Legal Responsibility
United States Coast Guard
Federal laws
Equipment requirements
Safety recommendations
Virginia Department of Game and Inland
Fisheries
Additional equipment requirements
Educational requirements
Registration

Virginia Title &
Registration
Title (and registration) required if boating on
Virginia waters
State issues registration numbers
Decals are issued for calendar years and are valid for three years
15 days to report sale of vessel

Virginia Registration
Display number and decals as follows:
Number must be painted, decaled or otherwise affixed to forward half of each side of vessel
• Number must read from left to right
• Number must be at least 3” high, bold,
BLOCK letters
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Virginia Registration
(cont.)
• Number’s color must contrast with its background
• Letters must be separated from numbers by spaces or hyphens
• No other numbers may be displayed on either side of bow
• Decals must be affixed on each side of the vessel within 3 inches of the number
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Virginia Registration
(cont’d)
Registration Certificate
Must be on board when underway
Issued by Virginia DGIF

U.S. Documented
Vessels
U.S. Citizens only may have a large vessel documented (at least 5 gross tons)
Documentation number must be permanent and clearly visible on the interior structure
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Hull Identification
Numbers
HIN unique number
Engraved into transom fiberglass
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Who May Operate A
Vessel
As of July 1, 2014, Boating safety course required
• PWC operators age 14 and older
• Motorboat operators 45 and younger must
Beginning July 1, 2015,
• PWC operators age 14 and older
• Motorboat operators ages 50 and younger need to take a boating safety course .
By July 1, 2016,
• All operators regardless of age need to meet
Virginia’s Education requirements.
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Who May Operate A
Vessel
(cont.)
Certificate obtained by successfully completing boating safety course or passing equivalency exam approved by
VDGIF
Persons required to have certificate must have it on board and available for inspection by an enforcement officer whenever operating a vessel on Virginia waters
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Who May Operate A
Vessel
(cont.)
• No one under 14 may legally operate a
PWC, even if they possess a certificate of boating safety education

Boat Rentals
• Renter must read and understand VGIF’s boating rules and regulations
• Renter will be issued temporary certificate to operate a vessel on Virginia’s waters by rental company
• PWC rental: renter must be over 14 and have a certificate (if required)
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Exemptions
• Can operate the motorboat under onboard direct supervision of a person who meets the compliance requirement
• Other exemptions from requirement for
Canadians, out of state boaters, US federal licensees
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Negligent Operation
Operating in restricted areas
Wake jumping, hull leaves water
Failure to regulate speed
Operating while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
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Regulatory Markers
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Alcohol and Drugs
Use causes impaired balance, blurred vision, poor coordination, and impaired judgment
BWI became federal offense Jan 13, 1988
Standard for BWI : 0.08% bac
Criminal penalty: up to $2500 fine or one year imprisonment; a loss of the privilege of operating a watercraft for 12 months, and/or mandatory enrollment in the Alcohol
Safety Action Program

Obstructing Navigation
It is illegal to:
Anchor in a channel
Tie up to a buoy or other ATON
Tamper with, deface, or move any ATON
Obstruct a pier, wharf, boat ramp

Security Zones

Homeland Security
• Observe and avoid all security zones and other restricted areas. Avoid commercial port operation areas
• Do not stop or anchor beneath bridges or in the channel
• Keep a sharp eye out for anything that looks peculiar or out of the ordinary. Report all suspicious activities to local authorities, USCG, or port or marina security

PFD Requirements
• One per person (Type I, II, III, or V)
• One throwable (Type IV) per boat >16’
• Children under 13 must wear one (underway <21’ unless moored or child is below deck in enclosed cabin)
• Must wear on skis and PWC’s
• Must have onboard all motorized and non-motorized vessels (kayaks, canoes, sail/paddleboards)
• Good condition, readily accessible, and sized for user
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Type I:
Offshore Life Jacket
Minimum
Buoyancy
22 pounds
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Type II:
Near-Shore Vest
Minimum
Buoyancy
15.5 pounds
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Type III:
Flotation Aid
Minimum
Buoyancy
15.5 pounds
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Type III/V:
Inflatable PFD
Minimum
Buoyancy
22 pounds
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Type IV:
Throwable Device
Must have on board
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Type V:
Special-Use Device
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HIGHER BUOYANCY
MEANS HIGHER LIFT
Type PFDs
I - Inflatable
I - Buoyant Foam or Kapok
II - Inflatable
II - Buoyant Foam or Kapok
III - Inflatable
III - Buoyant Foam
IV - Ring Buoys
IV - Boat Cushions
V - Hybrid Inflatables
V - Special Use Device -
Inflatable
V - Special Use Device -
Buoyant Foam
Minimum Adult Buoyancy in
Pounds (Newtons)
33.0
(150)
22.0 (100)
33.0
(150)
15.5 (70)
22.0 (100)
15.5 (70)
16.5 (75)
18.0 (82)
22.0
(Fully inflated) (100)
7.5 (Deflated) (34)
22.0
to 34.0 (100 to 155)
15.5 to 22.0 (70 to 100)
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Types Of Fires
Trash Wood
Paper
Liquids
Grease
Electrical
Equipment
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Fire Extinguishers
Should be on all vessels

