971.16 SITTING, STANDING OR WALKING ON MOVING CRAFT RESTRICTED.

   No occupant of any watercraft under way on the waters of this City shall sit, stand or walk upon any portion of the watercraft not specifically designed for such movement, except when immediately necessary for the safe and reasonable navigation or operation of such watercraft.

   No operator of a watercraft under way on the waters of this City shall allow any occupant of the watercraft to sit, stand or walk on any portion of the watercraft not specifically designed for that use except when immediately necessary for the safe and reasonable navigation or operation of the watercraft. (ORC 1547.22)

971.17 ENGINE WARM-UP REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL WATERCRAFT.

   The pilot or engineer of any powercraft for hire to carry passengers shall not permit passengers to come aboard before the engine of such powercraft has been permitted to run for a minimum of two minutes. (ORC 1547.23)

971.18 CHILDREN UNDER TEN YEARS MUST WEAR FLOTATION DEVICE.

   No person shall operate or permit to be operated any watercraft under eighteen feet in length while there is present in such watercraft any person under ten years of age, not wearing a Coast Guard approved type one, two or three personal flotation device in good and serviceable condition of appropriate size securely attached to the person under ten years of age.

(ORC 1547.24)

971.19 SPECIFICATION FOR FLOTATION DEVICES

   No person shall operate or permit to be operated any watercraft on the waters of this City:

   (a)    Sixteen feet or greater in length, without carrying on board one type one, two or three personal flotation device for each person on board and one type four personal flotation device;

   (b)    Less than sixteen feet in length, including canoes, without carrying on board one type one, two or three personal flotation device for each person on board.

   Each personal flotation device shall be Coast Guard approved and in good and serviceable condition, of appropriate size for the wearer and readily accessible to each person aboard such watercraft at all times. (ORC 1547.25)

971.20 DISTRESS FLAG REQUIRED.

   (a)    No person shall display any distress signal unless a watercraft or a person is in distress and in need of help.

   (b)   The distress signals required by this division shall be in good and serviceable condition, readily accessible, and of the type and quantities required by the "Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971", 85 Stat. 213, 46 U.S.C. 1451, as amended.

   (c)    This section does not apply to:

      (1)    Watercraft competing in an organized marine parade, race, regatta or similar event;

      (2)    Manually propelled watercraft;

      (3)    Sailboats less than twenty-six feet in length with completely open construction and without propulsion machinery.

         (ORC 1547.251)

971.21 ANCHOR, WHISTLE AND BELL REQUIREMENTS .

   (a)   All watercraft, over fourteen feet in length, except sailboats and sailboards less than twenty-one feet long and canoes shall carry an anchor and line of sufficient weight and length to anchor such watercraft securely.

   (b)   A vessel of twelve meters or more in length shall be provided with a whistle and a bell and a vessel of 100 meters or more in length shall, in addition, be provided with a gong, the tone and sound of which cannot be confused with that of the bell. The whistle, bell and gong shall comply with the specifications in annex III of the "I.N.R.A.". The bell or gong or both may be replaced by other equipment having the same respective sound characteristics, provided that the manual sounding of the prescribed signals shall always be possible.

   (c)   A vessel of less than twelve meters in length shall not be obligated to carry the sound signaling appliances prescribed in paragraph (a) of this rule but if it does not, it shall be provided with some other means of making an efficient sound signal.

   (d)   A vessel that is propelled by human muscular effort, a sailing vessel and a power- driven vessel less than sixteen feet in length, when using waters other than Lake Erie, the Ohio River or the Muskingum River, shall not be obligated to carry the sound signaling appliances prescribed in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this rule or produce the sound signals prescribed in rules 1501:47-2-34 and 1501:47-2-35 of the Administrative Code.

   No person shall operate or permit to be operated, any vessel on the waters in this state, in violation of this section. (ORC 1547.26)

971.22 SPECIFICATION FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS; PROHIBITION.

   (a)    Except those powercraft propelled by an electric motor and those less than twenty-six feet in length designed for use with an outboard motor, of open construction, and not carrying passengers for hire, all powercraft shall carry fire extinguishers capable of extinguishing a burning gasoline fire and such fire extinguisher shall be so placed as to be readily accessible and in such condition as to be ready for immediate and effective use.

   (b)    Any fire extinguisher carried or used on watercraft shall comply with minimum or higher standards for such extinguishers than prevailing as prescribed by the United States Coast Guard.

   Except as provided in subsection (a) hereof, Class A and Class 1 powercraft shall carry at least one B-1 fire extinguisher.

Class 2 powercraft shall carry at least two B-1 fire extinguishers.

Class 3 powercraft shall carry at least three B-1 fire extinguishers.

   A B-1 fire extinguisher is one containing one and three-fourths gallons foam, four pounds carbon dioxide or two pounds dry chemical.

   No person shall operate or permit to be operated on the waters of this City any powercraft that does not comply with this section. (ORC 1547.27)