I

A BOATER’S GUIDE TO THE
FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS
FOR RECREATIONAL BOATS
AND SAFETY TIPS

 NavigationLocks
 TrailerSafety
 DigitalSelectiveCalling
 Rescue21
 NavalVesselProtection
Zones
 America’sWaterway
Watch
II 1

WELCOME3
 ConversionTable(US/Metric)4
REGISTRATIONANDDOCUMENTATION5
EQUIPMENTREQUIREMENTS9
 LifeJackets9
 VisualDistressSignals 17
 FireExtinguishers21
 Ventilation23
 BackfireFlameControl 25
 SoundProducingDevices 25
 NavigationLights 27
 PollutionRegulations32
 MarineSanitationDevices35
OPERATINGPROCEDURES36

BOATER’SPRE-DEPARTURECHECKLIST70
SAMPLEFLOATPLANFORM73
EMERGENCYNOTIFICATION/COMMUNICATION75
 SatelliteEPIRBs75
 RadioRegulations76
 VHFMarineRadioChannels77
 DigitalSelectiveCalling(DSC) 78
 Rescue2178
 SOS:ShipsinDistress79
OTHERRESPONSIBILITIES81
 RegulatedNavigationAreas/LimitedAccessAreas81
 NavalVesselProtectionZones81
 CommercialShippingSafetyZones82
 BridgesandShippingChannels82
 America’sWaterwayWatch83
USCGINFORMATION C-III
RECREATIONALBOATINGSAFETYSPECIALISTS C-III
BOATINGSAFETYPARTNERSC-IV

Asaboatoperator,youareexpectedtomakesurethatyourvessel
carriestherequiredsafetyequipment(carriagerequirement)andisin
compliancewithfederal
andstateregulations
forsuchthingsasnum-
beringandoperation
AQuickReference
Chartonpage42will
helpyoudeterminethe
minimumfederalsafety
equipmentrequire-

VesselRegistration:Allundocumentedvesselsequippedwithpropul-
sionmachinerymustberegisteredinthestateofprincipaluseA
CertificateofNumberwillbeissueduponregistrationandthenumber
mustbedisplayedonyourvesselTheowner/operatorofavesselmust
alsocarrythevalidCertificateofNumberwheneverthevesselisinuse 
Whenavesselismovedtoanewstateofprincipaluse,theCertificate
remainsvalidfor60daysCheckwithyourstateboatingauthorityfor
registrationrequirementsSomestatesrequireallvesselstoberegis-
tered,includingvesselsthataremanuallypropelledandthosethatare
Coast
Guarddocumented

Numbersmustbepaintedorpermanentlyattachedtoeachsideof
theforwardhalfofthevesselThenumbersmustbereadfromleftto
right,andofacolorthatiscontrastingwiththebackgroundcolor;for
example,blacknumbersonawhitehullThevalidationsticker(s)must
beaffixedwithinsixinchesoftheregistrationnumberNootherletters
ornumbersmaybedisplayednearby
Letteringmustbeinplain,verticalblockcharactersofnotlessthan3
inchesinheightSpacesorhyphensbetweenletterandnumbergroup-
ingsmustbeequaltothewidthofaletterotherthan“I”oranumber
otherthan“1”

500m
200m
120m
100m
80m
70m
60m

FL 1234 AB
FL 1234 AB
FL 1234 AB
FL 1234 AB

PlacebeforeORafterthenumbers,
accordingtoyourstaterequirements
6 7

TheownerofavesselmustnotifytheagencythatissuedtheCertificate
ofNumberwithin15daysif:
• Thevesselistransferred,destroyed,abandoned,lost,stolen,
orrecovered
• TheCertificateofNumberislost,destroyed,ortheowner’s
addresschanges
IftheCertificateofNumberbecomesinvalidforanyreason,itmustbe
surrenderedtotheissuingauthoritywithin15days

