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)