Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Unlawful Operation of a Vessel
New Hampshire law states that these dangerous operating practices
are illegal.
Failure to Follow the Navigational Rules is
not observing the navigational
rules described in Chapter 3. In addition, it is unlawful to:
- Fail to stop or reverse when it appears that there is danger
of collision.
- Change course suddenly without first determining that it can
be done without crossing immediately ahead of another vessel.
Unsafe Passage is not maintaining a proper speed
or distance while operating a vessel or while towing a person on
water skis or any similar device. Specifically, the following operations
are illegal.
- Operating a vessel at greater than headway
speed if within 150 feet of:
- Swimmers in the water
- Other vessels
- Rafts or floats
- Permitted swimming areas
- Docks or mooring fields
- The shoreline
- Operating a vessel at greater than headway
speed while within 150 feet of a bridge or while passing
under a bridge
- Overtaking another vessel at a distance and speed such that
your wake causes danger or damage
Riding on the Bow, Gunwales,
or Transom is allowing passengers to ride on a power-driven vessel in places where there may be a chance of falling overboard while underway. This includes passengers straddling the bow or riding on the gunwales or transom.
Overloading is loading the vessel with gear
or passengers beyond its safe carrying capacity,
taking into consideration weather and other operating conditions.
“Ski craft” (motorized vessels less than 13 feet long
that are capable of exceeding 20 miles per hour and with capacity
to carry no more than two persons) have additional
regulations they must follow.
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