Fire Extinguishers
Dry chemical most common for marine use
Type B required onboard
Inboard or I/O engines
Permanently installed fuel tanks
Closed living spaces
Closed compartments where portable fuel tanks are stored
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Federal Rules For Fire
Extinguishers
<26 feet
26 feet to <40 feet
40 feet to <65 feet
1 B-1
2 B-1
3 B-1
Note: These are minimums
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Charge Indicators
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Backfire
Flame Arrestor
Required on gasoline engines installed after April 25, 1940

Proper Ventilation
Required on gasoline powered boats
Powered ventilation on boats built after 31 July 1980
Natural ventilation for boats built before 1 August 1980

Proper Ventilation
Powered ventilation
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Proper Ventilation
Natural ventilation

Mufflers
Excessive noise can prevent vessel operator from hearing signals and voices
• All vessels manufactured after January 1, 1990 must be equipped with muffler system in good working order and in constant operation to suppress engine noise
• You may not remove or modify a muffler or muffling system if it results in an increased noise level
• No person may operate a vessel on Virginia waters that emits noise in excess of 90 db(A)
• Vessels involved in marine event approved by USCG exempt from these requirements

Lights – Under Power
Sunset to sunrise
Restricted visibility
Range of visibility
Example:
• In vessels of less than 12 meters in length:
– a masthead light, 2 miles;
– a sidelight, 1 miles;
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Lights – Sailboat
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Lights
< 23’ or 7 meters under oars
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Visual Distress Signals
Three hand held red flares
Day and Night
Service life: 42 Months

Or...
One Hand Held Red Flare & Two Red Meteors
Service life: 42 Months

Or...
One hand held orange smoke
Two floating orange smoke
And one electric SOS light
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Other VSDs
Arm signal
Not USCG approved
Use if no other
Orange flag
Day signal only
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Sound Producing
Devices
Boats less than 65’ (20 m) must carry a sound producing device, e.g., whistle, horn, etc.
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Sound Producing
Devices
Boats greater than 65’ (20 m) must carry a bell (in addition to other device)
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Diving/Snorkeling Flags
Avoid placing in:
Areas already occupied by boaters
Narrow channels

Requirements
Specific To PWC
Education requirements
State registration
PFD required
Lanyard required: essential for engine cutoff
No night operation

PWC (cont’d)
• Prudent operation
– Speed <6 kts within 50’ of shore, persons
– Speed <6 kts within 50’ of another vessel unless overtaking or crossing

Towing Requirements
Boat Or PWC
No skiing or towing between sunset and sunrise
PFD required for towed person
PWC must be rated for 3 persons: observer required

Waste and Trash
Sewage carries harmful bacteria: use pump out stations
Do not throw any trash overboard

Environmental
Protection
Pollution regulations
Placard required vessels greater than 26 feet

Oil/Fuel Spills
Spills: Thimble of fuel or more should be reported:
US Coast Guard
Virginia Department of Health
Placard displayed for vessels >26’
Fines up to $10000
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Marine Sanitation
Devices
Type I or II
Chemically treated
Type III
Holding tank only for pump-out or discharge beyond 3 miles off-shore

Marine Sanitation
Devices – Type III
All MSD’s Must Be USCG Approved
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Use Pump Out Stations
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No Discharge Zones
• No discharge of any waste, even treated waste from MSD type I and II
• Three zones
– Smith Mountain Lake
– Lynnhaven River in southeast Virginia
– Deltaville: Broad Creek, Jackson Creek, and
Fishing Bay
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Waste Management
Plan
Vessels greater than 40 feet with galley and berths must have a written plan
Captain is responsible for implementation
Plan should be posted with directives for crew and passengers

Aquatic Nuisances
To prevent the spread of non-native fish and mollusks in our waterways, boaters should follow these simple rules:
• Trailer boaters should remove visible mud, plants, fish or animals from boats and trailers prior to transport to another body of water.
• Scrape any mussels from boat or outdrive, and flush hull, bilges & water holding compartments with hot water
(at least 120 º F).
• Do not release plants or fish, including bait, into a body of water unless it came out of that same body of water.
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Aquatic Nuisances
• Pump fresh water through engines before leaving the area.
• Empty water out of kayaks, canoes, rafts, etc.
• Let boat, PWC's, trailer and equipment dry for at least 5 days.
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Accidents
Stop and provide assistance; exchange information
Accident reports must be filed within 48 hours, if death, missing or medical treatment beyond first aid
If vessel is lost, or damage is over $2000,
 Report must be filed within 10 days
 30 days if Virginia boat in accident outside of
Virginia waters

Accident Reporting
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Enforcement
 USCG can stop and board your vessel
 Yield right of way, stop vessel and stay in position until police have passed
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Setting Anchor
Select a sheltered area
Approach into the wind or current
Lower the anchor until it reaches bottom
Pay out line for appropriate scope while backing down (7:1 recommended)
Back down hard to set the anchor
Check position periodically for drift
Slide 63 of 40 America’s Boating Course

Fueling Safely
Portable tanks: Fill on dock
On-board tanks:
1. Close hatches and portholes
2. Keep fuel nozzle in contact with deck plate
3. Do not overfill tanks
4. Ventilate bilge after fueling
5. Open all hatches and portholes
Slide 64 of 33 America’s Boating Course

Fueling Safely
Turn off all electrical/electronic equipment
Turn off bilge blower
After fueling, turn on bilge blower for
4 minutes prior to restarting engine
America’s Boating Course Slide 65 of 33

PWC: Fueling Safely
Keep fuel line closed
Check system for leaks
Fill tank slowly do not overfill
After fueling ventilate engine compartment
Check for spills
Slide 66 of 33 America’s Boating Course