Waterways Education Manual

WATERWAYS EDUCATION
MANUAL
A Guide to Public Involvement in Legislative and Public Agency Regulatory Actions
Concerning Boating & Water Skiing, Water Sports Safety and Environmental Issues
USA Water Ski
1251 Holy Cow Rd
Polk City, FL 33868-8200
waterways@usawaterski.org
Phone 863.324.4341
Fax 863.325.8259
Visit our Website – USAWATERSKI.org
Waterways Education Manual
Acknowledgments
Introduction
I.
Water Skiing is Safe
II.
Getting Organized
III.
A.
First Steps – A Guide to Help You Solve Regulatory Problems
B.
Profile of USA Water Ski Board of Directors
C.
USA Water Ski Committees
Understanding Government
A. How Government Functions: Local, State & Federal
B. Blueprint to Local Government
C. The Basic Structure of Government: Local, State & Federal.
D. How to Participate in a Public Hearing
V. Available Resources & Reference Materials
A. Environmental Considerations in Boating and Water Skiing
B. Summaries of Available Scientific Data
C. Summaries of Environmental Studies
D. Boating Sound Studies: Ski Boat Noise Levels
E. Sound Level Chart
F. Development of Ski Sites
G. Legislative, Government, Media and Environmental Publications/Resources
H. Agencies Involved with Waterways Issues
VI. Care and Feeding of the Media
A. How the News Business Functions
B. How to Approach the News Editor
C. Preparing a News Release
D. Sample News Release
Appendix A: Profile of Water Skiing
Appendix B: NMMA Information on Personal Floatation Devices
Appendix C: Governing Bodies Who Can Help
Appendix D: NASBLA State Boating Laws References
Appendix E: Bibliography of Summaries of Available Scientific Data
Appendix F: Lake X Water Quality Study
Appendix G: Shore Erosion Study
Appendix H: Letter to Help Skiers With Noise Complaints
Appendix I: Okeeheelee Park Lake Development Information
Appendix J: Sample Press Release
Appendix K: USA Water Ski Safety Checklist
Appendix L: Insurance Fact Page
Appendix M: Amendment to Personal Flotation Devices in California
Appendix N: Amendment Letter for Personal Flotation Devices in Florida
Appendix O: Florida Statute of Personal Flotation Devices in Florida
Appendix P: IWSF Environmental Handbook
Appendix Q: Noise Code of Practice-Britain
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Recognizing how widespread and arbitrary regulation of water skiing was becoming, the
USA Water Ski Board of Directors voted in 1986 to establish a Waterways Education
Committee. It’s mission:
"To preserve, protect, and develop waterways access
for all watersports in the United States"
USA Water Ski would like to thank the following organizations that have helped provide
information for the Waterways Education Manual.
National Marine Manufacturers Assoc.
Recognition must be given to the Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA) of North Palm
Beach, Fla., of which USA WATER SKI is a member. Financial assistance to help cover the
cost of producing this manual was provided by the WSIA, which strongly supports efforts
by USA WATER SKI to educate boaters, skiers and other waterways users about waterways
regulation, safety, boating ethics and environmental issues. The Water Sports Industry
Association is comprised of manufacturers of water ski towboats, skis and other ski gear.
For information about WSIA, contact: Larry Meddock, Executive Director, Water Sports
Industry Association, P.O. Box 568512 Orlando, FL 32856, phone (407) 842-3600 or 842-4100.
Waterways Education Manual, published 1992, and revised yearly by USA Water Ski 1251
Holy Cow Rd., Polk City, FL., 33868, (863)324-4341. Permission is granted for the
reproduction or use of Waterway Manual materials provided credit is given to USA Water
Ski and other information sources for studies cited in the manual.
2
INTRODUCTION
USA Water Ski is the national governing body of organized water skiing in the United States. We
have an abundance of diverse programs and references to offer members of our association. One
of these references is our Waterways Education Manual.
It is a publication, which is
updated annually to ensure pertinent information is disseminated throughout our association. The
waterways committees’ goal is to stay abreast of waterways access issues across the country.
HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
This manual is designed to provide boaters and skiers with information and guidance on how to
deal with regulatory issues that affect their rights and access to the nation’s public waterways. It
is divided into categories that discuss: organizing water ski clubs and federations; how to deal
with regulatory issues that affects water skiing; the structure of local, state and federal
government; available resources such as scientific data and publications dealing with marine
resources; how to work with the media; a list of USA Water Ski members and attorneys available
to assist skiers facing regulatory problems; and a profile of water skiing in the United States and
worldwide. As a first step, we urge boaters and skiers to read through the manual to get a
complete idea of the materials being presented. Then, using the information in it, establish a
course of action to guide them in efforts to deal with regulatory issues and other problems
affecting their access to the waterways.
SAFETY
Water skiing is a very dynamic sport. It is in most instances an extreme sport. As the speed and
intensity increases so do the dynamics. The set of dynamics also vary depending on the type of skiing: trick
skiing versus slalom skiing, versus jump skiing, versus kneeboarding, versus wakeboarding, versus
barefooting, versus speed skiing, versus show skiing. The only common denominators are that they are all
performed on the same mediums, water, pulled by a boat and towed by a rope.
Another avenue which needs to be considered, is recreational skiing versus competitive/ pro skiing.
USA Water Ski, the governing body of organized water skiing in the United States as recognized by the
United States Olympic Committee, currently stands 40,000 members strong. A USA Water Ski active
membership entitles individuals, clubs, and teams to participate and host sanctioned water skiing events.
These events are broken down according to sport discipline, 3-Event (slalom, trick, jump), show skiing,
wakeboarding, barefooting, disabled skiing, kneeboarding, show skiing, collegiate skiing, and ski racing.
These competitors are also aware of the resources that USA Water Ski provides to its members about safety
and safety equipment that is either required or suggested while doing any type of skiing. Historically, water
skiing has an excellent safety record, particularly organized water skiing affiliated with USA Water Ski.
Source: National Center for Health
Statistics
All injury visits
All sport-related activities
Group sport
Basketball
Football
Baseball/Softball
Soccer
Other group sport
Individual sport
Pedal cycling
Ice or roller skating/boarding
Gymnastics/Cheerleading
Playground
Snow sport
Water sport
Exercising/Track
Combative
Recreational
Other sport
Non-sport activities
Visits without specified cause
1
2
3
4
5
Number of
visits in
thousands
11,904
2,616
1,170
447
271
245
95
112
1,446
421
150
146
137
111
100
94
61
50
178
7,947
1,340
Percent of
visits in
thousands
100.0
22.0
9.8
3.8
2.3
2.1
0.8
0.9
12.2
3.5
1.3
1.2
1.2
0.9
0.8
0.8
0.5
0.4
1.5
66.8
11.3
Percent of
sports-related
injury visits
100.0
44.7
17.1
10.3
9.4
3.6
4.3
55.3
16.1
5.7
5.6
5.2
4.2
3.8
3.6
2.3
1.9
6.8
Average annual in jury visits to hospital emergency departments by persons between 5 and 24 years of age by type of activity performed when injury
occurred. United States, 1997-98.
1
Includes all visits with a cause indicating an organized or unorganized sport, game or recreational activity.
2
Includes other group sports such as volleyball, hockey, and lacrosse.
3
Includes all other categories such as games, all terrain vehicles and unspecified sport/recreational activities.
4
Includes all visits with a specified activity not catego rized under sports. This includes transport, household, personal, work or maintenance
activities. It also includes visits for any injuries caused by intentional behavior.
5
Includes any visit for which no cause listed or the injury stated unknown causes.
Group sport 44.7%
Injury Sports Comparison
60
Basketball
17.1%
Football
10.3%
Baseball/Softball 9.4%
Soccer
50
3.6%
Other group sport 4.3%
40
% of
30
Injuries
20
Individual sport
55.3%
Pedal cycling
16.1%
Ice or roller
skating/boarding
5.7%
Gymnastics/Cheerleading
5.6%
Playground 5.2%
10
0
%of Sports-related Injury Visits
Sport
Snow Sport
4.2%
Water Sport
3.8%
Exercising/Track 3.6%
Combative
2.3%
USA WATER SKI
24YEAR INJURY STATISTICS
YEAR
#
TOURNAMENTS
#
SKIERS
#
RIDES
#INJURED
%
INJURED
88-89
89-90
90-91
91-92
92-93
93-94
94-95
95-96
96-97
97-98
98-99
99-00
00-01
01-02
O2-03
03-04
04-05
05-06
06-07
08-09
09-10
10-11
11-12
12-13
13-14
126
536
616
644
596
858
824
821
767
646
768
803
732
798
779
726
742
739
702
693
693
638
630
686
599
23858
31543
42429
42262
32600
43190
37947
42991
44942
38153
37476
36267
38599
27323
27473
28869
34976
22593
21863
22232
29669
29014
35455
28218
20846
n/a
n/a
n/a
61924
66340
100604
86998
85875
79650
74465
80935
84388
72420
73105
76385
73217
66773
63984
59548
67891
72520
64313
70153
69886
68110
155
147
159
252
198
263
189
150
135
108
143
145
155
81
106
93
112
109
92
106
87
99
87
107
129
0.65
0.47
0.37
0.41
0.3
0.25
0.22
0.17
0.16
0.15
0.18
0.17
0.21
0.11
0.14
0.13
0.17
0.17
0.15
0.16
0.12
0.15
0.12
0.15
0.19
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
00
01'
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
11
12
13
PERCENT INJURIES
Percent
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01' 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13
YEAR
Advances in equipment, education, and training have all contributed to this enviable record. Each year
manufacturers develop new and safer innovations in ski design, and protective equipment such as floatation devices,
helmets, shock tubes, ropes, and binders. The list goes on. Newly developed safety warnings on packaging and
stamped on products provide insight to potential users of the hazards that may be encountered in the activity that the
product is to be used in, thus educating the user.
USA Water Ski’s educational programs, which are available to the membership and the general public, have
contributed greatly to the awareness of safety issues throughout the sport. These programs are provided through the
Risk Management and Safety Committee, the Coaches Committee, the Sports Medicine Committee, the Drivers
Committee, and the Waterways Education Committee. Educational articles, not only in the Water Skier, but also in
many national publications have helped promote safety in the sport. Affiliation with The Water Ski Industry
Association and the National Marine Manufacturers Association assures that USA Water Ski has ongoing input into the
safety features of products being researched and developed by the industry.
Sanctioned water skiing statistics are probably more accurate because USA Water Ski requires all injuries to be
reported as part of our tournament safety requirements. USA Water Ski places stringent set of safety parameters which
is practiced in competitive skiing by the tournament operators, in conjunction with USA Water Ski safety rules. As a
result of that, it would appear that the vast majority of injuries are the result of falls during the performance of the
discipline, as opposed to infractions of standard safety practices. It is interesting that in a sport like competitive water
skiing where individuals are constantly pushing the limits of the edge of the envelope that the injury levels would be so
low.
Water skiing remains one of the world’s greatest family oriented sports. It offers unprecedented outdoor fun and
excitement for the entire family. Often you will see three or more generations skiing together on a weekend outing or at
a competition. Not many sports offer this kind of family bonding in a healthful, wholesome, environment. Water
skiing is not with out risk, but the risks are much less than most laymen would perceive. The rewards however are
substantial. This documentation shows that you are a competitive water skier or just skiing for fun that the sport of
water skiing stacks up as very safe indeed.
Note: These statistics represent recorded emergence room visits. The severity of these injuries could not be
ascertained.
*rides represents the number of scores are recorded throughout the whole event not the number of participants because
many competitors compete in multiple events.
Leon J. Larson CSS/WSO Past chairman of the Risk Management and Safety Committee
I. GETTING ORGANIZED
A love of the outdoors, especially lakes and streams, and increased leisure time have led
to competition for use of America’s waterways for recreational activities. As a result, water
skiers everywhere are facing regulatory measures intended to curb or eliminate access to
waterways for water skiing. Though many of the proposed regulations are well intentioned,
they often are not based on solid evidence. Safety and environmental considerations are often
cited as major concerns in regulatory plans. These also are concerns of USA Water Ski. But
evidence shows that water skiing does not pose a significant problem in these areas.
A. First Steps - A Guide to Help You Solve Regulatory Problems
Percent
Where does it begin? How do you take those initial actions to deal with regulatory problems? Most
actions, which affect water skiing, are initiated by city, county or state regulators responding to
citizens who view water skiing as either dangerous or environmentally harmful and noisy.
Sometimes all of these reasons, and others, are given as justification for limiting or excluding
skiers from a body of water.
Unless they are skiers themselves, few people in regulatory agencies or elected positions are
aware of the popularity of the sport, and even fewer are aware of or knowledgeable about
tournament water skiing. Therefore, to influence the outcome of pending regulations or
legislation, it is necessary to educate the people with whom you are dealing about the sport.
B. How to start the educational process.
The following suggestions outline a program to initiate at any stage and with any group you
are trying to influence or educate about the sport.

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Identify clearly what the exact problem is and who is responsible for the action.
Obtain copies of all laws and regulations that are applicable to water skiing. Study these and
know exactly which apply to your problem. These laws will be found in city and
county government ordinance books and state statutes. All are public record information
and must be made available at no cost for public review. For access to city and county
government records, contact the clerk’s office and the offices of city or county attorneys.
At the state level, your local library should have an up-to-date copy of all state statutes.
You can also contact your local state senator or representative and ask for assistance in
tracking water ski and boating laws (legislative actions) and administrative regulations
(established by order of regulatory agencies such as a Department of Natural Resources,
Game and Fish Department or Marine Patrol Agency). Don’t be timid about approaching
elected officials or their staff members or agency employees — They work for you, the
citizen, and are obligated to inform citizens about any existing laws or regulations that
affect them.
To assist in the above effort, list all agencies, people and organizations likely to be involved
in regulatory issues you are dealing with. Be specific and put names with titles. Try to
determine where they stand regarding the regulatory issue you’re dealing with — whether
they are likely to be for or against you.
Identify and seek the support of other groups and individuals who have an interest in
this matter — boat and motor (marine) dealers, water- based resorts, recreational groups
who seek shared access to public waterways. Develop as much industry and business
support for your position as possible; emphasize the economic impact of water- based sports
on the community, both for the purc hase of equipment and tourism trade.
Contact your state water ski federation and local water ski clubs and seek their
support. Combining the resources of all water skiers will bring more exposure to the
regulatory issue you are dealing with and add weight to your efforts to prevent
unwarranted regulation of water skiing.
An important consideration. Hire an attorney to represent your views before public agencies,
to oversee the ongoing development of regulatory and legislative proposals, to seek fair and
equitable regulations, and to make sure your group’s views are heard regarding such
proposals, especially if the proposals are unwarranted attempts at regulation of skiing.
Consider asking a public official who is sympathetic to your position to speak on your behalf
in a public hearing (as long as he is not in a conflict of interest situation with regard to
theelected body or agency he or she represents). Members of public agencies or elected
officials often are more receptive to comments made by “one of their own.”
Create a portfolio of information about water skiing — safety, tournament activities, extent
of interest within the community, recreational aspects, answers to waterways environmental
questions often raised in connection with boating and water skiing. This will be helpful in
explaining the sport to legislators, government officials and others knowledgeable about
water skiing.
When discussing with owners of a body of water (or city, county, state officials who have
jurisdiction over the body of water) the possible use of that site for water skiing, the
following information can be used to promote your cause:
1) Organized water skiing is safe — A slalom, trick or jump course is an organized
situation. Skiers practice under specific conditions and
perform
along
designated courses. There is an excellent safety record in this sport.
2) Water skiing in s family recreation activity: — It is a common interest that
bonds families together. Families can be involved in the sport at any level and
make it a family activity. It is a discussion topic at the dinner table that
everyone can be involved in. Organized water skiing, as practiced by members
of USA WATER SKI, promotes close cooperative relationships between families
and within the community (especially when a water ski club has been
organized).
3) $1 million insurance provided: — USA-WS clubs and members have $1 million
liability insurance coverage, and the city, county, state or private owners of a
body of water can be included as an “additional insured” for only $50 (your club
could pay this as a gesture of good will toward the lake owner). Additionally,
individual USA-WS members have $10,000 secondary bodily injury insurance.
4) Clubs can provide community service: — USA-WS has an educational program
for instructing novice water skiers that your club can make available to youth in
your community. This can be developed with the help of your local parks and
recreation department. Called —"The Learn to Water Ski Challenge,” this
program can involve a local boat dealer. To learn more about the “Learn to Ski”
program, contact USA WATER SKI headquarters.
5) Water Skiing is being considered as Olympic Sport: — USA Water Ski is a
member of the United States Olympic Committee and the Pan American Sports
Organization. Skiing is on the verge of acceptance by the International Olympic
Committee as a participating game within the decade. As a member of the
USOC, water skiing is already participating in State Games, the junior Olympics
and Olympic Festivals.
6) Water skiing is an international sport: — The United States Water Ski Team has
won 22 of 27 World Water Ski Championships while competing against teams
from as many as 45 other countries. USA-WS is a member of the International
Water ski Federation www.iwsf.com (world governing body), as are 76 other
nations from the Americas, Europe and Asia.
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Identify and visit with key legislators, city or county officials and regulatory officials
(including your local marine patrolman) before a regulatory problem occurs and let them
know about you and the sport. Prepare an information packet about the sport and leave
it with them. Background information (such as the Profile on Water Skiing) is provided in
this manual, and USA-WS Headquarters can be of additional assistance if needed.
Prepare an information packet for local media and work to establish a friendly but
informative relationship with key sports and outdoors editors, writers and editorial
directors. Include all media in your get-acquainted
program:
daily
and
weekly
newspapers, community magazines, radio and television stations.
Contact individuals and clubs in other areas who have had recent experience with
regulatory issues similar to yours. Study their efforts to take advantage of expertise they
may have to offer, or to determine why they failed to successfully press their case
against unneeded regulation.
B.
Blueprint to Local Government


C.
How to Get Involved in the Public Agency Process: Public Hearings and Public
Rights, Access to Public Information. Intro commentary from Hillsborough County,
Florida, hearing.
A public hearing is an open meeting called by an elected body (city council, county
commission) or governmental agency (DNR, EPA, etc.) to allow citizens to
comment on proposed laws or rules or other government action. The hearing may
be called to consider a permit application — e.g., a permit for a slalom course or
water ski tournament — or to consider proposed legislation or rulemaking, such as
a proposal for no-wake zones in public waterways or to prohibit installation of
water ski jump ramps and slalom courses. Attempts at rulemaking are generally
taken to establish rules or regulations by which a government agency (e.g., DNR,
EPA, Marine Patrol) can exercise broad regulatory authority previously given to it
by a state legislature. An example of this would be the “interim rules” recently
enacted by the Florida DNR to regulate boat speeds in 13 coastal counties where
manatees — an endangered species — live part of the year. An attempt by the
DNR to expand its authority statewide to regulate boat speeds on inland waters
(not used by manatees) was successfully challenged in court on the basis that the
DNR had not been granted power by the Florida legislature to regulate boat
speeds beyond the 13 coastal counties.
The Basic Structure of Government — Local, State and Federal

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There are major differences in the way government is structured at the city,
county, state and federal levels. It is important to understand the basic
organization of each level in order to know how to deal with it effectively.
City Government is structured in five basic forms: 1) Mayor-Council, 2) CouncilManager, 3) Commission, 4) Town Meeting, 5) Representative Town meeting.
Each form has its strengths and weaknesses.
The Mayor-Council form, in which an elected mayor and council members hold
authority, is the most common form in large cities (over 250,000) and small cities
(under 10,000). The mayor, who is elected by either the citizens or the council
members, serves more as a figurehead and must share executive power with
various city department heads and boards and commissions. This is generally the
case in small communities. Mayors of large cities often have been
granted
stronger executive authority.
The Council- Manager, where elected council members appoint a professional city
manager, is a common type of government in middle-sized cities (10,000 to
250,000). The manager answers directly to the council members and has
executive authority over all city departments.
The Commission form of government is sometimes used by large cities. It is the
most complex form of government and executive authority is divided among
elected commission members who oversee the various branches (fire, police,
water department, etc.) of government.
The Town Meeting form of government is almost unique to the small towns and
villages of New England. It is the most democratic form of government in that
decisions of government are generally made at town meetings in which citizens or
their representatives all have an equal say, or vote, in the business at hand.
Forms of county government are generally similar to those of city government.
County commissioners are elected at large or to represent voting districts within
the county. The elected officials either elect one of the commissioners to serve as
commission chairman or they hire a professional county manager.
Whenever you deal with city or county government keep in mind that you have
several avenues of approach: your district’s elected representative, a department
head (e.g., a police or sheriff’s department with a waterway patrol), an elected
mayor or commission chairman, and appointed bodies such as planning and
zoning commissions. Get to know your local government, especially your district



D.
representative and other officials who might have an influence over government
decision- making.
State and federal governments are more similar in structure. They are based on
constitutions that set forth the offices or departments that exist and the powers
vested in them. You have an elected head of state — a governor or president —
who oversees all the departments of government (executive branch). But the
head of state is forced to deal with two other branches of government — the
judiciary and legislative (state legislature or Congress). And the legislative body
exercises considerable financial control over the executive branch of government.
When facing regulatory problems, you are most likely to first encounter local
agents or an agency, such as a state Marine Patrolman who works for the
Department of Natural Resources. State and federal governments are simply too
large for an individual to develop the personnel executive branch contacts needed
to resolve problems. Your best allies will probably be your district’s elected
officials (senators and representatives) to the state legislature or Congress. It is
their job to represent you and to deal with your concerns, whether they involve
tax matters or boating and water skiing laws passed by the general assembly or
administrative rules and regulations established by government agencies. These
elected officials can also help you contact the appropriate government officials
when you have a problem that falls under a specific agency’s jurisdiction. These
elected officials are people you put in office, you pay their salaries, they are there
to represent you, and they work for you — the taxpayer. Don’t be afraid to
approach them for assistance.
Understanding that you have access to government information is important too.
Except for certain personnel records, some legal documents and details
of
contract negotiations, most government documents are part of the public record.
How to Participate in the Public Hearing



If an elected body or agency proposes a new regulation, or to amend one, it must
justify its action with policy and technical data, which citizens have a right to
challenge. Documents cited by government on behalf of a proposed action must
be made available to the public, though the agency can charge a copying fee if
you want personal copies of the information. But you can ask the agency to place
a copy of the material at question in the local public library or that it waive the
copying charges on that grounds that the material is to be used for broad public
purpose.
If you want to comment on the proposed law or rule or permit at a public hearing,
contact the involved agency and ascertain the hearing dates and make a formal
request to be allowed to comment on the issue at hand. In the occasional instance
where an agency proposes an action but has not decided to hold a public hearing,
you can contact your elected officials and the agency involved to make a formal
request that one be held. Ask elected officials to request a public hearing on the
issue; if necessary, contact everyone from the Governor down, as well as the
head of the agency involved. Stress that the action being proposed by an agency
will affect the public and warrants public input and may affect your community,
such as a proposal to curb water skiing ***that might affect boat and ski gear
sales by local marine dealers. Make your concerns and request for public hearing
known to the local media and provide them with background information on the
issue, but don’t harangue them with personal, unsubstantiated opinion.
If you are going to make a statement at a public hearing, organize your effort.
Contact friends and interested parties and build a large coalition of residents and
business people who will support you and attend the hearing. You might adapt a
strategy where several of you can speak on various aspects of the issue: a mother
on the solid family values of water skiing, a marine dealer on the economic impact
his business has on the community, a safety expert on the good safety record of
water skiing, an environmental expert who can cite studies that show boating and
skiing generally to be negligible factors n
i waterways environmental problems
such as bank erosion, water turbidity or pollution.

