Speed Boat Safety!

Boat safety is extremely important if you are thinking about buying a boat or even riding in one. If you have a friend or family member with a boat and they allow you to drive you should also know the basics of speed boat safety. This could save your life or someone else‟s. The purpose of this e-book is to teach you everything you need to know about boat safety. The information contained in this e-book includes some of the things you would learn in a boat safety course and more. This e-book will take you through regulations set forth by the state and federal government for boat safety. You will learn about floatation devices and how to use them properly. There is a lot of helpful information in this e-book which includes safety lights and why you need them, fire extinguisher basics, prevention tips, distress signals, about hypothermia, and much more. There are hundreds of boating accidents that result in death every year. Many of the people hurt by speed boats are fishermen who are minding their own business fishing. Accidents happen and you may think that it would never happen to you. The smartest thing you can do is educate yourself about speed boat safety and how you can take proper precautions while you are on the water for your passenger‟s safety, other boaters, and yours. The most common accidents happen when drivers of speed boats are not paying attention, they don‟t know the rules of the water, how to protect their passengers, and many more reasons. When you educate yourself about boat safety you will know the rules and regulations, how to save a passenger, and much more. This e-book will teach you everything you need to know.
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Chapter 2 – Federal & State Safety Regulations
There are many federal & state regulations and guidelines set forth regarding speed boats on the water on lakes, oceans, rivers, canals, and more. You should never drive a boat with passengers in it or alone if you are not aware of these. This knowledge could save you from a hefty fine, jail time, or even prevent an accident from happening. Age No one should drive a speed boat or a personal watercraft, known as a jet ski 16 years of age or younger. Motorboats that are less than 6hp can be maneuvered by children. These age restrictions vary from state to state and this is not a federal mandated law unless you are far out in the ocean. Federal law will prohibit anyone from under the age of 16 operating a speed boat and the United States Coast Guard will enforce this age. Identification and Registration Legal Requirements Registration is a state law and you must have your boat registered with the state you reside in. State registration requirements vary depending on the state you live in and you should check with your state. If you move, you should reregister your boat as you would your personal automobile. When you register a boat you will fill out an application and get a certificate of number and receive the number on the certificate. Your boat registration number will be a combination of letters and numbers. It should begin with an abbreviation of the state the boat is registered in. The certificate number must be on the boat when the boat is in use. You will also be given a validation decal which will be placed next to the numbers on the port side of your boat. You may live in a state that requires your validations to be on both sides of your boat. This registration is an annual renewal in most states. Be sure you don‟t forget to renew your registration. The display of your boat numbers should follow specific guidelines. The numbers, letters and figures are read from left to right. They should be displayed on the forward half of the side of the bow of your boat.
The numbers are supposed to be in bold, block letters that are easy to recognize. The size of the numbers must be larger than 3 inches high. They must be contrasting with the background or hull of the boat so they do not blend in with the paint and are hard to read. The numbers should be far above the waterline.
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When you stick your numbers on your boat you also need to separate letters and numbers with hyphens or spaces. Within six inches of the number you need to place the validation decal. Also, these registration numbers are very important for identification to the coast guard or any regulatory agency on the waters. You cannot place any other numbers on this side of the boat. Hull Identification Number Every boat built after 1972 has a hull identification number. This is like a vehicle identification number. These numbers are unique to every boat and required on the title when you register the boat. This number is permanently attached to the boat on the starboard side above the waterline. After 1984, because of boat thefts the guidelines for the HIN to be on the boat required two locations for this number. The second number will be unexposed and not visible. Coast Guard Minimum Requirements for Equipment..