Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
The Laws of Boating (Part A)
Boating can be a fun summer time activity. Unfortunately boating accidents can and do happen on the water. Some can be a simple accident, others happen due to the driver of the boat not knowing the rules of the waterway. Yet even others are due to operator error and negligence.
Before ever going out onto the water and enjoying the boating experience, boating operators as well as their passengers should know the rules of the waterway. Much of the information can be found online but your local boat club or seller will also have resources for new boaters.
Before Going Out on the Water, a Boater Must:
- Register and title the boat
- Ensure all proper safety equipment is on the boat
- Ensure the boats exhaust is muffled so as not to cause excessive noise
- Know the age limits and training requirements for drivers
Boat Safety
Safety Equipment that should be on the Boat:
- Life jackets or vests, and personal flotation devices
- A first aid kit
- Navigation lights
- Fire extinguisher
- Sound device
- Distress signals
- Diver down flag
- Any other safety equipment the boater feels is necessary
- Motorboats need to have an anchor
- Personal watercraft require a safety lanyard (kill switch)
Prohibited Activities On The Water
Reckless or Negligent Driving
- Operation at a high speed or recklessly, especially in congested areas
- Operating your vehicle in a manner that would make another have to swerve to avoid being hit
- Colliding with another vessel
- Driving between sunset and sunrise without navigation lights
Speeding
Improper speed or distance is defined as when a vessel is not maintaining an appropriate speed and/or distance while driving the boat.
Driving at a speed that surpasses safe and realistic limits is prohibited when given:
- Posted speed limits
- Visibility issues
- Water and weather conditions
- Waterway traffic
Boating at any speed is prohibited when in the listed swimming areas:
- 150 feet of shorelines designated as swimming locations
- 75 feet of floats or markers that assign swimming areas
Boating at a rate higher than headway speed is prohibited in the following situations:
- When vision is obscured for any reason
- While operating in a channel unless markers indicate a higher speed is allowed
- Inside 150 to 300 feet of shorelines used as swimming areas
- Within 150 feet of swimmers
- Inside 150 feet of marinas, rafts, ramps, or floats
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