2019 Information All Boaters Must Know

This article reviews key regulatory and safety information that immersion, the Commission has amended regulations to require life boaters must know before venturing out the . The jackets to be worn on small and unstable during the period most annual Regulations Recap brochure also highlights new noted for cold temperatures. regulations that were recently approved by the Pennsylvania Fish & Commission (PFBC). The Boating Regulations Boating accidents Recap paired with the Pennsylvania Boating Handbook provides Boating accidents must be reported in writing by the boat boaters with comprehensive safety information to use when operator or owner to PFBC when: operating watercraft on Pennsylvania waterways. • A person dies or disappears. • A person is injured and requires advanced medical Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) treatment beyond first aid. • A Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket is • Damage to the boat and other property totals more than required for each person on board. In addition, one throwable $2,000, or there is a complete loss of the vessel. device is required on boats 16 feet in length or longer. Boating accident reports can be completed and downloaded • Children 12 years of age and younger must wear an approved life from the Commission’s website at www.fishandboat.com/ jacket on Commonwealth when underway on any boat 20 Boat/BoatingBasics/Documents/pfbc260.pdf or obtained feet or less in length and in all and . from any of our regional law enforcement offices. • All water skiers and anyone towed behind vessels, personal watercraft operators and passengers, and sailboarders must wear a Water- and similar activities life jacket. Inflatable life jackets are not acceptable for these activities. • It is unlawful to operate a motorboat at any speed with • Wearable life jackets must be “readily accessible” or in the a person or persons sitting, riding or hanging on a swim open where they can be easily reached. Throwable devices must platform (teak ) or swim ladder attached to the be “immediately available” or within arm’s reach. Throwable motorboat, except when launching, retrieving, docking or devices stowed in a compartment or sealed in its original anchoring the motorboat. packaging are not immediately available. • It is unlawful to operate a motorboat at any speed when towing a person on water or other devices using a tow Mandatory cold weather life jacket wear rope of 20 feet or less. From November 1 through April 30, boaters are required by law to • Wake surfing is excluded from the 20-foot tow rope requirement. wear life jackets on board boats less than 16 feet in length or any • Boats engaged in the activity of wake surfing are limited to or . This regulation went into effect in 2012 and is intended to slow, no-wake speed when within 200 feet of the shoreline, protect boaters from dangers of cold water shock if they fall into the docks, launch ramps, swimmers or downed skiers, persons water. Recreational boating fatalities that occur in Pennsylvania from wading in the water, anchored, moored or boats and November through April are primarily due to the effects of cold water other marked areas. immersion. When water temperatures are less than 70 degrees F, cold • Operate a motorboat propelled by an outboard motor, inboard/ water shock is a major factor in boating fatalities. Victims who wear outboard motor or water jet while a person is wake surfing in a life jacket when exposed to cold water have potentially life-saving or on the wake of the motorboat, unless the propulsion system advantages such as insulation from the cold, for victims is specifically designed by the manufacturer for that activity. who are unable to tread water and reduced risk of aspiration of water. • Skiing is illegal between sunset and sunrise. In an effort to reduce the number of fatalities related to cold water • In addition to the operator, a competent observer must be in the boat in a position to observe the towed person. Mandatory boating education • Conventional water- tow ropes may not exceed a length HP OF MOTOR RESTRICTIONS OF USE of 80 feet.

PWC All PWC (personal watercraft) operators, regardless of age, must have a Boating Safety Education Certificate. Specially regulated waters Persons 11 years of age or younger may NOT operate. Additional regulations such as speed limit and slow, no-wake Persons 12 through 15 years of age may NOT operate with any areas affect boaters on specific waterways. Boaters should read all passengers on board 15 years of age or younger or rent a PWC. regulations posted on the bulletin boards at access areas. Know 0-25hp None the waters you plan to boat before you go. Greater Persons 11 years of age or younger may NOT operate. By understanding boating regulations and safety than 25hp Persons born on or after January 1, 1982, may not operate unless they have obtained and have in possession a Boating Safety information, you will be prepared while on the water. Visit Education Certificate. www.fishandboat.com.

40 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • January/February 2019 www.gonefishingpa.com Get the complete story and read what you’ve been missing! Do you like what you’re reading? Do you find Pennsylvania Angler & Boater online articles a valuable resource? If so, why not become a regular subscriber to Pennsylvania Angler & Boater and receive the entire magazine delivered to your doorstep. With each printed issue, we place only a small portion of our feature articles on our website. If you fish or boat in Pennsylvania, you shouldn’t miss a single issue, or even a single article! It’s been the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission’s (PFBC’s) premier, award-winning magazine since 1931. Print out this page and mail the form below with your payment to begin your subscription. Or you can subscribe online through PFBC’s 6 Issues per year! Outdoor Shop. CLICK HERE!

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