OTHER ACTIVITIES

Personal Watercraft (PWC) • For anyone 11 years of age or younger to oper- Paddlesports ate a PWC. PWCs are defined as vessels less than 16 feet • For anyone 12 through 15 years of age to oper- Canoeing, , and stand-up paddle- boarding are popular recreational water sports in length that use an inboard engine powering a ate a PWC with any passengers on board 15 water jet pump as their primary source of propul- in Pennsylvania. There are dangers that can be years of age or younger. sion, designed to be operated by a person sitting, lessened with knowledge, preparation, and prac- kneeling, or standing in other than the conven- PWC Characteristics tice. Primary hazards are capsizing, swamping, or just falling out of the . Keep in mind that tional manner of boat operation. Other vessels • Jet pump propulsion, which eliminates a may use jet propulsion, however, these vessels paddling is a “get wet” sport. rudder or exposed propeller. are not considered a PWC. • A steerable nozzle is located at the stern of These are fast and maneuverable and PADDLING TIPS the boat. can be operated in relatively shallow water. • Wear your life jacket. On average, 80 per- • A cut-off switch and safety lanyard, which PWC operators are involved in a disproportion- cent of all recreational fatalities ate number of boating accidents. Collisions are stops the engine when the operator falls off happen to people who are not wearing a life the most common type of accident reported and the PWC. jacket. are usually caused by the operator not keeping a • PWCs are highly maneuverable. Releasing • Expect to get wet and dress properly. proper lookout or operating the boat in a reckless the throttle (or slowing the engine) usually Even the best paddlers sometimes capsize manner. Many of these accidents are caused by eliminates the ability to steer the craft. or swamp their boats. people new to PWC operation, and nearly all of • Be prepared to swim. If the water looks too these accidents are avoidable. hazardous to swim in, don’t go paddling. • If you capsize, hold on to your boat, unless it presents a life-threatening situation. • Scout ahead whenever possible. Know the river. Avoid surprises. • Be prepared for the weather. Get a fore- cast before you go. PA 0000 BD • Wear wading shoes or tennis shoes with wool, polypropylene, pile, or neoprene PWC Operation socks. PWC operators should be responsible and • Never take your boat over a low-head dam. considerate of others around them. Noise • Portage (carry) your boat around any is the most common complaint against section of water about which you feel PWC operators must follow the same laws and PWC operators. A PWC must be equipped uncertain. regulations as other boaters. Pennsylvania regula- with an efficient muffling system in good • Never boat alone. Boating safety increases tions require that PWC operators must: working order, which cannot be bypassed with numbers. • Wear life jackets at or altered. Courteous PWC operators will • Keep painter lines (ropes tied to the bow) all times. All pas- vary their areas of operation to reduce and any other ropes coiled and secured. sengers must also repetitive course tracking, stay away from • Never tie a rope to yourself or to another wear life jackets. shorelines, and be aware of all boats and paddler, especially a child. Inflatable life jackets people in the area of operation. • Kneel to increase your stability before are not acceptable. Everyone who operates a PWC should read entering rougher water, like a rapid. • Carry a fully charged the owner’s manual and become familiar • If you collide with an obstruction, lean fire extinguisher on board (see fire extinguish- with the craft before going out on the toward it. er section). • water. Practice is essential for safe PWC Be sure to leave a float plan. It’s a written • Carry a sound-producing device on board. statement that details your intended trip operation. PWC operators must connect • Attach the cut-off switch safety lanyard to and is provided to a relative, friend, neigh- the safety lanyard to both the cut-off clothing, body, or life jacket. The purpose of bor, or marina operator. Include specifics the switch is to stop the engine in case the switch on the PWC and their life jacket, about the vessel, equipment, crew, and operator falls off. body, or clothing. If the operator falls off, departure and arrival times. the operator should re-board the craft Furthermore, it is illegal: from the rear. PWCs have both “main” • For anyone to operate a PWC without hav- and “reserve” fuel tanks. Switch the fuel ing in one’s possession a Boating Safety selector on your craft to “reserve” when Education Certificate. See page 37 on how to the “main” tank has been used and head obtain a certificate. to shore to refuel. Safety gear, including • To rent a PWC to anyone 15 years of age or gloves, eye protection, footwear, and wet- younger. No one less than 16 years of age suit or for protection against cold may operate a rented PWC. water, is not required by law but advisable • To operate a PWC from sunset to sunrise. See for PWC operators. page 45 for timetable. • To tow a water skier behind a PWC with a capacity of two people or fewer and to tow more than one skier.

