487.01 Excessive Propulsion Power
487.02 Mufflers; Exception
487.03 Whistles and Lights
487.04 Lights for Watercraft
487.05 Flashing Lights
487.06 Personal Flotation Devices
487.07 Flame Arrestors
487.08 Whistles and Bells
487.09 Fire Extinguishers
487.10 Anchor
487.11 Ventilation
487.12 Violation of Required Equipment
487.13 Watercraft Display Flag; Use
Statutory reference:
Required equipment, RC 1547.26 et seq.
Required equipment, RC 1547.26 et seq.
No watercraft shall be equipped with any motor or other propulsion machinery beyond its safe power capacity, taking into consideration the type and construction of such watercraft and other existing operating conditions.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)
All powercraft operating in City waters shall be equipped with an exhaust muffler or silencer of sufficient size and capacity to effectually muffle and prevent excessive or unusual noise from the exhaust of any engines installed or aboard such powercraft. No person shall operate a powercraft with an exhaust muffler cut-out open or in any other manner which renders the exhaust muffler ineffective in muffling the sound of the engine exhaust. This section does not apply when such powercraft is operating in a regularly scheduled and duly authorized race, regatta or other aquatic event.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)
No master, owner or any other person in charge of any watercraft, while lying at any pier, or at anchor or while navigating in City waters, unnecessarily shall cause any whistle or siren to be blown or sounded, nor shall any person flash the rays of a searchlight or other blinding light onto the bridge or into the pilot house of any watercraft under way for any purpose other than those authorized by law.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)
All watercraft subject to this Water Traffic Code shall, in all weather from sunset to sunrise and at any other time there is not sufficient natural light to render discernible other watercraft and substantial objects on the water at a distance of three hundred (300) feet, carry and exhibit the following lights when under way. During such time no other lights which may be mistaken for those prescribed shall be exhibited.
(a) All Class A and one (1) powercraft shall carry the following lights:
(1) A bright white light aft to show all around the horizon; and
(2) A combined lantern in the forepart of the vessel and lower than the white light aft, showing green to starboard and red to port, so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to twenty-two and one-half (22.5) degrees, two (2) points, abaft the beam on their respective sides. Each light thereby subtending an arc of one hundred twelve and one-half (112.5) degrees, ten (10) points, measured from the center line of the boat and beginning right ahead.
(b) All Class two (2) and three (3) powercraft shall carry the following lights:
(1) A bright white light in the forepart of the vessel as near the stern as practicable, so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of two hundred twenty-five (225) degrees, twenty (20) points, so fixed as to throw the light one hundred twelve and one-half (112.5) degrees, ten (10) points, on each side of the vessel; namely, from right ahead to twenty-two and one-half (22.5) degrees, two (2) points, abaft the beam on either side;
(2) A bright white light aft to show all around the horizon and higher than the white light forward; and
(3) On the starboard side a green light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of one hundred twelve and one-half (112.5) degrees, ten (10) points, so fixed as to throw the light from ahead to twenty-two and one-half (22.5) degrees, two (2) points, abaft the beam on the starboard side. On the port side a red light so constructed as to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of one hundred twelve and one-half (112.5) degrees, ten (10) points, so fixed as to throw the light from the right ahead to twenty-two and one-half (22.5) degrees, two (2) points, abaft the beam on the port side. The side lights shall be fitted with inboard screens of sufficient height so set as to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow.
(c) Sailboats propelled by machinery whether under sail or not, shall exhibit the same lights as prescribed for powercrafts of comparable length.
(d) Every sailboat, regardless of length, under sail alone shall exhibit:
(1) On the starboard side, a green light, so constructed as to throw an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of one hundred twelve and one-half (112.5) degrees, ten (10) points, so fixed to throw the light from right ahead to twenty-two and one-half (22.5) degrees, two (2) points, abaft the beam on the starboard side;
(2) On the port side, a red light, so constructed to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon one hundred twelve and one-half (112.5) degrees, ten (10) points, so fixed to throw the light from right ahead to twenty-two and one-half (22.5) degrees, two (2) points, abaft the beam on the port side;
(3) At her stern a white light, so constructed that it shall show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon one hundred thirty-five (135) degrees, twelve (12) points, so fixed as to show the light sixty-seven and one-half (67.5) degrees, six (6) points, from right aft on each side of the vessel, and of such a character as to be visible a distance of at least two (2) miles, and carried as nearly as practicable on the same level as the side lights, or, in lieu of the white stern light, a readily accessible lantern or flashlight showing a white light.
