Come for the boating education…Stay for the friendship America’s Boating Course 3 rd Edition 1 State & Local Regulations Chapter 2 Section 8 CALIFORNIA

Come for the boating education…Stay for the friendshipCome for the boating education…Stay for the friendshipCome for the boating education…Stay for the friendshipCome for the boating education…Stay for the friendship

America’s Boating Course3rd Edition

America’s Boating Course3rd Edition

1

State & Local RegulationsState & Local RegulationsChapter 2

Section 8

CALIFORNIA

>>

Ca. Dept of Parks and Recreation

Remove "boaters" and add "operators of motorized vessels"

Dick Carson

Good.


State & Local RegulationsState & Local Regulations

• Operator qualifications• License requirements• Lifejacket wear• Speed restrictions• Time of day restrictions• Note that localities may set additional

rules >>2

Federal law sets minimumequipment requirements for boats. States set rules for operating boats

Come for the boating education…Stay for the friendshipCome for the boating education…Stay for the friendshipCome for the boating education…Stay for the friendshipCome for the boating education…Stay for the friendship >>3

Review


In all notes and references, please use our new name: California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways. The changes are underlined in the "notes" below. The initials, "DBW" are still used for the abbreviation.

Dick Carson

Good


• The minimum age for unsupervised operation of a motorized vessel of more than 15 horsepower in California is 16.

• Children 12-15 years of age may operate motor boats of more than 15 horsepower or sailboats over 30 feet in Length if supervised by someone at least 18 years of age.

Ref: California State ABCs, pages 16 & 19.

>>4

Operator Age Requirements

Just like driving a car, there are minimum age requirements for operating a boat:


The maximum speed for motorboats within 100

feet of a bather (but not a water skier) and

within 200 feet of a beach, swimming float,

diving platform, or passenger landing float, or a

landing where boats are tied up is

5 miles per hour.

>>

Ref: California State ABCs, page 16

5

Boating Near Swimmers

Boaters must stay clear of swimmers and others:


California boating law forbids operating a vessel’s motor or generator while a person is:

a. Teak surfing, platform dragging, or bodysurfing behind the vessel, or

b. While someone is occupying or holding onto the swim platform, swim deck, swim step or swim ladder, except for a very brief period of time when a person is assisting with the docking or departure of the vessel, while exiting or entering the vessel, or while the vessel is engaged in law enforcement or emergency rescue activity.

>>6

Teak Surfing


REMEMBER:

The vessel operator is responsible and could be cited by law enforcement

The best precaution against carbon monoxide poisoning is to keep fresh air flowing through the vessel

>>Ref: California State ABCs, pages 16-17.

7

Teak Surfing


BUI is operating while under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance or prescription drug to the extent that the person's normal faculties are impaired. It is illegal for any person with a

blood or breath alcohol of 0.08 or higher to operate a vessel.

Zero Tolerance: for those under 21 years of age; penalties may include a fine of up to $250 and participation in an alcohol education program.

>>8

Boating Under the Influence



The statement "operating privileges will be revoked if caught drinking while operating a vessel" is not found in CA law. A better statement would be "penalties may include a fine of up to $250 and participation in an alcohol education program."

Dick Carson

Good - change made


BUI is a factor in about 50 percent of all fatal motorboat accidents in California. The rules are identical to DUI:No person 21 years or older shall operate any vessel, water skis or similar device who has blood alcohol level of 0.08. A level of 0.05 may be used with other evidence to deter-mining that a boater was impaired in operating their boat.

>>

For those under 21, it is illegal to operate a motorized vessel, water skis or similar device with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.01 or more.

9

Boating Under the Influence


First line, please add "about" before the number "50%"Please remove the last line, "A BUI conviction can cause you to lose your driver's license, too!" This line is false.

Dick Carson

changes made.


1. Personal Watercraft (PWCs) are

considerate boats and must obey all

boating laws.

2. Nighttime Operation of PWCs is

prohibited between sunset and sunrise, even if

equipped with the proper navigation lights.

3. Operate PWCs in a reasonable and prudent manner!

>>


10

Personal Watercraft


Under California law, watercraft (boats, PWCs, etc.) must be operated in a “reasonable and prudent” manner. This means that nobody can operate a craft in a reckless or negligent manner so as to endanger the life, limb or property of any individual

>>11

“Reasonable and Prudent”


Specific examples of not operating in a “reasonable and prudent” manner are given. These include:• Navigating a vessel, skis or other devices between

a towing vessel and its tow or tows

• “Wake jumping” - jumping or attempting to jump the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of the other vessel.

>>


12

“Reasonable and Prudent”

• Spraying someone with the wake of a PWC.


Accidents involving a boat must be reported in writing to the California Department of Boating and Waterways (forms can be found on their web site) if:

A person is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid.

>>

A person dies or disappears.

Damage to the vessel and other property damages totals more than $500.00

There is a complete loss of vessel.