Before the hearing, your coalition should do its homework and make sure that all
testimony present is well documented and will stand up to challenge. Form a
planning committee and assign the following duties:
Media and public relations committee to contact the press and inform interested
parties;
o Research committee to gather economic, social and environmental
data. Show an economic impact chart on how much local ski
clubs and recreational/tourist skiers are creating (include the
consumptions of gas, hotel room nights, grocery, local dinning,
entertainment dollars spent)
o
o


Fundraising: get the committee to raise money for mailings to interested
parties, or to hire expert witnesses or legal representation. Such an
effort will pay off by getting more people in the community involved in
your effort and will help you be better prepared for the hearing or
hearings on a proposed action.
Inform your local ski clubs, marinas, and lake owners.
How Hearings Work: At the local level, generally three public hearings (or public
readings of the proposed measure) are required before elected or agency officials
can take formal action on approving or turning down the proposed action. During
the hearings, the public or an interested party — say, a ski club — can ask to be
placed on the hearing agenda to make a statement. Often, unscheduled
statements are admitted from the floor. Questions are usually not allowed, though
the hearing offic er may ask the speaker to clarify a point or to expand on his
comments. Don’t be surprised if it appears that the hearing body seems to
already have made up its mind on the matter before it when the hearings start. A
body of elected officials (e.g., city council or county commission) sometimes may
gather in quorum strength unofficially — and generally in violation of open
meetings laws — to decide a position ahead of time on public -hearing issues
coming before it. If you know this has happened and can document it, you can
challenge the elected body by filing suit in the appropriate court, citing elected
officials for violation of local or state open meetings (sometimes called “sunshine”)
laws. Violations of this type are far more common than most citizens realize, but
are very difficult to prove unless you have a witness. The public meeting is
supposed to be a cooperative process between government and citizens, aimed at
fair and open consideration of proposed actions, with the ultimate decision being a
just and warranted one.
The Public Notice: Before a public hearing can be held, government is required to
notify the public by running announcements in local newspapers or via radio and
television. The public notice requirement is grounded in your constitutional right
to procedural due process under the 5th Amendment for the federal government
and under the 14th Amendment for the states. Usually a small notice is published
in the legal pages of the local newspaper; unless you are expecting a hearing
announcement, you will probably miss it. Local government may be able to call a
hearing within 24 to 48 hours of publishing public notice, though some states and
locales require 10 to 30 days’ advance notice of the hearing. At times, interested
parties are also notified by mail from the appropriate agency, and state agencies
often publish hearing dates in the official state register. Federal agencies publish
hearing notices in the federal register, which is printed on a daily basis, and
generally give 30 to 45 days’ advance notice. Local, state and federal agencies
generally allow periods up to 30 days after the hearing for written comments to
be entered into the hearing record. To be safe, you should check with the
appropriate agency regarding its policy on hearing notification and written
comment periods. If an agency fails to follow proper guidelines in pre-hearing
notification, you can legally challenge the hearing proceedings and may be able to
force an agency to set a new date.
E. State Boating Guide Reference
a. Utilize NASBLA’s Website References
i. www.nasbla.org/references.htm#law
ii.
F.
www.nasbla.org
Agencies Involved With Waterways Issues
State Boating Law Administrators:
Below are important websites that have the State Boating Law Administrators
information (provided by NASBLA)
www.boatclarkcounty.org/NASBLA.htm
Other ways to get information about your local area:
Go to any search engine on the web and type in the following
Boating Law Administers
This will generate many leads for you.
Other great websites are:
www.boatsafe.com/knowhow/boating/
www.nmma.org
III. AVAILABLE RESOURCES & REFERENCE MATERIALS
A. Environmental Considerations in Boating and Water Skiing




In this section we have included a number of scientific studies done on the marine
environment to determine whether boating, skiing or other water-based activities
pose serious environmental problems in the United States. Conclusions expressed
in these studies are those of the reporting agency or scientist and do not
represent the formal position of USA Water Ski.
These studies are presented here because we recognize that environmental
concerns have become a major factor in the regulation of boating, water skiing
and other water-based activities throughout the country, both in terms of
protecting plant and animal life (such as manatees in Florida waters) in the
aquatic environment and shore-based animal life (such as nesting birds, including
the bald eagle and other endangered avian
species).
Protection
of
the
environment is a vital concern to all of us, and finding ways to ensure protection
of plant and animals species and the maintenance of a quality environment is
something we all support.
Promoting environmental awareness to boaters and skiers is an important part of
the responsibilities given to the USA Water Ski Waterways Education Committee
when it was formed in 1986. The recognition of legitimate environmental concerns
also prompted the International Water Ski Federation to establish an International
Environmental Affairs Committee to assist skiers worldwide in addressing
environmental issues they must deal with in seeking access to local waterways.
We have learned that boating and skiing can be conducted in ways to minimize or
avoid unacceptable environmental impacts. Many
of
the
biological
studies
(research) cited below show that these waterways activities can be allowed
without causing irreparable harm to the marine environment. Included here is
literature (24 studies identified as 1b through 24b) cited by the Florida Game and
Fresh Water Fish Commission, which undertook a national review of the effects of

outboard-powered craft on the marine environment. The Commission biologist
who conducted the literature review concluded that, in general, outboard- powered
boating activities had not been shown to be a major hazard to the aquatic
environment.
Some of the studies cited in the 1b through 24b series, as well as in the 1a
through 9a series, were highly specialized and did report finding levels of
environmental damage (to marine organisms) resulting from boating activity.
Some of these studies had mixed conclusions about the levels of environmental
hazard posed by outboard-powered boats. Two of these studies (16b and 22b)
appeared to reach contradictory conclusions regarding possible environmental
hazards posed by boats wakes; we felt that it was important for readers to see all
literature cited. We include all of these studies to acquaint readers with the
various types of biological studies done in this field and to allow them to make
individual conclusions as to the value of the separate studies with respect to local
waters where readers may be facing regulation of boating and skiing because of
potential environmental concerns.
B. Bibliography and Summaries of Available Scientific Data – See appendix
C. Summaries of Environmental Studies
1a) “Analysis of Pollution from Marine Engines and Effects on the Environment - Southern
Lakes (The Lake X Study)”
The Lake X Study, as it is most often referred to, can be extremely useful in instances
where pollution or potential pollution of an enclosed body of water is the issue. The study
was done some twenty years ago but is still valuable and useful today, perhaps even more
so due to the technological advances in fuels, fuel handling, engines, and engine exhaust
systems.
Kiekhaefer Marine sponsored the study and acquired the services of Environmental
Sciences and Engineering of Gainesville, Florida to carry it out. The two lakes that were
chosen were side-by-side and represented closed systems; one lake provided the control
and the other the test site. The 1400-acre lake was subjected to continuous use by the
operation of a series of six cylinder outboard engines 24 hours per day for a ten-year
period of time. Some three million gallons of fuel, both leaded and unleaded, were burned.
This amounts to approximately 68,100 outboard engine hours per year. More than 681
boats would have to operate for 100 hours each to equal that exposure.
The bottom line here is that no detectable pollution was found that could be attributed to
the engine operation. This even includes hydrocarbons.
2a) “A Partial Checklist of Florida Fresh Water Algae and Protozoa, with Reference to
McCloud and Cue Lakes.” The significance of this study is to indicate in the variety of lakes
studied, some with and some without boating activity, that no apparent differences in
algae or protozoa production were noted.
3a) “Effect of Water Skiing on Fish Populations at Green Valley Lake.” The Iowa
Conservation Commission at Green Valley Lake, Iowa completed the study. A baseline
study was done on this lake in 1971. This made it ideally suited to this work. A water
skiing zone was designated on the lake shortly thereafter. Later, the fish population was
checked again. The results indicated no adverse effects from water skiing activity on
turbidity, fish, or the production of invertebrates.
4a) “Eutrophication Factors in North Central Florida Lakes”
This study goes into depth on the various factors that contribute to the
process. It is of interest more for what it does not say rather than for what
the factors discussed, boating was not mentioned as contributing in any way.
In some lakes boating may even be beneficial in contributing to
oxygen process through aeration. This process is generally most helpful in
system bodies of water.
eutrophication
it does. Of all
the dissolved
shallow closed
5a) “Marine Sanitation Devices and Pollution from Small Boats”
This publication is in the form of a bibliography and covers the following topics:
 Nature of the pollution threat.
 Background pollution measurements, 1960- 1980.
 Role of marinas in the potential problem.
 Marine sanitation devices.
 Current status of the most recent research.
 Public reaction.
This is a problem that has more to do with the recreational skier who is more likely to use
a watercraft with this type of equipment on board. Most boats designed specifically for
water skiing do not carry on-board sanitation devices.
6a) “Mixing Effects Due to Boating Activities in Shallow Lakes”
This study, which was conducted in Maryland, is most useful for those who ski on small
shallow or man- made lakes.
There is no argument that boating activity will stir-up or even scour the bottom in very
shallow areas. The study does, however, show diminishing effects with depth. Some
scouring will take place at the two-to-three foot depths, but you cannot operate a ski boat
safely in water that shallow. At the five-foot level, whic h is the USA WATER SKI Safety
Committee’s recommended minimum safe depth, very little, if any, scouring or mixing
takes place. At the eight foot level there is no effect at all. Most courses are at least at
that depth.
For man- made lakes this study is useful in determining sediment-settling characteristics
when designing a lake specifically for tournament skiing. For those already in operation, it
can supply a reference for calculating settling rates. It can also answer such questions as
how long will it take for my lake to clear, or will it ever clear?
This study was done using boats of different lengths, drafts, and with horsepower ratings
from 28 to 150.
7a) “Recreation in a Marine Environment”
In the article, a committee of the International Marine Environmental Commission (IMEC),
(after looking at air and water pollution in general, and how recreational marine activities
impact on it), made the following conclusions:
“We have seen that the environmental issue entails more than just pollution control.
What we need is proper management of our resources for maximum benefit in health and
happiness. The marine industry is willing to accept this responsibility and supports any
action to provide a high quality marine environment in which people may find the freedom
required for recreation.”
A commitment of shared responsibility by all sectors, (industry, government, and the user
public), will then provide the recreational facilities so urgently needed by people of all
social levels, now and still more in the future.
This article is also available from the Waterways Committee and makes for some
interesting reading.
8a) “The Role of Boat Wakes in Shoreline Erosion”
This is an important study in as much as this question often arises in complaints against
ski boats. Skiers tend to seek out areas either close to shore or in small lakes in an effort
to avoid wind chop and other boat wakes. This tendency puts us at risk of incurring this
type of complaint.
The study, carried out by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, attempts to
answer three basic questions. How do boat wakes compare with normal wind generated
waves as a source of energy for erosion and transport of shoreline sediments? How do
rates of erosion during the boating season compare to other times of the year? Can
different types of boating patterns change the level of energy in boat wakes and to what
degree?
The answer to question 1 is that at all but one site no increase in erosion levels could be
attributed to boating. The site that did show some minimal erosion was in a narrow creek
where the following characteristics were noted:

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

Exposed point of land in a narrow creek.
Easily eroding shoreline material (sand and gravel).
Steep shoreline gradient.
Susceptible to a high rate of boating.
Boats passing relatively close to shore.
This is not the type of area where water skiing generally takes place.
The answer to question 2 was that for the exception of that one area no significant
differences were noted between seasons.
The answer to question 3 is yes. For instance, boats traveling at what we generally
perceive as trick speeds will generate more wave energy than boats traveling at slalom,
jump, or barefoot speeds. The recommendation here is to take these factors into
consideration when choosing a ski site. If you follow the general 300-foot rule you should
experience no problems even at trick speeds.
An additional study was performed by the Department of Conservation of the state of
Illinois. Their final statement in summary was: “We cannot attribute any appreciable
shoreline erosion to the wakes of passing watercraft. Wind and other acts of nature
basically are at fault in instances of bank erosion.”
9a) “The Effect of Water Skiing on Fish Populations at San Justo Reservoir, Hollister,
California”
(Cited in a letter of 31 December 1991 to USA WATER SKI member and ski school
operator Geneva marine Brett of Hollister, California)
Dear Ms. Brett: In response to your letter of November 19, 1991, I can simplistically state
that it is my opinion that water skiing will not have any adverse impact on the fish
populations at San Justo Reservoir. In general, as both currently exist at many Reservoirs
in the State of California, water skiing and fishing are compatible recreation activities.
>>To answer your specific questions:
1) I am the Fisheries Biologist for San Justo Reservoir, and as such I am responsible for
stocking the fish and ascertaining the general well being of the reservoir, insofar as the
fish populations are concerned;
2) the trout are stocked in the reservoir for human consumption, not propagation;
3) Our intent is to stock the reservoir every year with trout, depending on the availability;
4) Water skiing will not be a causative factor in the fish placement at San Justo, we will
stock if the fish are available;
5) Water skiing should not affect the patterns and feeding habits of this fish populations
(including the rainbow trout for which you expressed specific concern);
6) Yes, plant life does take oxygen from the water, and yes the fast-spinning propeller
from a ski boat will put oxygen back into the water, which does aid the fish population;
7) There is somewhat less algae with agitation of the water;
8) We have stocked both trout and warm-water game fish species (such as bluegill and
largemouth black bass) at San Justo, which coexist because of the varying depths of the
pond;
9) Yes, the fish will have a tendency to move away from the vibrations of your propeller,
which may result in better fishing outside your designated ski zone.
In my opinion, one boat will not have an adverse impact on the turbidity of the reservoir;
however, I direct you to the reports/studies you possess for technical information
regarding turbidity.
Due to time, personnel, and money constraints, we have been unable to conduct indepth
studies of the fish populations at San Justo; it is our intent to commence such studies in
the future, when the time, personnel and money are available.
In conclusion, as the Fisheries Biologist for San Justo Reservoir, I would have no objection
to the implementation of your proposed water ski concessions operation at that site. In my
opinion, the use of one ski boat will not harm the fish population; the fish will continue to
exist, without detriment.
Dean Marston, Fisheries Biologist
California Department of Fish and Game

Executive Summary of Scientific Literature on Outboard-Powered Boats







NOTE: The following 24 references are for literature citing the effects of outboard motors
on water quality. The literature search and following summaries were done by Dr. S.
Bradford Cook, Biological Scientist IV, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.
The Executive Summary he wrote after reviewing the study is presented first.)
Executive Summary — Twenty-four references were reviewed in order to evaluate the
effects of gasoline-powered outboard motors on the aquatic environment. These effects
included the introduction of volatile substances through outboard motor exhausts,
resuspension of sediments due to boating activity, erosion of shorelines due to wavewash, and direct disturbance of aquatic biota.
Although boating activity can influence the concentration of volatile substances such as
lead and hydrocarbons in the aquatic environment changes in the construction of the
two-stoke gasoline-powered outboard engines since 1972 have drastically improved this
problem. Newer engines do not emit the concentrations of these substances like the older
models did. Also, with the advent of unleaded fuels, lead concentrations are not a
problem as they once were. Results of studies on volatile compounds have shown that
their effects are more pronounced in areas of very little mixing (marinas and boat docks)
and also in areas where boat fueling occurs with chances of fuel spillage. These areas
were found to have high concentrations of lead and hydrocarbons and also had little to
no diversity of benthic invertebrates.
Sediment resuspension was found by many authors to be a major problem influences by
boating activity. This was especially evident in shallow water bodies with sediments
characterized as being primarily organic or silt in nature. This resuspension can cause
problems due to increased turbidity levels and also by reactivating phosphorus bound up
in sediments. Turbidity can cause loss of aquatic macrophytes due to shading, and
reactivation of phosphorus makes these compounds available as nutrients for plant
growth. This plant growth can either be found in macrophyte growth or in the excessive
growth of algae. Algae, if abundant, can also cause the same shading conditions that
results from turbidity.
Sediment resuspension was found to be greatest with large [commercial] towboats.
These large boats are associated with barge traffic. Although this type of traffic in not
found in many of Florida’s lakes. Due to the shallowness and sediment composition of our
lakes, heavy boat traffic by boats powered by large engines may cause significant
sediment resuspension. This aspect needs to be further researched in order to more
definitively determine if this does occur.
Bank erosion was cited as a potential problem caused by boat traffic. This problem was
most evident in areas with unstable, unvegetated shorelines. Vegetation along shorelines
stabilizes sediments and dissipates wave energy prior to its effecting shoreline sediments.
If shorelines are maintained such that a vegetated buffer is present, the problem
of shoreline erosion will be reduced. Also, keeping boating activity away from these
important areas will reduce damage.
The direct effects of boating activity on the aquatic biota are less well documented in the
scientific literature. Evidence has been found that boating activity disturbs spawning fish
(longear subfish). However, these findings were based solely on observations and it was
found that boat speed and proximity of the activity to the spawning fish were important
determinants. Physical damage to aquatic vegetation communities was cited as a
problem. This damage resulted in the actual elimination of vegetation and also changes
the character of the sediment in once- vegetated areas. Problems of this nature also need
to be further researched to determine if these are actual problems or only effects
resulting from boating activity.
In summary, moderate boating activity does not appear to definitively cause direct
deleterious effects to the aquatic environment. It is true that there are environmental
effects caused by boating activities. If precautions are taken such as maintaining
vegetated shorelines, preventing excessive boating activity on a single body of water,
and keeping boat traffic away from critical habitats, until further research questions are
answered, boating activity should not be looked upon as an environmental hazard.
— S. Bradford Cook, Ph.D.
Biological Scientist IV
Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission
6b) Cole, B.J. 1974. Planning for Shoreline and water Uses; A report on the Third
Marine Recreation Conference University of Rhode Island, Kingston.
The effects of outboard motors on the environment were briefly discussed in this report .
An organization of the major outboard manufacturers, the Marine Exhaust Research
Council (MERC), was formed to determine if outboards are compatible with the aquatic
environment. This organization coordinated with the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) to look at lakes in both Michigan and Florida. Lakes were selected which had
never had outboard motors stressed with exhaust from outboard motors exhibited no
signs of environmental problems when compared with control lakes. The following year,
the stressing rate was increased, as was the number of monitoring samples taken. Again,
no adverse environmental impacts were detected. Overall, even with stresses being
almost four times that of normal boat usage, the EPA still had no proof that any
environmental damage was caused by outboard exhausts.
8b) Environmental Engineering, Inc. 1970. The effects of powerboat fuel exhaust on
Florida lakes. Marine Exhaust Research Council (BIA), Gainesville, Florida.
Kiekhaefer Mercury of Central Florida contracted with Environmental Engineering , Inc.
of Gainesville, Florida to evaluate the water quality and fauna of two adjoining lakes ,
one of which was used for testing outboard motors. The two lakes (Lake X and Cat
Lake) were approximately 1400 and 700 acres in size respectively, and both had an
average depth of 12 feet. Lake X was the lake used for the testing, and Cat Lake was
relatively undisturbed and was used as a control site.
Thirty-four chemical and /or physical water quality parameters were analyzed. These
analyses revealed that waters of both lakes were high in dissolved oxygen, low in oxygen
demand, slightly acidic, colored, and had low mineral content. These findings were
found to be typical of good Florida lake water.
Studies of the algal populations of both lakes indicated that the organisms present were
widely distributed throughout local surface waters. In Lake X, the phytoplankton
community was considered to be balanced when compared with other Florida lakes.
Productivity was reduced at one sampling station located at a dock where outboard
motors were fueled. This was felt to possibly be due to toxicity from fuel spills because
no benthic macro invertebrates were found at this site.
Overall, examinations of Lake X’s water and sediments by gas chromatography revealed
no evidence of hydrocarbon contamination from outboard motor exhaust water.
Hydrocarbons from exhaust water are toxic, but were not found to be in the
concentrations necessary to cause fish kills or ecological damage. It was concluded that
in order for either of these situations to occur, it would necessitate far beyond the normal
use of outboard motors on rivers and lakes. The normal use of these motors constitutes
very minor pollution compared to other pollutant sources.
11b) Henigar and Ray Engineering Associates, Inc. 1989. City of Naples Boat Traffic
Study. 73 p.
Included in this study of Naples Bay were the effects of boat traffic on the natural
resources of this area. It was concluded that the condition of natural, estuarine resources
in Naples Bay and the surrounding inshore waters would worsen with increased boat
traffic if no management and regulatory maintenance standards were implemented. The
only benefit to the natural resources from increased boat traffic was suggested to be
oxygenation of the waters due to aeration and mixing.
Pollutants associated with boating activities were stated to increase in proportion to the
number of boats used. The principal forms of pollutants noted were petrogenic (fuel,
oils, and grease). The lighter forms of these compounds were described as being more
volatile and more toxic. Due to the fact that they float, their effects on productive
intertidal areas would be more pronounced. Denser forms of these compounds were
noted to become incorporated into the sediments and could possibly affect bottomdwelling organisms.
Turbidity was noted to be affected by boat traffic. Propeller wash was found to suspend
sediments and maintain them in suspension for prolonged periods of time. Naples Bay
was described as having large accumulations of fine sediments. Turbidity was increased
by boat traffic due to it creating increased levels of physical energy in the bay system.
A serious effect of boating activity was stated to be shoreline erosion, especially along
shorelines vegetated by mangroves. Boat wakes were noted to affect mangroves directly
by interfering with recruitment, washing sediments out of the forest floor, and causing
roots to break. Mangroves were indirectly affected by the increased turbidity in the root
zone.
12b) Hilmer, T. and G.C. Bate. 1983. Observation on the effect of outboard motor fuel
oil on phytoplankton cultures. Environmental Pollution. Series A, Ecological and
Biological 32(4):A307-316
The effects of outboard motor fuel on the photosynthetic capability and chlorophyll a
concentrations of phytoplankton were analyzed. Chlorophyll a concentrations were
found to be significantly affected, while the photosynthetic rates of some species were
depressed. Thus, it was concluded that outboard motor fuels did, overall, have an
inhibitory effect on phytoplankton photosynthesis; however, some species were not
affected at all.
13b) Hilton, J. and G.L. Phillips. 1982. The effect of boat activity of turbidity in a
shallow Broadland river. J. Applied Ecology 19:143-150
Turbidity levels were monitored in a portion of a river to determine if boating activity
was a major source of turbidity problems. A mathematical model was developed to
access this situation and to predict the effects of boat-induced turbidity. Boat turbidities
over a busy holiday season were found to occur; however, it was concluded that longterm accumulation was unlikely and that the major part of the turbidity was due to algal
growth. Although algae was considered to be the major causing agent of turbidity, it was
noted that boat activity did cause a large amount of turbidity, which could influence
macrophyte growth in the river.
15b) Jackivicz, T.P. Jr. and L.N. Kuzminski. 1973. A review of outboard motors effects
on the aquatic environment. J. Water Pollution Control Federation 45(8): 1759-1770.
This review was restricted to the coverage of topics relating to the reasons outboard
motor usage has effected the preservation of natural resources. Two-stroke outboard
motors were found to discharge a variety of compounds, including raw fuel, into the
aquatic environments in which they are used. These compounds entered the water by
passage of the fuel across the cylinder during both the intake and exhaust strokes, and by
drainage of the liquid pool in the crankcase into the exhaust manifold. The quantity of
this discharge was found to vary among different engines. On average, ten to twenty
percent of the original fuel may be discharged, and this was found by the authors to be as
high as 55 percent. It was noted that on engines manufactured after 1972, the fuel was
recycled which may eliminate crankcase drainage. However, raw fuel in these newer
outboard motors may still pass through the cylinders and be discharged into the aquatic
environment.
16b) Karaki, S. and J. vanHoften. 19075. Resuspension of bed material and wave effects
on the Illinois and Upper Mississippi Rivers caused by boat traffic. Colorado State
University, Ft. Collins, Engineering Research Center.
The intent of this study was to analyze the effects of waterborne traffic on the Illinois and
Upper Mississippi Rivers in regards to sediment resuspension and bank erosion. The bed
of the Illinois River was composed of silt and clay. The finer sediments of the Illinois
River caused this river to be more susceptible to sediment re-suspension than the
Mississippi River. The amount or concentration of suspended sediment was noted to be
dependent upon sediment size, particle fall velocity, river velocity, and turbulence. Any
disturbance in the bed material, either through increase velocity or turbulence generated
by boat traffic, was noted to suspend previously settled material. This was found to be
more critical with towboats (tug boats and their barges) than with small pleasure craft.
Towboat passage was found to create a complex turbulent flow pattern beneath the
waters surface. The tugboat’s propellers added to the already disturbed flow caused by
the barges. The quantity of suspended sediment created by these actions was found to
determine the clarity or turbidity of the river. For example, the Lower Illinois River was
found to have a background turbidity of 108 Jackson Turbidity Units (JTU), six minutes
after towboat passage, this increased to 320 JTU’s sixteen minutes after passage. With
increased towboat traffic, it was noted that when the time period between passage was
shorter than the settling time for the resuspended sediments, the turbidity added by a
second towboat added to that of the first. Thus, additional traffic increased the turbidity
level in the navigational channel.
With the regard to wave effects, it was noted that large towboats which move slowly,
generated smaller height, less damaging waves that did small pleasure craft. When the
larger waves broke, turbulence was created which suspended fine bed material along the
shore. If the waves did not break, they ran up the shore and at points where the banks
were not stable, erosion resulted. With increased river traffic, wave activity would
increase. The bottom line was that the effects of waves from fast moving boats were
more destructive to the riverbanks than were waves from the slower moving towboats.
17b) League of Women Voters of Orange County. 1989. Preserve Florida Waters.
Superior Printers, Inc.
This brochure was prepared by the Orange County League of Women Voters with the
assistance of staff from the Florida Department of Environmental Resources, the
Environmental Information Center, and the Florida Audubon Society. Motorboats were
described as being prone to oil and gas leaking problems; both substances were stated as
having disastrous effects on water quality and aquatic organisms. Another factor
discussed was that in shallow water, motorboat activity and its resultant churning action
causes the re-suspension of sediments and nutrients that had settled to the bottom. This
activity was stated to cause nutrients to be returned to the ecosystem for utilization and
also increased turbidity.
22b) Sparks, R.E. 1975. Possible biological impacts of wave wash resuspension of
sediments caused by boat traffic in the Illinois River. Illinois Natural History Survey,
Havana, Illinois.
This study was conducted by the Illinois Natural History Survey for the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers to evaluate the impacts of increased frequency of wave wash and sediment
resuspension resulting from increased boat traffic on the biota of the Illinois River. It
was noted that physical effects of boating traffic were more pronounced in a narrow,
shallow river channel than in a deeper channel. The bed material in the Illinois River was
characterized as predominantly silts and clays, which are easily resuspended by boat
traffic and also take a long time to resettle.
Three types of powerboats were found to use the Illinois River. Small recreational craft
were noted to produce waves of one foot or less in height and caused the least amount of
shoreline wave wash. Large recreational craft produced short, steep waves of short
duration along the shore; however, these did contribute to shoreline erosion and
noticeably increased shoreline turbidity. Towboats were the final type of craft utilizing
the river and were by far the most damaging. As these boats passed, there was a slight
rise in the water being drawn away from the shore, which caused a considerable portion
of the bottom to be exposed. Finally, once the boat had passed, the water rushed back to
the shore in a series of waves that oscillated for many minutes after passage. The draw
down effects of these large boats exposed the bottom sediments and their fauna.
Excessive turbidity and turbulence created by these craft were noted to cause orientation
problems for many juvenile fish species.
Heavy boat traffic was found to cause bank and levee erosion on certain parts of the river.
However, recreational craft did not have much of and impact on side channels unless the
craft actually entered the channel. Towboats were noted to be capable of altering the rate
and direction of flow in a side channel. These same boats were found to resuspend
sediments in the main channel and an observable turbidity trail was noted to extend for
several miles behind the boat. It took approximately two and one half hours for the
turbidity to return to background levels following passage of these towboats. It was
deemed possible that the towboats resuspended oxygen demanding sediments that caused
a slight depression in dissolved oxygen levels. This increased oxygen demand caused by
the mixing of organic matter with erosion silt was maintained ten to fifteen times longer
than the same type of demand created when mixing organic matter with sand.
23b) Yousef, Y.A., W.M. McLellon, and HA.H. Zebuthh. 1980. Changes in phosphorus
concentrations due to mixing by motorboats in shallow lakes. Water Research 14:841852.
Changes in phosphorus concentrations due to mixing by recreational motorboats were
analyzed on three Central Florida lakes (Lake Claire, Lake Mizell, and Lake Jessup).
Recreational motorboats were reported as causative agents for the artificial mixing of
lakes. It has been postulated that the interstitial water of the sediments contained up to
50 times the concentration of soluble orthophosphorus, and due to the effects of mixing,
this would be mixed with the overlying water. It was that 19 to 65% of the inorganic
phosphorus absorbed by the sediments was exchangeable, and with mixing, the rate of
phosphorus exchange would be increased.
Data analyzed in this study indicated that water quality effects were possible due to
recreational boating on shallow lakes. Dissolved oxygen profiles of the three lakes
showed very limited changes due to motorboat mixing; however, differences were found
to exist between turbidity, phosphorus content, and chlorophyll a concentrations before
and after mixing. Significant increases were found for turbidity, orthophosphorus, and
total phosphorus concentrations after motorboat mixing in Lakes Claire and Jessup.
Results from Lake Mizell were considered inconclusive since this lake was much deeper,
had a sandy substrate, and was more frequently used for recreational activity than either
of the other two lakes. These facts created a problem for obtaining adequate control
information for comparisons. Orthophosphorus concentrations for Claire, Mizell, Jessup
increased by 39, 28, and 55%, respectively after mixing. Positive correlations were
found to exist between turbidities and phosphorus concentrations in the water column.
The rate of increase in phosphorus content with mixing was noted to be much higher than
the rate of decline after mixing had ceased.
24b) Zieman, J.C. 1976. The ecological effects of physical damage from motorboats on
turtle grass beds in Southern Florida. Aquatic Botany 2:127-139.
Beds of turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) in Biscayne Bay, Florida were found to not
recover very rapidly after physical disturbance of their root system. Propellers of
outboard motors were noted to cause this disturbance in shallow waters. The “tracts”
created by the propellers were found to persist from two to five years. These “tracts”
were predominantly located in shallow passes between islands and keys. The proportion
of fine sediments in the propeller tracts was reduced, as was the Ph.
25b) A Decision Support Tool for Assessing the Impact of Boat Wake Waves on Inland
Waterways. William C. Glamore, Senior Research Engineer, Water Research Laboratory, School
of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Australia.
The generation, propagation, attenuation and forces related to boat generated wake
waves are currently being investigated due to increasing concerns regarding their impact
on coastal and inland waterways. To ensure that these concerns are objectively
addressed, a Decision Support Tool (DST) to assist in waterway management has been
developed. The DST is based on standardized field measurements of boat wake waves,
which have been specifically developed for this field of study, local wind wave energy
calculations, and an assessment of the waterway’s erosion potential. Importantly, the
tool incorporates both individual and cumulative wave energy calculations and a field
methodology for assessing the erosion potential of a selected site. An interactive
spreadsheet has been developed to assist in applying the DST at selected sites. Field
testing of the DST has assisted in refining and validating the assessment methods. The
DST can be easily adapted to assess the impact of boat wake waves in a variety of
waterways and can be expanded to include additional vessels. While there is currently a
large demand for this type of decision support tool in coastal and inland waterways, no
alternative comprehensive method currently exist.
Link: http://www.pianc.org/downloads/dwa/Wglamore_DPWApaper.pdf
E. Boating Sound Studies
Boat Noise: Are Ski Boats Excessive? by Tom
Boddorff
 The number of boaters on our public waterways has increased dramatically over the last few
years, as many of us are acutely aware. The amount of usable water, unfortunately, has remained
the same. The result: an increase in water traffic congestion. Concurrently, waterfront housing
along these waterways has become increasingly more desirable, as any finite commodity norma lly
does.
 Along with this increase in desirability comes higher property values and higher taxes. Thus,
waterfront homeowners who have paid much more for their property than their non-waterfront
neighbors may feel that they are entitled to more benefits of waterfront living. This may
include exercising some control of the water activities in front of their homes, and many have
been taking steps to protect what they believe are their waterfront rights. Controversy ensues
over the parameters of the rights to the use and enjoyment of the water. The complaint that
most heavily fuels the fire of this controversy is the excessive amount of noise that the boats
generate.
 Noise regulations on the water are difficult to enforce. To prosecute a potential violator, a police
officer must be physically present and within full view of the offender at the exact moment he
is violating the noise code in order to take sound level measurements. Realizing how difficult
this is to accomplish, many complainants consider the best solution to be to petition for
legislation for a 6 knot speed limit throughout the waterway. Obviously, this is devastating to
the water skiing community. Much of this speed limit legislation could be avoided if noise levels
could be effectively controlled.
 Water skiers are the most visible water users and they have borne on their shoulders much of
the ill will directed towards all boaters. Contrary to the fisherman who passes from one area to
another, the water skier seeks calm protected areas and makes multiple passes back and forth
in the same niche of water space.
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The open-pipe jet boat that streaks by at full throttle, shaking picture windows as far as a quarter
of a mile away, has vanished by the time the witness holds that window still enough to see what
has caused the commotion. All he may see is the more slowly moving ski boats hovering at the
scene of the crime. These boats may or may not be creating excessive noise at all, but
continuous association of noise and ski boat visibility creates that impression.
Along with other misconceptions about water skiers and their boats at the forefront, an offended
party is armed with a host of complaints he can present to a hearing officer, who may also
harbor most of the same misconceptions.
The basic questions then become: How loud are our boats, and what is considered excessively
loud? The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has recognized that the sound levels from boats
can be a potential problem and has developed a procedure for measuring them. This procedure,
SAE J1970, is utilized by USA Water Ski in its annual towboat tests. SAE J1970 utilizes a sound
meter located on the shoreline to measure the sound levels of powerboats under actual operation.
USA Water Ski takes this a step further by testing a worst-case scenario: towboats operating at
top speed with a skier passing 125 feet from the sound meter. This reveals the highest
potential sound levels generated and observed from the
complainant’s, i.e., waterfront
homeowner’s, perspective by testing a 36- mile-per- hour skier running a slalom course located
close to shore. Realistically, unless the house is located at the water’s edge, the sound levels that
eventually reach the house are far lower than the tested values. Of the 12 boats tested in the
2005 towboat tests, the average value for all the inboards was 70.2 decibels.
A decibel or a dB(A) is a unit of sound measurement.
How do these values compare with what is considered to be too loud? Based on research performed
by the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies, a maximum allowable limit of 75
decibels is considered acceptable in residential neighborhoods. This standard has also been accepted
as the maximum allowable sound limit on the water for a number of states. In the USA Water
Ski tests, the average “USA Water Ski Approved Towboat” has exceeded this requirement by a
considerable margin. To understand how significant this margin is, we must have a better
understanding of how sound levels are analyzed.
Due to the large range of sound intensities that the human ear is capable of hearing, the
logarithmic decibel scale is utilized. A logarithmic scale is a scale that is not linear; in other
words, a 10-decibel increase in sound level corresponds to a 10- fold increase in sound intensity, a
20 decibel increase corresponds to a 100-fold increase in sound intensity, and a 30 decibel
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increase corresponds to a 1000-fold increase in sound intensity.
In the case of inboards, in which average sound levels are 69.4 decibels, the sound intensity
could have been a little over three and one-half times more intense and still been within the 75decibel limit. When one considers this, it is obvious that the “USA Water Ski Eligible” towboats fall
well within this maximum sound requirement. This is not only exclusive to “USA Water Ski
Eligible” towboats. Most late-model outboards, inboard-outboards and inboards with mufflers would
also conform. Generally, only boats with straight pipes or worn-out muffler systems would have
difficulty passing this requirement.
Considering these facts, boats that are generally used for water skiing are not the noise
offenders. “USA Water Ski Eligible” towboats and the general-purpose runabouts do not exceed a
75 dB (A) in a worst-case scenario in most cases. But the ski boats’ and skiers’ visibility and the
public’s misconceptions team up to spell trouble for noise-abiding ski boats.
What can we do about it? If strict noise regulations are not in place in your state, contact your
local representatives and request that they be considered. Advertise the fact that the water skiing
community is requesting strict noise regulations. Skiers who operate boats with insufficient muffler
systems should be encouraged to repair them. Use logic: making multiple passes in a confined
protected area with a loud boat is obnoxious and ultimately hurts our reputation.