TheUSCoastGuardCertificateofDocumentationisanationalform
ofregistrationdatingbacktothe11
th
ActoftheFirstCongressIt
servesasevidenceofavessel’snationalityforinternationalpurposes,
providesforunhinderedcommercebetweenthestates,andadmits
vesselstocertainrestrictedtrades,suchascoastwisetradeandthe
fisheriesSince1920,vesselfinancinghasbeenenhancedthroughthe
availabilityofpreferredmortgagesondocumentedvessels
Recreationalvesselsareeligibletobedocumentediftheyarewholly
ownedbyacitizenorcitizensoftheUnitedStatesandmeasureatleast
fivenettonsNettonnageisameasureofavessel’svolumeMost

O
H
N
MISTER JOHN
FRANKLIN, TN
MISTER JOHN
FRANKLIN, TN
4"
4"
Letters not less than 4 inches high
8 9

TheUnitedStatesCoastGuardsetsminimumstandardsfor
recreationalvesselsandassociatedsafetyequipmentTomeetthese
standards,requiredequipmentmustbeUSCoastGuard“approved”
or“certified”ThismeansthatitmeetsUSCoastGuardspecifications,
standards,andregulationsforperformance,construction,ormaterials

You may have heard reference to Type I, II, III, IV, and V “Personal
Flotation Devices” (PFDs). The term PFD is used in a strictly regulatory
sense. For greater clarity, this publication will use the term “wearable
life jacket” and “throwable device.” Understand that Type and Number
refer to the same equipment, whether called a PFD or life jacket, and
that any PFD is approved for use anywhere.
Allrecreationalvesselsmustcarry
onewearablelifejacketforeach
persononboardAnyboat16
feetandlonger(exceptcanoes
andkayaks)mustalsocarry
onethrowable(TypeIV)device

For more information on documented vessels, contact the U.S. Coast
Guard National Vessel Documentation Center at (800) 799-8362 or
online at www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvdc.
NO.1234567
3"
Interior display (recreational and commercial).
Numbers must be no less than 3 inches high.
10 11

• Wearablelifejacketsmustbereadilyaccessible
• Youshouldbeabletoputthemoninareasonableamountof
timeinanemergency(vesselsinking,onfire,etc)
• Theyshouldnotbestowedinplasticbags,inlockedorclosed
compartments,orhaveothergearstowedontopofthem
• ThrowabledevicesmustbeimmediatelyavailableforuseThey
shouldbeonthemaindeckwithinarm’sreach,hangingona
lifeline,orothereasilyreachedlocation

• USCoastGuard-approvedinflatablelifejacketsareauthorized
forusebypersons16yearsofageandolder(checkthelabel)
• Inflatablelifejacketsrequireregularmaintenanceandattentionto
theconditionoftheinflator
• Theymusthaveafullcylinderandallstatusindicatorsonthe
inflatormustbegreenorthedeviceisserviceableanddoes
satisfythelegalrequirementforthewearablelifejacket
carriagerequirement
• Inflatablelifejacketsaremorecomfortable,encouragingregular
useThebestlifejacketsareonestheuserwillwear

Onavesselthatisunderway,childrenunder13yearsofagemust

The U.S. Coast Guard recommends that you always wear a life jacket
while underway on a boat and require passengers to do the same.

Thefivetypesoflifejacketsarebasedonthreekindsofflotationand
canbecharacterizedasfollows:

• Themostreliable
• ComeinAdult,Youth,Child,andInfantsizes
• Designedforswimmersandnon-swimmers
• Comeinwearableandthrowablestyles
• Specialdesignsavailableforwatersports

• Themostcompact
• Lightweightandcomfortable
• Sizedonlyforadults
• Onlyrecommendedforswimmers
• Wearablestylesonly
• Somehavethebestin-waterperformance

12 13

• Reliable
• ProvidesInherentandInflatableBuoyancy
• Adult,Youth,andChildsizes
• Forswimmersandnon-swimmers
• Wearablestylesonly
• Somedesignedforwatersports

