Renew Your Arizona Watercraft Registration Online: Welcome to the Arizona Game and Fish Department Watercraft Registration Renewal System https://az.gov/app/watercraft/renew/home.xhtml: Arizona law requires that all motorized watercraft operating on Arizona waters must be registered in the State with the following exceptions:

Foreign watercraft temporarily using the waters of the State Military or public vessels of the United States except for recreational type public vessels Watercraft used solely as lifeboats Undocumented watercraft operating under a valid temporary certificate issued pursuant to rules adopted by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission (primarily powerboat regattas) Non-residents may operate on Arizona waters with their home state registration for up to 90 days per year without re-registering the watercraft in Arizona.

The flagship FX Limited SVHO already sports a chop-busting hull, 65-mph-plus top speed, and bells and whistles like a 7-inch touchscreen control, GPS mapping, geofencing capability, Bluetooth audio system with text notifications and hands-free calling potential, and Garmin GPS/Fishfinder. Add the 6-inch-square RecDeck to its aft platform and increase its versatility even more. Anglers can use the RecDeck as a casting platform while adding a cooler and rod holders. Another option is a “Lounging” package that adds a 25-inch-wide seat. You can grab a soda from the attached saddlebags and kick back at the sandbar. Starting at $21,121. Source Robb Report

A Springfield woman suffered moderate injuries when she was thrown off a 2006 Kawasaki personal watercraft or jet ski—Sunday at Table Rock Lake. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the woman was wearing a lifejacket and was taken by ambulance to the Cox Hospital in Branson.

The patrol reported that the person driving the watercraft was also wearing a life jacket. The patrol said the passenger was thrown off as the vessel picked up speed.

Personal Flotation Devices or (PFDs) One approved Type I, II, or III must be provided for each person on board or being towed on water skis, etc. They must be USCG-approved, be in serviceable condition, and be stored appropriately.

A Type V hybrid may be substituted for any Type I, II, or III device but must be worn whenever the vessel is underway, and the person is not in the cabin or other enclosed area.

Class A: Every person on board under 6 must wear an approved Type I, II, or III while the vessel is underway.

Personal Watercraft (PWC): Everyone on or operating a PWC must wear an approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD. Inflatable PFDs are prohibited.

Water Skier: Every person skiing or aquaplaning must wear an approved Type I, II or III PFD. Inflatable PFDs are prohibited.

One USCG-approved B-1 type fire extinguisher is required for all recreational motorboats except outboard-powered motorboats less than 26 feet long if constructed to prevent gas fumes from accumulating. Suppose your boat has a built-in fuel tank, an inboard engine, compartments where portable fuel tanks may be stored, or open areas between the hull and deck where flammable or explosive gases could accumulate. In that case, you must carry a fire extinguisher. Non-motorized boats are exempt from the fire extinguisher requirements.

NOTE: When an approved fixed fire extinguishing system is installed in the machinery space(s), it may be counted in the place of one B-I type hand-held portable fire extinguisher. Some fire extinguishers require specific mounting brackets for approval. Read the label on your fire extinguisher for this information.

A visual distress signal is only required on the high sea and coastal waters. You must carry visual distress signals for night-time use.

NOTE: Coastal waters means the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and all bays, sounds, harbors, rivers, inlets, etc., where any entrance is over 2 miles wide to the first point where the distance between shorelines narrows to 2 miles.

Sound-producing devices include a bell, horn, whistle, etc. Every vessel less than 12 meters (39.4 ft.) in length must carry an efficient sound-producing device. The sound-producing device need not meet any particular specifications as long as the vessel can produce signals required by the navigational rules.

Boats before August. 1, 1980: At least two ventilator ducts fitted with cowls or their equivalent for properly and efficiently ventilating the bilges of every closed engine and fuel-tank compartment on boats constructed or decked over after April 25, 1940, using gasoline as fuel or other fuels having a flash point of 110 degrees or less.