Unfortunately, boat noise will continue to be an issue on the public waterways battleground,
as users and enjoyers fight for their rights. But there is no logic in continuing to receive
bad press for another group’s wrongdoing, or being a convenient scapegoat. Taking a
responsible approach would require relatively little effort on the part of the water skiing
community and will greatly enhance our image in the eyes of officials who regulate the
waters. This is such an issue with USA Water Ski that the Towboat Committee is making
the 75 dB(A) limit a mandatory performance requirement for the 1994 “ USA Water Ski
Eligible” towboats. Previously, sound data had been collected only for information.
Tom Boddorff, a Mechanical Engineer from Riva Maryland, is an USA WATER SKI Director
from the Eastern Region and a member of the Technical Committee. Boddorff also played a
key role in instituting Maryland’s maritime sound regulations as a member of the Maryland
Boat Act Advisory Committee.
1. Letter on Behalf of Skier Facing Sound Problems- See appendix
F. Development of Ski Sites- See Appendix
G. Legislative, Government, Media & Environmental Publications/Resources- See ppendix
V. MEDIA BLITZ
A. How the News Business Functions
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One of the most important, yet least understood, forces in American society is the news
business. The term Media (a plural noun) includes newspapers, news magazines, television
and radio. Understanding how the media work and how to approach them can be useful
knowledge to a group trying to deal with an uncooperative government agency or
controversial public issue (e.g., whether to allow the local ski club to install a slalom
course and jump ramp in a local waterway or to use that equipment and waterway to host
ski tournaments).
Public and agency support for or opposition to the club’s plans can be affected by how local
media handle the story. And if club members haven’t taken time to get acquainted with
hometown news editors and reporters and to understand the constraints they work under,
their cause may not receive full, balanced or accurate coverage in local newspapers or on
television and radio news programs.
Reporters and editors are busy folks who rarely have time to fully investigate — cover in
depth — every local controversy, such as the proposed ski site. It’s up to the skiers to make
sure the media have all of the pertinent facts and understand all sides of the story.
But remember that reporters and editors have many people vying for their attention every
day for many reasons: to cover a local school event, to report a church building fund drive,
to cover the opening of a new business, on and on ad infinitum. In addition, they must