   
    

aface-uppositioninthewater,butthe
turningisnotaspronouncedaswitha
TypeIThistypeofinflatableturnsas
wellasaTypeIfoamjacket
Uninflated
Inflated
14 15
isgoodforusersincalm,inlandwaters,or
anywherethereisagoodchanceofquickrescueThewearermay
havetotilttheirheadbacktoremaininaface-uppositioninthewater
TheTypeIIIfoamvesthasthesameminimumbuoyancyasaTypeII
Itcomesinmanystyles,colors,andsizesandisgenerallythemost
comfortabletypeforcontinuouswearFloatcoats,fishingvests,and
vestsdesignedwithfeaturessuitableforvarioussportsactivitiesare
examplesofthistypeThistypeofinflatableturnsaswellasaTypeII
foamvest
isintendedforuseanywhereItisde-
signedtobethrowntoapersoninthewaterandgraspedandheldby
theuseruntilrescuedItisnotdesignedorintendedtobewornType
IVdevicesincludebuoyantcushions,ringbuoys,andhorseshoebuoys
TherearenoCoastGuard-approvedinflatableTypeIVdevices
isintended
forspecificactivitiesandmaybecarried
insteadofanotherlifejacketonlyifused
accordingtothecondition(s)forwhichitis
approved,asshownonitslabelATypeV
providestheperformanceofaTypeI,II,
or
III(asmarkedonitslabel)Ifthelabel
saysthelifejacketis“approvedonlywhen

ThejacketshouldstayinplaceandnotrideupNext,havesomeone
liftyourlifejacketstraightupattheshouldersAgain,thejacketshould
stayinplaceIfthezippertouchesyournoseorthejacketalmost
comesoff,itistooloose

Inshallowwateroraswimmingpool,undersupervisionandwithall
straps,zippers,andtiesfastened,seehowthelifejacketfloatsyou
RelaxyourbodyandletyourheadtiltbackYourchinshouldremain
abovewatersothatyoucanbreatheeasilyIfnot,youmayneeda
differentsizeormodel,onethatprovidesmorebuoyancy

Besuretochooseachild’slifejacketthatisUSCoastGuard-
approvedChecktomakesureyourchild’sweightfallswithintherange
shownonthelabelWhilesomechildreninthe30-50poundweight
rangewhocanswimmayaskfortheextrafreedomofmovement
thataTypeIIIprovides,notethatmostchildreninthisweightrange,
especially
thosewhocannotswim,shouldwearaTypeIITocheckfor
agoodfit,pickthechildupbytheshouldersofthelifejacketIfitfits
correctly,thechild’schinandearswillnotslipthrough
Achild’slifejacketshouldbetestedinthewaterimmediatelyafter
purchaseChildrenmaypanicwhentheyfallintothewatersuddenly
Floattestingnotonlychecksthefitandbuoyancybutalsoprovidesan
importantopportunitytoteachthemtorelaxinthewater

Mostdeathsfromdrowningoccurnearshoreincalmweather,notout
atseaduringastorm;9outof10drowningfatalitiesoccurininland
waters,mostwithinafewfeetofsafetyWorsestill,manyofthese
victimsownedlifejacketsandmayhavesurvivedhadtheybeenworn


