Chapter 7 Boating License Latest 2023 Graded A+

Chapter 7 Boating License Latest 2023 Graded A+ personal watercraft (PWC) A small vessel 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 vessel rather than inside the vessel impeller The jet pump propels the PWC by drawing water in through the bottom of the vessel using an internal propeller Off-Throttle Steering and Braking on PWCs Slowing down/taking your hand off the throttle means you'll lose steering as well OTS - This technology senses when an operator is trying to avoid an obstacle—for example when an operator turns the handle bars hard to one side while taking their hand off of the throttle—and gives the PWC a little extra power which is often just enough to avoid a collision. Some PWCs are also being designed with braking technology, which effectively puts the vessel into reverse in order to slow it down more quickly. Need A LOT of time and space to slow things down PWC Towing If you're towing someone, there always has to be a seat available for them on the vessel Righting a PWC check the decal if not, check the owner's manual Reboarding a PWC First, approach the PWC from the direction marked on the hull. Next, pull yourself up until you can kneel on the boarding platform. Then slide yourself onto the seat. And lastly, before jetting off again, always attach the lanyard to your lifejacket or wrist. Lanyards on PWCs Your PWC will not start unless you have the lanyard attached to the start/stop switch. The lanyard must then be attached to your wrist or lifejacket. When you fall off your PWC, the lanyard will be pulled out of the start/stop switch, stopping the engine immediately. Your PWC will then come to a stop relatively quickly, which ensures that it doesn't become a "runaway" vessel that might endanger other boaters and swimmers. It also means you won't have far to swim to climb back on for another ride. PWC 1/3 Rule use 1/3 of your fuel to operate keep 1/3 of your fuel to get back to shore keep the other 1/3 as a reserve in case of emergency Towed Water Sports Guidelines The operator of the boat, towed passengers and all others on board should wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket that's rated for high impact and designed for the activity. Inflatable PFDs aren't approved for high impact activity and should NEVER be worn by a person being towed. All operators should also have an observer onboard to watch the person being towed. The observer will signal with the towed passenger and inform the boat operator when the skier falls. Before heading out, check the tow rope for signs of wear. The rope should be at least 75 feet long. Never run parallel to the shore in shallow water to drop off a towed passenger on shore. Rather, keep your distance and let the towed person swing into the shore. Never participate in towed water sports at night. It's not only dangerous, but illegal. Always turn off your engine before approaching a towed person who has fallen while being towed. And, approach the fallen towed passenger from the operator's side of the boat, so you don't lose sight of them. Skier Okay Clasp both hands overhead to signal that you're OK. Return to Dock/Shore A pat on the head to signal that you want to go back to shore. Skier Down If you fall, hold up a ski so the tow boat and other boats can see you in the water. Speed Up Hand Signal Give a thumbs-up when you want the boat to go faster. Stop Hand Signal Put your palm out towards the boat to signal the boat to stop its engine. Okay Speed Hand Signal An "OK" sign, means the speed is just right. Turn Left Hand Signal Extend your left hand straight out to the side to signal a left turn. This can be used by either the observer or the person being towed. Turn Right Hand Signal Extend your right hand out to tell to signal a right turn. Slow Down A thumbs-down means you want the boat to slow down. Hunting/Angling from Boats Give A LOT of room Many go at dawn/dusk, make sure proper lights on Always wear a life vest Keep equipment low and centered in boat Paddle Sport Accident Statistics 75% of fatalities took place in canoes 83% of victims in fatal canoe accidents were not wearing a lifejacket. 50% of fatal canoe accidents involved someone moving around in the canoe or another weight shift in the boat. 50% of canoe and kayak related fatalities involved someone fishing at the time of the accident. At least 25% of victims in fatal canoe accidents are believed to have consumed alcohol before the accident. Changing Oil If you are refueling your vessel in or near the water, be careful not to spill fuel and use spill prevention pads. If you are changing the oil yourself, use a closed system. For example, use a portable oil change pump draining into a closed container; this will prevent spills when transferring the oil. Never mix used oil with other waste. Instead, keep the oil separate and recycle the used oil, along with any used filters, at an oil recycling facility. Always keep some oil-only absorbents on hand to wipe up spills. And in the case of a spill, dispose of any used oil absorbents at the marina, fuel dock or hazardous waste facility. Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) rooted vegetation which grows beneath the water surface Never use a PWC in these areas Be mindful of using your motor in these areas Garbage Disposal - Inside three miles and in U.S. lakes, rivers, bays and sounds and anywhere on the Great Lakes, no matter how far from shore Illegal to Dump: Plastic, dunnage, lining, and packing materials that float, and any garbage except dishwater/ gray water/ fresh fish parts Garbage Disposal - 3-12 miles Illegal to Dump: Plastic, dunnage, lining, and packing materials that float, and any garbage not ground to less than one square inch Garbage Disposal - 12-25 miles Illegal to Dump: Plastic, dunnage, lining, and packing materials that float Garbage Disposal - 25+ miles Illegal to Dump: Plastic Disposing Waste Liquids You can only dump raw sewage into the water if you are more than 3 nautical miles from shore. Furthermore, some states, and Canada, have regulations for the disposal of treated waste as well as gray water, shower water or laundry water. SOS Placards Save Our Seas 4"x8" placard required on all vessels >26' Waste Management Plan Required on vessels >40' in length It gives clear directions to your passengers and crew for how to properly discharge the following waste materials: Sewage and hazardous waste; Garbage and food waste; Plastics, glass, and aluminum; as well as Oil and gasoline spills sanitation system made up of a toilet, a waste treatment system or marine sanitation device, and a holding tank. You'll want to check to make sure your marine sanitation device or MSD, is certified by the U.S. Coast Guard. Type I MSD Boats under 65 ft. Treat waste and discharge overboard Type II MSD Any vessel More powerful treatment of waste discharge Type III MSD Any vessel Collect waste in holding tank for removal at pump-out stations (most common) You'll need to find a pump-out station from time-to-time. These can be located by looking for the pump-out signs which are displayed at marinas with pump-out facilities. Portable Toilet All vessels on the water Collect waste in holding tank—does not treat waste No Discharge Zones areas of water that require greater environmental protection. These include special aquatic habitats or areas where there may be a drinking water intake facility. Even treated sewage can be harmful in these environmentally sensitive areas. Bodies of water are often designated when there are no navigable connections to other bodies of water. In these Zones, Type I and Type II MSDs must not be used, and in fact, must be secured so that they cannot discharge into the water. Refuse Act of 1899 prohibited to throw, discharge or deposit any refuse matter of any kind into U.S. waters. Refuse includes garbage, oil and any other liquid pollutant. Spilling Oil If you do accidentally spill oil into the water, you should contact the Coast Guard at to report the accident. Not complying with this rule can come with heavy penalties. Civil penalties can be up to $25,000 while criminal penalties may include imprisonment for up to five years and fines of up to $50,000. Or both. The U.S. Coast Guard enforces these antipollution regulations and may issue a Notice of Violation for small oil spills of under 100 gallons, or other minor pollution violations.