report the hard news — what’s happening in the community, the city police report, the
sheriff’s report, the fire report, the actions of city and county governments and myriad
other activities readers want to (and should) know about.
Being a reporter or editor is a stressful, high-pressure job; they are constantly responding to
crises (car, train or plane crashes, fires, murders and assorted other social mayhem) or to
demands from people seeking public support for or against some cause. The ski club falls
into the latter group. And it obviously will have a lower priority with hard-pressed editors
and reporters. The best way to make sure you have access to news people when you
want them to hear your side (facts, not angry personal opinion) of a controversial issue,
is to take the time to get acquainted with them beforehand and build a long-term base of
confident relations.
B. How to Approach the News Editor
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Get to know key people in the local media: managing, city and sports editors (newspapers); news,
assignment and sports editors (radio, television). It also helps to get acquainted with reporters
(outdoors and sports writers) whose “beat” may include a ski club’s activities. A telephone call to
the newspaper, radio or TV station can provide you with their names. Or look on the newspaper’s
editorial page, where key editors are generally listed.
Call first and set up an appointment. Don’t barge in on these busy people unannounced and
demand to see them. That’s a sure way of ruining your chances of getting a sympathetic ear or
interest in a problem you feel needs to be given fair treatment in the press. Don’t tell an editor
you have a “hot scoop” he should run. Don’t threaten to take it to his competition if the editor
doesn’t agree to run it or expresses ambivalence. The same release should be given to all local
media. If one news editor doesn’t appear overly receptive to your release, don’t argue with
him. Leave the release, along with any supporting documents, thank him for his time and tell him
you will be available to discuss it with him at his convenience. If you have written a wellprepared news release about a timely subject, one or more of the local media will use it; those
news editors who weren’t receptive to you initially will more than likely use your news item the
next day if another paper or television news program has used it as the basis for a story.
Journalism is a business that thrives on competition.
If your group has what it thinks is an important position to state on an already established
major news story, you might consider holding a press conference. Let all local media know the
time, place and subject of the press conference at least a day in advance. If they don’t send a
reporter to it, make sure a copy of your statement is delivered to their newsroom immediately
after the press conference. Schedule the press conference for early in the day, preferably
before noon. Don’t hold a press conference late afternoon Friday, either, if you want to make
the weekend newspaper. Don’t hold it late afternoon any day if you want television coverage on
the six o’clock news (the biggest audience slot) or in the late afternoon newspapers.
o Newspapers: Daily newspapers are either morning or evening publications, though some
publish numerous editions throughout the day. Most local and state news (and other
information) to be published in a morning edition has been gathered and typeset by early
the previous evening; only late-breaking stories and sports events are included after
about 6 p.m. — to about 10
p.m. If you want your news release to appear the next morning, it should be in the proper
editor’s hands the morning before you would like it to appear. Late afternoon or evening
editions are “put to bed” shortly after noon time, so your news release should be in the
hands of the editor the day before. The Sunday edition of the newspaper is largely
made up by Friday afternoon, so if you hope to get in the Sunday edition — which
has the largest circulation — your news release should be in the editor’s hands no later
than Friday morning. But don’t try to tell the editor which edition to put your release in;
that decision is his alone to make on the basis of numerous factors, such as how important
and timely the news item is, how much space he has, whether or not he needs to
check out your story and get additional information or comments from others with
opposing viewpoints, etc. Don’t expect editors to always run your releases verbatim.
o Television: As the news business goes, this is a totally different operation from print
journalism. It’s a “show and tell” medium that relies on visual impact and a few choice
words. It’s fine to leave a news release with the local news editor, but if your news
items involve a controversial issue, such as whether to allow the installation of a ski
jump, talk to the local news and assignment editors ahead of time. Offer to provide a
backdrop for an on- camera interview, such as having a skier jumping on the ramp or
running the slalom course while the interview is being done at water’s edge. This can be
followed up with an interview of the jumper or slalom skier, who talks about how safe
the sport is and points out his life jacket or protective helmet and comments on USA
Water Ski Safety Directors training program and tournament safety requirements. And
point out the excellent safety record of skiers participating in USA Water Ski- sanctioned
tournaments. In a half century of USA Water Ski-sanctioned tournaments, there has
never been a skier fatality due to injuries sustained in competition. Some TV stations
also have local issue programs, on which individuals involved in
o
interesting or controversial issues are asked to be guests. This could be a good
opportunity to air your side of a regulatory effort that could affect not only the water ski
club but recreational water skiers in general wanting continued access to a local waterway.
Learn about the programming of your local stations and how you might become involved
in special program discussions and interviews.
Radio: Stations that broadcast major network (ABC, CBS, NBC) news generally also
have a five-minute or longer time slot for local news each hour. They may also be
part of a statewide news syndicate that picks up interesting local stories of a regional
interest. And, as with TV, take advantage of special programs in which local residents are
often interviewed or can participate in a discussion about a community issue.
C. Preparing a News Release
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
It is important to know how to write a news release to state your club’s position on a controversial
issue or to announce a club project or other activity that the general public may be interested
in. First and foremost — A news release should be used to give information or state a position, but
never as a device for airing personal (editorial) opinions or angry attacks on officials or other
persons.
A news release should tell the editor the facts: “Who, When, Why, What, Where.” If you’re
dealing with a controversial issue (such as opposing a proposed ordinance to ban skiing in a local
lake), you can state the ski club’s position on the ordinance, but back it up with sound reasoning
and documentary materials (such as scientific reports on water skiing and its effects on water
turbidity or bank erosion) that support your position. The release should clearly indicate at top who
it’s from and where that person or group can be contacted for further information. It should be
cleanly typed (double spaced) with one-inch margins on all sides. The following hypothetical
example should serve as your guide when preparing a news release.
D. Sample News Release-See Appendix
National Association of
State Boating Law Administrators
The Beginning
Water skiing was invented in the United States in 1922 when Minnesotan Ralph Samuelson built the first pair of
skis and was towed on them behind an outboard-powered boat. What Samuelson originated became an exhibition
sport on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1920s and early 1930s. It developed officially into a competitive sport in 1939
when the American Water Ski Association (AWSA) was organized and held the first National Water Ski
Championships at Jones Beach, Long Island, New York.
USA Water Ski
USA Water Ski is the National Governing Body for organized water skiing in the United States. USA Water Ski is
a member of the International Water Ski Federation (World Governing Body), the Pan American Sports Organization
and the United States Olympic Committee. Affiliated with USA Water Ski as sport divisions are the American Water
Ski Association, American Barefoot Club, American Kneeboard Association, National Collegiate Water Ski
Association, National Show Ski Association, National Water Ski Racing Association, American Wakeboard
Association, Water Skiers with Disabilities Association, and United States Hydrofoil Association.
From the beginning, USA Water Ski has had a dual mission of promoting the growth and development of
recreational water skiing, and organizing and governing the sport of competitive water skiing. The largest and most
active water ski federation in the world, USA Water Ski has a paid staff of 20 persons. Headquartered in Winter
Haven, Fla., the staff serves more than 40,000 members across the country. Nearly 60 percent of USA Water
Ski’s members are involved in tournament competition each year; the remainder are recreational water skiers.
USA Water Ski programs include: water ski instructor certification; learn to ski clinics; officials’ education; junior
skiers’ development; legislative assistance; safety training and information dissemination; membership development,
including affiliation of state federations and local water ski clubs; public communications and media information;
industry relations; and local, national and international competition ranging from novice to world-level tournaments.
USA Water Ski’s communications program includes the publication of a nine-times-a-year magazine, The Water
Skier, which is sent to all members and other persons with an interest in the sport, and numerous educational
materials addressing all aspects of water skiing. USA Water Ski's Web site — www.USAWATERSKI.org —
provides water-skiing enthusiasts with timely and accurate updates on tournament results, national and world
records, team selections and much, much more.
USA Water Ski trains and maintains performance records for competitive skiers and nearly 3,000 judges, drivers
and scorers who officiate at sanctioned tournaments.
Approximately 630 local water ski clubs throughout the United States are affiliated with USA Water Ski. The clubs
provide a working base in almost any locale for development of USA Water Ski programs, and in addition are the
local organizers for nearly all water ski competition in the United States.
As a Recreational Sport
Throughout its history water skiing has closely paralleled the development of recreational boating in its appeal to
the general public. Over the years it has shown almost continuous, sustained growth. Surveys of sports participation
show that there are roughly 11 million water skiers in the United States.
Water skiing is a family-oriented activity and the participants tend to be well educated and affluent. Three-fourths of
adult USA Water Ski members are college graduates and many are career professionals and administrators —
physicians, attorneys, psychologists, business owners and top-level administrators, among others. Seventy percent
of the Association's members have yearly household incomes of more than $60,000 ayear, and 53 percent have
incomes of more than $75,000.
The Competitive Sport
Interest in competitive water skiing has grown considerably over the years and continues to attract many more
enthusiasts. USA Water Ski now sanctions more than 900 tournaments each season. These range from small, local
events for novices to national and world-level tournaments for more experienced competitors. Male and female skiers
of all ages can compete in traditional three-event (slalom, tricks, jumping) tournaments, as well as in tournaments for
barefoot, kneeboard, show ski, collegiate, ski race, wakeboard, physically challenged skiers, and Hydrofoil.
International Competition
As a member of the International Water Ski Federation, USA Water Ski and its sport divisions select teams that
compete in several world-level tournaments, notably the Water Ski World Championships, Junior Water Ski World
Championships, World Senior Trophy, Barefoot Water Ski World Championships, IWSF Wakeboard World
Championships, IWSF Cable Wakeboard World Championships, Water Ski Racing World Championships,
Disabled Water Ski World Championships, World University Water Ski Championships and Pan American Games.
The U.S. Water Ski Teams including: the Traditional US Water Ski Team, the Junior traditional team, the traditional
Senior Team, the US Barefoot Team, the Jr and Sr Barefoot Teams, the US Disabled Water Ski Team, the US
Water Ski Race Team. the U.S. Wakeboard Team, and The US Kneeboard Team have had an unparalleled
Record of winning Team and individual medals since the first traditional Championships held in 1949.
The Competitive Events
The three events of traditional water skiing are slalom, tricks and jumping. In slalom, the athlete negotiates a zigzag course of six buoys. The boat speed is increased 2 mph until a maximum speed for the division of competition is
reached. Thereafter the rope is shortened in pre-measured lengths. The winner is the one who rounds the most
buoys without a miss or fall. The best skiers do not miss until the rope is shorter than the distance from the boat to the
buoy and the skier must try to round the buoy by leaning over it with his or her body.
In tricks, the athlete performs two, 20-second routines of tricks that each have an assigned point value. Some of
the most difficult tricks include wake flips, and multiple turns performed with the towrope held by the athlete’s foot.
In jumping, the object is distance. Although there is a maximum boat speed for each age division, the skier can
increase his or her speed by “cracking the whip” behind the boat; men jumpers approach speeds of more than 60
mph at the base of the jump ramp. Some men skiers in Open Division competition, the highest achievement level,
jump 239 feet or more off a six-foot-high ramp. Women competitors are jumping more than 186 feet using a five-foothigh ramp.
Variations of these same events are performed by barefoot, kneeboard and disabled skiers, except that
Kneeboard skiers do not jump from a ramp.
Tournament Sanctioning & Proprietorship
As the national governing body for water skiing, USA Water Ski sanctions 3-event, barefooting, kneeboarding,
collegiate, show skiing, ski racing, wakeboarding and disabled tournaments, as well as cash-prize events such as the
U.S. Pro Tour, the U.S. Masters, U.S. Open and U.S. Barefoot Open tournaments.
USA Water Ski is the proprietor of the U.S. Water Ski Team, U.S. Veteran Team, U.S. Junior Water Ski Team,
U.S. Barefoot Water Ski Team, U.S. Wakeboard Team, U.S. Ski Racing Team and U.S. Disabled Water Ski Team.
USA Water Ski also is proprietor of the Water Ski National Championships, U.S. Open Water Ski & Wakeboard
Championships, Barefoot Water Ski National Championships, USA Wakeboard Championships, Show Ski National
Championships, Division 2 Show Ski National Championships, Kneeboard National Championships, Disabled
Water Ski National Championships, Collegiate Water Ski National Championships, Cable Wakeboarding National
Championships and Collegiate Wakeboard National Championships.
History in the United States
Organized competitive water skiing began in 1939 with formation of the association by a small group of
enthusiasts living in New York State. That same year saw the first National Championships Tournament, held at
Jones Beach, Long Island, New York. The slalom course at that tournament was a string of pointed buoys set in a
straight line. The skier had to ski around each to the end of the course. The tricks event consisted of a skier removing
one ski and holding it over his head, and a side slide or two. The jumping event provided the most excitement. The
surface of the jump ramp was made of wooden rollers.
With the exception of 1942-1945 (during World War II), the National Championships has occurred every year.
Today, more than 900 athletes enter the five-day tournament in 28 divisions of competition.
AgeDivisions — Rating System
Twenty of the 24 divisions of competition in 3-event skiing are based on age and sex (see list). The Open Division
is divided into men and women and has no age requirement.
• Boys and Girls 1-----------------------------9 years and under*
• Boys and Girls 2-----------------------------12 years and under
• Boys and Girls 3-----------------------------13-16 years inclusive
• Men and Women 1------------------------17-24 years inclusive
• Men and Women 2------------------------25-34 years inclusive
• Men and Women 3------------------------35-44 years inclusive
• Men and Women 4------------------------45-52 years inclusive
• Men and Women 5------------------------53-59 years inclusive
• Men and Women 6------------------------60-64 years inclusive
• Men and Women 7------------------------65-69 years inclusive
• Men and Women 8------------------------70-74 years inclusive
• Men and Women 9------------------------75-79 years inclusive
• Men and Women 10----------------------80-84 years inclusive
• Open Men and Women ----------------any age
Men and Women 11 ------------------- 85 and above
* This is an optional division established to give youngsters an introduction to the basics of competitive skiing.
Skiers compete only in the slalom and tricks events.
Skiers are rated in each event on the basis of performance that meets or exceeds minimum requirements. USA
Water Ski examiners award ratings as: Novice, Third Class, Second Class, First Class, Expert, Master, Exceptional
Performance and Open.
Sanctioned tournaments are designated as: Closed (limited to residents within a certain locality or to certain
classes or groups of skiers); Open; or Collegiate. All tournaments are further classified as R (record capability
tournaments in which world or national records may be set); C (standard local tournaments in which all ratings other
than Open may be earned; I (local tournaments which do not meet the requirements of a Class C tournament in
which ratings up to and including Expert may be earned; N (novice tournaments primarily for beginning skiers which
allow wide variations from the requirements of the other classifications and in which ratings up to and including Expert
may be earned; or F (fun tournaments where only a USA Water Ski safety director and trained driver are necessary).
Tournament classifications can be combined. For example, an R tournament can be run in conjunction with a
Class C or other event. A skier cannot ski in more than one class in the same event in the same round at one
tournament.
GE N ERAL BO AT I N G
Facts about PFDs
Life jacket, life vest, Personal Flotation Device (PFD)
— whatever you call it, it only works if you wear it!
M o st dro w nin g s occ ur w ay o ut at
sea , rig ht? W r o n g ! Nine o ut o f 10
d r o w nin g s occ ur in inlan d w aters ,
m ost within a fe w feet of safet y an d
inv o lvin g bo ats l ess than 20 f eet
long. M ost dro w ning victim s ha d acce ss to a Pers onal Flotat ion Device ,
but did not w ea r it. A w ea ra ble PFD
can save your life — if you w ea r it!
If y o u haven’t bee n w ea rin g y o ur
PFD bec ause o f the w ay it m akes
you loo k or feel, there ’s good ne w s.
Tod ay ’s PFD s fit be tter , loo k be tter
an d are eas y to m ove ar oun d in. A
bright PFD is eas ier to see an d m ay
increase your chan ce s of rescue .
Before you sh ove off, make sure everyone on bo ard is wearing a PFD. To
w ork be st, PFD s must be w orn with all
stra ps, zippe rs an d ties fastene d. Tuck
in any loo se stra p ends to avoid ge tting
hun g up.
W hen y o u do n’t w ea r y o ur PFD,
you ga m ble with your life — an d the
odd s are against you!
70% of all boating fatality
accidents result from drowning.
Almost 90% of those who drown
are not wearing a life jacket!
H o w m a ny PF D s do yo u n ee d?
The Unite d States Coast Guar d re q uires USCG - a pp roved PFD s o n all
rec reat ional bo ats . The nu m be r an d
ty pe of PFD s you’ ll nee d depe nds on
the nu m be r of passen ge rs, the size
an d ty pe o f y o ur bo at , an d y o ur
bo ating activities .
Y OU M US T H AVE o n e o f th e
f ollo w in g w ea r ab le P F D s f o r
eac h p e rs o n o n boa r d:
• Off-Shore Life Jacket (TypeIPFD)
• Near-ShoreBuoyant Vest (TypeIIPFD)
• FlotationAid (TypeIIIPFD)
• WearableSpecial UseDevice (TypeVPFD)
• If your boat is 16 feet or longer (excluding
canoesandkayaks), it must alsohaveat
least oneof the following:
• Throwable FlotationDevice (TypeIVPFD)
26
2002 DISCOVER BOATING
• Throwable Special UseDevice (TypeIVPFD)
F o r e xa m ple: If four peop le are on
your 16 - foo t bo at , you m ust have at
least FIVE PFD s — four w ea ra ble
PFD s an d one thr o w able PFD.
Inh e r e ntly B u o y a nt ,
Infla t ab le o r H y b rid
W hic h Wea r ab le Is Rig ht f o r Y o u?
USE
ADVANTAGES
Inherently Buoyant (foam)
For swimmers and
nonswimmers.
Adult andchild sizes.
Rugged;
low maintenance.
Air or CO2 (inflatable bladder)
T eac h Y o ur C hild r e n We ll
T he U. S. C o ast G uar d an d PFD
m anu facturers reco mm end imm ed iate in - w ater test in g o f c hil d r en’s
PFD s . Ch il d r en o f ten p an i c w hen
they f all int o the w ater su dde nly.
W hile a PFD w ill kee p a child afloat , it
m ay n o t kee p a st ru gg li n g c h il d
f a c e - u p . V i o l ent m o v e m e n t c an
co untera c t a PFD ’s sa f et y; there fore, it is im po rtant to tea ch child ren
ho w to w ea r a PFD an d ho w to relax
the ir ar m s an d legs in the w ater .
Child ren co m e in m any sizes an d
sha pe s. If a PFD style doe s not w ork
w ell, try an other one . To w ork co r rect ly, a PFD m ust fit snu gly on the
child . Che ck the PFD label for prope r
w eig ht ran ge t o m at c h yo ur c hild’ s
w eight . To che ck for a good fit, pick
the child up by the sh oulde rs of the
PFD. If the PFD fits , the child’ s chin
an d ea rs w ill not slip thr ough.
PFD s are not babysitters . Even if a
child w ea rs a PFD w hen on or near
the w ater , an adult m ust alw ays be
p r esent . In f lata b le t o ys an d rafts
sh ould not be use d in place of PFD s.
W hile s o m e c hildren w eig hin g bet w een 30 an d 50 po un d s m ay like
the fr eedo m o f m o v e m ent that a
Flotat ion Aid (Type III PFD) provide s,
m o st c hild ren in this w eig ht ran ge ,
espec ially th o se w h o c an ’ t s w i m ,
sh ould w ea r a Type I or Type II PFD.
For swimmers only.
Adult sizesonly.
Requires regular user
checks. Not for use in
personal watercraft
or sports suchas
water skiing.
Best comfort in
warmweather;
highperformance
in compact size
andmaintenance.
Hybrid (combinesinherently buoyant
material with an inflatable bladder)
For swimmers and
nonswimmers.
Adult andchild sizes.
Requiresregular
maintenance.
Best comfort for
nonswimmers;
stylish, high
performance
Which Wea rable PFD
Ty pe Is Right for You?
USE
ADVANTAGES
Type I Inflatable and InherentlyBuoyant Types
Offshore
Openor roughwaters
Coastal cruising
General boating
Designedfor all waters;
floats thebest.Designed
to turnmost unconscious
wearers face-up; highly
visiblecoloring.
Type II
Inherently Buoyant Types
Inlandwaters or calm
waters where fast
rescue is likely.
Comfortable; designedto
turn someunconscious
wearersface-up.
Inflatable Types
Alsosuitable for open Designedto turn most
or roughwaters.
unconscious
wearers face-up.
Type III Inflatable and InherentlyBuoyant Types
Inlandwaters or calm
waters where fast
rescue is likely.
Generally themost
comfort for continuous
wear; manystyles.
Type V Inflatable and InherentlyBuoyant Types
Special use; seePFD label.
Governing Bodies who would be able
to help further your cause.
• Small Craft Advisory
Published by National Association of State Boating Law
Administrators (NASBLA) Bi-monthly publication, it covers law
enforcement, boating legislation and related issues across the
country for NASBLA. Contact Outdoor Empire Publishing Inc., P.O.
Box C - 19000, Seattle, WA 98109.
• Inter/Port
A monthly publication of “news and views” for the recreational
boating industry. It’s published by National Marine Manufacturers
Association (NMMA), 410 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Il 60611, ph.
(312) 836-4747. Washington, D.C., NMMA Office, 3050 K. St. NW.,
Washington, D.C., ph. (202) 944-4980.
• Boat/U.S. Reports
A bi-monthly published by the Boat Owners Association of the
U.S., 880 S. Pickett St., Alexandria, VA 22304.
• The Lookout
A bi-monthly published by the National Boating Federation,
[street address, MD].
• Texas Boating Tide
Published by the Boating Trades Association of Texas, 3811 Turtle
Creek Blvd., Suite 1110, Dallas, TX 75219.
• Water Safety Journal
A semi-annual publication published by the National Water Safety
Congress. Contact Outdoor Empire Publishing Inc., P.O. Box C 19000, Seattle, WA 98109.
• Boating Access Quarterly
A publication covering legislative issues and public access to
waterways, it is published the States Organization for Boating
Access (SOBA), P.O. Box 25655, Washington, D.C. 20007.
• Boating Safety Director
A directory of the National Association of State Boating Law
Administrators (NASBLA), it also lists U.S. Coast Guard Boating
Safety Personnel, U. S. Power Squadrons and associations and
corporations that are NASBLA Associate members. For copies,
contact John M. Johnson, Council of State Governments, Iron Works
Pike, P.O. Box 11910, Lexington, KY 40578-1910.
• Conservation Directory
A nearly 400-page directory published by the National Wildlife
Federation, this is an invaluable source of information. It lists
major committees of the U.S. Congress; current members of
Congress; the Executive Branch offices of the U.S. Government;
International, National and Regional Commissions; State and
Territorial Government Agencies and Citizens’ Groups, as well as
Canadian Government Agencies and Citizens’ Groups; Colleges and
Universities in the United States and Canada; Fish and Game
Commissions in both countries; sources of audio-visual materials
or information on conservation and environmental topics; and
numerous periodicals including legislative directories,
conservation and environmental periodicals. Contact the National
Wildlife Federation, 1400 Sixteenth St., N.W., Washington, D.C.
20036-2266, ph. (202) 797-6800. $18 plus shipping and handling.
• American Recreation Coalition
The ARC publishes a recreation newsletter and has for purchase
computer disk programs listing federal agencies and employees. It
is a non-profit federation of more than 100 recreation-related
trade associations, corporations and organizations with common
interests in government policy-making on such issues as energy,
public land and waters. ARC works to develop partnerships between
Public and private recreation providers and conducts meetings and
seminars to improve public awareness of recreational
opportunities. Address: American Recreation Coalition, 1221
Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004, ph. (202) 6627420.
• Congressional Directory
Contact the Superintendent of Documents U.S. Government Printing
Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Lists information (including
biographies) concerning current members of Congress, committee
memberships, officials of federal departments and agencies,
governors of states and territories, members of the press who
cover legislative affairs. Paperback edition, $15.
• Congressional Staff Directory
Lists members of Congress, as well as staff members, committees
and subcommittees, nearly 13,000 cities and counties and their
congressional districts. Contact Staff Directories Ltd., Box 62,
Mt. Vernon, VA 22121, ph. (703) 739-0900. $59.
• Federal Staff Directory
Lists 30,000 Executive Branch officials, their titles, addresses
and phone numbers; this includes the White House, all departments
and independent agencies, regulatory bodies, advisory
organizations, regional offices outside of Washington, D.C., and
legal authority as well as responsibilities. Biographies of 2,400
key officials and index of individuals are includes. Contact
Staff Directories Ltd., Box 62, Mt. Vernon, VA 22121, ph. (703)
739-0900. $59.
• World Environmental Directory
A major 1,000-page publication that includes about 30,000 listings
of pollution control product manufacturers and consultants,
conservation and environmental organizations, state and federal
government agencies, attorneys who specialize in environmental issues,
environmental education programs, databases and funding sources.
Published by Business Publishers Inc., 951 Pershing Dr., Silver Spring,
MD 20910, ph. (301) 587-6300. $125.
• Media Directories
(The below-listed Media directories provides lists of newspaper,
radio/TV, syndicated news services and wire services in the United
States. These directories, including the popular Ayres Media Directory
can either bed purchased or found at your local library in the
Reference Section. Many also provide up-to-date lists of names for
editors.)
• Bacon’s Media Directories
Bacon’s Radio/TV Directory and Bacon’s Newspaper Directory are
comprehensive listings of electronic and print media in the United
States. Each costs approximately $160. Contact Bacon’s Media
Directories, 332 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60604, ph. 1-800-6210561.
• Gebbie Press All-In-One Directory
Combines newspapers, radio and TV media addresses for all 50 states.
Costs approximately $90. Can also be obtained on computer disk for $95
to $285 depending on whether you want newspapers, radio/TV or
magazines. Contact Gebbie Press, Box 1000, New Paltz, NY 12561, ph.
(914) 255-7560.
• Computer Data Base Information
There are several comprehensive law data base sources that also
contain information about laws and regulations pertaining to boating
and water skiing. Among these are Lexus, Nexus, Westlaw and State Net
data-base programs. Information from these programs is available only
to subscribers, generally law firms, university law schools and
agencies that deal with legislation or regulatory matters. The best way
to gain access is to contact a local attorney and explain what you are
looking for, and he or she will probably be a subscriber to one or more
of the data bases and can help you...for a fee, of course. USA WATER
SKI has information on state boating and skiing laws from a data base,
but such information is constantly updated, thus the information in USA
WATER SKI files may not be current.
REFERENCE GUIDE TO
STATE BOATING
EDUCATION LAWS
AND REGULATIONS
First Edition
Charlie Sledd, Chairman
EducationCommittee
RonSarver, Chris Moore & Sarah Barker,
Editors
Produced under a grant from the
Aquatic Resources (Wallop-Breaux) Trust Fund
Administered by the U.S. Coast Guard
Copyright © 2003
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators
1500 Leestown Road, Suite 330
Lexington KY 40511
Printed in the United States
ISBN0-9744771-0-9
Price $49.00
All rights reserved. Inquiries for use should be directed to:
Ron Sarver
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators
Phone: 859.225.9487
Fax:
859.231.6403
E-mail: info@nasbla.org
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This project was produced under a grant from The Aquatic Resources
(Wallop-Breaux) Trust Fund administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The editors wish to thank:
State Boating Law Administrators for completing the survey;
Charlie Sledd, NASBLA Education CommitteeChairman, for guidance and assistance
in securing funding; and,
Mike Scanlon, Richard Droesbeke, Emily King and Jeff Decker for their direct
contributions to gathering information for this edition and the other NASBLA
Education Committee members for guidance on the survey and publication.
EducationCommittee Members 2002
John Annino, CT
Mark Brown, OK
Bob Cushing, AR
Jeff Decker, VA
Richard Droesbeke, UT
Dolores Farrell, CA
Kelly Fowke, AZ
James Horan, WA
Jeff Johnson, AK
Paul Kennedy, MO
Emily King, OH
Marty Law, OR
Leanne LeBoeuf, WI
Dan Martin, PA
Mike Scanlon, RI
Bill Shattuck, SD
Tim Smalley, MN
Dave Street, MD
Doug Strong, ID
Betsy Woods, TN
Mission Statement
NASBLA’s mission is to protect, promote and enhance safe and enjoyable boating on
our nation’s waters and to foster partnerships and cooperation among recreational
boating safety interests.
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators accomplishes its
mission by:
◆ advocating firm, fair and effective laws that provide uniformity and reciprocity
among states in waterway safety and management;
◆ establishing standards and partnering with others to educate the boating public
in safe and responsible boating;
◆ working diligently for fair and wise use of federal funds for recreational boating
safety programs;
◆ leading the boating public in maintaining the tradition of ethical use and
stewardship of our nation’s waters;
◆ fostering a national boating constituency that promotes safe and
enjoyable boating;
◆ maintaining a vibrant, self-sufficient association of recreational boating safety
professionals that provides professional development and training assistance to
its members and others.
-i-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgments .................................................... i
Table of Contents ................................................ ii
Foreword ........................................................................ iii
About the Guide .............................................................iv
Individual State Listings ........................................... 1
Summary Tables ............................................... 65
NASBLA Model Act ............................................ 91
NASBLA National Education Standards ...................95
Survey Instrument ........................................... 127
State Forms & Documents ............................... 133
- ii -
FOREWORD
The National Association of State Boating Law
Administrators is very pleased to present the First Edition of
the Reference Guide to StateBoatingEducation Laws and
Regulations. NASBLA hopes this book provides a wealth of
information that can assist boating law enforcement officers,
boating safety education officials and boating safety
advocates in their daily work.
By sharing this information among the states NASBLA hopes
this guide will aid in ensuring safer recreational boating by
enhancing interstate cooperation and coordination, creating a
better understanding of reciprocal education elements, and
fostering improved state-to-state implementation of
reciprocity agreements. This, in turn, will help create more
transparency in state regulations and ultimately contribute to
a more enjoyable recreational boating experience.
If you have comments or suggestions regarding the
Reference Guide to StateBoatingEducation Laws and
Regulations, please send them to our headquarters office.
We appreciate your input and hope you find the book useful.
Major Alvin Taylor
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
President, NASBLA
-3-
ABOUT THE GUIDE
The purpose of this guide is to summarize information that was gathered in a
survey of states’ education laws and regulations. The survey was conducted
by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)