(e) Rowboats and canoes shall carry either a white light visible all around the horizon or a readily accessible lantern or flashlight showing a white light.
(f) All watercraft required to carry a readily accessible flashlight or lantern shall exhibit such flashlight or lantern in sufficient time to avert a collision.
(g) A white light visible all around the horizon shall be exhibited by watercraft while at anchor.
(h) Every white light prescribed by this section shall be of such character as to be visible at a distance of at least two (2) miles. Every colored light prescribed by this section shall be of such character as to be visible at a distance of at least one (1) mile.
(i) In lieu of the lights required by this section, any powercraft may carry and exhibit lights required by:
(1) “Act of February 8, 1895,” 28 Stat. 645, 33 U.S.C. 241, as amended;
(2) “Act of September 24, 1963,” 77 Stat. 194, 33 U.S.C. 1061, as amended;
(3) “Act of May 21, 1948,” 62 Stat. 250, 33 U.S.C. 301, as amended.
(j) In lieu of the lights required by this section, any sailboat may carry and exhibit the lights required by either:
(1) “Act of February 8, 1895,” 28 Stat. 645, 33 U.S.C. 241, as amended;
(2) “Act of May 21, 1948,” 62 Stat. 250, 33 U.S.C. 301, as amended.
(Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)
(a) No person shall install or use any intermittently flashing light of any type or color on any vessel in use or operation on the waters in this City, except in accordance with federal law.
(b) No person shall operate or permit to be operated any vessel on the waters in this City in violation of this section.
(RC 1547.03)
(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(RC 1547.99(C); Ord. No. 1283-15. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)
(a) No person shall operate or permit to be operated any vessel, other than a vessel exempted by rules, on the waters in this City:
(1) That is sixteen (16) feet or greater in length without carrying aboard one (1) wearable personal flotation device for each person aboard and one (1) throwable personal flotation device;
(2) That is less than sixteen (16) feet in length, including paddlecraft of any length, without carrying aboard one (1) wearable personal flotation device for each person aboard.
(b) No person shall operate or permit to be operated any commercial vessel on the waters in this City:
(1) That is less than forty (40) feet in length and is not carrying persons for hire without carrying aboard at least one (1) wearable personal flotation device for each person aboard;
(2) That is carrying persons for hire or is forty (40) feet in length or longer and is not carrying persons for hire without carrying aboard at least one (1) type one (1) wearable personal flotation device for each person aboard that complies with all of the following:
A. It is designed to support the person wearing the wearable personal flotation device in the water in an upright or slightly backward position and provides support to the head so that the face of an unconscious or exhausted person is held above the water.
B. It is capable of turning the person wearing the wearable personal flotation device, upon entering the water, to a safe flotation position.
C. It is capable of being worn inside out.
D. It is capable of supporting a minimum of twenty-two (22) pounds in fresh water for forty-eight (48) hours.
E. It is a highly visible color.
(3) That is twenty-six (26) feet in length or longer without carrying aboard at least one (1) throwable personal flotation device in addition to the applicable requirements of divisions (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section.
(c) Each personal flotation device carried aboard a vessel, including a commercial vessel, pursuant to this section shall be Coast Guard approved and in good and serviceable condition, of appropriate size for the wearer, and readily accessible to each person aboard the vessel at all times, and used in accordance with any requirements on its approval label or in accordance with requirements in its owner’s manual if the approval list refers to such a manual.
(d) A personal flotation device shall not be used in a manner that is inconsistent with any limitations or restrictions related to federal approval under 46 C.F.R. 160 or special instructions for use provided by the manufacturer. Appropriate use shall be indicated on the label of an approved personal flotation device with one or more of the following designations:
(1) Conditional approval;
(2) Performance type;
(3) Type one (1) personal flotation device;
(4) Type two (2) personal flotation device;
(5) Type three (3) personal flotation device;
(6) Type four (4) personal flotation device;
(7) Type five (5) personal flotation device;
(8) Throwable personal flotation device;
(9) Wearable personal flotation device.
(e) As used in this section, “commercial vessel” means any vessel used in the carriage of any person or property for a valuable consideration whether flowing directly or indirectly from the owner, partner or agent or any other person interested in the vessel. “Commercial vessel” does not include any vessel that is manufactured or used primarily for noncommercial use or that is leased, rented or chartered to another for noncommercial use.
(RC 1547.25)
(f) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(RC 1547.99(F); Ord. No. 1283-15. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)
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