13

Accident Reporting

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ACCIDENT REPORTINGACCIDENT REPORTING


Please use the California accident report form found online. http://www.dbw.ca.gov/PDF/AccidentForms/BAR.pdf

Dick Carson

Done


California’s coast, rivers, and lakes form one of

the most complex aquatic ecosystems in the

world. For example, there are birds that fly all the

way from New Zealand to eat off the Farallones

Islands outside San Francisco!

Spilled fuel and oil, sewage, trash – and even

things we might not think of, like harsh cleaning

products – can pollute California’s waterways and

harm sea life. Additionally, California is

threatened by invasive species such as quagga

and zebra mussels. Boaters play a crucial role in

protecting the health of California’s waterways. >>15

Green Boating


In the next to last line, add "quagga and" before "zebra mussels."

Dick Carson

done


Oil, gasoline, and other petroleum products are universally toxic to marine life (would you like to swim in a pool of oil?). While big oil spills get the publicity, ninety percent of oil in marine waters is from small, chronic sources such as bilges, outboard motors, etc.

What you can do: When fueling, surround the spout with an absorbent

pad. Don’t top off your tank! Leave some expansion

room. Don’t pump your bilge if it has even a bit of oil in it.

Use an absorbent pad to pick up the oil first – and

dispose of pad correctly Don’t use detergents, etc. to “disperse” oil. It’s

illegal

>>16

Oil pollution

Ref: California State ABCs, pages 48-49.


Human waste is a huge pollutant (would you like to swim in it?)

What you can do: If your boat has a head, always use a holding tank

for sewage and pump out your holding tank at an

approved pumpout facility. If your boat has a “Y” valve allowing overboard

discharge, that’s for offshore (beyond 3 mile limit)

only. Keep the Y-valve properly secured in the

closed position. Many marinas have pumpout stations. Maps of

locations are freely available.

>>17

Sewage

Ref: California State ABCs, page 44.


Add the following statement about a Y valve: "Keep the Y valve properly secured in the closed position."

Dick Carson

added.


Limit in-water maintenance Use environmentally friendly cleaning products Avoid products with phosphates, ammonia, lye,

bleach and any containing any hydrocarbons and

petroleum distillates. Keep absorbents or rags within reach to wipe up

spills. Do not top off when filling your fuel tank. Do not sand in heavy wind. Sand or grind with

units equipped with vacuum cleaners.

>>

Ref: California State ABCs, pages 46-49

18

Additional Green Boating


replace semi-colon with a period and start a new sentence "Sand with ......"

Dick Carson

done


Foreign aquatic species (eg, zebra and quagga mussels) that have no natural enemies in the US are an increasing problem. Every boater that travels between bodies of water must be sensitive to their spread. You may find mandatory inspections or cleanings required at launch ramps. Boaters should check ahead to see whether boat inspections will be required.Clean and dry every inch of your boat when you haul it. Newly hatched mussels are microscopic in size!Visit www.dbw.ca.gov for more information. >>


19

Invasive Aquatic Species


Trash – especially plastics – is a huge pollutant.Plastics do not naturally decay, and they can affect wildlife in all sorts of horrific ways.

What you can do: If you bring it aboard, take it off. Never throw trash overboard. This includes fishing lines

and other fishing gear.

>>20

Trash

Ref: California State ABCs, page 50.


All motorboats and sailboats more that 8 feet in

length must be registered with the California

Department of Motor Vehicles unless federally

Documented. Original Certificate of Number must be available

for inspection aboard the vessel. Keep your Certificate of Ownership (the

equivalent of an automobile’s “pink slip”) in a

safe place – this is your evidence of title to the

vessel.

>>21

Boat Registration


In second bullet point, remove the word "Registration" and replace with "Certificate of Number"

Dick Carson

Done

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A boat’s registration number is like a car’s license plate number. It must be clear and easy to see and read.A boat’s registration number (“CF” followed by four numbers followed by two letters) must be displayed on each side of the forward half of the vessel.Numbers and letters must be at least 3” high, of block style (no script!) and of a color that contrasts with the hull. There must be a space equivalent to the width of the letter “C” or a dash between the CF and the numbers and between the numbers and the trailing letters.

22

Registration Number Display

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In addition, you will have a “registration sticker” (like the renewal sticker on your car) that shows your registration is current. This is displayed aft of the registration number on both sides of the boat in line with the registration number.

Registered vessels operating on California fresh water are required to display mussel fee stickers next to the renewal sticker as shown

23

Registration Number Display


See updated graphic that includes the necessary "mussel fee" sticker. Please add another sentence to the slide: "Registered vessels operating on California fresh water are now required to display mussel fee stickers next to the renewal sticker as shown."

Dick Carson

done. Very thorough review. THANK YOU FOR HELPING!


End Chapter 2End Chapter 2

24 END

Documents

Come for the boating education…Stay for the friendship America’s Boating Course 3 rd Edition 1 State & Local Regulations Chapter 2 Section 8 CALIFORNIA