Education Committee and staff. The guide will assist recreational boating
safety education professionals and others to improve their state programs.
The guide aims to promote greater uniformity in state boating safety
education and to facilitate the efficient administration and enforcement of
boating laws. Copies of this guide have been distributed to each state, the
U.S. Coast Guard and others. The project was funded by a grant from the
Aquatic Resources (Wallop-Breaux) Trust Fund administered by the U.S.
Coast Guard.
The survey was distributed in the Spring of 2002 to state boating law
administrators and boating safety education staff from the 56 states and
territories (District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana
Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands). If a state did not choose to
participate in the survey, it is so noted on their individual state page. Answers
were taken as fact and have been reported as such.
Information is organized into six sections:
Individual State Listings – information reported, listed in alphabetical order
by state.
Summary Tables – a quick look at the information reported on the individual
state pages.
NASBLA Model Act – copy of the current model act for mandatory education.
NASBLA National Education Standards – standards for approval of boating
safety courses by NASBLA.
Survey Instrument
State Forms & Documents – forms, documents used by each state.
All information detailed in the Reference Guide was in effect as of November
2002 except as otherwise noted. The laws are subject to change without
notice by agencies, states or the United States Coast Guard. Contact the
appropriate state boating law administrator or boating safety staff for more
details. While every care possible was taken with the information supplied,
typographical errors may have occurred. For the most up-to-date
information, the user should contact the individual state. No information
published in this manual should be construed to take the place of the latest
available information distributed by the boating law authority in each state.
-4-
-1-
STATE SURVEYS
ALABAMA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Capt. B.R. Huffaker
64 N. Union Street Room 438
Montgomery AL 36130
PH: 334-242-3678
FA: 334-242-0336
E-mail: bhuffaker@dcnr.state.al.us
PAGER: 334-519-2171
Lt. Erica Shipman
PH: 334-353-9265
FA: 334-242-0336
E-mail: eshipman@dcnr.state.al.us
PAGER: 334-570-0356
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Any state resident born after April 28, 1954, who operates
a motorized vessel on state waters or any nonresident
born after April 28, 1954, who operates a motorized vessel
on state waters in excess of 45 days per calendar year.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Nonresidents for a period of 45 days per calendar year; a
person using a rental boat (providing certain conditions
are met); a person operating a vessel while engaged in a
valid and legal commercial activity; a holder of a valid
USCGlicense issued under Section 46, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 10; commercial fishermen, providing
there is proof of proper documentation and only while
performing the commercial duties; a holder of a valid
USCGmotorboat license; or a holder of a certificate of
successful completion of a USPScourse, USCGAux
course, or valid out-of-state course.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
Any state-approved, NASBLA-approved course certificate;
USCGAux or USPScertificate.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
12 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Anyone who was not yet 12 years of age as of Janurary 1,
2002, may, after turning 12, obtain an operator's license
and operate any type of motorized vessel ONLY if a person
21 years of age or older (unless a nonresident over 21),
with a valid operator's license, is on board and in a
position to take immediate control of the vessel if
necessary. As of January 1, 2004, anyone between the
ages of 12 and 14 years of age who operates a motorized
vessel on state waters must have a person 21 years of age
or older (unless a nonresident over 21), with a valid
operator's license, is on board in a position to take
immediate control of the vessel if necessary.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
-2-
ALABAMA
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
4 years
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Plans to continue with the present program.
n/a = not applicable
-
N/A = no answer
-
ALASKA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Jeff Johnson
Boating Law Administrator
Division of Parks
Office of Boating Safety
550 West 7th Avenue Suite 1370
Anchorage AK 99501-3561
PH: 907-269-8705
FA: 907-269-8907
E-mail: jeffj@dnr.state.ak.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
n/a
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
n/a
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
n/a
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
n/a
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
n/a
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
n/a
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
n/a
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Some special use areas have restrictions, depending on
land management, but these vary widely.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
n/a
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Expand school programs, develop a state paddlesport
safety course, contract/present paddling safety classes,
expand volunteer instructor base.
n/a = not applicable
-
N/A = no answer
-
AMERICAN SAMOA
Who is the point of contact for
N/A
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
N/A
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
N/A
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
N/A
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
N/A
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
N/A
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
N/A
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
N/A
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
N/A
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
N/A
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
N/A
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
N/A
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
N/A
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
N/A
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
N/A
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
-5-
ARIZONA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Kelly Fowke
Law Enforcement Branch
Game & Fish Department
2221 W Greenway Road
Phoenix AZ 85023
PH: 602-789-3381
FA: 602-789-3903
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
No requirement; voluntary.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No requirement.
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
n/a
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
n/a
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
n/a
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
n/a
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
Children 12 and up (age of operation).
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
When child is under 12 years old.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
No expiration date.
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
N/A
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Pursuing mandatory education for all watercraft operators
in legislative session to take effect in 2004.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
-6-
ARKANSAS
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Donna Pipkins or Charlotte Hicks
Education Division
#2 Natural Resources Drive
Little Rock AR 72205
PH: 877-493-6424
FA: 501-223-6300
Evenings & Weekends: Radio Room 501-223-6300
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Any person born after 1985.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Persons born before 1986.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
Minimum six-hour NASBLA-approved course.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Persons under the age of 12 cannot operate a motorboat
of 10 h.p. or more unless under the direct supervision of
someone over 17 years of age. Persons 11 years of age
or younger may operate a PWC only if someone 21 years
of age or older is on board and ready to take immediate
control. Persons 12 to 13 years of age may operate a
PWC if someone 18 years of age or older is on board.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Comprehensive distance learning program starting
January 2003; continue to offer face-to-face classes
across the state.
n/a = not applicable
-
N/A = no answer
-
CALIFORNIA
Who is the point of contact for
NoContact Given
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Those who are court ordered.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
n/a
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
Any
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
No
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
A person must be 16 years of age or older to operate any
vessel powered by a motor of 15 h.p. or greater, except
sailboats 30 feet or less in length and motorized dinghies
under certain conditions. These conditions include using
a dinghy directly between a moored vessel and the
shoreline, or between a moored vessel and another
moored vessel. Persons 12 to 15 years of age may
operate any vessel powered by a motor of 15 h.p. or
greater if they're supervised on board by someone at least
18 years old.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
n/a
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Looking at the possibility of introducing legislation
requiring mandatory education, but this is still several
years down the line.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
-8-
COLORADO
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Keith Kahler
Boating Safety Coordinator
13787S Hwy 85
Littleton CO 80125
PH: 303-791-1954
FA: 303-470-0782
E-mail: keith.kahler@state.co.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
14 and 15 year old motorboat operators.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
Rules apply to all operators regardless of residency.
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
16 years and older.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Exam is part of certification process.
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
14 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
After completion of certification, there is no requirement for
supervision.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Continue efforts to decrease current high percentage of
PWCs involved in accidents by requiring education for 1415 year olds; focused information distribution to all
boaters.
n/a = not applicable
-
N/A = no answer
-
CONNECTICUT
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
JohnAnnino
PO Box 280
Old Lyme CT 06371
PH: 860-434-8638
FA: 860-434-3501
E-mail: john.annino@po.state.ct.us
Evenings & Weekends (EMERGENCY ONLY)
PH: 860-424-3333
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Any resident of the state; any person owning ‘real
property’ in the state; anyone who wishes to use
Connecticut water more than 60 days in a calendar year;
anyone wishing to operate a PWC.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Persons from out of state who operate boats (not PWC's)
for less than 60 days in a calendar year; persons who have
an operators license from the USCG; persons renting from
a boat livery (14 days only); persons operating vessels
that are not required to be registered.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
Only accept certificates from Rhode Island, New York and
Massachusetts.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Any certified person under 12 years of age must have
another certified person at least 18 years of age to operate
any vessel greater than 10 h.p.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
In some cases.
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
Course must be NASBLA-approved, taught by an
instructor and must have a proctored exam. We do not
accept internet, home-study, mail order or distance
learning courses.
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Developed a Paddle Safety Course and two childrens
programs. Also sampling a coastal navigation course.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 10 -
DELAWARE
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Master Corporal Joyce Hennessey
Office of Boating Safety and Education
Div. of Fish and Wildlife Enforcement
89 Kings Hwy
Dover DE 19901
PH: 302-739-3440
FA: 302-729-6157
E-mail: joyce.hennessey@state.de.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Anyone born on/after January 1, 1978, except licensed
captains.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No, any person born on/after January 1, 1978.
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Licensed captains.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Request student to be 12; by law, no.
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
12 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Guardian is responsible for minor under compliance law;
on PWC child up to 14-16 must be on board.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Continue to educate students in schools; continue to
certify all students; one-on-one at boat ramps with public;
educate PWC rental and sales agencies; offer classes
statewide to fit the public’s busy schedules; continue
vessel checks.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 11 -
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Sgt. Jeffrey Blevins
Metropolitan Police
550 Water Street
SW, Washington DC 20024
PH: 202-727-4582
FA: 202-727-3663
E-mail: jblevins.mpd-harbor@mpdc.org
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Any person who is operating or navigating any vessel shall
have in his or her possession satisfactory evidence of
having completed an approved boating safety course.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
n/a
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
No person under 18 years of age shall operate or navigate
any vessel 16 feet or more in length of any kind in District
waters, unless the person has successfully completed a
boating safety course approved by the Harbor Master, or
unless the person under 18 years of age is under the
supervision of a person who has reached 18 years of age
and who has successfully completed an approved boating
safety course.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
None at this time.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 12 -
FLORIDA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Lt. Steve Carter
Boating Safety Education Coordinator
Division of Law Enforcement
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee FL 32399-1600
PH: 850-488-5600 ext. 146
FA: 850-488-9284
E-mail: steve.carter@fwc.state.fl.us
Evenings & Weekends: 1-888-404-3922
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Anyone 21 years of age or younger operating a vessel of
10 h.p. or more. Anyone convicted of: criminal boating
violation; boating infraction arising from an accident; and
two boating safety infractions within 12 months.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Any person licensed by the USCGto serve as master of a
vessel; operates a vessel only on a private lake or pond; is
accompanied in the vessel by a person who is exempt for
this section or who holds an identification card in
compliance with this section, is 18 years of age or older,
and is attendant to the operation of the vessel and
responsible for any violation that occurs during the
operation; is a nonresident who has in his or her
possession proof that he or she has completed a boater
education course or equivalency exam in another state
which meets or exceeds the requirements of subsection 1
of Florida state law.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes - Temporary certificates are offered at certain
contracted livery locations that are good for 12 months.
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Anyone 21 years of age or younger, without a boater
education certificate can operate vessels 10 h.p. or greater
if: they are licensed by the USCGas a master of a vessel;
operate a vessel only on a private lake or pond; is
accompanied by a person who is exempt from 327.395
F.S. or who holds an identification card in compliance with
this section, is 18 years of age or older, and is attendant to
the operation of the vessel and responsible for any
violation. Vessels under 10 h.p. are not regulated in
regards to supervision. PWC operators must be 14 years
of age, regardless of supervision.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
-1 -
FLORIDA
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
Lifetime and 12 month temporary certificates are available.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Try to eliminate the cap on the age limit requirement for
boater education in order to reach more people boating
and those exempt at the present time.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
-1 -
GEORGIA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Cpt. James Bell or Lee Rearden-Zitte
543 Elliott Trail
Mansfield GA 30055
PH: 770-784-3068
FA: 770-784-3061
E-mail: James_Bell@mail.dnr.state.ga.us
Evenings & Weekends: 800-241-4113 or 770-535-5499
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Persons 12-16 years of age that want to operate different
vessels on their own and anyone ordered to do so by a
court.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Any operator over 16 years of age or 12-16 year olds with an
adult present.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
12 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Persons 14 or 15 years of age operating a Class A, I,II, or
III vessel; persons 12 or 13 years of age operating a Class
A vessel.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Provide a CD-ROM for home study.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 15 -
GUAM
Who is the point of contact for
NoContact Given
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
PWC rental operators and staff only.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
n/a
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
n/a
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
n/a
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
n/a
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
n/a
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
n/a
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
n/a
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Under 16 on PWC only.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
n/a
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
n/a
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
n/a
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 16 -
HAWAII
Who is the point of contact for
NoContact Given
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
n/a
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
n/a
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
n/a
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
n/a
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
n/a
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
n/a
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
n/a
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
n/a
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
n/a
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
n/a
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
n/a
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Continue phased improvements to Hawaii’s boating safety
education program; develop public awareness campaigns,
design new products to encourage safe boating practices
and for information dissemination; seek out/enhance
partnerships with other boating organizations; maintain
existing educational resources.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
-1 -
IDAHO
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Ann Van Buren
Recreation Resources Bureau
5657 Warm Springs Boulevard
Boise ID 83712-8752
PH: 208-334-4180 ext. 227
FA: 208-334-3741
E-mail: avanbure@idpr.state.id.us
No evening & weekend hours
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Those prosecuted for operating under the influence, all
second-time offenders of any of Idaho Boating Laws and
everyone renting and riding upon a rented PWC.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Anyone except those required.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
No
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
n/a
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes, for PWCeducation delivered at livery stations only.
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Only required in three separate counties and ages are
varied.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Pursue a minimum age limit committee sponsor for
legislation is located. Increasing the state parks staff
available to conduct instructor and educator training.
Continuing to partner with the USCGAux in providing a
range of public classes every quarter of the calendar year.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 18 -
ILLINOIS
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Jeff Hopkins
Department of Natural Resources
Office of Education
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield IL 62702-1271
PH: 217-785-7742
FA: 217-782-5177
E-mail: jhopkins@dnrmail.state.il.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Anyone 12 years of age or older, up to age 17, who wishes
to operate a motorboat not under direct adult supervision.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
A person over 12 years of age who holds a valid certificate
from another state or Canada, USPSor USCGAux.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
A certificate from a course recognized by the state of
Illinois.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
12 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Persons 10 and 11 years of age under all circumstances,
and persons 12-17 years of age if they are not certified.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
No changes in the immediate future.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
-1 -
INDIANA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Theresa Mack
402 West Washington
Room W-255D
Indianapolis IN 46204
PH: 317-232-4010
FA: 317-232-8035
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Persons 15 years of age who wish to operate a motorboat
over 10 h.p.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Licensed drivers or persons 15 years of age who hold a
valid certificate.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Adult supervision is required for all motorboats over 10
h.p. until the operator is a licensed driver. The only
exception is persons 15 years of age who complete a
boating safety course and obtain an ID card from our BMV
can operate motorboats over 10 h.p. for the year until they
become licensed.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Going to the Boat Ed manual in the near future. Many of
our students find the online courses convenient. Will
explore using a VHS/manual combination as a means of
alternative delivery.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 20 -
IOWA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Department of Natural Resources
Customer Service Center
Wallace State Office Building
Des Moines IA 50319-0034
PH: 515-281-5918
FA: 515-281-6794
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Effective January 1, 2003 persons 12 through 17 years of
age for PWC use only.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
n/a
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
No
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
12 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
No owner or operator of any vessel propelled by a motor
of more than 6 h.p. shall permit any person under 12
years of age to operate such vessel except when
accompanied by a responsible person of at least 18 years
of age who is experienced in motorboat operation.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Expand education requirements to include operation of all
watercraft.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 21 -
KANSAS
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Cheri Swayne
Boating Law Administrator
Wildife and Parks
900 SW JacksonStreet Suite 502
Topeka KS 66612-1233
PH: 785-296-2281
FA: 785-296-6953
E-mail: hatcaptain@wp.state.ks.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Anyone on a PWCand any person born after January 1,
1989, who wants to operate any type of motorboat or
sailboat.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
Yes
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Person over 21 years of ageand those being trained by a
parent or guardian.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Persons under 12 years of age.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Revise statute in four or five years to remove the over 21
exemption.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 22 -
KENTUCKY
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Sgt. Mike Fields
#1 GameFarm Road
Frankfort KY 40601
PH: 502-564-7109 ext. 485
FA: 502-564-3178
E-mail: mike.fields@mail.state.ky.us
Evenings & Weekends: Radio Room 502-564-7109 ext. 453
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Persons 12-17 years of age who operate a motorboat on
public waters in a boat with greater than 10 h.p.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Persons12-17 years of age that operateboats with engines
less than 10 h.p.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
Children under the age of 12 are allowed to take the class
and get their certificate, but are not allowed to operate a
boating until they turn 12.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
When the minor is 12-17 years of age without a safe
boating certificate.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Online education course is being studied.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
-2 -
LOUISIANA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Cpt. RobbyDuthu
Department of Wildlife & Fisheries
PO Box 98000
Baton Rouge LA 70898-9000
PH: 225-765-2984
FA: 225-763-3548
E-mail: duthu_rj@wlf.state.la.us
Saturday & Sunday Dispatch: 225-765-2441
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Persons who are born after Jan 1, 1988, who wish to
operate a boat with more than 10 h.p.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
Any person who wants to operate a boat that is born after
Jan 1, 1988.
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Persons born before Jan 1, 1988.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
We are reciprocal with other states boating education
cards.
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
A bona fide state boating education certification card.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
If no boating course completed to operate a vessel with
more than 10 h.p.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes, if the card is issued by the state for completion of a
certified state-approved boating education program.
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
-2 -
MAINE
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Recreational SafetyOffice
284 State Street
Augusta ME 04333
PH: 207-287-5220
FX: 207-287-9037
E-mail: brenda.chaplin@state.me.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
n/a
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
n/a
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
n/a
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
n/a
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
n/a
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
n/a
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
When operating a motorboat with more than 10 h.p., a
person under the age of 12 must be under the immediate
supervision of a person located in the boat who is at least
16 years of age. A person under 16 years of age may not
operate personal watercraft, which includes jet skis.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Increase number of courses and students, increase
number of public contacts and information seminars,
evaluation of online program, and evaluation of mandatory
education.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 25 -
MARYLAND
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Natural Resources Police
Safety Education
1804 West Street
Ste 300
Annapolis MD 21401
PH: 410-260-3280
FA: 410-260-3292
E-mail: nrp-safetyed@dnr.state.md.us
Weekends/evenings: DNRCommunications 410-260-8888
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
A person, born after July 1, 1972, who operates a
recreational vessel that is required to be numbered.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Commercial vessel operators; nonresidents visiting for 60
days or less if person is 16 years of age or older or
possesses a certificate; a person from another country for
90 days or less; a person on a boat in a body of water on
private property.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Must be 16 years old to operate PWC; must be 12 years
old to operate a ski boat and must be 12 years to be an
observer.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Improve continuing education for instructors; improve
course textbook.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 26 -
MASSACHUSETTS
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
JackA. Mason
Boating Education Coordinator
Boat & R.V. Safety Bureau
1019 Route 132
Hyannis MA 02601
PH: 617-727-8760
FA: 617-727-2617
E-mail: jack.mason@state.ma.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Persons 12 through 15 years of age and persons 16
through 17 years of age operating a PWC.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
Persons 12 through 15 years of age and persons 16 and
17 years of age operating a PWC must meet state
mandated requirements.
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Persons 16 years of age or older if operating a boat and
persons 18 years of age or older if operating a PWC.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
12 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
All operators 12 through 16 years of age who have not
completed a NASBLA- approved boating safety course.
Persons younger than 12 years of age cannot operate
without adult supervision under any circumstances.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Continue to lobby for mandatory education and provide an
online state boating safety course with a proctored exam.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
-2 -
MICHIGAN
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Jammie Parisian
DNR-Law Enforcement Division
PO Box 30031
Lansing MI 48909
PH: 517-335-3418
FA: 517-373-6816
E-mail: parisiaj@michigan.gov
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Those 12 to 15 years of age to operate a boat powered by
a motor of more than 6 h.p. without adult supervision;
those 14 years of age or older, and born after December
31, 1978, to operate a PWC; those 12 or 13 years of age
and their parent/guardian; for those youths to operate a
PWC with the parent/guardian under certain conditions.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Those 16 years of age or older to operate a boat powered
by a motor of more than 6 h.p.; those operating a boat
powered by a motor of no more than 6 h.p.; and those
born on or before December 31, 1978 to operate a PWC.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved and accepted by the persons home
state.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
12 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
For those less than 12 years of age to operate a boat
powered by a motor of more than 6 h.p. but not more than
35 h.p.; for those 12 to 15 years of age to operate a boat
powered by a motor of more than 6 h.p. if they do not
have a boater safety certificate; and those who are 12 or
13 years of age to operate a PWC, solely with the
parent/guardian. Both must have boater safety
certificates. PWC must have lanyard-type ignition safety
switch, attached to the parent/guardian. PWC is designed
to carry at least 2 persons.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Continue the high standards of boater safety training.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 28 -
MINNESOTA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Deb Etheir or Terri Roesler
Department of Natural Resources
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul MN 55155-4046
PH: 651-296-3336
FA: 651-296-0902
E-mail: info@dnr.state.mn.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Children 12-17 years of age who wish to operate a
motorboat over 25 h.p. without an adult on board. Must
be 13 years of age and have a permit card to operate a PWC.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Adults 18 and over.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved course. NASBLA logo must appear on
certificate.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
12 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Persons less than 12 years of age to operate a boat more
than 25 through 75 h.p. must have someone at least 21
years of age on board within reach of the controls, over 75
h.p. cannot operate, even with adult on board; those 12-17
years of age to operate a boat more than 25 h.p. must
either have a watercraft operator's permit or someone at
least 21 years of age on board within reach of the
controls.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
Until 18th birthday.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Possible phased-in (born after) mandatory education
program in 10 years or less.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
-2 -
MISSISSIPPI
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Billie Ellison
PO Box 451
Jackson MS 39205
PH: 601-432-2182
FA: 601-432-2188
E-mail: billiee@mdwfp.state.ms.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Anyone born after June 30, 1980.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Anyone born before June 30, 1980 or those operating a
motorboat that is rented from a person engaged in the
business of renting motorboats.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes - Only if proficiency exams are written ones.
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
12 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
No motorboat required to be numbered shall be operated
by any person who is under 12 years of age, unless he
possesses a certificate and is also accompanied by a
parent/guardian or other person who is at least 21 years of
age and qualified and capable of operating the same.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Get the legislature to include the course requirements for
rental boats.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 0-
MISSOURI
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Paul Kennedy
State Water Patrol
PO Box 1368
Jefferson City MO 65102
PH: 573-751-3333
FA: 573-522-1287
E-mail: pkennedy@mswp.state.mo.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Beginning January 1, 2005, every person born after
January 1, 1984, who operates a vessel on the lakes of
