado please visit our website https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/Pages/ BoatableWaters.aspx or to learn more about Colorado State Park Main Phone Parks and Wildlife and resources available to you please visit https://cpw.state.co.us/. Other Important Phone Numbers We want you to have a safe and enjoyable boating experience. Please remember, if it’s your boat, it’s your responsibility. Lastly, please wear a life jacket! They save lives! Emergency Phone Number: 911 Table of Contents Registration …………………………………………..................................4 Diving or Ski Flags…..………………………………………......... ............22 Registration Required.......................................................................... ............4 Alpha Flag Regulation......................................................................... ............23 How to Register………………………………………………........ ............4 Divers Down Flag.............................................................................................23 Vessel Classification…………………………................................... ...........5 Operation of a Vessel While Intoxicated (BUI)............................... ............24 Display of Numbers Boat Accident Reporting……………………………………......... ............24 and Registration Stickers………………………………….............. ...........6 Authority to Close Water……………………………………......... ............26 Dealer Licenses..................................................................................... ............7 False Reporting Search and Rescue Calls......................................... ............27 Notification Requirements.................................................................. ............7 Required Equipment ………………….. .....................................................28 Before You Go ……………………………………….. ................................8 General Information…………………………………………........ ............28 Education…………………………………………………….......... ...........8 Sailboats and Manually Propelled Vessels…………………........... ...........29 Weather ………..………………….................................................... ............9 Sound Signaling Devices..................................................................... ............29 Fueling…………………………………………….......................... .............9 Motorboats Less Than 16 Feet in Length…………………............ ...........30 Boat Capacity……………………………………………............... .............9 Motorboats 16 Feet to Less Than 26 Feet in Length…….............. ............30 Loading.................................................................................................. ............10 Motorboats 26 Feet to Less Than 40 Feet in Length…….............. ............31 Checklist and Float Plan...................................................................... ...........11 Motorboats 40 Feet to 65 Feet in Length…………………............ ............32 Navigation and Rules of the Road ………………….. .............................12 Life Jackets…………………………………………………............ ............33 Federal Lateral System……………………………………………... .........12 Fire Extinguishers……………………………………………........ ............37 Inland Waterway Marking Muffling and Sound Level System……………………………………….............................................. ..12 Systems…………………………………………….......................... ............39 Mooring to Buoys............................................................................................. 12 Ventilation Systems………………………………………….......... ............39 Navigation Rules…………………………………………............... ...........12 Two-Stroke Engines…………………………………………......... ............39 Boater Responsibility…………………………….......................... ..............12 Backfire Flame Control Devices…………………………….......... ............40 Navigation Signals………………………………………............ ................14 Running Lights……………………………………………….....................40 Meeting or Crossing Power Driven Vessels........................................................................... ............40 Situations……………………………………………..................... ..............14 Sailing Vessels and Vessels Under Oars............................................ ............41 Head On Situation…………………………………….................... ............15 Recommended Additional Equipment............................................. ............42 Overtaking Situations…………………………………………….... ..........15 Marine Sanitation Devices…………………………………........... ............43 Other Situations.................................................................................... ...........16 Environmental Boating Guidelines ………………….. ...........................43 Rules for Sailing Vessels...................................................................... ............16 Boater Responsibility…………………………………………....... ............43 Narrow Passages................................................................................... ............17 Boat Maintenance…………………................................................... ............43 Responsibilities Between Vessels........................................................ ...........17 Oil and Gas………………….............................................................. ............44 Fog Signals or Vessels in Restricted Visibility.................................. ............17 Bilge Oil……......................................................................................... ...........45 Operational Law …………………................................................................18 Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.............................................................. ...........45 Peace Officers………………………………………………........... ............18 Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS)……...........................................................46 Trailering…………………………………………………….......... ............18 ANS Stamp………………….............................................................. ............47 Stolen Vessels………………………………………………............ ...........18 Motorboats and Sailboats from Colorado........................................ ............47 County and City Laws………………………………………......... ............18 Motorboats and Sailboats from Another State.............................................47 Speed…………………………………………………………......... ...........18 Helpful Definitions ………………….. .........................................................48 Vessel Liveries……………………………………………............... ............19 Careless or Imprudent Operation of a Vessel……………............. ............20 Reckless Operation of a Vessel………………………………........ ............20 Prohibited Vessel Operation……………………………................ ............20 A lifejacket can save Personal Watercraft Operation........................................................... ............21 your life, but only if Towing water skis, aquaplanes, surfboards, innertubes or any similar devices…........................................................................... ............21 you wear it! Life Jackets............................................................................................. ............22 2 3 Registration Registration Required • A physical inspection form completed by a CPW agent Colorado Law (CRS 33-13-103) requires any vessel with a motor or sail operated in Colorado on any public water to be registered with An acceptable private party to private party Bill of Sale Template Colorado Parks and Wildlife except: can be found here for your use. • Boats propelled manually (Canoes, Kayaks, Paddleboards, non https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/BuyApply/Bill-of-Sale- motorized rafts) Template.pdf • Vessels documented by the United States Coast Guard A bill of sale is good for 30 days before you have to register your boat (CPW Regulation #203) • Foreign vessels Registration and registration renewals are required annually and • Vessels having valid registration and numbered correctly in are valid from January 1 through December 31 each year. the state of principal