PWC on the Colorado River: This 223-mile stretch of the Colorado River has become a year-round recreation area for power boaters, paddlers, water-skiers and fishermen. To enjoy a safe trip on the Colorado, boaters need to become familiar with the characteristics of the area that make boating on this desert waterway unique. The state lines of California, Nevada and Arizona intersect in the Colorado River area. While many boating laws are congruent, a few laws differ and can be confusing to boaters.

This is why the California Department of Boating and Waterways, Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Nevada Department of Wildlife teamed up to publish this Boating Safety Guide to provide basic information which will assist you in planning a safe and enjoyable trip on the Colorado River. Every year, many people are injured or killed as a result of operator inattention, boating under the influence, illegal skiing practices, and traveling at excessive speeds often at night, in congested waters, or around blind curves in the river. Operator inexperience is another problem in the region. Boaters often do not know the proper action to take when approaching other boaters in crossing or head-on situations. This is especially important on this congested waterway. Another dangerous practice is bow riding, which is both unsafe and illegal. Passengers riding on the front of a boat can be killed or severely injured by a boat’s propeller if they fall, slip or are thrown into the water.

The law restricts riding on the bow, gunwale or transom of a powerboat where there is no protective railing or other deterrent to falling overboard or if riding on the bow is an obvious danger. Safe Boating is Big Fun, so take a boating safety course. Arizona, California and Nevada offer free boating safety courses and safety guides. Taking a course may also get you a discount on your boat insurance.

See http://www.dbw.ca.gov/Pubs/TriState/Tri_State_Bro.pdf for more information

Personal watercraft (PWC) have become a popular form of recreation on Colorado waters. PWC regulations have been established to keep our waterways safe and enjoyable. Be sure to follow these regulations:

• Operation of a PWC from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise is prohibited.
• Operators and passengers of PWCs must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD) of the appropriate size.
• Emergency engine shut-off lanyards must be used if the vessel is equipped with them.
• A three-person minimum PWC must be used for water skiing so that there is ample space for the operator, observer and person being towed; that way when the person is being transported to/from their area and if they get hired or hurt, no one will go over the manufacturers capacity limit, increasing the chances of capsizing, swamping or sinking.
• Do not operate your PWC carelessly and recklessly by becoming airborne while crossing the wake of another vessel at an unsafe distance, unsafely weaving through traffic, or operating at such a speed and proximity to another vessel that the operator of either vessel must swerve or abruptly cut speed in order to avoid a collision.

Remember, you must be at least 16 years old to operate all motorboats, including PWCs. Fourteen- and 15- year- olds may operate a PWC if  they complete a boating safety course accepted by Colorado State Parks. For more information, see the Boating Safety Courses page.