this state shall possess, on the vessel, a boating safety
identification card issued by the Missouri state water
patrol or its agent.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
Beginning January 1, 2006, every person born after
January 1, 1984, who operates a vessel on the lakes of
this state shall possess, on the vessel, a boating safety
identification card issued by the Missouri state water
patrol or its agent.
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Any person who:
(1) Is licensed by the United States Coast Guard to serve
as master of a vessel;
(2) Operates a vessel only on a private lake or pond that is
not classified as waters of the state;
(3) Until January 1, 2006, is a nonresident who is visiting
the state for sixty days or less;
(4) Is participating in an event or regatta approved by the
water patrol;
(5) Is a nonresident who has proof of a valid boating
certificate or license issued by another state if the boating
course is approved by the National Association of State
Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA);
(6) Is exempted by rule of the water patrol; or
(7) Is currently serving in any branch of the United States
armed forces, reserves, or Missouri national guard, or any
spouse of a person currently in such service.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes, if it’s NASBLA-approved.
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes, those who successfully pass an equivalency
examination prepared by the Missouri state water patrol
and administered by the Missouri state water patrol or its
agent.
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Only for operators under 14 years of age, those 16 years
of age can be the supervisor.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 1-
MISSOURI
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
None at this time.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 2-
MONTANA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Liz Lodman
PO Box 200701
Helena MT 59620-0701
PH: 406-444-2615
FA: 406-444-4952
E-mail: llodman@state.mt.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Those 13 and 14 years of age.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Anyone 15 years of age or older.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
Approved boating safety classes, USCGAux.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
13 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Those 12 years of age and under need adult in boat if
engine is more than 10 h.p. Those 13 and 14 years of age
need certificate or adult in boat if engine is rated at more
than 10 h.p.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
n/a
n/a = not applicable
-
N/A = no answer
-
NEBRASKA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Herb Angell, Darlene Kastl or Tina Molini
Game & Parks Commission
2200 North 33rd Street
Lincoln NE 68503-0370
PH: 402-471-5579 or 402-471-5462
E-mail: hangell, dkastl or tmolini @hgpc.state.ne.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Those 14 and 15 years of age who operate any motor boat
including PWCs must attend a 6 hour course with
proctored exam.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Those 16 years of age or older.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
If the course was approved by the Boating Law
Administrator of the boat operator’s home state and
proctored exam was taken.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
18 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
None, all boat operators must be 14 years of age, there is
no provision for adult supervision.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Mandatory education for all boat operators and proctored
exams in place of class attendance for specific age
groups.
n/a = not applicable
-
N/A = no answer
-
NEVADA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Edwin Lyngar
Boating Education Program Supervisor
Division of Wildlife
1100 Valley Road
Reno NV 89512
PH: 775-688-1548
FA: 775-688-1551
Evenings & Weekends: Dispatch 775-688-1331
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Effective January 1, 2003, any person born after January
1, 1983, who operates a motorboat in excess of 15 h.p. on
interstate waters (Lake Tahoe, Topy Lake, Lakes Mead and
Mohave and the Colorado River). Any person convicted of
boating violations if ordered by a court.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Anyone who possesses a current license issued by USCG
(for operation of vessels). Non-renewable 60-day permit
when purchasing new or used boat. Persons possessing a
rental agreement showing them as authorized operator.
Nonresident must meet requirements of their state - if
required must carry certificate - if not, exempt for 60 days.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Only applicable to water skiing or PWC rentals not related
to any educational requirement except indirectly. Renters
over 18 years of age must supervise operators under the
age of 16.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Monitor progress and evaluate in two years - recommend
changes as needed. All motorboat operators of any type
of watercraft will be required to receive instruction on safe
operation of that watercraft and copies of Nevada boat laws.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 5-
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
AnthonyCardoza
Division of Safety Services
31 Dock Road
Gilford NH 03249
PH: 603-293-2645
FA: 603-293-0096
Evenings & Weekends: Dispatch Line 603-293-2037
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Anyone operating a vessel over 25 h.p. and a minimum of
16 years old.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
If you have an active New Hampshire or USCG
Commercial License and those who hold a Boating
Education Certificate issued by the USCG, the USPSor
another state that is NASBLA-approved.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
16 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
An adult 18 years of age or more with a boating education
certificate must accompany anyone under theage of 16
operatinga vessel over 25 h.p.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes, if they are issued by another state and NASBLA.
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Reduce minimum age for certification to 12 years of age
instead of 16 years of age.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 6-
NEW JERSEY
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Judith Robb
State Police
Marine Services Unit
Box 7068
West Trenton NJ 08628-0068
PH: 609-882-2000 ext. 6181
FA: 609-882-8110 or
Trooper Jeff Andres
PH: 609-882-2000 ext. 6173
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
All power vessel operators born in 1979 or later and all
PWC operators regardless of date of birth.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Persons born before 1979 that are not on a PWC.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved; USCGCourses: Boating Skills &
Seamanship, Sailing & Seamanship & America's Boating
Course (in person); USPSCourses: Squadron Boating
Course & Boat Smart; other state documents.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
10 years of age to complete a course; 13 years of age to
operate a vessel longer than 12 feet with less than a 10
h.p. motor; 16 years of age for all other vessels.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Not required.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes, when it is another state document or from a NASBLAapproved in-person course.
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
Successful completion of an eight hour in-person
classroom course.
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Plans are to educate boaters as required to operate
vessels.
n/a = not applicable
-
N/A = no answer
-
NEW MEXICO
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Jerome Madrid
Field Operations Supervisor
Energy, Minerals, & Natural Resources Department
Boating Safety Section
PO Box 1147
Santa Fe NM 87505
PH: 1-888-NMPARKS
FA: 505-476-3361
E-mail: jmadrid@state.nm.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
n/a
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
n/a
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
n/a
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
n/a
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
n/a
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
n/a
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
n/a
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Persons under 13 years of age.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Mandatory education.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 8-
NEW YORK
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
PeterGonet
Marine Services Representative
Office of Parks, Recreation & Historical Preservation
Bureau of Marine & Recreational Vehicles
Empire State Plaza
Agency Building #1
Albany NY 12238
PH: 518-474-0445 (No evening or weekend contact)
FA: 518-486-7378
E-mail: peter.gonet@oprhp.state.ny.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
10-18 year olds who want to operate a powerboat or PWC
without adult supervision. All operators of PWC by 2004,
currently operators born after 1975; 2003 operators born
after 1978.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
New York State (NYS) Certified Boating Safety Instructors,
Instructors of the USPS, members of the USCGAux, NYS
Public Vessel license holders, Police Officers, Peace
Officers, Lifeguards, Fire/Rescue personnel acting
pursuant to assigned duties and persons licensed by U.S.
or Canadian Coast Guards.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
Those issued pursuant to the laws of the operator's
resident state.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
10 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Persons under the age of 10 years to operate a motorboat
or PWC. Children between the ages of 10-18 years who
do not have a boating safety certificate.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes, course must be classroom instructed with a
proctored exam.
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
No comment at this time.
n/a = not applicable
-
N/A = no answer
-
NORTH CAROLINA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Susan Bunn
Wildlife Resources Commission
Division of Enforcement
1717 Mail Service Center
Raleigh NC 27699-1717
PH: 919-733-7191
E-mail: bunnsa@mail.wildlife.state.nc.us
Evenings & Weekends: 919-733-7191
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
PWC operators 12-15 years of age.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
n/a
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
n/a
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
n/a
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
No changes in the immediate future.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 0-
NORTH DAKOTA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
NancyBoldt
Boat/Water Safety Coordinator
Game & Fish Department
100 N. Bismarck Expressway
Bismarck ND 58501
PH: 701-328-6312
FA: 701-328-6352
E-mail: nboldt@state.nd.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Persons 12-15 years of age who operate a motorboat,
PWC or Jet Ski propelled by motor over 10 h.p. unless the
operator is accompanied by a person 18 years of age or
older or has taken and passed a boating course approved
by the department.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No. Anyone 12 through 15 years of age operating a jet ski
or boat.
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
n/a
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
State certified courses, courses presented by state DNR's
or Game, Fish & Parks Departments.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
12 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Persons under 12 years of age operating a motorboat or
PWC powered by motor more than 10 h.p. Persons 12
through 15 years of age may operate a motorboat or PWC
powered by more than 10 h.p. if they have successfully
completed a boating safety courseapproved by the
department.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date unless revoked by a judge.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
n/a
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 1-
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
Who is the point of contact for
N/A
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
N/A
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
N/A
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
N/A
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
N/A
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
N/A
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
N/A
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
N/A
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
N/A
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
N/A
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
N/A
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
N/A
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
N/A
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
N/A
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
N/A
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 2-
OHIO
Who is the point of contact for
NoContact Given
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Any person born on or after January 1, 1982 who will
operate a powerboat more than 10 h.p.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
A person who is leasing, hiring or renting a powerboat
more than 10 h.p. and was born on or after January 1,
1982, can take an abbreviated test and score 90% or
better for the time period of the lease, contract, or rental
agreement.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Vessel of 10 h.p. or less: less than 12 years of age may
operate with supervision of person 18 years of age or
older; PWCs: less than 12 years of age may not operate,
12-15 years of age may operate with on board supervision
of person 18 years of age or older after operator
completes education/exam requirements, 16 years of age
or older born on or after 1/1/82 may operate after
completing education/exam requirements, 16 or older
born before 1/1/82 may operate; Vessel of more than 10
h.p.: less than 12 years of age may operate (except PWC)
with on board supervision of person 18 years of age or
older, 12-15 years of age may operate after completing
education/exam requirement, 16 years of age or older
born on or after 1/1/82 may operate after completing
education/exam requirement, 16 years of age or older
born before 1/1/82 may operate.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
n/a = not applicable
-
N/A = no answer
-
OHIO
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
n/a
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Monitor and measure the effectiveness of the current laws
and programs.
n/a = not applicable
-
N/A = no answer
-
OKLAHOMA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Trooper Mark Brown
Highway Patrol
Lake Patrol Section
PO Box 11415
Oklahoma City OK 73136
PH: 405-425-2143
FA: 405-425-2894
Evenings & Weekends: 405-425-2363 (leave message)
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
n/a
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
n/a
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
n/a
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved courses. NASBLA logo must appear on
certificate.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
No
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
No person less than 12 years of age may operate a PWC.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Mandatory education for 16 year olds born on or after
effective date of future legislation for those who wish to
operate any vessel powered by motor(s) in excess of 10
h.p. or any sailing vessel in excess of 16 feet in length.
Operators between the ages of 12-16 years of age may
operate such vessels if they complete the education
requirements and are accompanied by a competent adult
who is at least 18 years of age and in a position to take
immediate control of the vessel if necessary.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 5-
OREGON
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Julio E. Garcia
State Marine Board
435 Commercial Street NE #400
Salem OR 97309-5065
PH: 503-373-1405 ext. 273
FA: 503-378-4597
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Persons 12 years of age or older.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
Yes
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
If a person is at least 16 years of age and rents a
motorboat with an engine greater than 10 h.p. and
completes a required dockside safety checklist before
operating the boat; possesses a current commercial
fishing license; possesses a valid USCGcommercial
motorboat operator's license; is not a resident of this state
and does not operate a boat with an engine greater than
10 h.p. in Oregon waters for more than 60 consecutive
days; is not a resident of Oregon, holds a current out-ofstate certificate and has the certificate in their possession;
holds a temporary certificate or is not yet required to have
a certificate under the phase-in program.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved courses or equivalent.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
12 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
A person 12-15 years of age who possesses a boater
education card may operate a boat of more than 10 h.p. if
accompanied by an adult 16 years of age or older who
possesses a boater education card.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 6-
OREGON
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Mandatory education is being phased in over a seven-year
period. The phase-in begins in 2003 for boaters 30 and
younger. The phase-in ends in 2009 when all boaters will
be required to have a card when operating a motorboat
with greater than 10 h.p. Continue very successful BUI
campaign and to promote the wearing of life jackets.
n/a = not applicable
-
N/A = no answer
-
PENNSYLVANIA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Daniel G. Martin
Fish & Boat Commission
PO Box 67000
Harrisburg PA 17106
PH: 717-705-7849
FA: 717-705-7832
E-mail: danmartin@state.pa.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
All PWC operators and persons 12-15 years of age to
operate a watercraft propelled by a motor greater than 10
h.p.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Persons 16 years of age or older not operating a PWC.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
All
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
A person 12-15 years of age may not operate a motorboat
propelled by a motor greater than 10 h.p. unless he has
obtained and has in his possession a boating safety
education certificate or at least one person 16 years of age
or older is present on board.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Implement a Paddler's Safety Program.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 8-
PUERTO RICO
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Marisa Gonzalez
Commissioner of Navigation
PO Box 9066600
PlazaDe Tierra Station
San Juan PR 00906-6600
PH: 787-724-2340
FA: 787-724-7335.
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
All persons born after July 1, 1972.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
Yes
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Persons born before July 1, 1972 and tourists.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved and fulfills the requirement of the law
in Puerto Rico.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
14 years of age to operate a PWC or boat; 12 years old to
operate a boat with no more than a 10 h.p. motor with an
authorized operator.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
To operate watercraft the person must be 14 years of age,
however, until age 16 they must be accompanied by an
adult. If born after July 1, 1972, must have an operator's
license.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
N/A
n/a = not applicable
-
N/A = no answer
-
RHODE ISLAND
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Michael J. Scanlon
DEM-Division of Law Enforcement
83 Park Street
Providence RI 02903
PH: 401-222-3070
FA: 401-222-6823
Evenings & Weekends: 401-222-3070
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1986, and operates a
vessel fitted with a motor of more than 10 h.p. and any
person regardless of age that operates a PWC.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
Yes
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
A holder of a USCGLicense; a person under training and
directly supervised by a person who is 18 years of age or
older and meets the requirements; and nonresidents
temporarily using the waters of this state who meet the
requirements of their state of legal residence.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved courses with a proctored exam.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
If they operate any vessel with more than 10 h.p. and they
don't have a certificate, they must be under direct
supervision.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Continue toward making education mandatory for all.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 50 -
SOUTH CAROLINA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Lt. JoeyRentiers
State Boater Education Coordinator
Department of Natural Resources
PO Box 167
Columbia SC 29202
PH: 800-277-4301
FA: 803-734-4491
E-mail: rentiersj@scdnr.state.sc.us
Evenings & Weekends: 803-955-4000
ask to page Lt. Rentiers
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Any person younger than 16 years of age who wishes to
operate a boat with a horsepower of 15 or greater.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Those individuals 16 years of age or older.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
Any state-sponsored certification that is also NASBLAapproved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Adult supervision is required when a minor younger than
16 years of age has not completed the boating safety
course and the boat's horsepower is 15 or greater.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Continue to look for different avenues of delivery in order
to meet the needs of the public.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 51 -
SOUTH DAKOTA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Bill Shattuck
412 West Missouri Avenue
Pierre SD 57501
PH: 605-773-4506
FA: 605-773-6921
E-mail: bill.shattuck@state.sd.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
n/a
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
n/a
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
n/a
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
n/a
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
n/a
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Boats over 6 h.p. - operator must be 12 years of age or be
accompanied by an adult. PWC - operator must be 14
years of age or be accompanied by an adult.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
n/a
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
No immediate plans to require boater education.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 52 -
TENNESSEE
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Keith Nash
Boat Registration Coordinator
TennesseeWildlife Resources Agency
Boating Division
PO Box 40747
Nashville TN 37204
Ph: 615-781-6618
Fx: 615-781-5268
E-mail: keith.nash@state.tn.us
Effective January 1, 2005
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Anyone born after January 1, 1989.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
If rent boats – then not required.
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Anyone holding a Coast Guard License.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
Accept any NASBLA-approved course.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Effective 2005 - yes.
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Effective 2005 - yes.
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
n/a
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Those under 12 years of age, but If between 10 and 12
years of age, and the boat is over 14 feet and powered by
less than 15 h.p., and they have completed a NASBLAapproved boating education course, adult supervision is
not required.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
Lifetime.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Beginning January 1, 2005 anyone born after January 1,
1989 must show proof of successful completion of a
NASBLA-approved course accepted by the Tennessee
Wildlife Resources Agency.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
-5 -
TEXAS
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Tami Crawford
Boat Education Technician
Parks & Wildlife Department
4200 Smith School Road
Austin TX 78744
PH: 512-389-4938 or 512-389-4999
FA: 512-389-8042
E-mail: tami.crawford@tpwd.state.tx.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Those under 18 years of age born on or after September
1, 1984 (certain exemptions apply).
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Those 18 years of age or older; those accompanied by a
person at least 18 years of age or a person who has
completed the boater education course; those who hold a
master's, mate's or operator's license issued by the
USCG; those who completed a ‘voluntary’ course prior to
implementation of the ‘mandatory’ law.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved; State/provincial agency approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
12 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
If the adult is 18 years of age or older and the operator is
under 18 years of age.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Modify existing law to tighten up loop holes (PWC is a
motorboat) and minimize exemption levels.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
-5 -
UTAH
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Richard Droesbeke
Boating Education Specialist
Division of Parks & Recreation
1594 West North Temple
Suite 116
Salt Lake City UT 84114-6001
PH: 801-538-7464
FA: 801-538-4802
E-mail: richarddroesbeke@utah.gov
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
PWC operators, ages 12 through 17, who operate a PWC
alone, without a person 18 years of age or older on board
the PWC.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Persons who have a course certificate of completion from
another state agency/course provider that we accept.
These persons must adhere to Utah's operator age and
supervision requirements.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
Must be reviewed by Utah State Parks' Boating Program,
be NASBLA-approved, have a proctored exam, provide a
course certificate/I.D. Card which includes the individual's
identifying information, and preferably includes a photo of
the individual for positive identification. Currently, Utah
State Parks accepts state courses from Colorado,
Connecticut, Kentucky and the Canadian Coast Guard and
are looking into courses from Oregon and Montana.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
12 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
A person under 16 years of age may not operate a
motorboat unless the person is under the on-board and
direct supervision of a person who is at least 18 years of
age. A person under 16 years of age may operate a
sailboat, if the person is under the direct supervision of a
person who is at least 18 years of age. A person under
the age of 18 may not operate a PWC unless the person is
under the on-board and direct supervision of a person
who is at least 18 years of age, with the following
exceptions: a person who is at least 12 years of age or
older but under 16 years of age may operate a PWC
provided he: is under the direct supervision of a person
who is at least 18 years of age; completes a boating safety
course approved by Utah State Parks; and has in his
possession a boating safety certificate issued by the
boating safety course provider. A person who is at least
16 years of age but under 18 years of age may operate a
PWC, if the person: completes a boating safety course
approved by Utah State Parks; and has in his possession a
boating safety certificate issued by the boating safety
course provider.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 55 -
UTAH
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes, must be reviewed by Utah State Parks' Boating
Program, be NASBLA-approved, have a proctored exam,
provide a course certificate/I.D. Card which includes the
individual's identifying information, and preferably
includes a photo of the individual for positive
identification.
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
Until revoked or the individual reaches 18 years of age.
Persons 18 years of age or older are allowed to obtain a
lifetime Utah PWCEducation Certificate.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Pursuing a motorboat operator endorsement on the
driver's license. With this proposal, a person would be
able to gain their boating knowledge through a variety of
sources (home study course, classroom course, Internet,
etc.) and then go to a Utah Driver's License Division Office
and take a proctored exam. Upon passing the exam, the
person would receive a ‘V’ endorsement on his driver's
license.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 56 -
VERMONT
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Jere R. Johnson
Education Coordinator
State Police
Recreational Enforcement & Education Unit
2777 St. George Road
Williston VT 05495
PH: 802-878-7111 ext. 2211
FA: 802-878-2742
E-mail: jrjohnso@dps.sstate.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Any person born after January 1, 1974, who plans on
operating a motor boat on state waters.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Persons born before January 1, 1974.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes. Internet courses that are NASBLA-approved.
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
10 Years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
No person under 12 years of age may operate a motorboat
powered by more that 6 h.p.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
None at this time.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
-5 -
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Lauren Mulraine
Boating Safety Coordinator
Department of Planning & Natural Resources
Cyril E. King Airport 2nd Floor
St. Thomas VI 00802
PH: 340-774-3320
FA: 340-714-9527
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Operators of personal watercraft between the ages of 14
and 18.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Mandatory education is limited to personal watercraft
operators between the ages of 14 and 18.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved courses. NASBLA logo must appear on
certificate.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
No, but plans are in the making to implement this process.
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
Personal watercraft operators are limited to 14 years of
age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
There are no written restrictions that specify boat operator.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Mandatory education.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 58 -
VIRGINIA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Jeff Decker
Boating Education Coordinator
4010 West Broad Street
Richmond VA 23230
PH: 804-367-8693
FA: 804-367-2311
E-mail: jdecker@dgif.state.va.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
PWC operators ages 14 and 15; watercraft salesman and
those that rent PWCs to others.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
n/a
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
NASBLA-approved.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
No
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
Only for PWC operators ages 14 and 15. There is no
minimum age to attend a boating course.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
No adult supervision is required to operate a boat.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
n/a
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
None at this time.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
-5 -
WASHINGTON
Who is the point of contact for
NoContact Given
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
No one.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
n/a
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
No one.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
n/a
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
n/a
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
n/a
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
n/a
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
n/a
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
No requirement.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
n/a
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
n/a
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Working on legislation requiring safety education.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 60 -
WEST VIRGINIA
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
Lt. T.D. Coleman
Boating Education Coordinator
Divison of Natural Resources
Building 3 Capitol Complex
Charleston WV 25305
PH: 304-558-2784
FA: 304-558-1170
E-mail: tcoleman@dnr.state.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Every person born after December 31, 1986.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
A person who is a nonresident of this state and who is
visiting the state for 60 days of less in a motorboat or
PWC from another state if that person: is 15 years of age
or older; has been issued a boating safety education
certificate by his or her state of residence in accordance
with the criteria recommended by NASBLA; a person who
is visiting the state for 90 days or less in a motorboat or
PWC from a country other than the U.S.; a person who is
operating a motorboat or PWC in connection with
commercial purposes; a person who is operating a
motorboat or PWC which was purchased by the person
within the previous 45-day period and who has not been
previously charged with a violation of any provision of this
chapter involving the use or registration of a motorboat or
PWC.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
N/A
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
10 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Adult supervision is required for watercraft with a 10 h.p.
motor or more.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 61 -
WEST VIRGINIA
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Making education course available online.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
- 62 -
WISCONSIN
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
educational certificate?
JohnLacenski
DNR-Bureau of Law Enforcement
101 South Webster Street
PO Box 7921
Madison WI 53707-7921
PH: 608-264-8970
FA: 608-266-3696
E-mail: lacenj@dnr.state.wi.us
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Persons under 16 years of age.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
No
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
Operators over 16 years of age and operators between 12
and 16 years of age that have adult supervision.
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
