Boating Safely And Legally in Florida

Boating safely and legally  According to the U.S Coast Guard, in 2017 there were 4,291 boating accidents that involved 658 deaths and 2,629 injuries in the United States. And Florida is one of the top states for boating. To help you and your boating passengers avoid becoming part of these statistics, we thought we would cover some of the key points of boating safely and legally in Florida.

Boating Safely and Legally begins with Florida’s Boating Laws

For Boats and watercraft Under 16 Feet

in Florida, 95% of all registered boats are 16′ or less in length. These are the top safety requirements for vessels of this size:

• On board you must have one approved wearable (Type I, II or III) lifejacket for each person. And each lifejacket must be Coast Guard Approved, in working condition and if not being worn, must be properly stored.
• Children under the age of 6 must be wearing their lifejacket whenever the boat is underway.
• If you are operating a personal watercraft, you must wear a (Type I, II or III) Coast Guard approved lifejacket.
• Anyone skiing or being towed by a watercraft must wear a (Type I, II or III) Coast Guard approved lifejacket.
• Boats with Inboard engines, boats with built-in fuel tanks and boats with fuel storage compartments must have one Coast Guard approved 5-B (B-I) type fire extinguisher.
• You must have a visual distress signal such as a flare gun when boating off-shore.
• Inboard motor boats with gasoline engines built after April 25, 1940 must have backfire flame control that is Coast Guard approved.

There are other ventilation and lighting requirements for 16 feet and under vessels that you can review on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website. And also safety requirements for 16 to 26 ft. vessels, 26 to 40 ft. vessels and 40 to 65 ft. vessels.

Boating Safety Tips

With Labor Day quickly approaching, a lot of people like to spend their holiday weekend boating in a nearby river or lake. Here are a things to keep in mind to ensure a safe, successful boat outing:

• Designate a driver for the day. In Florida, it is illegal to operate a boat or personal watercraft while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you are suspected of being under the influence while operating a boat or personal watercraft, a law enforcement officer may require you to submit to a sobriety breathalyzer test or blood test. If your blood or breath alcohol content, (BOC) is .08 or above, you will be arrested for DUI and are subject to the same fines and penalties as motor vehicle drivers. Alcohol use is the number one contributing factor in fatal boating accidents. Don’t drink while operating a boat.
• Check your speed! Do some research about new areas where you plan to boat. Shallows, manatee zones, no wake zones and other boats are all important safety concerns you and your passengers as well as other boaters.
• Find a comfortable Coast Guard approved lifejacket and wear it! 76% of fatal boating accident victims drowned and 84.5% of those victims were not wearing a life jacket.
• When you leave to go boating, let someone know where you plan to boat and when you plan to return so that if you cannot be reached by cell phone, authorities can be notified that you are missing. The sooner you can be located the better the chances for a good outcome.
• Keep an eye on the weather. You do not want to be out on the water during a sever thunderstorm. And if you are caught by surprise or too far from the landing or dock, take refuge under a bridge until the storm passes.
• Hopefully you will never be a victim of a boating accident but boating accidents happen just like car accidents. If you are in a boating accident and you boat is still above water, your best bet is to stay with the boat. It is much easier for authorities and fellow boaters to see a boat than it is to see a person.

Most experienced boaters understand the importance of safety on the water. They are courteous and will immediately offer to help a fellow boater in need of assistance. When you are out on the water, if you see something that does not look right, take a moment to offer a hand. And if you see another vessel or personal watercraft operating in a dangerous or irresponsible manner, report it to the Wildlife Alert Program at 888-404-3922.

If you or a loved one is the victim of a boating or water accident, call the personal injury lawyers at McGRATH GIBSON LAW as soon as possible after the accident at (904) 358-3300. Or use the form below to contact us and we will get back to you right away.

Learn more about how we represent and protect the rights of boating accident victims.