Bay




18 19
LaunchersmanufacturedbeforeJanuary1,1981,andintendedfor
usewithapprovedsignals,arenotrequiredtobeUSCoastGuard-
approvedaslongastheyremaininserviceablecondition
Ifpyrotechnicdevicesareselected,aminimumofthreesignalsare
requiredfordayuseandthreesignalsfornightuseSomepyrotechnic
signalsmeetbothdayandnightuserequirements(combinationflares) 
Pyrotechnicdevicesshouldbestoredinacool,dryplace,ifpossible
Awatertightcontainerpaintedredororangeandprominentlymarked
“DISTRESSSIGNALS”or“FLARES”isrecommended
USCoastGuard-approvedpyrotechnicvisualdistresssignalsand
associateddevicesinclude:
• Pyrotechnicredflares,hand-heldoraerial(day/nightuse)
• Pyrotechnicorangesmoke,hand-heldorfloating(dayuse)
• Launchersforaerialredmeteorsorparachuteflares
Eachofthesedeviceshasadifferentoperating/burningtimeCheckthe
labeltoseehowlongeachpyrotechnicdevicewillremainilluminated
Chooseadevicebestsuitedtotheconditionsintheareawhereyour
vesselistypicallyused

Non-pyrotechnicvisualdistresssignalsmustbeinserviceablecondi-
tion,readilyaccessible,andcertifiedbythemanufacturerascomplying
withUSCoastGuardrequirementsThesesignalsinclude:

• Usedasadaysignalonly

properlyThesedevicesproduceaveryhotflamewiththepotentialto
causeburnsandigniteflammablematerials
Pistol-launchedandhand-heldparachuteflaresandmeteorshavemany
characteristicsofafirearmandmustbehandledwithextremecaution
InsomestatesandCanadatheymaybeconsideredafirearmand
prohibitedfromuseBesuretocheckwithyourstateboatingagency

Orange Flag (day only)
Electric Distress Signals
(night only)
20 21
Thefollowingarejustafewofthemanycombinationsofdevicesthat
willmeettherequirements:
• 3hand-heldredflaresthatareapprovedforday/nightuse
• 1hand-heldredflareand2parachuteflaresforday/nightuse
• 1hand-heldorangesmokesignaland2floatingorangesmoke
signalsforday,and1electricdistresslightfornight
AllboatersshouldbeabletosignalforhelpBoatersmusthave
USCoastGuard-approveddayandnightsignalsforvesselswhen
requiredSignalingdevicesarerecommendedwhenoperatingonall
openbodiesofwater

USCoastGuard-approved,marine-typefireextinguishersarerequired
onboatswhereafirehazardcouldbeexpectedfromtheenginesor
fuelsystemExtinguishersareclassifiedbyaletterandnumbersymbol
Theletterindicatesthetypeoffiretheunitisdesignedtoextinguish
TypeB,forexample,isdesignedtoextinguishflamingliquids,suchas
gasoline,oil,andgreaseThenumberindicatestheamountoftheex-
tinguishingagentcontainedintheextinguisher;thehigherthenumber,
thegreatertheamountofagentinthe

Red Flare
(hand-held
day and night)
Orange Smoke Signal
(hand-held/day only)
Floating Orange
Smoke Signal
(day only)
Red Meteor
(day and night)


Electric Distress Signals
(night only)
Orange Flag
(day only)
22 23
Fireextinguishersarerequiredonboatswhenanyofthefollowing
conditionsexist:
• Thereareclosedcompartmentsandcompartmentsunderseats
whereportablefueltanksmaybestored
• Therearedoublebottomsnotsealedtothehullorthatarenot
completelyfilledwithflotationmaterials
• Thereareclosedlivingspaces
• Thereareclosedstowagecompartments,inwhichcombustibleor
flammablematerialsarestored
• Therearepermanentlyinstalledfueltanks(Fueltankssecured
sotheycannotbemovedincaseofafireorotheremergency
areconsideredpermanentlyinstalledAlso,iftheweightofafuel
tankissuchthatpersonsonboardcannotmoveit,theUSCoast

