Federal Regulations

Rules governing those who reside on their boats, including marine sanitation, docking time limits...

Assistance provided by the Coast Guard, including search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, an...

Specialized rules for very large recreational vessels, including additional crew requirements, ad...

Regions restricting high-pollution marine engines or requiring certain fuel standards to protect ...

On-board equipment for handling sewage; must meet state or federal pollution regulations (Type I,...

Detailed measurements of water depths, bottom contours, and hazards; updates from agencies like N...

A sophisticated navigation system integrating GPS data and digital charts; typically used on larg...

The “rules of the road” for waterways, dictating right-of-way, overtaking procedures, and collisi...

Some states or ports require large vessels to take a licensed pilot aboard; recreational vessels ...

Horns, whistles, or bells used to communicate maneuvers (e.g., passing signals), signal distress,...

State or local law enforcement units patrolling waterways to enforce safety regulations, check re...

Non-governmental markers (e.g., placed by yacht clubs or marinas) that must be approved by the Co...

Federal or state regulations requiring an operator to use a device (lanyard or wireless FOB) that...

An abnormal rise in water level caused by storms or hurricanes, posing severe flooding risks; boa...

Vessels reliant on solar panels for propulsion or onboard systems; boater education includes ener...

Steps to safely back down a boat ramp, launch the boat without blocking others, and secure the ve...

Laws established by individual states concerning boater education, vessel registration, equipment...

Deadly fumes produced by boat engines that can accumulate in or around a vessel, especially when ...

Floating or sunken trash, fishing gear, and other refuse that pose navigation hazards and environ...

Special events where fireworks are launched from barges or near water. Boater education recommend...

A solid yellow flag historically used to indicate a vessel must clear customs/health inspections;...

A national form of vessel registration from the Coast Guard for boats meeting certain tonnage req...

Laws prohibiting the dumping of trash, oil, or sewage directly into waterways; states and the USC...

Issues like pollution, wildlife disturbances, and habitat protection tied to boating activities; ...

A transponder broadcasting a vessel’s position, speed, and course to other ships and coastal stat...

The categorization of boats by length or type (e.g., Class A: less than 16 ft, Class 1: 16–26 ft)...

Small, privately operated submarines or submersibles requiring specialized training and abiding b...

Certain areas near dams, power plants, or military bases may be off-limits or heavily regulated f...

Routine checks (oil changes, spark plugs, cooling systems) to ensure safe and reliable operation;...

Decorative or functional lights mounted below the waterline; some states regulate brightness or c...

A plumbing component in some boats directing waste either to an onboard holding tank or overboard...

Floating barriers deployed to contain fuel or oil spills in marinas or open water; states and the...

Keeping marine batteries charged, connections clean, and properly ventilated; critical for starti...

A device, typically placed on smaller boats, that helps marine radar systems detect the vessel mo...

Federal and state guidelines require maintaining safe distances (often 100 yards or more) from wh...

Guidelines for storms: stay low in the boat, unplug electrical devices, and avoid touching metal....

(To be expanded in Parts 3/4) Environmental issues like pollution, wildlife disturbances, and hab...

The practice of leaving trip details (departure time, route, expected return) with a friend or ma...

Alerts for large ocean waves triggered by earthquakes or underwater landslides; boaters might nee...