No person shall operate a PWC towing another person on water skis or other devices unless the PWC has on board, in addition to the operator, an observer who shall monitor the person(s) being towed, or the PWC is equipped with a rear-view mirror; and the total number of persons operating, observing, and being towed does not exceed the number of passengers identified by the manufacturer as the maximum
safe load for the vessel.

No person under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs shall be in physical control of any watercraft. The legal level of intoxication is .08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Extreme OUI is .15 BAC and above. A person found guilty of an OUI violation could receive a fine of up to $2,500 and a jail sentence of up to six months. Subsequent convictions and aggravated OUI may carry even more severe penalties

PWCs are subject to the same safety equipment requirements as other vessels. In addition to those requirements:

1. No person shall operate or allow operation of a PWC unless each person riding or being towed is wearing a type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device approved by the US Coast Guard. (Inflatable PFDs do not satisfy this requirement).
2. If the PWC is equipped by the manufacturer with a lanyardtype cut-off switch, it must be attached to the person operating.

High performance boating, with its significantly expensive fast vessels, requires a certain kind of boater. Just as not all car drivers go for the sleek and pricey sports cars, not all boaters are cut out for high performance boating. It takes more than just loving the thrill of reaching high speeds out on the water: Performance boaters have to expertly handle the horsepower against possibly inclement weather and water conditions. You must also be ready for other boaters because while you might expertly stay within your boating abilities, not all others out on the water are as wise.

This is why when you complete your maintenance to get everything ship-shape for this season, don’t forget to protect your high performance boat and passengers against accidents, collisions, mechanical trouble and harsh boating conditions due to rough seas or terrible weather systems.

• Take the time to update your inventory of property onboard your vessel; should you ever need to make a claim with your marine insurance agency it is extremely useful to have an accurate list of accessories and personal belongings.
• Remove dangerous cleaning products or paint varnishes from your boat if they are not needed or store them safely.
• Ensure you have all of your safety equipment and that it is still in good working order.

Beyond operating your boat safely, perhaps the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and any family or friends is to review the insurance for your boat to be certain the policy offers optimal coverage for your high performance boat.

The needs of boats that can reach speeds in excess of 65 mph on the open sea or race around lakes are very different than insurance for smaller and slower watercraft. If you are looking for insurance for your boat you can request a boat insurance quote online.

Here are some things to consider as you take a second look at your high performance boat insurance coverage:

• Is it a policy designed for a high-speed vessel, or generic?
• Are you able to customize the coverage at all?
• Are you restricted at all in terms of navigational limits?
• What does coverage for liability protection include? (Are legal fees, wreck or salvage or environmental clean-up covered?)
• How are you covered for damage to the vessel – Actual Cash or Agreed Cash Value?
• What happens if you are in a collision and the other boater is uninsured?
• Would medical expenses be included for passengers?
• What are the conditions around coverage for personal property in the event of theft or damage?

 

Night can come earlier, then expected when having fun, so be prepared:  Autumn means the hours of daylight are shorter, so boaters may not be able to rely on visual aids to navigate during the same times that they could before. To be safe, take a few minutes to ensure your electronic and paper charts are up to date.

No person under 14 years of age may operate a personal watercraft (PWC). A person at least 14 years of age but less than 16 years of age may operate a PWC if:

1. The person is accompanied by a person at least 18 years of age who occupies the PWC or
2. The person possesses ID proof of age and a boating safety certification or card indicating satisfactory completion of a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved boating safety education course. A person at least 14 years old but less than 16 years old, can operate a PWC if:

They are riding with a person who is at least 18 who occupies the PWC and is in compliance with G.S. 75A16.2; or the youth has first successfully completed a NASBLA approved boating education course (proof of age and safety course completion must be carried by the youth during operation of the PWC.) ID and boating safety certification must be produced upon request of an officer.

It is unlawful for the owner of a PWC or for a person who has temporary or permanent responsibility for a person under 16 to allow that person to operate a PWC except as provided in 1 and 2 above

• Stern: Rear of a boat or PWC
• Bow: Front of a boat or PWC
• Draft: Depth of water needed to float a boat or PWC
• Intake: Opening in the hull that draws water toward the impeller
• Intake Grate: Screening cover over the intake, which prevents large debris from entering
• Drive Shaft: The long stem connection between the motor and the impeller
• Impeller: Device used to pump and force water under pressure through a steering nozzle at the rear of the craft
• Steering Nozzle: Device used for directing the stream of water to the left or right at the stern of the PWC, which steers the PWC

A PWC is a small pleasure craft that uses an inboard jet drive as its primary source of propulsion and is designed to be operated by a person or persons sitting, standing, or kneeling on the PWC rather than inside the pleasure craft.