propulsionarerequiredtobeequippedwithaventilationsystem
Anaturalventilationsystemisrequiredforeachcompartmentinaboatthat:
• Containsapermanentlyinstalledgasolineengine
• Hasopeningsbetweenitandacompartmentthatrequires
ventilation
• Containsapermanentlyinstalledfueltankandanelectrical
componentthatisnotignition-protected
• Containsafueltankthatventsintothatcompartment
(includingaportabletank)
• Containsanon-metallicfueltank
Anaturalventilationsystemconsistsof:
• Asupplyopening(duct/cowl)fromtheoutsideair(locatedonthe
exteriorsurfaceoftheboat),orfromaventilatedcompartment,or
fromacompartmentthatisopentotheoutsideair
• Anexhaustopeningintoanotherventilatedcompartmentoran
exhaustducttotheatmosphere















systemsinoperatingconditionThismeansmakingsureopeningsare
freeofobstructions,ductsandductingarenotblockedortorn,blowers
operateproperly,andworncomponentsarereplacedwithequivalent
marine-typeequipment

Gasolineenginesinstalledinamotorboatormotorvesselafter
April25,1940,exceptoutboardmotors,mustbeequippedwithan
acceptablemeansofbackfireflamecontrolThebackfireflamearres-
tor(BFA)mustbesuitablysecuredtotheairintakewithaflame-tight
connection,andisrequiredtobeeitherUSCoastGuard-approvedor
complywithSAEJ-1928orUL1111standardsandmarkedaccordingly
Otheracceptablemeansofbackfireflamecontrolinclude:airandfuel
inductionsystemsusuallyfoundonpersonalwatercraft,velocitystacks
(attachmentstocarburetors),andreed-type(foundinoutboards)

NavigationRulesrequiresoundsignalstobemadeundercertain
circumstancesMeeting,crossing,andovertakingsituations,described
intheNavigationRulesbeginningwithRule32,areexamplesof
circumstancesinwhichsoundsignalsarerequiredRecreational
vesselsarealsorequiredtousesoundsignalsduringperiodsof
reducedvisibilityandwhileatanchor





Not Equipped with BFA Equipped with BFA




 (656ft)
X

X

 100metersormore
 (3281ft)
X

X

X
*There have been changes to the Collision Regulations (COLREGS)
and a regulatory change is forthcoming that will align the Inland
Navigation Rules with the COLREGS. The Coast Guard is exercising
its discretion not to enforce the provisions of the inland rules until the
regulatory change is enacted.

Recreationalvesselsarerequiredtodisplaynavigationlightsbetween
sunsetandsunriseandduringperiodsofrestrictedvisibility(fog,rain,
haze,etc)TheUSCoastGuardNavigationRules,International-In-
land,specifieslightingrequirementsforeverydescriptionofwatercraft
Theinformationprovidedbelowisforpower-drivenandsailingvessels
lessthan655feet(20meters)inlength

Note that a sail vessel under machine propulsion is considered a
power-driven vessel.
Ifyourpower-drivenvesselislessthan164feet(50meters)inlength,
itmustdisplaynavigationlightsasshowninFigure1
Ifyourpower-drivenvesselislessthan394feet(12meters)inlength,

(flashlight)orlightedlanternshowing
awhitelightthatshallbeexhibitedin
sufficienttimetopreventcollision(See
Figure7)

Toalertothervesselsofconditionsthatmaybehazardous,thereare
requirementstodisplaylightsatnightandshapesduringtheday

AllvesselsatanchormustdisplayanchorlightsIfyour
vesselislessthan164feet(50meters)inlength,thenitsanchorlight
isanall-roundwhitelightvisiblewhereitcanbestbeseenfromall
directions(SeeFigure8)
Figure 3
Figure 8
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
30 31
Allvesselsatanchormustdisplayforward,whereit
canbebestseen,ablackballshape(SeeFigure9)
Ifyourvesselislessthan23feet(7meters)inlength,it
isnotrequiredtodisplayananchorlightorshapeunlessitisanchored
inornearanarrowchannel,fairway,oranchorage,orwhereother
vesselsnormallynavigate
Ifyourvesselislessthan656feet(20meters)inlength,itisnot
requiredtodisplayananchorlightifitisanchoredininlandwatersina
specialanchoragedesignatedbytheSecretaryunderwhichtheCoast
Guardisoperating