Boats built after August 1, 1980: At least two ventilator ducts for efficiently ventilating every closed compartment containing a gasoline engine and every secure compartment containing a gasoline tank, except those with permanently installed tanks vented outside the boat and containing no unprotected electrical devices. Also, engine compartments containing a gasoline engine with a cranking motor must have power-operated exhaust blowers that can be controlled from the instrument panel.

Recreational vessels must display navigation lights between sunset and sunrise and during periods of reduced visibility (fog, rain, haze, etc.). The U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Rules specify lighting requirements for every description of watercraft.

It is further suggested that you equip your vessel with an anchor and good anchor line; a de-watering device, such as a bilge pump in the event of flooding; and an oar, paddle, or other alternative means of propulsion in case your engine fails. If the above equipment requirements and suggestions are met, you may be eligible to display an FWC or Coast Guard Auxiliary safety decal.

Recreational boating raises several issues for coastal resource managers and the public, including noise complaints, safety concerns, and various environmental impacts. Although much information is available about these issues, more information is needed about PWC-specific consequences or how they compare to those of more traditional vessels. This lack of information impairs the development of scientifically-sound resource policy and undermines the effectiveness of PWC management initiatives.

The answer is a BIG yes! Age Required To Wear: AZ: A person, age 12 or younger, must wear a Type I, II, or III life jacket while the vessel is underway. All closures must be secured according to the manufacturer’s design when wearing a life jacket. CA: 13 and under must wear Type I, II, III, or V life jacket when on a vessel of 26’ or less while underway. NV: Children under 13 must wear a life jacket, except inside an enclosed cabin, when the watercraft is underway. PWC: AZ: Each person on board must wear a life jacket. CA: Each person on board must wear a Type I, II, III or V life jacket. NV: The operator and all passengers must wear a life jacket. Towed Devices: AZ: Each tow person must wear a life jacket, buoyant belt, or other flotation aid. If a buoyant belt or flotation aid is used, a life jacket must be on board the towing vessel for each person being towed. CA: Each person being towed must wear a Type I, II, III, or V life jacket. NV: Each person being towed must wear a life jacket.

A hull identification (HIN) or serial number is vital in registering and titling your PWC.

A hull identification number (HIN) or serial number is vital in registering and titling your boat. It is also essential to recover if your boat is stolen or if there is a recall campaign by the manufacturer. HINs can be found on all boats manufactured since the model year 1973. They are a letter-number combination usually about 12-17 digits long (example: ABC12345L402) and are usually found on the right side of the stern or transom of the craft on the outside. They may be stamped into the fiberglass or aluminum or be on a separate plate. Location may vary slightly on pontoon boats, personal watercraft, kayaks, canoes, etc. Boats built before November 1972 should have a shorter serial number somewhere on the craft.

Every boater should take this to heart and take a few minutes to file a float plan. You can do this without contacting the coast guard or filling out extensive forms. You don’t even necessarily need to pick up the phone. Fitting a float plan means letting someone know where and when you are boating, with whom, and some details regarding your boat. For a long voyage, a detailed float plan form left with a friend or family member may be appropriate, while for an afternoon fishing trip, a note to your spouse with the details of where you can be found and when you will return may be enough. It’s not always easy to share a float plan, but it’s a tool that has saved lives.

A float plan is a simple document that outlines where you are going and when you expect to return. Some boaters heading out for a short excursion will verbally let someone know their float plan, but in an emergency, some people panic and forget details. Whether heading out for a short-day trip or a longer cruise, writing a proper float plan is best. It should include the following:

• A description of your boat, including type, color, size, registration information
• A list of who is on board (names and ages, including infants)
• A brief overview of the safety equipment you have the ready
• An outline of your expected navigation route
• Your destination(s)
• A timeline of when you expect to be at your destination(s)
• When do you expect to return

Several online float plan templates are available for free, making creating your float plan practically effortless. Once a float plan is created, it is even easier to modify it or change it as needed for your next boat trip.