Boating Regulations reminder

[Pete Japikse]

It might be Spring, but it did not feel like it yesterday while sailing...  I saw at least a couple sailors with stocking caps on their heads.

Nonetheless, we are OPEN  and racing has started for the season.

Thank you to all the members for working on lifts and other projects - the shore line is looking great.  We have just a few lifts left to drop in the lake, and the gravel is ordered to fill the holes. 

It is not uncommon for the division of watercraft to step up enforcement at this time of year.  Please make certain that you have the required safety items in your boat, and that your registrations are up-to-snuff.  This past weekend one of the watercraft officers was at the launching ramp doing inspections. 

It is common in some racing fleets to mount the OH numbers on the boom.  Ohio's laws require those numbers to be affixed to the bow of the boat.  We checked with the division of watercraft to see if there are any exceptions for sailboats, and learned that there are not.  So . . . if your numbers are on the boom, you should seriously consider putting them on the bow of the boat.

Here is a summary of the other required boating equipment on Lake Cowan, in accordance with Ohio boating law:

For sailboats:

Title- Required for any vessel 14 feet or longer, does not need to be carried on the boat.
Registration and numbers-required for all boats
Personal Flotation Devices - One wearable device for each person on board. (On vessels less than 18 feet in length, any child less than 10 years of age must wear a properly fitted Type I, II, or III flotation device at all times).
Throwable Flotation Devices - one Type IV device required on any boat that is 16' or longer
Visual Distress Signal - not required for sailboats with completely open construction
Anchor - not required for sailboats under 21` in length
Running lights or electric torch -  required for operation after dark for sailboats under 23 feet in length

For manually propelled watercraft:

Titles - not required for any vessel less than 14 feet in length
Registration and numbers - Vessels with an alternative registration (single rectangular decal) are exempt from displaying numbers
Personal flotation devices - one wearable device for each person, children less than 10 years of age must wear a properly fitted type I, II, or III device at all times

For powerboats (our club vessels):

Title - stored by the club
Registration and Numbers - Numbers are affixed to the hulls - registration cards are in the boater pouches on each vessel
Horsepower letter:  CLSA has a special permit to operate oversize motors on our safety vessels.  The letter documenting this is in the boater pouch on our 4 large vessels.
Personal flotation devices - One Type I, II, III, or IV device for each person. Children under 10 are required to wear a type I, II, or III device at all times
Throwable Flotation Device - At least one required on both large john boats, pink lady, and committee boat.
Fire Extinguisher - Vessels under 26 feet and used with an outboard motor are exempt. 
Visual Distress Signal - required.  (Flag kept in boater pouch on each vessel)
Sound Signaling Device - required. A whistle or horn is sufficient.
Anchor and line - required on all CLSA club vessels
Lights - required for night operation.  CLSA vessels are NOT equipped and are for daytime use only.

Age requirement - anyone born on or after January 1, 1982, who operates a boat greater than 10HP must have complete a boater education safety course, and proof of that with them.  You can take this course online or in a classroom - here is a link with more information: http://ohiodnr.com/watercraft/education/tabid/3224/Default.aspx

For a complete description of boating laws in Ohio, please refer to a boater handbook or refer to the Ohio Division of Watercraft boating page on the web.

Join us at the lake soon - even on the cold days we have the fireplaces stoked and there are sailors to share stories with!

Pete Japikse