• Size/quantity(estimatedamountofmaterialreleased)
• Description,color,consistency,odor
• Dateandtimeobserved
• Sourceandcauseoftherelease,ifknown
• Substance,ifknown
• Weatherandanyotherinformationthatmayhelpemergency
personnelrespondtotheincident

TheActtoPreventPollutionfromShips(MARPOLANNEXV)places
limitationsonthedischargeofgarbagefromvesselsItisillegalto
dumpplastictrashanywhereintheoceanornavigablewatersofthe
UnitedStatesItisalsoillegaltodischargegarbageinthenavigable
watersoftheUnitedStates,includingtheinlandwatersandanywhere
intheGreatLakesThedischargeofothertypesofgarbageispermit-
tedoutsideofspecificdistancesoffshoreasdeterminedbythenature
ofthatgarbage(Seechartnextpage)

AnnexVofMARPOL73/78prohibitsthrowing,discharging,ordeposit-
inganyrefusematterofanykind(includingtrash,garbage,oil,and
otherliquidpollutants)intothewatersoftheUnitedStates
TheFederalWaterPollutionControlActprohibitsthedischargeofoilor
hazardoussubstancesthatmaybeharmfulintoUSnavigablewaters
Vessels26feetandgreaterinlength,withmachineryspaces,must
displayaplacardatleast5by8inches,madeofdurablematerial,fixed
inaconspicuousplaceinthemachineryspaces,oratthebilgepump
controlstation,statingthefollowing:
RegulationsissuedundertheFederalWaterPollutionControlActre-
quireallvesselswithpropulsionmachinerytohaveacapacitytoretain
oilymixturesonboardandbeequippedwithafixedorportablemeans
todischargetheseoilymixturestoareceptionfacilityOnrecreational

ablemarinesanitationdevice(MSD)onboardVessels65feetand
undermayuseaTypeI,II,orIIIMSDTypeIandTypeIIare“flow-
through”devices,whileaholdingtankisaTypeIIIdeviceVesselsover
65feetmustinstallaTypeIIorIIIMSDAllinstalledMSDsmustbe
USCoastGuard-certifiedUSCoastGuard-certifieddevicesareso
labeled,exceptforsomeholdingtanks,whicharecertifiedbydefinition
undertheregulations
Thedischargeoftreatedsewageisallowedwithin3nauticalmilesof
shoreexceptindesignated“NoDischargeZone”areas(Untreated
sewagemaybedischargedbeyond3nauticalmiles)
A “No Discharge Zone” is a body of water where the discharge of
treated or untreated sewage is prohibited. When operating a vessel
in a No Discharge Zone, the operator must secure the device in a
manner that prevents any discharge. Some acceptable methods are:
padlocking overboard discharge valves in the closed position, using
a non-releasable wire tie to hold overboard discharge valves in the
closed position, closing overboard discharge valves and removing
the handle, and locking the door to the space enclosing the toilets.
Note: these methods for preventing the overboard discharge are only
required when operating in a No Discharge Zone. State and local laws
may place further restrictions on overboard discharges.

Plastics–includessyntheticropes,
fishingnets,andplasticbags
Comminutedorgroundfoodwaste,
paper,rags,glass,etc
Foodwaste,paper,rags,glass,metal,
bottles,crockery,andsimilarrefuse
Floatingdunnage,lining,andpacking
materials

inlandoroninternationalwatersAsanexample,whenoperatingon
inlandwaters,soundsignalsaresignalsof;whenoperatingon
international
waters,theyaresignalsof
Designatesomeonetowatchfordangersthatmay
comefromanydirection
Exceptwherespeedisrestrictedbyregulation,
orthewaterwayismarkedasa“NoWake”or“SlowSpeed”area,you
mustjudgesafespeedforyourself,takingintoaccountvisibility,vessel
traffic,yourboat’sabilitytomaneuver,andtheweatherconditions
TheRulesoftheRoadincludetheactionstotake
whenencounteringanothervesselonthewaterSomeofthemost
commonsituationsyoumayencounterare:overtaking,meeting
head-on,andcrossingthebowofanothervesselIneachcase,the
boatdesignatedasthe“give-way”vesselisrequiredtoyieldtothe
otherboat,whiletheboatdesignatedasthe“stand-on”vesselshould
maintainitscourseandspeed
Thefollowingdiagramsdescribethewhistlesignalsandactionstobe
takenbyvesselsinacrossing,meeting,orovertakingsituationwhile
operatingininlandwatersThesearebasicexamples;foradditional
information,consulttheNavigationRules


Give-Way Vessel
shouldaltercoursetopass
astern(behind)
1shortblast(1sec)
Stand-On Vessel
shouldmaintainitscourse
andspeed

right-hand(starboard)sideofthevessel
BoatoperatorsrelyonAidstoNavigationalonefordeter-
miningtheirpositionStormsandwaveactioncanmovebuoysoutof
place
1shortblast(1sec)
1shortblast(1sec)
Port-to-PortPassing(preferred)
2shortblasts(1seceach)
2shortblasts(1seceach)
Starboard-to-StarboardPassing
40 41

Lateralaidsmarkingthesidesofchannels,asseenwhenenteringfrom
seaward
tieupyourboattoAidstoNavigation;itisdangerousand
illegal

Theseorange-and-whiteAidsareusedtoalertvesseloperators
tovariouswarningsandregulations


Markswith
asquare
providehelpful
information
suchas
directions,
distances,and
locations




 

• Whitewithanorangehorizontalbandatbothtopandbottom
• Blacktextwithinoraroundanorangesquare,circle,ordiamond;
orblacktextoutsideadiamondwithanorangecross
• Maybebuoysorbeacons
• Iflit,thelightwillbewhiteandmayhaveanylightrhythmexcept
quickflashing,flashing(2),orMorsecode“A”
• Thechartsymbolforthistypeofbuoyis:
WOr
42 43

   
XXXX
XXXX
 XXX
XXXX
 XXX
X
XXXX
XX
  X
   X
XXXX
XXX
  XX
XXXX
XXXX












AllundocumentedvesselsequippedwithpropulsionmachinerymustbestateregisteredCertificateof
NumbermustbeonboardwhenthevesselisinuseNotethatsomestatesrequireallvesselstobe
registered
(a) Plainblockletters/numbers,notlessthan3inchesinheight,mustbeaffixedoneachsideoftheforwardhalf
ofthevessel,inacontrastingcolortothebackground,andreadfromlefttoright
(b) Statevalidationsticker(s)mustbeaffixedwithin6inchesoftheregistrationnumberNote:checkwithyour
localboatingagencyforspecificstaterequirements
Appliesonlyto“Documented”vessels:
(a) Originalandcurrentcertificatemustbeonboard
(b) Vesselname/hailingportmustbemarkedonexteriorpartofhullinlettersnotlessthan4inchesinheight
(c) OfficialNumbermustbepermanentlyaffixedoninteriorstructureinnumbersnotlessthan3inchesinheight
(a) OneTypeI,II,III,orVwearablelifejacketforeachpersononboardMustbeUSCoastGuard-approved
(b) Inaddition,mustcarryoneTypeIVthrowabledevice

(a) Oneelectricdistresslight,orthreecombinationday/nightredflaresNote:onlyrequiredtobecarriedon
boardwhenthevesselisoperatingbetweensunsetandsunrise
(b) Threecombinationday/nightredflares–hand-held,meteor,orparachute-type,oroneorangedistressflag,or
oneelectricdistresslight,orthreehand-heldorfloatingorangesmokesignalsandoneelectricdistresslight
(a) OneB-I(whenenclosedcompartment)