Pennsylvania Summary/Boating Handbook www.fishandboat.com 53 OTHER WATER ACTIVITIES

Water- and • Skiers may start from the shore or dock if boat white diagonal stripe running from traffic permits. Skiers may not return to the the top of the staff to the opposite Similar Activities shore or dock under power. lower corner. Water-skiing includes conventional water- • Installation of ramps and jumps requires a The code flag alpha is a blue and skiing, as well as anyone towed behind a boat on permit from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat white pennant, and boats must dis- aquaplanes, kneeboards, inner tubes, air mat- Commission. Mooring or within 100 play this flag during dive operations tresses, parasails, kite , wake boards, or any feet of a ski ramp or jump while it is in use is if they are restricted in their ability to maneuver. similar device. Participants in all of these types of prohibited. Boats not engaged in operations shall activities are required to wear a life jacket. Persons • Kite skiing and are permitted engaged in barefoot, jump or trick skiing, or remain at least 100 feet from areas displaying only on where unrestricted skiing is wake may elect to wear, at their own risk, the diver down flag or boats displaying the code a designed specifically for that activity. permitted. flag alpha. A USCG-approved life jacket must be carried in • It is legal to tow more than one skier except the boat for each skier electing to wear the special when locally prohibited. Ski tow ropes may not water-ski wetsuit. Inflatable life jackets are not exceed the following lengths (as measured from acceptable for anyone towed behind a boat. the boat’s transom): Sailing is another popular form of boating In addition to the operator, a competent • Conventional water-ski- 80 feet in Pennsylvania. Sailboaters may have different observer must be in the boat in a position to • Parasails- 300 feet requirements than other boaters. They should observe the progress of the person being towed. A • Nonreleasable kite ski- 50 feet be familiar with the operation and navigation competent observer is a person who has the abil- • Releasable kite ski- 500 feet requirements found in this handbook. Navigation ity to assess when a skier is in trouble, knows and • It is unlawful to operate a motorboat at any lights are required after dusk and during periods understands the water-skiing hand signals, and is speed with a person or persons sitting, riding, of restricted visibility. capable of helping a skier. or hanging on a swim platform (teak surfing) or Sailboaters should stay off the water during • To prevent propeller-related accidents, turn swim ladder attached to the motorboat, except storms and periods of extremely high winds. off your engine before picking up any skier. when launching, retrieving, docking, or anchor- They should also be aware of overhead power • Skiing is prohibited between sunset and ing the motorboat. lines. Life jackets should be worn at all times. sunrise. Another type of sailing vessel, the sailboard • Skiers are also considered passengers and • It is unlawful to operate a motorboat at any count in the boat’s total capacity. speed when towing a person on water skis or (windsurfer) is a single or double-hulled boat with • It’s unlawful to operate a boat when it is other devices using a tow rope of 20 feet or less jointed mast (surfboard with a sail). Sailboard loaded with passengers (including indi- (as measured from the boat’s transom). The operators in Pennsylvania must wear a life jacket. viduals being towed behind a boat) or cargo minimum tow rope length does not apply to Inflatable life jackets are not acceptable. beyond its safe carrying capacity. wake surfing. • Boats engaged in the activity of wake surfing are limited to slow, no-wake speed when within 200 Hunters and Anglers WATER-SKIING HAND SIGNALS feet of the shoreline, docks, Hunters and anglers that use a boat as a plat- launch ramps, swimmers or form to hunt or fish must remember that they downed skiers, persons wad- are boaters too. Often these types of boaters get ing in the water, anchored, so involved with their sport they forget to fol- moored, or drifting boats, low all boating regulations such as proper safety and other marked areas. equipment, boating laws, and the rules of the • Motorboats propelled by road. When fishing from a boat, remember to an outboard motor, inboard/ load your boat properly, remain seated, wear a outboard motor or water jet life jacket, and keep an eye on the weather. Never are prohibited from towing anchor from the stern (back), and stay with your boat a person in or on the wake if it should capsize. of the boat. Hunting from a boat is fun but can be danger- ous. Fall weather is changeable and can be dead- and ly for the boating hunter. Water temperatures Diving are typically much colder during traditional hunting seasons. The hunter usually hunts from Swimming is prohib- a small boat with a flat bottom. These boats are ited at Pennsylvania Fish poorly suited for rough water. Life jackets appro- and Boat Commission lakes priate for hunting should be worn at all times. and access areas. Boaters Please be aware of the mandatory cold- should keep a sharp look- weather life jacket wear regulation, effective out for swimmers and div- November 1 through April 30–see page 42. ers at all times. A diver down flag is displayed from a float during diving operations. This flag is red with a

54 www.fishandboat.com Pennsylvania Fishing Summary/Boating Handbook