Medical Payments for bills that arise as the result of a covered accident on a PWC. Depending upon the personal watercraft insurance company chosen, additional coverage in the Jet Ski policy can include: Personal property replacement cost insurance; Uninsured Boaters insurance.

“We have access to many high quality personal watercraft insurance carriers, which makes it easy to compare Personal Watercraft insurance quotes to find the best combination of price and coverage. PWC insurance roadside assistance coverage- towing a personal watercraft or trailer to a repair facility.”

When dressing for any outdoor winter activities, layers are the best way to dress warmly. If you get too warm, it is easy to take off a layer. In cooler climates cotton, wool or other special thermal undergarments are also a wise choice. In addition to mittens, gloves and a warm hat, ski goggles can be extremely useful if you are facing biting winds and driving snow.

If you are yachting in summer, you will likely have more boaters nearby available to render assistance than in fall or winter. If you are on the water in cooler months, you need to have life jackets designed for cold water survival and may even want to invest in survival suits to guard against hypothermia.

Understanding the difference between towing and salvage could save you lots of money and frustration if you end up needing help on the water.  Salvage refers to any voluntary and successful rescue of a boat, its passengers, and its cargo from a peril at sea.  However, your yacht insurance company likely narrows this definition and requires that marine assistance companies distinguish between simple towing and light groundings, and more expensive and serious salvage efforts in which danger or distress exists.

Towing occurs when there is no immediate danger to the yacht or to a legally protected marine environment.  It requires only one vessel with lines attached to it to tow a disabled boat or to refloat a grounded vessel. The boat also qualifies for towing instead of salvage if it can rest without peril while grounded until the tide returns to float her free or if it drifts in calm conditions after losing power.  Salvage involves imminent peril to a grounded, stranded, or sinking yacht or to a protected marine environment.  These services also use more than one towing vessel or special equipment such as high capacity pumps or air bags.

Towing costs are billed by the hour whereas salvage often results in a substantial required percentage of the yacht’s post-casualty value.  Custom yacht insurance provides yachters the best protection against a salvage bill.  Make sure you know if your yacht insurance policy requires a deductible for salvage costs and that it provides protection up to the full value of the vessel and not just a percentage of its value.  Most yacht insurance policies also recognize wreck removal as part of the salvage process and include it under the protection and indemnity limit.

Since marine assistance companies often provide both towing and salvage services, always ask how they are classifying the job before you accept aid.  You should not make any assumptions and reach an understanding prior to them performing any action to help avoid any payment conflicts or legal issues that may arise later.  You can also request a fixed price in writing or as an oral agreement with a witness present.  Most importantly, if it is at all possible, you should gain approval from your yacht insurance company prior to contracting any salvage services.

 

Yachting is fun but things can quickly go wrong with inexperience. Check to ensure that your equipment is running properly, that you have enough life jackets for all passengers on board and adequate first aid supplies. Taking a yacht out on the water is not just a recreational activity it is a serious undertaking when you consider the liability. In addition to safe boating practices, obtaining proper yacht insurance from a specialized yacht insurance company.

A Safe Boating Certificate (SBC) will allow an individual to operate any recreational vessel registered in Connecticut except a personal watercraft (“Jet Ski” type vessel) on Connecticut’s waters. A Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation (CPWO) will allow an individual to operate any recreational vessel including a personal watercraft (“Jet Ski” type vessel).

Any person required to have a Safe Boating Certificate or a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation must have their certificate on board at all times while operating the vessel.

Certification Requirements

In order to obtain a Safe Boating Certificate, an individual must successfully complete an approved basic boating course.

Applicants for a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation must successfully complete a combination Safe Boating and Personal Watercraft course or receive a passing grade on an equivalency exam administered by the DEP.

Equivalency Exam

The DEP Equivalency Examination was designed for the experienced boater who knows the rules and regulations for safe boating on all Connecticut waters.

The examination covers all aspects of a basic boating course including: general information and safety topics, Connecticut State law, trailering, waterways, canoes, motor boats, sail boats, PWC’s, row boats, etc. A score of 80% or better is required to pass.

No one textbook covers all areas of the exam, but many of the topics are covered in the Connecticut Boater’s Guide.

The examination fee is $50.00. Testing is by appointment only.
Application for Equivalency Exam (PDF)

Certification Reciprocity

Effective January 3, 2007, any person who possesses a Safe Boating or Personal Watercraft Operation Certificate issued by a state having an agreement of reciprocity with the Commissioner of DEP, which states currently include Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island, may now present such certificate as evidence to satisfy the educational requirements for issuance of a Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation.