Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Unlawful Operation of a Vessel

Florida law states that it is unlawful to operate a vessel in a reckless or dangerous manner. Specifically, the law designates the following dangerous operating practices as illegal.

• Reckless or Careless Operation of a vessel or manipulation of water skis, aquaplanes, or similar devices is the failure to exercise the care necessary to prevent the endangerment of life, limb, or property of any person. Some examples are:
  • Boating in restricted areas without regard for other boaters or persons, posted speeds and wake restrictions, diver-down flags, etc.
  • Failing to follow the navigation rules
• Improper Speed is operating at speeds greater than posted speeds and that are not reasonable and prudent based on boating traffic, weather conditions, visibility, or other potential hazards. If no limits are posted, you should operate a vessel so that it does not endanger others. Vessel speed always should be maintained so that the vessel can be stopped safely. Specifically, it is illegal to:
  • Operate at a rate of speed that endangers the life or property of any person.
  • Operate at greater than "idle speed, no wake" in a posted "no wake" zone.
• Exceeding Maximum Loading or Horsepower is the failure of a vessel operator to ensure that their vessel is loaded safely and not overpowered. Florida law prohibits a person from operating a monohull vessel less than 20 feet in length while exceeding the maximum weight, persons, or horsepower capacity as displayed on the capacity plate installed by the vessel manufacturer.
• Riding on the Bow, Deck, or Gunwale is allowing passengers to ride on the bow, gunwale, transom, seat backs, seats on raised decks, or any other place where there may be a chance of falling overboard.

Boating Regulatory Zones

On Florida waterways there are signs restricting boat speed. Florida regulates boat speeds in certain areas either for protection of manatees or for boating safety purposes. It is important that boat operators look for signs, understand what they mean, and abide by the speed regulations. Here are the most common signs.

• "Idle Speed, No Wake" Zone:
  A designated area where vessels must be operated at a speed no greater than that which is necessary to maintain steerage and headway. The vessel should not produce a wake at this speed.
• "Slow Speed, Minimum Wake" Zone: Areas where vessels must be fully off plane and completely settled in the water. Any wake created by a vessel in one of these zones must be minimal (very small). If your vessel is traveling with the bow even slightly elevated while in one of these zones, it is not proceeding at “Slow Speed” as required by law.
• Maximum 25 MPH, 30 MPH, and 35 MPH Speed Zones: Controlled areas within which a vessel must not exceed posted speed.
• Vessel Exclusion Area: An area marked with a vertical diamond shape with a cross in the center that indicates all vessels or certain classes of vessels are excluded from the area.

Manatees may be in many places. During most of the year, manatees may be found in fresh or salt waters, preferring calmer rivers, estuaries, bays, and canals. In the winter, manatees seek warmer waters and often congregate in the discharge areas near power plants or natural warm water springs. Boaters should avoid manatee habitats and use caution when traveling in known manatee travel corridors. It is illegal to harass, hunt, capture, or kill any marine mammal, including manatees. Any act that disrupts a manatee's normal behavior is punishable by a fine of up to a $50,000, one-year imprisonment, or both. Read more about protecting manatees and their habitat.