Nauticalchartsshowthenatureandshapeofthecoast,includingwater
depths,marinehazards,generalconfigurationandcharacterofthe
bottom,andAidstoNavigation,aswellasprominentlandmarks,port
facilities,andotherrelevantinformationChangesbroughtaboutby
peopleandnaturerequirethatnauticalchartsbeconstantlymaintained
andupdatedtoaidsafenavigation
Tomeettheneedsoftheboatingpublic,theNationalOceanicand
AtmosphericAdministration’sNationalOceanService(NOS)producesa
varietyofnauticalchartsandrelatedproductsNauticalchartscanvaryin
scaleandformatChartscalereferstoameasurementofanarea,notthe
distanceAchartcoveringarelativelylargeareaiscalleda“smallscale”
chart;a“largescale”chartwillcoverarelativelysmallareaandshow
muchgreaterdetailHavingthemostcurrentchartisimportantThatis
whythepublicationdateiscriticalStormsandwaveactioncanalterthe
coastline,soonlyup-to-datechartsshouldbeusedfornavigationFor
allnavigation,boatoperatorsshouldalsousethechartthatprovidesthe
levelofdetailneeded
NOSnauticalchartsmaybepurchaseddirectlybymailfromtheNOS
DistributionBranchorthroughanauthorizedagentTherearemore
than1,700nauticalchartagentsthatsellNOSchartsUsetheaddress
andcontactnumbersbelowtoobtainalistofagentsnearyouorto
requestafreecatalog:
 
 DistributionDivision,AJW-3550
 10201GoodLuckRoad
 Glendale,MD20769-9700
 Tel:(301)436-8301or(800)638-8972
 Fax:(301)436-6829
 E-mail:9-AMC-chartsales@faagov
 Website:wwwnacofaagov/ecomp

N
Can
RW“N”
N
G
A
N
N
RW“N”
Mo(A)
Lighted
withorw/o
sound
Characteristics
• Whiteandredverticalstripes
• Avarietyofshapes
• Maybelettered
• Buoymayhaveredtopmark
• Iflit:
(MorseCode“A”)
46 47


Thoseboatingonriversneed
tobeawareoftheirlocationin
regardtodamsintheirboating
areaLow-head,or“fixedcrest,”
damscanbedifficulttoseefrom
smallvesselsmovingdown-
riverTheycanbeextremely

AvesselunderwaywhenhailedbyaCoastGuardvesselisrequired
toheavetoormaneuverasdirectedsoastopermitaboardingteam
tocomeaboard(See“USCoastGuardBoardingPolicy:Whatto
Expect”page50)
Otherfederal,state,andlocalmaritimelawenforcementofficialsmay
alsoboardandexamineyourvessel,whetheritisnumbered,unnum-
bered,ordocumentedUSCoastGuardlawenforcementpersonnel
workwithandmayalsobefoundaboardotheragencies’enforcement
vessels
TheUSCoastGuardmayimposeacivilpenaltyforfailureto:
• Complywithequipmentrequirements
• Reportaboatingaccident
• Complywithotherfederalregulations
• ComplywithNavigationRules

Federallawprohibitsthenegligentorgrosslynegligentoperationofa
vesseland/orinterferencewiththesafeoperationofavesselsoasto
endangerlivesand/orpropertyTheUSCoastGuardmayimposea
civilpenaltyfornegligentoperationGrosslynegligentoperationisa
criminaloffenseandanoperatormaybefinedupto$5,000,imprisoned
foroneyear,orboth
Someactionsthatmayconstitutenegligentorgrosslynegligent
operationare:
• Operatingaboatinadesignatedswimmingarea
• Excessivespeedinthevicinityofotherboatsorinregulated
waters
• Hazardouswaterskiingorotherwatersportspractices
• Bowriding,orridingonseatback,gunwale,ortransom
• Operatingaboatwhileundertheinfluenceofalcoholordrugs
Backwash