Life Jacket Law for Children Under 12
Any youth under the age of 12 on boats 65 feet or less in
length must
wear a securely fastened U.S. Coast Guard approved personal
floatation device of appropriate size. It does not apply if the youth is in a
full enclosed cabin.
NYS Nav. Law Section 40.1(d).
Cold Weather Boaters – PDF
Laws
Anyone underway in a boat less than 21 feet in length
anytime between November 1 and May 1 must wear a securely fastened life jacket. This
includes canoes, kayaks, rowboats and motorboats Commercial vessels are exempt.
NYS Nav. Law Section 40.1(e).
(Click
here to download NYS PDF Laws)
Hours of operation: between
sunrise and sunset, and only when conditions are not classified as restricted
visibility. The installation of an after market light kit will not allow you to legally operate a PWC
at night.
YOU MUST...
Wear a U.S.
Coast Guard approved jacket.
Carry a
Carry a sound signaling device - capable of a two second blast, audible 1/2
mile
Engine Cutoff - if so equipped must
be functional and attached to the rider.
YOU MAY NOT...
Operate a PWC
under the age of 14
Operate in
excess of 5 m.p.h. within 100 feet of shore, a dock, float or anchored boat.
Operate within 500 feet of a marked swim area
Operate between sunset and sunrise
Operate in a reckless manner, including:
Wake jumping
Playing "Chicken"
Weaving through traffic
Carrying more passengers than is recommend by the manufacturer
MANDATORY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR PERSONAL WATERCRAFT OPERATORS
New York requires that
anyone operating a personal watercraft complete an approved course in boating
safety or otherwise be accompanied, on board, by someone 18 years of age or
older who is the holder of an approved boating safety certificate. Certificates
are required to be carried at all times when operating the personal watercraft.
On the navigable waters of
NYS, any vessel towing a water skier, parasail, or other similar device, must
have on board, in addition to the operator, an observer who is specifically
charged with watching out for the person towed. The observer must be at least 10 years of age.
Waterskiing, and similar
towed activities, are limited to the hours between sunrise and sunset,
provided that visibility is not reduced.
Effective 2002, anyone towed
by a vessel must wear a securely fastened US Coast Guard approved personal
flotation device. This includes those on water skis, inner tubes, parasails,
inflatable devices, to name a few. The preferred life jacket for these
activities is the type III special
purpose device as it is impact rated, form fitting, and generally affords
better visibility for the skier. Never use a fully inflatable life jacket.
Remember the skier is
considered a passenger and is to be counted against the maximum passengers
allowed. Exceeding that number can be written as reckless operation.
(Click
here to download NYS Boater’s Guide)
Revised
28 February 2013