Yes
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
Any certificate issued by another state or Canadian
Province.
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
Yes
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
Yes
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
10 years of age.
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Operators between 10 and 12 years of age; operators 12
to 16 years of age if they have not taken a boat safety
course. This does not apply to PWC operation. The
operator must have a boating safety certificate to operate a
PWC.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
Yes, only if it is a state issued certificate.
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
A mandatory education bill for those born on or after
January 1, 1986 was introduced in the state legislature
this year. It will be reintroduced next session.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
-6 -
WYOMING
Who is the point of contact for
your agency if another state
needs to validate an
RussPollard or Susie Salazar
5400 Bishop Boulevard
Cheyenne WY 82006
PH: 307-777-4579
FA: 307-777-4650
educational certificate?
1.
Who is required to complete an
educational course in your state?
Those ordered by a court of law as a result of sentencing in a
criminal case.
2.
Are only residents of your state
required to complete a boating
education course?
n/a
3.
Who is exempted from having to
take a boating education course in
your state?
n/a
4.
Do youaccept out-of-state boating
educationcertificates in your state?
n/a
5.
If yes, which type of certificates do
youaccept (please describe)?
n/a
6.
Does your state issue wallet size
boatingcertificate/ID cards?
No
7.
Does your state allow proficiency
exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
8.
Does your state have a minimum
age limit to certify minors?
No
9.
If yes, what is the age limit?
n/a
10. Under what circumstances is adult
supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
Those 16 years of age or less require an adult physically
on board watercraft.
11. Does your state honor NASBLA
course reciprocity for
non-residents?
n/a
12. If your state does not honor course
reciprocity, please describe what
is required to obtain boating
privileges in your state?
n/a
13. How longare education
certificates/student wallet cards
valid in your state?
No expiration date.
14. What, if any, are your state’s
future plans for boater education?
Continue with the current format.
n/a = not applicable
N/A = no answer
-6 -
- 65 -
S U M M A R Y TABLES
SUMMARY TABLE - 1
Who is required to complete an educational course in your state?
AL
AK
AS
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
GU
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
Any state resident born after April 28, 1954, who operates a motorized vessel on
state waters or any nonresident born after April 28, 1954, who operates a motorized
vessel on state waters in excess of 45 days per calendar year.
n/a
N/A
No requirement, voluntary.
Any person born after 1985.
Those who are court ordered.
14 and 15 year old motorboat operators.
Any resident of the state; any person owning ‘real property’ in the state; anyone who
wishes to use Connecticut water more than 60 days in a calendar year; anyone
wishing to operate a PWC.
Anyone born on/after January 1, 1978, except licensed captains.
Any person who is operating or navigating any vessel shall have in his or her
possession satisfactory evidence of having completed an approved boating safety
course.
Anyone 21 years of age or younger operating a vessel of 10 h.p. or more. Anyone
convicted of: criminal boating violation; boating infraction arising from an accident;
and two boating safety infractions within 12 months.
Persons 12-16 years of age that want to operate different vessels on their own and
anyone ordered to do so by a court.
PWC rental operators and staff only.
n/a
Those prosecuted for operating under the influence, all second-time offenders of any
of Idaho Boating Laws and everyone renting and riding upona rented PWC.
Anyone 12 years of age or older, up to age 17, who wishes to operate a motorboat
not under direct adult supervision.
Persons 15 years of age who wish to operate a motorboat over 10 h.p.
Effective January 1, 2003 persons 12 through 17 years of age for PWC use only.
Anyone on a PWC and any person born after January 1, 1989, who wants to operate
any type of motorboat or sailboat.
Persons 12-17 years of age who operate a motorboat on public waters in a boat
with greater than 10 h.p.
Persons who are born after Jan 1, 1988, who wish to operate a boat with more than
10 h.p.
n/a
A person, born after July 1, 1972, who operates a recreational vessel that is required
to be numbered.
Persons 12 through 15 years of age and persons 16 through 17 years of age
operating a PWC.
Those 12 to 15 years of age to operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6
h.p. without adult supervision, those 14 years of age or older, and born after
December 31, 1978, to operate a PWC, those 12 or 13 years of age and their
parent/guardian, for those youths to operate a PWC with the parent/guardian under
certain conditions.
Children 12-17 years of age who wish to operate a motorboat over 25 h.p. without
an adult on board. Must be 13 years of age and have a permit card to operate a
PWC.
Anyone born after June 30, 1980.
Beginning January 1, 2005, every person born after January 1, 1984, who operates
a vessel on the lakes of this state shall possess, on the vessel, a boating safety
identification card issued by the Missouri state water patrol or its agent.
Those 13 and 14 years of age.
Those 14 and 15 years of age who operate any motor boat including PWCs must
attend a 6 hour course with proctored exam.
Effective January 1, 2003, any person born after January 1, 1983, who operates a
motorboat in excess of 15 h.p. on interstate waters (Lake Tahoe, Topy Lake, Lakes
Mead and Mohave and the Colorado River). Any person convicted of boating
violations if ordered by a court.
- 66 -
SUMMARY TABLE - 1
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
CMI
OH
OK
OR
PA
PR
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
VI
WA
WV
WI
WY
Anyone operating a vessel over 25 h.p. and a minimum of 16 years old.
All power vessel operators born in 1979 or later and all PWC operators regardless of
date of birth.
n/a
10-18 year olds who want to operate a powerboat or PWC without adult supervision.
All operators of PWC by 2004, currently operators born after 1975, 2003 operators
born after 1978.
PWC operators 12-15 years of age.
Persons 12-15 years of age who operate a motorboat, PWC or Jet Ski propelled by
over a 10 h.p. motor unless the operator is accompanied by a person 18 years of
age or older or has taken and passed a boating course approved by the department.
N/A
Any person born on or after January 1, 1982, who will operate a powerboat more
than 10 h.p.
n/a
Persons 12 years of age or older.
All PWC operators and persons 12-15 years of age to operate a watercraft propelled
by a motor greater than 10 h.p.
All persons born after July 1, 1972.
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1986, and operates a vessel fitted with a motor
of more than 10 h.p. and any person regardless of age that operates a PWC.
Any person younger than 16 years of age who wishes to operate a boat with a
horsepower of 15 or greater.
n/a
Anyone born after January 1, 1989.
Those under 18 years of age born on or after September 1, 1984, (certain
exemptions apply.
PWC operators, ages 12 through 17, who operate a PWC alone, without a person 18
years of age or older on board the PWC.
Any person born after January 1, 1974, who plans on operating a motor boat on
state waters.
PWC operators, ages 14 and 15; watercraft salesman and those that rent PWCs to
others.
Operators of personal watercraft between the ages of 14 and 18.
n/a
Every person born after December 31, 1986.
Persons under 16 years of age.
Those ordered by a court of law as a result of sentencing in a criminal case.
-6 -
SUMMARY TABLE - 2
Are only residents of your state required to complete a boating education
course?
AL
AK
AS
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
GU
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
CMI
OH
OK
OR
PA
PR
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
VI
WA
WV
WI
WY
No
n/a
N/A
No
No
No
Rules apply to all operators regardless of residency.
No
No, any person born on or after January 1, 1978.
No
No
No
n/a
n/a
No
No
No
No
Yes
No
Any person who wants to operate a boat that is born after Jan 1, 1988.
n/a
No
No. Persons 12 through 15 years of age and persons 16 and 17 years of age
operating a PWC must meet state-mandated requirements.
No
No
No
Beginning January 1, 2006, every person born after January 1, 1984, who operates
a vessel on the lakes of this state shall possess, on the vessel, a boating safety
identification card issued by the Missouri state water patrol or its agent.
No
No
No
No
No
n/a
No
n/a
No. Anyone 12 through 15 years of age operating a jet ski or boat.
No
No
n/a
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
n/a
If rent boats – then not required.
No
No
No
No
No
n/a
No
No
n/a
- 68 -
SUMMARY TABLE Whois exempted fromhavingto take a boatingeducationcourse in your state?
AL
AK
AS
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
GU
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
Nonresidents for a period of 45 days per calendar year; a person using a rental boat
(providing certain conditions are met); a person operating a vessel while engaged in
a valid and legal commercial activity; a holder of a valid USCG license issued under
Section 46, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 10, commercial fishermen, providing
there is proof of proper documentation and only while performing the commercial
duties; a holder of a valid USCGmotorboat license; or a holder of a certificate of
successful completion of a USPScourse, USCGAux course, or valid out-of-state
course.
n/a
N/A
n/a
Persons born before 1986.
n/a
Persons 16 years of age and older.
Persons from out of state who operate boats (not PWCs) for less than 60 days in a
calendar year; persons who have an operators license from the USCG; persons
renting from a boat livery (14 days only); persons operating vessels that are not
required to be registered.
Licensed captains.
n/a
Any person licensed by the USCG to serve as master of a vessel; operates a vessel
only on a private lake or pond; is accompanied in the vessel by a person who is
exempt for this section or who holds an identification card in compliance with this
section, is 18 years of age or older, and is attendant to the operation of the vessel
and responsible for any violation that occurs during the operation; is a nonresident
who has in his or her possession proof that he or she has completed a boater
education course or equivalency exam in another state which meets or exceeds the
requirements of subsection 1 of Florida state law.
Any operator over 16 years of age, or 12-16 year olds with an adult present.
n/a
n/a
Anyone except those required.
A person over 12 years of age who holds a valid certificate from another state or
Canada, USPSor USCGAux.
Licensed drivers or persons 15 years of age who hold a valid certificate.
N/A
Person over 21 years of age and those being trained by a parent or guardian.
Persons 12-17 years of age that operate boats with engines less than 10 h.p.
Persons born before Jan 1, 1988.
n/a
Commercial vessel operators; non-residents visiting for 60 days or less if the person
is 16 years of age or older or possesses a certificate; a person from another country
visiting for 90 days or less; or a person on a boat in a body of water on private
property.
Persons 16 years of age or older if operating a boat and persons 18 years of age or
older if operating a PWC.
Those 16 years of age or older to operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6
h.p., those operating a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 h.p., and those
born on or before December 31, 1978, to operate a PWC.
Adults 18 and over.
Anyone born before June 30, 1980 or those operating a motorboat that is rented
from a person engaged in the business of renting motorboats.
-6 -
SUMMARY TABLE MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
CMI
Ohio
OK
OR
PA
PR
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
VI
WA
Any person who: (1) Is licensed by the United States Coast Guard to serve as
master of a vessel; (2) Operates a vessel only on a private lake or pond that is not
classified as waters of the state; (3) Until January 1, 2006, is a nonresident who is
visiting the state for sixty days or less; (4) Is participating in an event or regatta
approved by the water patrol; (5) Is a nonresident who has proof of a valid boating
certificate or license issued by another state if the boating course is approved by the
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA); (6) Is exempted
by rule of the water patrol; or (7) Is currently serving in any branch of the United
States armed forces, reserves, or Missouri national guard, or any spouse of a person
currently in such service.
Anyone 15 years of age or older.
Those 16 years of age or older.
Anyone who possesses a current license issued by USCG (for operation of vessels).
Anyone who possesses a non-renewable 60-day permit when purchasing new or
used boat. Persons possessing a rental agreement showing them as authorized
operator. Nonresident must meet requirements of their state, if required must carry
certificate; if not required, exempt for 60 days.
Those who have an active New Hampshire or USCGCommercial License and those
who hold a Boating Education Certificate issued by the USCG, the USPSor another
state that is NASBLA-approved.
Persons born before 1979, that are not on a PWC.
n/a
New York State (NYS) Certified Boating Safety Instructors, Instructors of the USPS,
members of the USCGA, NYSPublic Vessel license holders, Police Officers, Peace
Officers, Lifeguards, Fire/Rescue personnel acting pursuant to assigned duties and
persons licensed by U.S. or Canadian Coast Guards.
n/a
N/A
N/A
A person who is leasing, hiring or renting a powerboat more than 10 h.p. and was
born on or after January 1, 1982, can take an abbreviated test and score 90% or
better for the time period of the lease, contract, or rental agreement.
n/a
If a person: is at least 16 years of age and rents a motorboat with an engine greater
than 10 h.p. and completes a required dockside safety checklist before operating the
boat; possesses a current commercial fishing license; possesses a valid USCG
commercial motorboat operator's license; is not a resident of this state and does not
operate a boat with an engine greater than 10 h.p. in Oregon waters for more than
60 consecutive days; is not a resident of Oregon, holds a current out-of-state
certificate and has the certificate in their possession; holds a temporary certificate or
is not yet required to have a certificate under the phase-in program.
Persons 16 years of age or older not operating a PWC.
Persons born before July 1, 1972 and tourists.
A holder of a USCGLicense, a person under training and directly supervised by a
person who is 18 years of age or older and meets the requirements, and
nonresidents temporarily using the waters of this state who meet the requirements
of their state of legal residence.
Those individuals 16 years of age or older.
n/a
Anyone holding a Coast Guard License.
Those 18 years of age or older, those accompanied by a person at least 18 years of
age or a person who has completed the boater education course, those who hold a
master's, mate's or operator's license issued by the USCG, those who completed a
‘voluntary course’ prior to implementation of the ‘mandatory law’.
Persons who have a course certificate of completion from another state
agency/course provider that we accept. These persons must adhere to Utah's
operator age and supervision requirements.
Persons born before January 1, 1974.
N/A
Mandatory education is limited to personal watercraft operators between the ages of
14 and 18.
n/a
- 0-
SUMMARY TABLE WV
WI
WY
A person who is a nonresident of this state and who is visiting the state for 60 days
or less in a motorboat or PWC from another state if that person: is 15 years of age
or older; has been issued a boating safety education certificate by his or her state of
residence in accordance with the criteria recommended by NASBLA; a person who is
visiting the state for 90 days or less in a motorboat or PWC from a country other
than the U.S.; a person who is operating a motorboat or PWC in connection with
commercial purposes; and a person who is operating a motorboat or PWC which
was purchased by the person within the previous 45 day period and who has not
been previously charged with a violation of any provision of this chapter involving
the use or registration of a motorboat or PWC.
Operators over 16 years of age and operators between 12 and 16 years of age that
have adult supervision.
n/a
- 1-
SUMMARY TABLE Doyouaccept out-of-stateboating educationcertificates in your state?
AL
AK
AS
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
GU
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
CMI
OH
OK
OR
PA
PR
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
VI
WA
WV
WI
WY
Yes
n/a
N/A
n/a
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
n/a
n/a
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
We are reciprocal with other states boating education cards.
n/a
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes, if it’s NASBLA-approved.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
n/a
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
n/a
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
n/a
Yes
Yes
n/a
- 2-
SUMMARY TABLE - 5
If yes, which type of certificates do youaccept (please describe)?
AL
AK
AS
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DS
FL
GA
GU
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MN
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
CMI
OH
OK
OR
PA
PR
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
Any state-approved, NASBLA-approved course certificate; USCGAux or USPS
certificate.
n/a
N/A
N/A
Minimum six-hour NASBLA-approved course.
Any
NASBLA-approved.
Only accept certificates from Rhode Island, New York and Massachusetts.
NASBLA-approved.
NASBLA-approved.
NASBLA-approved.
NASBLA-approved.
n/a
n/a
n/a
A certificate from a course recognized by the state of Illinois.
NASBLA-approved.
NASBLA-approved.
NASBLA-approved.
NASBLA-approved.
A bona fide state boating education certification card.
n/a
NASBLA-approved.
NASBLA-approved.
NASBLA-approved and accepted by the persons home state.
NASBLA-approved course. NASBLA logo must appear on certificate.
NASBLA-approved courses.
NASBLA-approved.
Approved boating safety classes, USCGAux.
If the course was approved by the Boating Law Administrator of the boat operator’s
home state and proctored exam was taken.
NASBLA-approved.
NASBLA-approved.
NASBLA-approved; USCGCourses - Boating Skills & Seamanship, Sailing &
Seamanship & America's Boating Course (in person); USPSCourses - Squadron
Boating Course & Boat Smart; other state documents.
n/a
Those issued pursuant to the laws of the operator's resident state.
NASBLA-approved courses.
State-certified courses, courses presented by state DNR's or Game, Fish & Parks
Departments.
N/A
NASBLA-approved.
NASBLA-approved courses. NASBLA logo must appear on certificate.
NASBLA-approved courses or equivalent.
All
NASBLA-approved and fulfills the requirement of the law in Puerto Rico.
NASBLA-approved courses with a proctored exam.
Any state sponsored certification that is also NASBLA-approved.
n/a
Accept any NASBLA-approved course.
NASBLA-approved; State/provincial agency approved.
Must be reviewed by Utah State Parks' Boating Program, be NASBLA-approved,
have a proctored exam, provide a course certificate/I.D. Card which includes the
individual's identifying information, and preferably includes a photo of the individual
for positive identification. Currently, Utah State Parks accepts state courses from
Colorado, Connecticut, Kentuckyand the Canadian Coast Guard and are looking into
courses from Oregon and Montana.
-
-
SUMMARY TABLE - 5
VT
VA
VI
WA
WV
WI
WY
NASBLA-approved courses.
NASBLA-approved courses.
NASBLA-approved courses. NASBLA logo must appear on certificate.
n/a
N/A
Any certificate issued by another state or Canadian Province.
n/a
-
-
SUMMARY TABLE - 6
Does your state issue wallet size boating certificate/ID cards?
AL
AK
AS
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
GU
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MN
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
CMI
OH
OK
OR
PA
PR
RI
SC
SD
TN
TE
UT
VT
VA
VI
WA
WV
WI
WY
Yes
Yes
N/A
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
n/a
n/a
Yes, for PWC education delivered at livery stations only.
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
N/A
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Effective 2005 - yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No, but plans are in the making to implement this process.
n/a
Yes
Yes
No
- 5-
SUMMARY TABLE Does your state allow proficiencyexams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
AL
AK
AS
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
GU
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
CMI
OH
OK
OR
PA
PR
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
VI
WA
WV
WI
WY
Yes
n/a
N/A
n/a
No
No
An exam is part of the certification process.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes - Temporary certificates are offered at certain contracted livery locations and
good for 12 months.
Yes
n/a
n/a
No
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
n/a
Yes
No
No
Yes
Yes - Only if proficiency exams are written ones.
Yes, those who successfully pass an equivalency examination prepared by the
Missouri state water patrol and administered by the Missouri state water patrol or its agent.
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
n/a
No
No
No
N/A
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Effective 2005 - yes.
Yes
No
Yes. Internet courses that are NASBLA-approved.
No
Yes
n/a
Yes
Yes
Yes
- 6-
SUMMARY TABLE - 8
Who is the point of contact for your agency if another state needs to
validate an educational certificate?
AL
AK
AS
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
GU
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
Capt. B.R. Huffaker, 64 N. Union Street Room 438, Montgomery AL 36130, PH:
334-242-3678, FA: 334-242-0336, E-mail: bhuffaker@dcnr.state.al.us,
PAGER: 334-519-2171 or Lt. Erica Shipman, PH: 334-353-9265,
FA: 334-242-0336, E-mail: eshipman@dcnr.state.al.us, PAGER: 334-570-0356
Jeff Johnson, Boating Law Administrator, Division of Parks, Office of Boating Safety,
550 West 7th Avenue Suite 1370, Anchorage AK 99501-3561, PH: 907-269-8705,
FA: 907-269-8907, E-mail: jeffj@dnr.state.ak.us
N/A
Kelly Fowke, Law Enforcement Branch, Game & Fish Dept., 2221 W Greenway Road,
Phoenix AZ 85023, PH: 602-789-3381, FA: 602-789-3903
Donna Pipkins or Charlotte Hicks, Education Division, #2 Natural Resources Drive,
Little Rock AR 72205, PH: 877-493-6424, FA: 501-223-6300, Evenings &
Weekends: Radio Room 501-223-6300
Phaedra Bota, 2000Evergreen St, Sacramento CA 95815, PH: 916-263-8188, Email: pbota@dbw.ca.gov
Keith Kahler, Boating Safety Coordinator, 13787S Hwy 85, Littleton CO80125, PH:
303-791-1954, FA: 303-470-0782, E-mail: keith.kahler@state.co.us
John Annino, PO Box 280, Old Lyme CT 06371, PH: 860-434-8638, FA: 860-4343501, E-mail: john.annino@po.state.ct.us; Evenings & Weekends (EMERGENCY
ONLY) PH: 860-424-3333
Joyce Hennessey, Office of Boating Safety & Education, Div of Fish & Wildlife
Enforcement, 89 Kings Hwy, Dover DE 19901, PH: 302-739-3440, FA: 302-7396157, E-mail: joyce.hennessey@state.de.us
Sgt. Jeffrey Blevins Metropolitan Police, 550 Water Street, SW, Washington DC
20024, PH: 202-727-4582, FA: 202-727-3663, E-mail: jblevins.mpdharbor@mpdc.org
Lt. Steve Carter, Boating Safety Education Coordinator, Division of Law Enforcement,
620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee FL 32399-1600, PH: 850-488-5600 ext.
146, FA: 850-488-9284, E-mail: steve.carter@fwc.state.fl.us; Evenings & Weekends
1-888-404-3922
Cpt. James Bell or Lee Rearden-Zitte, 543 Elliott Trail, Mansfield GA 30055, PH:
770-784-3068, FA: 770-784-3061, E-mail: James_Bell@mail.dnr.state.ga.us,
Evenings & Weekends: 800-241-4113 or 770-535-5499
n/a
n/a
Ann Van Buren, Recreation Resources Bureau, 5657 Warm Springs Boulevard, Boise
ID 83712-8752, PH: 208-334-4180 ext. 227, FA: 208-334-3741, E-mail:
avanbure@idpr.state.id.us No evening & weekend hours.
Jeff Hopkins, Department of Natural Resources, Office of Education, One Natural
Resources Way, Springfield IL 62702-1271, PH: 217-785-7742, FA: 217-7825177, E-mail: jhopkins@dnrmail.state.il.us
Theresa Mack, 402 West Washington, Room W-255D, Indianapolis IN 46204, PH:
317-232-4010, FA: 317-232-8035
Department of Natural Resources, Customer Service Center, Wallace State Office
Building, Des Moines IA 50319-0034, PH: 515-281-5918, FA: 515-281-6794
Cheri Swayne, Boating Law Administrator, Wildife and Parks, 900 SW Jackson
Street Suite 502, Topeka KS 66612-1233, PH: 785-296-2281, FA: 785-296-6953,
E-mail: hatcaptain@wp.state.ks.us
Sgt. Mike Fields, #1 Game Farm Road, Frankfort KY 40601, PH: 502-564-7109 ext.
485, FA: 502-564-3178, E-mail: mike.fields@mail.state.ky.us, Evenings & Weekends,
Radio Room, 502-564-7109 ext. 453
Capt. Robby Duthu, Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, PO Box 98000, Baton Rouge
LA 70898-9000, PH: 225-765-2984, FA: 225-763-3548, E-mail: duthu_rj@wlf.state.la.us
Saturday & Sunday Dispatch: 225-765-2441
Recreational Safety Office, 284 State Street, Augusta ME 04333, PH: 207-2875220, FX: 207-287-9037, E-mail: brenda.chaplin@state.me.us OR
Dept. of Marine Resources, State House Station 21, Augusta ME 04333, PH: 207624-6555, FA: 207-624-6024
-
-
SUMMARY TABLE - 8
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
CMI
OH
OK
OR
PA
PR
RI
SC
Natural Resources Police, Safety Education, 1804 West Street Suite 300, Annapolis
MD 21401, PH: 410-260-3280, FA: 410-260-3292, E-mail: nrpsafetyed@dnr.state.md.us, Evenings & Weekends PH: 410-260-8888
Jack A. Mason, Boating Education Coordinator, Boat & R.V. Safety Bureau, 1019
Route 132, Hyannis MA 02601, PH: 617-727-8760, FA: 617-727-2617, E-mail:
jack.mason@state.ma.us
Jammie Parisian, DNR-Law Enforcement Division, PO Box 30031, Lansing MI
48909, PH: 517-335-3418, FA: 517-373-6816, E-mail: parisiaj@michigan.gov
Deb Etheir or Terri Roesler, Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road,
St. Paul MN 55155-4046, PH: 651-296-3336, FA: 651-296-0902, E-mail:
info@dnr.state.mn.us
Billie Ellison, PO Box 451, Jackson MS 39205, PH: 601-432-2182, FA: 601-4322188, E-mail: billiee@mdwfp.state.ms.us
Paul Kennedy, State Water Patrol, PO Box 1368, Jefferson City MO 65102, PH:
573-751-3333, FA: 573-522-1287, E-mail: pkennedy@mswp.state.mo.us
Liz Lodman, PO Box 200701, Helena MT 59620-0701, PH: 406-444-2615, FA:
406-444-4952, E-mail: llodman@state.mt.us
Herb Angell, Darlene Kastl or Tina Molini, Game & Parks Commission, 2200 North
33rd Street, Lincoln NE 68503-0370, PH: 402-471-5579 or 402-471-5462, E-mail:
hangell, dkastl or tmolini@hgpc.state.ne.us
Edwin Lyngar, Boating Education Program Supervisor, Division of Wildlife, 1100
Valley Road, Reno NV 89512, PH: 775-688-1548, FA: 775-688-1551, Evenings &
Weekends, Dispatch, 775-688-1331.
AnthonyCardoza, Division of Safety Services, 31 Dock Road, Gilford NH 03249,
PH: 603-293-2645, FA: 603-293-0096. Evenings & Weekends - Dispatch Line 603293-2037.
Judith Robb, State Police, Marine Services Unit, Box 7068, West Trenton NJ
08628-0068, PH: 609-882-2000 ext. 6181, FA: 609-882-8110 or Trooper Jeff
Andres, PH: 609-882-2000 ext. 6173
Jerome Madrid, Field Operations Supervisor, Energy, Minerals, & Natural Resources
Department, Boating Safety Section, PO Box 1147, Santa Fe NM 87505, PH: 1888-NMPARKS, FA: 505-476-3361, E-mail: jmadrid@state.nm.us.
No evening or weekend contact. Peter Gonet, Marine Services Representative,
Office of Parks, Recreation & Historical Preservation, Bureau of Marine &
Recreational Vehicles, Empire State Plaza, Agency Building #1, Albany, NY, 12238,
PH: 518-474-0445, FA: 518-486-7378, E-mail: peter.gonet@oprhp.state.ny.us
Susan Bunn, Wildlife Resources Commission, Division of Enforcement, 1717 Mail
Service Center, Raleigh NC 27699-1717, PH: 919-733-7191, E-mail:
bunnsa@mail.wildlife.state.nc.us, Evenings & Weekends PH: 919-733-7191
Nancy Boldt, Boat/Water Safety Coordinator, Game & Fish Department, 100 N.
Bismarck Expressway, Bismarck ND 58501, PH: 701-328-6312, FA: 701-3286352, E-mail: nboldt@state.nd.us
N/A
Emily King, Public Information & Education section Manager, DNR, Div. of
Watercraft, 4435Fountain Square Drive, ColumbusOH 43224, PH: 614-265-6504,
FA: 614-267-8883, E-mail: emily.king@dnr.state.oh.us
Trooper Mark Brown, Highway Patrol, Lake Patrol Section, PO Box 11415, Oklahoma
City OK 73136, PH: 405-425-2143, FA: 405-425-2894, Evenings & Weekends
PH: 405-425-2363 (leave message)
Julio E. Garcia, State Marine Board, 435 Commercial Street NE #400, Salem OR
97309-5065, PH: 503-373-1405 ext. 273, FA: 503-378-4597
Daniel G. Martin, Fish & Boat Commission, PO Box 67000, Harrisburg PA 17106,
PH: 717-705-7849, FA: 717-705-7832, E-mail: danmartin@state.pa.us
Marisa Gonzalez, Commissioner of Navigation, PO Box 9066600, PlazaDe Tierra
Station, San Juan PR 00906-6600, PH: 787-724-2340, FA: 787-724-7335.
Michael J. Scanlon, DEM-Division of Law Enforcement, 83 Park Street, Providence
RI 02903, PH: 401-222-3070, FA: 401-222-6823, Evenings & Weekends: 401222-3070
Lt. Joey Rentiers, State Boater Education Coordinator, Department of Natural
Resources, PO Box 167, Columbia SC 29202, PH: 800-277-4301, FA: 803-7344491, E-mail: rentiersj@scdnr.state.sc.us, Evenings & Weekends: 803-955-4000 as
to page Lt. Rentiers
- 8-
SUMMARY TABLE - 8
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
VI
WA
WV
WI
WY
Bill Shattuck, 412 West Missouri Avenue, Pierre SD 57501, PH: 605-773-4506, FA:
605-773-6921, E-mail: bill.shattuck@state.sd.us
Keith Nash, Boat Registration Coordinator, TennesseeWildlife Resources Agency,
Boating Division, PO Box 40747, Nashville TN 37204, Ph: 615-781-6618,
Fx: 615-781-5268, E-mail: keith.nash@state.tn.us
Tami Crawford, Boat Education Technician, Parks & Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith
School Road, Austin TX 78744, PH: 512-389-4938 or 512-389-4999, FA: 512389-8042, E-mail: tami.crawford@tpwd.state.tx.us
Richard Droesbeke, Boating Education Specialist, Division of Parks & Recreation,
1594 West North Temple, Suite 116, Salt Lake City UT 84114-6001, PH: 801-5387464, FA: 801-538-4802, E-mail: richarddroesbeke@utah.gov.
Jere R. Johnson, Education Coordinator, State Police, Recreational Enforcement &
Education Unit, 2777 St. George Road, Williston VT 05495, PH: 802-878-7111 ext.
2211, FA: 802-878-2742, E-mail: jrjohnso@dps.sstate.vt.us
Jeff Decker, Boating Eudcation Coordinator, 4010 West Broad Street, Richmond VA
23230, PH: 804-367-8693, FA: 804-367-2311, E-mail: jdecker@dgif.state.va.us
Lauren Mulraine, Boating Safety Coordinator, Department of Planning & Natural
Resources, Cyril E. King Airport 2nd Floor, St. Thomas VI 00802, PH: 340-7743320, FA: 340-714-9527.
n/a
Lt. T.D. Coleman, Boating Education Coordinator, Divison of Natural Resources,
Building 3 Capitol Complex, Charleston WV 25305, PH: 304-558-2784, FA: 304558-1170, E-mail: tcoleman@dnr.state.wv.us
John Lacenski, DNR-Bureau of Law Enforcement, 101 South Webster Street, PO Box
7921, Madison WI 53707-7921, PH: 608-264-8970, FA: 608-266-3696, E-mail:
lacenj@dnr.state.wi.us
Russ Pollard or Susie Salazar, 5400 Bishop Boulevard, Cheyenne WY 82006, PH:
307-777-4579, FA: 307-777-4650
-
-
SUMMARY TABLE Does your state have a minimumage limit to certify minors?
AL
AK
AS
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
GU
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
CMI
OH
OK
OR
PA
PR
RI
SC
SD
TN
TE
UT
VT
VA
VI
WA
WV
WI
WY
Yes
n/a
N/A
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Request student to be 12; by law, no.
No
No
Yes
n/a
n/a
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
N/A
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
n/a
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
n/a
Yes
Yes
No
- 80 -
SUMMARY TABLE - 10
If yes, what is the age limit?
AL
AK
AS
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
GU
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
CMI
OH
OK
OR
PA
PR
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
VI
WA
WV
WI
WY
12 years of age.
n/a
N/A
12 years of age and up.
n/a
n/a
14 years of age.
n/a
12 years of age.
n/a
n/a
12 years of age.
n/a
n/a
n/a
12 years of age.
n/a
12 years of age.
n/a
Children under the age of 12 are allowed to take the class and get their certificate,
but are not allowed to operate a boating until they turn 12.
n/a
n/a
n/a
12 years of age.
12 years of age.
12 years of age.
12 years of age.
n/a
13 years of age.
18 years of age.
n/a
16 years of age.
10 years of age to complete a course, 13 years of age to operate a vessel longer
than 12 feet with less than a 10 h.p. motor, 16 years of age for all other vessels.
n/a
10 years of age.
n/a
12 years of age.
N/A
n/a
n/a
12 years of age.
n/a
14 years of age to operate a PWC or boat, 12 years old to operate a boat with no
more than a 10 h.p. motor with an authorized operator.
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
12 years of age.
12 years of age.
10 Years of age.
Only for PWC operators ages 14 and 15. There is no minimum age to attend a
boating course.
Personal Watercraft operators are limited to 14 years of age.
n/a
10 years of age.
10 years of age.
n/a
- 81 -
SUMMARY TABLE - 11
Under what circumstances is adult supervision required for a minor to
operate a boat?
AL
AK
AS
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
GU
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
Anyone who was not yet 12 years of age as of Janurary 1, 2002, may, after turning
12, obtain an operator's license and operate any type of motorized vessel ONLY if a
person 21 years of age or older (unless a non-resident over 21), with a valid
operator's license, is on board and in a position to take immediate control of the
vessel if necessary. As of January 1, 2004, anyone between the ages of 12 and 14
years of age who operates a motorized vessel on state waters must have a person
21 years of age or older (unless a nonresident over 21), with a valid operator's
license, on board in a position to take immediate control of the vessel if necessary.
Some special use areas have restrictions, depending on land management, but these
vary widely.
N/A
When child is under 12 years of age.
Persons under the age of 12 cannot operate a motorboat of 10 h.p. or more unless
under the direct supervision of someone over 17 years of age. Persons 11 years of
age or younger may operate a PWC only if someone 21 years of age or older is on
board and ready to take immediate control. Persons 12 to 13 years of age may
operate a PWC if someone 18 years of age or older is on board.
A person must be 16 years of age or older to operate any vessel powered by a
motor of 15 h.p. or greater, except sailboats 30 feet or less in length and motorized
dinghies under certain conditions. These conditions include using a dinghy directly
between a moored vessel and the shoreline, or between a moored vessel and
another moored vessel. Persons 12 to 15 years of age may operate any vessel
