(A) Operation of vessels without required equipment or identification prohibited. No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of a vessel that is not provided with the equipment required by this subchapter or any documentation required by this subchapter or any documentation required by the U.S. Coast Guard.
(B) Classes of motorboats. Motorboats subject to the provision of this subchapter are divided into four classes according to the length as follows:
Class A | Less than 16 feet in length |
Class 1 | 16 feet or over and less than 26 feet in length |
Class 2 | 26 feet or over and less than 40 feet in length |
Class 3 | 40 feet in length or over |
(C) Lights. A vessel or motorboat when not at dock must have and exhibit at least one bright light, lantern or flashlights from sunset to sunrise in all weather. A vessel or motorboat when underway between sunset and sunrise in all weather must have and exhibit the lights prescribed by the Commandant of the Coast Guard for boats of its class. No other lights that may be mistaken for those prescribed shall be exhibited.
(D) Sound-producing devices. A vessel or motorboat must have an efficient whistle or other sound-producing device if one is required by the commandant of the Coast Guard.
(E) Life preserving devices.
(1) A vessel or motorboat must have at least one life preserver, life belt, ring buoy or other device of the sort prescribed by the regulations of the Commandant of the Coast Guard for each person on board, so placed as to be readily accessible.
(2) A vessel or motorboat carrying passengers for hire must have a readily accessible life preserver of the sort prescribed by the regulations of the Commandant of the Coast Guard for each person on board.
(3) The operator of a Class A or Class 1 vessel or motorboat, while underway, shall require every passenger under 13 wear of age to wear a life preserver of the sort prescribed by the regulations of the Commandant of the Coast Guard. A life belt or ring buoy does not satisfy this requirement. In addition, a Type IV personal floatation device must be aboard Class 1 motorboats immediately available for use as a throwable device.
(F) Fire extinguishers.
(1) A vessel or motorboat must have the number, size and type of fire extinguishers prescribed by the regulations of the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
(2) The fire extinguishers must be capable of promptly and effectively extinguishing burning gasoline or any burning fossil fuel, whether gas or liquefied. They must be kept in condition for immediate and effective use at all times and must be placed so as to be readily accessible.
(G) Flame arrestors; backfire traps. A motorboat must have the carburetor or carburetors of every engine using gasoline as fuel, except outboard motors, equipped with an efficient flame arrestor, back fire trap or other similar device prescribed by the regulations of the Commandant of the Coast Guard. Certain engines that are labeled “model DU Engine accepted for use without an external back fire flame arrestor” are exempted.
(H) Ventilators. Each motorboat and vessel, except an open boat, using as fuel any liquid of a volatile nature must have the equipment prescribed by the regulations of the Commandment of the Coast Guard designed to ventilate properly and efficiently the bilges of the engine and fuel tank compartments so as to remove any explosive or inflammable gasses.
(I) Exhaust water manifold; muffler. A motorboat operation on the water in the city must have and shall be required to use an exhaust water manifold or a factory-type muffler installed on the engine.
(J) Rearview mirrors.
(1) A vessel used to tow a person or person on water-skis or an aquaplane or similar device on the water in the city must have a rearview mirror of a size no less than four inches from bottom to top and across from one side to the other. The mirror must be mounted firmly so as to give the boat operator a full and complete view beyond the rear of the boat at all times.
(2) Division (J)(1) above does not apply to vessels used in water-ski tournament, competitions or exhibitions, or to a vessel that, in addition to its operator, has on board a person 13 years of age or older observing the progress of the person being towed.
(K) Canoes, punts, rowboats, sailboats and rubber rafts; equipment exemptions. All canoes, punts, rowboats, sailboats and rubber rafts when paddled, poled, oared or windblown are exempt from all required safety equipment, except the following:
(1) One Coast Guard-approved lifesaving device for each person aboard; and all other Coast Guard-approved and required gear or equipment; and
(2) The lights prescribed for Class A vessels by the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
(1998 Code, § 130-24) (Ord. 03-16, passed 6-4-2003) Penalty, see § 10.99