powered by a motor of 15 h.p. or greater if they're supervised on board by someone
at least 18 years old.
After completion of certification, there is no requirement for supervision.
Any certified person under 12 years of age must have another certified person at
least 18 years of age to operate any vessel greater than 10 h.p.
Guardian is responsible for minor under compliance law; on PWC child up to 14-16
must be on board.
No person under 18 years of age shall operate or navigate any vessel 16 feet or
more in length of any kind in District waters, unless the person has successfully
completed a boating safety course approved by the Harbor Master, or unless the
person under 18 years of age is under the supervision of a person who has reached
18 years of age and who has successfully completed an approved boating safety
course.
Anyone 21 years of age or younger, without a boater education certificate can
operate vessels 10 h.p. or greater if: he/she is licensed by the USCGas a master of
a vessel; operate a vessel only on a private lake or pond; is accompanied by a
person who is exempt from 327.395 F.S. or who holds an identification card in
compliance with this section; is 18 years of age or older; and is attendant to the
operation of the vessel and responsible for any violation. Vessels under 10 h.p. are
not regulated in regards to supervision. PWC operators must be 14 years of age,
regardless of supervision.
Persons 14 or 15 years of age operating a Class A, I,II, or III vessel, persons 12 or
13 years of age operating a Class A vessel.
Persons under 16 on PWC only.
n/a
Only required in three separate counties and ages are varied.
Persons 10 and 11 years of age under all circumstances, and persons 12-17 years
of age if they are not certified.
Adult supervision is required for all motorboats over 10 h.p. until the operator is a
licensed driver. The only exception is persons 15 years of age who complete a
boating safety course and obtain a ID card from our BMV can operate motorboats
over 10 h.p. for the year until they become licensed.
No owner or operator of any vessel propelled by a motor of more than 6 h.p. shall
permit any person under 12 years of age to operate such vessel except when
accompanied by a responsible person of at least 18 years of age who is experienced
in motorboat operation.
- 82 -
SUMMARY TABLE - 11
KS
KY
LA
ME
Persons under 12 years of age.
When the minor is 12-17 years of age without a safe boating certificate.
If no boating course completed to operate a vessel with more than 10 h.p.
When operating a motorboat with more than 10 h.p., a person under the age of 12
must be under the immediate supervision of a person located in the boat who is at
least 16 years of age. A person under 16 years of age may not operate personal
watercraft, which includes jet skis.
MD
Must be 12 years of age to operate a ski boat and must be 12 years of age to be an
observer. Must be 16 years of age to operate a PWC.
MA
All operators 12 through 16 years of age who have not completed a NASBLAapproved boating safety course. Persons younger than 12 years of age cannot
operate without adult supervision under any circumstances.
MI
For those less than 12 years of age to operate a boat powered by a motor of more
than 6 h.p. but not more than 35 h.p.; for those 12 to 15 years of age to operate a
boat powered by a motor of more than 6 h.p. if they do not have a boater safety
certificate; and for those who are 12 or 13 years of age to operate a PWC, solely
with the parent/guardian. Both must have boater safety certificates. PWC must
have lanyard-type ignition safety switch, attached to the parent/guardian. PWC is
designed to carry at least 2 persons.
MN
Persons less than 12 years of age to operate a boat more than 25 through 75 h.p.
must have someone at least 21 years of age on board within reach of the controls,
over 75 h.p. cannot operate, even with adult on board, those 12 - 17 years of age to
operate a boat more than 25 h.p. must either have a watercraft operator's permit or
someone at least 21 years of age on board within reach of the controls.
MS
No motorboat required to be numbered shall be operated by any person who is
under 12 years of age, unless he/she possesses a certificate and is also
accompanied by a parent/guardian or other person who is at least 21 years of age
and qualified and capable of operating the same.
MO
Only for operators under 14 years of age, those 16 years of age can be the
supervisor.
MT Those 12 years of age and under need adult in boat if engine is more than 10 h.p.
Those 13 and 14 years of age need certificate or adult in boat if engine is rated at
more than 10 h.p.
NE
None, all boat operators must be 14 years of age, there is no provision for adult
supervision.
NV Only applicable to water skiing or PWC rentals not related to any educational
requirement except indirectly. Renters over 18 years of age must supervise
operators under the age of 16.
NH
An adult 18 years of age or more with a boating education certificate must
accompany anyone under the age of 16 operating a vessel over 25 h.p.
NJ
Not required.
NM
Persons under 13 years of age.
NY
Persons under the age of 10 years to operate a motorboat or PWC. Children
between the ages of 10-18 years who do not have a boating safety certificate.
NC
n/a
ND
Persons under 12 years of age operating a motorboat or PWC powered by more
than a 10 h.p. motor. Persons 12 through 15 years of age may operate a motorboat
or PWC powered by more than a 10 h.p. if they have successfully completed a
boating safety course approved by the department.
CMI
N/A
OH
Vessel of 10 h.p. or less: Less than 12 years of age may operate with supervision of
person 18 years of age or older; PWCs: less than 12 years of age may not operate,
12-15 years of age may operate with on-board supervision of person 18 years of
age or older after operator completes education/exam requirements, 16 years of age
or older born on or after 1/1/82 may operate after completing education/exam
requirements, 16 or older born before 1/1/82 may operate; Vessel of more than 10
h.p.: less than 12 years of age may operate (except PWC) with on-board
supervision of person 18 years of age or older, 12-15 years of age may operate after
completing education/exam requirement, 16 years of age or older born on or after
1/1/82 may operate after completing education/exam requirement, 16 years of age
or older born before 1/1/82 may operate.
-8 -
SUMMARY TABLE - 11
OK
OR
PA
PR
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
VI
WA
WV
WI
WY
No person less than 12 years of age may operate a PWC.
A person 12-15 years of age who possesses a boater education card may operate a
boat of more than 10 h.p. if accompanied by an adult 16 years of age or older who
possesses a boater education card.
A person 12-15 years of age may not operate a motorboat propelled by a motor
greater than 10 h.p. unless he/she has obtained and has in his/her possession a
boating safety education certificate or at least one person 16 years of age or older is
present on board.
To operate watercraft the person must be 14 years of age, however until age 16,
they must be accompanied by an adult. If born after July 1, 1972, must have an
operator's license.
If they operate any vessel with more than 10 h.p. and they don't have a certificate,
they must be under direct supervision.
Adult supervision is required when a minor younger than 16 years of age has not
completed the boating safety courseand the boat's horsepower is 15 or greater.
Boats over 6 h.p. - operator must be 12 years of age or be accompanied by an adult.
PWC - operator must be 14 years of age or beaccompanied by an adult.
Those under 12 years of age, but If between 10 and 12 years of age, and the boat is
over 14 feet and powered by less than 15 h.p., and they have completed a NASBLAapproved boating education course, adult supervision is not required.
If the adult is 18 years of age or older and the operator is under 18 years of age.
A person under 16 years of age may not operate a motorboat unless the person is
under the on-board and direct supervision of a person who is at least 18 years of
age. A person under 16 years of age may operate a sailboat, if the person is under
the direct supervision of a person who is at least 18 years of age. A person under
the age of 18 may not operate a PWC unless the person is under the on-board and
direct supervision of a person who is at least 18 years of age, with the following
exceptions: a person who is at least 12 years of age or older but under 16 years of
age may operate a PWC provided the person: is under the direct supervision of a
person who is at least 18 years of age; completes a boating safety course approved
by Utah State Parks; and has in possession a boating safety certificate issued by the
boating safety course provider. A person who is at least 16 years of age but under
18 years of age may operate a PWC, if the person: completes a boating safety
course approved by Utah State Parks; and has in possession a boating safety
certificate issued by the boating safety course provider.
No person under 12 years of age may operate a motorboat powered by more than 6
h.p.
No adult supervision of required to operate a boat.
There are no written restrictions that specify boat operator.
n/a
Adult supervision is required for watercraft with a 10 h.p. motor or more.
Operators between 10 and 12 years of age, operators 12 to 16 years of age if they
have not taken a boat safety course. This does not apply to PWC operation. The
operator must havea boating safety certificate to operate a PWC.
Those 16 years of age or less require an adult physically on board watercraft.
-8 -
SUMMARY TABLE - 12
Does your state honor NASBLA course reciprocity for non-residents?
AL
AK
AS
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
GU
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MN
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
CMI
OH
OK
OR
PA
PR
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
VI
WA
WV
WI
WY
Yes
n/a
N/A
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
In some cases.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
n/a
n/a
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes, if the card is issued by the state for completion of a certified state-approved
boating education program.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes, if they are issued by another state and NASBLA.
Yes, when it is another state document or fromaNASBLA-approved in-personcourse.
Yes
Yes, course must be classroom instructed with proctored exam.
Yes
Yes
N/A
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
n/a
Yes
Yes
Yes, must be reviewed by Utah State Parks' Boating Program, be NASBLA-approved,
have a proctored exam, provide a course certificate/I.D. Card which includes the
individual's identifying information, and preferably includes a photo of the individual
for positive identification.
Yes
Yes
Yes
n/a
Yes
Yes, only if it is a state issued certificate.
n/a
- 85 -
SUMMARY TABLE - 1
If your state does not honor course reciprocity, please describe what is
required to obtain boating privileges in your state?
AL
AK
AS
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
GU
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MN
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
CMI
OH
OK
OR
PA
PR
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
VI
WA
WV
WI
WY
n/a
n/a
N/A
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Coursemust beNASBLA-approved, taught byan instructor andmust haveaproctoredexam.
Wedonot accept internet, home-study, mail order or distance learningcourses.
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Successful completion of an eight hour in-person classroom course.
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
N/A
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
- 86 -
SUMMARY TABLE - 1
How longare education certificates/student wallet cards valid in
your state?
AL
AK
AS
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
GU
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
NC
ND
CMI
OH
OK
OR
PA
PR
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
VI
WA
WV
WI
WY
4 years.
No expiration date.
N/A
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
n/a
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
Lifetime and 12 month temporary certificates are available.
No expiration date.
n/a
n/a
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
Until 18th birthday.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date unless revoked by a judge.
N/A
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
Lifetime.
No expiration date.
Until revoked or the individual reaches 18 years of age. Persons 18 years of age or
older are allowed to obtain a lifetime Utah PWC Education Certificate.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
n/a
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
No expiration date.
-8 -
SUMMARY TABLE - 15
What, if any, are your state's future plans for boater education?
AL
AK
AS
AZ
AR
CA
CO
CT
DE
DC
FL
GA
GU
HI
ID
IL
IN
IA
KS
KY
LA
ME
MD
MA
MI
MN
MS
MO
MT
NE
NV
NH
NJ
NM
NY
Continue with the present program.
Expand school programs, develop a state paddlesport safety course,
contract/present paddling safety classes, expand volunteer instructor base.
N/A
Pursuing mandatory education for all watercraft operators in next year’s legislative
session to take effect in 2004.
Comprehensive distance learning program starting January 2003, however, we will
continue to offer face-to-face classes across the state.
Looking at the possibility of introducing legislation requiring mandatory education,
but this is still several years down the line.
Continue efforts to decrease current high percentage of PWCs involved in accidents
by requiring education for 14-15 year olds; focused information distribution to all
boaters.
Developed a Paddle Safety Course and two childrens programs. Also sampling a
coastal navigation course.
Continue to educate students in schools, continue to certify all students, one-on-one
at boat ramps with public, educate PWC rental and sales agencies, offer classes
statewide to fit the public’s busy schedules, continue vessel safety checks.
None at this time.
Try to eliminate the cap on the age limit requirement for boater education in order to
reach more people boating and those exempt at the present time.
Provide a CD-ROM for home study.
n/a
Continue phased improvements to Hawaii’s boating safety education program;
develop public awareness campaigns; design new products to encourage safe
boating practices and for information dissemination; seek out/enhance partnerships
with other boating organizations; maintain existingeducation resources.
Pursue a minimum age limit when committee sponsor for the legislation is located.
Increasing the state parks staff available to conduct instructor and educator training.
Continuing to partner with the USCGAux in providing a range of public classes every
quarter of the calendar year.
No changes in the immediate future.
Going to the Boat Ed manual in the near future. Many students find online courses
convenient. Will explore using a VHS/manual combination as a means of alternative
delivery.
Expand education requirements to include operation of all watercraft.
Revise the statute in 4 or 5 years to remove the over-21 exemption.
Online education course is being studied.
n/a
Increase number of courses and students, increase number of public contacts and
information seminars, evaluation of online program and evaluation of mandatory
education.
Improve continuing education for instructors and improve course textbook.
Will continue to lobby for mandatory education and provide an online state boating
safety course with a proctored exam.
Plan to continue the high standards of boater safety training enjoyed in the state.
Possible phased-in (born after) mandatory education program in 10 years or less.
To get the legislature to include the course requirements for rental boats.
None at this time.
n/a
Mandatory education for all boat operators and proctored exams in place of class
attendance for specific age groups.
Monitor progress and evaluate in two years - recommend changes as needed. All
motorboat operators of any type of watercraft will be required to receive instruction
on safe operation of that watercraft and copies of Nevada boat laws.
Reduce minimum age for certification to 12 years of age instead of 16 years of age.
Educate boaters as required to operate vessels.
Mandatory education.
No comment at this time.
- 88 -
SUMMARY TABLE - 15
NC
ND
CMI
OH
OK
OR
PA
PR
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VT
VA
VI
WA
WV
WI
WY
No changes in the immediate future.
N/A
N/A
Monitor and measure the effectiveness of the current laws and programs.
Mandatory education for 16-year-olds born on or after effective date of future
legislation for those who wish to operate any vessel powered by motor(s) in excess
of 10 h.p. or any sailing vessel in excess of 16 feet in length. Operators between the
ages of 12-16 years of age may operate such vessels if they complete the education
requirements and are accompanied by a competent adult who is at least 18 years of
age and in a position to take immediate control of the vessel if necessary.
Mandatory education is being phased in over a seven-year period. The phase-in
begins in 2003 for boaters 30 and younger. The phase-in ends in 2009 when all
boaters will be required to have a card when operating a motorboat with greater
than 10 h.p. Will continue our very successful BUI campaign and to promote the
wearing of lifejackets.
Implement a Paddler's Safety Program.
N/A
Continue toward making education mandatory for all.
Continue to look for different avenues of delivery in order to meet the needs of the
public.
No immediate plans to require boater education.
Beginning January 1, 2005 anyone born after January 1, 1989 must show proof of
successful completion of a NASBLA-approved course accepted by the Tennessee
Wildlife Resources Agency.
Modify law to tighten up ‘loop holes’ (PWC is a motorboat) and minimize exemption
levels.
Pursuing a motorboat operator endorsement on the driver's license. With this
proposal, a person would be able to gain their boating knowledge through a variety
of sources (home study course, classroom course, Internet, etc.) and then go to a
Utah Driver's License Division Office and take a proctored exam. Upon passing the
exam, the person would receive a ‘V’ endorsement on his driver's license."
None at this time.
None at this time.
Mandatory education.
Working on legislation requiring safety education.
Making education course available on-line.
A mandatory education bill for those born on or after January 1, 1986 was
introduced in the state legislature this year. It will be reintroduced next session.
Plans are to continue with the current format.
-8 -
- 0-
- 1-
M O D E L ACT
NASBLA MODEL ACT FOR MANDATORY
BOATING SAFETYEDUCATION
SEPTEMBER 2000
Section 1.
1. A person born on or after January 1, 19 shall not operate a
motorboat on any waters of this state unless the operator:
(a) Has:
(1) Successfully completed a course in safe boating that is
approved by the National Association of State Boating Law
Administrators or passed an equivalency examination if the
examination was proctored and tests the knowledge of
information included in the curriculum of such a course;
and
(2) Received a certificate as evidence of successful completion
of any NASBLA-approved course or passage of the
equivalency examination; or
(b) Possesses a valid license to operate a vessel issued for
maritime personnel by the United States Coast Guard pursuant
to 46 C.F.R. Part 10 or a marine certificate issued by the
Canadian government; or
(c) Possesses a state-approved nonrenewable temporary
operator=s permit to operate the motorboat which is valid for
60 days and was issued with the certificate of number for the
motorboat if the boat is new or was sold with a transfer of
ownership; or
(d) Possesses a rental agreement or lease agreement provided
pursuant to subsection 3 which list the person as an authorized
operator of the motorboat; or
(e) Is not a resident of this state, and is temporarily using the
waters of this state for a period not to exceed 60 days, if he
meets any applicable requirements of his state of residency or
possesses a Canadian Pleasure Craft Operator=s Card; or
(f) Is a person who operates a vessel under supervised training,
as authorized by the State.
- 2-
Section 2.
1. A person who is operating a motorboat on any waters of this state
and who is stopped by a peace officer in the enforcement of this
chapter or the regulations adopted pursuant thereto shall present to
the peace officer proof that he meets the requirements of subsection 1.
2. Failure to present the certificate, license, temporary operating
permit, or lease agreement constitutes prima facie evidence of
a violation of subsection 1.
3. A. No person shall alter, forge, counterfeit or falsify a Boating
Education Certificate.
B. No person shall possess a Boating Safety Education Certificate
that has been altered, forged, counterfeited or falsified.
C. No person shall loan or permit their Boating Safety Education
Certificate to be used by another person.
4. A person who fails to present the certificate, license, temporary
operating permit, or lease agreement is guilty of
[misdemeanor] unless he presents the required documents in
court that prove the person was operating the motorboat in
compliance with this section on the date of the violation.
5. In any proceeding for a violation of this Act, the court may
suspend all or part of the fine to be imposed on the defendant
if the defendant completes the boating education course
approved by the State within the time limits imposed by the
court.
6. A court may prohibit a person who violates any of the
provisions of the chapter from operating a motorboat upon the
waters of this state until the person successfully completes,
after the date of the violation, a course in safe boating
approved by the National Association of State Boating Law
Administrators.
-
-
Section 3.
1. A person or his agent or employee engaged in the business of
renting or leasing motorboats not exceeding 30 days shall not rent or
lease a motorboat to any person for operation on the waters of this
state unless the person:
(a) Meets the provisions of section 1; and
(b) Is 18 years of age or older.
2. A person or his agent or employees engaged in the business of
renting or leasing motorboats shall list on each rental or lease
agreement for a motorboat the name and age of each person
who is authorized to operate the motorboat. The person to
whom the motorboat is rented or leased shall ensure that only
those persons who are listed as authorized operators are
allowed to operate the motorboat.
3. A person or his agent or employee engaged in the business of
renting or leasing motorboats shall provide to each authorized
operator or a motorboat a summary of the statutes and
regulations governing the operation of a motorboat and
instructions regarding the safe operation of the motorboat.
Each person who is listed as an authorized operator of the
motorboat shall review the summary of the statutes,
regulations and instructions before the motorboat departs from
the rental or leasing office.
Section 4.
The agency may adopt necessary regulations to carry out the
provisions of this act, including provisions for issuance of certificates,
duplicate certificates, record keeping, cooperative agreements, name
and address changes, the establishment of fees for boating safety
courses and certificates and equivalency exam criteria.
-
-
- 5-
NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE
BOATING LAW ADMINISTRATORS
National Boating
Education Standards
With updates as of January 1, 2003
Produced under a grant from the Aquatic Resources
(Wallop-Breaux) Trust Fund
Administered by the U.S. Coast Guard
- 6-
In Memorial of V/CCarl Mahnken
U.S. Power Squadron and Key Member of the
Boating Education Standards Advisory Board
BoatingEducation StandardsAdvisory Board
John Malatak
Fred Messmann
Carl Mahnken
Rod Allen
Dan Maxim
Virgil Chambers
Marty Law
Emily King
Harry Munns
Sarah Barker
U.S. Coast Guard
Education CommitteeChair, NASBLA
U.S. Power Squadron
U.S. Power Squadron
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
National Safe Boating Council
Oregon State Marine Board
Ohio DNR, Division of Watercraft
American Sailing Association
NASBLA Staff
In Consultation and Contract With
The Pennsylvania State University
College of Health and Human Development
School of Management, Restaurant and Recreation Management
by
J. William Hugg
Stuart P. Cottrell
Alan R. Graefe
-
-
National BoatingEducation Standards
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Disclaimer ........................................................................................................................ 100
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators .................................101
Preamble.................................................................................................................................102
The National Boating Education Standards....................................................................... 105
The Boat ..................................................................................................................................105
Standard 1.1 - Boat Capacities........................................................................................... 105
Standard 1.2 - Boat Registration Requirements.............................................................. 105
Boating Equipment................................................................................................................ 106
Standard 2.1 - Personal Flotation Device Types and Carriage .......................................106
Standard 2.2 – Personal Flotation Device Sizing and Availability ..............................106
Standard 2.3 – Wearing Personal Flotation Devices ....................................................... 106
Standard 2.4 - Personal Flotation Device Serviceability ...............................................107
Standard 2.5 - Fire Extinguishers ..................................................................................107
Standard 2.6 - Back-Fire Flame Control Device ............................................................... 107
Standard 2.7 – Ventilation Systems...................................................................................107
Standard 2.8 – Navigation Light Equipment..................................................................... 108
Standard 2.9 - Sound Signaling Equipment ..................................................................... 108
Trip Planning and Preparation ............................................................................................ 109
Standard 3.1 - Checking Local Weather And Water Conditions ................................109
Standard 3.2 - Checking Local Hazards .................................................................... 109
Standard 3.3 - Filing a Float Plan....................................................................................... 109
Standard 3.4 - Boat Preventative Maintenance................................................................ 109
Standard 3.5 – Transporting and Trailering .................................................................. 110
Standard 3.6 - Fueling Procedures.....................................................................................110
Standard 3.7 - Pre-Departure Checklist & Passenger Communication ...................... 110
Marine Environment ....................................................................................................... 111
Standard 4.1 – Environmental Laws and Regulations................................................. 111
Standard 4.2 - Human Waste Disposal ............................................................ 111
Standard 4.3 – Disposal of Toxic Substances ................................................... 111
Safe Boat Operation.............................................................................................................. 112
Standard 5.1 - Operator Responsibilities ...................................................................... 112
Standard 5.2 - Influence of Drugs and Alcohol on Boat Operation ..............................112
Standard 5.3 - Navigation Rules of the Road...................................................................113
Standard 5.4 - Aids to Navigation..................................................................................113
Standard 5.5 - Docking and Mooring ........................................................................114
Standard 5.6 - Anchoring .............................................................................................. 114
- 8-
Emergency Preparedness.......................................................................................................... 115
Standard 6.1 - Rendering Assistance ................................................................................115
Standard 6.2 - Capsizing Emergencies..............................................................................115
Standard 6.3 - Falls Overboard Emergencies ................................................................... 115
Standard 6.4 - Hypothermia Prevention........................................................................ 115
Standard 6.5 - Fire Emergency Preparedness......................................................................116
Standard 6.6 - Running Aground Prevention and Response................................116
Standard 6.7 - Accident Reports ....................................................................................116
Standard 6.8 - Boating Accident Report Form.............................................................. 116
Other Water Activities ................................................................................................ 117
Standard 7.1 – Personal Watercraft and other Jet Propelled Watercraft ..................... 117
Standard 7.2 - Water Skiing...................................................................................... 118
Standard 7.3 - Diving and Snorkeling ...........................................................................119
Standard 7.4 - Hunting & Fishing ..................................................................................119
Boating Education Practices ...........................................................................................120
Standard 8.1 - Continuing Education .................................................................................120
Standard 8.2 - State Specific Boating Information.................................................... 120
Course Format and Testing Requirements ....................................................... 122
Standard 9.1 - Boat Operator Knowledge Course Formats ..........................................122
Standard 9.2 - Boat Operator Knowledge Exams................................................................ 122
Recommended Boating Safety Information............................................................... 124
R1 – Boat Types and Uses .................................................................................................. 124
R2 - Boating Terms ................................................................................................... 124
R3 - Boat Theft Prevention ............................................................................................ 124
R4 - Communication Procedures........................................................................................124
References Consulted........................................................................................................... 125
- 8-
DISCLAIMER
NASBLA and affiliated organizations do not undertake to verify the
continuousadherence by courses or instructors to every applicable standard
or guideline. Nor does the National Association of State Boating Law
Administrators warrant, guarantee, or insure that compliance with these
standards will prevent any or all injury or loss that may be caused by or
associated with any person's use of boats, facilities, equipment, or other
items or activities that are the subjects of these standards; nor does the
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators assume any
responsibility or liability for any such injury or loss.
Further, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators hereby
expressly disclaims any responsibility, liability or duty to affiliated courses,
organizations, instructors, boaters or their families, for any such liability
arising out of injury or loss to any person by the failure of such
organizations, courses, or instructors to adhere to these standards.
Adapted from: American Camping Association. (1998). Accreditation
Standards for Camp Programs and Services. American Camping Association:
Martinsville, IN.
- 100 -
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE
BOATING LAW ADMINISTRATORS
Since its inception, the National Association of State Boating Law
Administrators, Inc. has functioned effectively as the voice of the states and
territories regarding state boating law enforcement and boating safety.
Today, NASBLA coordinates approval of state and private boating education
programs, promotes uniform boating regulations through the adoption of
model acts and policies, develops methods to improve the nation’s boating
accident database, fosters cooperation between the U.S. Coast Guard and the
states, and strives for the general advancement of boating safety. Since the
implementation of the state assistance program, the U.S. Coast Guard has
relied on NASBLA to assist in the efficient and effective management of the
federal funds.
Membership in the association consists of state officials responsible for
administering and/or enforcing state boating laws. "State" means a state of
the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands,
Guam, America Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands and the District of
Columbia. Officers of the association consist of a President, Vice-President,
Secretary-Treasurer, and an executive board composed of the officers, two
other members-at-large, the immediate Past President, and the Presidents of
the three regional boating administrators associations. The Board is
augmented with an Executive Director and an Executive Secretary. Officers
are elected annually and take office on the first day following the conference
at which they were elected, and hold office until the last day of the
conference at which their successors are chosen.
The association is recognized for its stewardship of recreational boating
safety. For more than 35 years, NASBLA has worked closely with the U.S.
Coast Guard, the States and others to insure that the intent of the congress
to promote uniformity, reciprocity and comity among the various states was
given priority. Testimony of this is the many resolutions and model acts that
have been generated by the association. In doing this NASBLA brings to the
table, highly qualified personnel in the fields of boating law enforcement,
education, boating safety and on-the-water search and rescue.
- 101 -
PREAMBLE
The purpose of these standards is to educate boating education professionals
regarding the practices and procedures followed generally within the boating
education community. That purpose is furthered to the extent that the
standards provide a basis for accreditation of boating education courses by
the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). It is
not the intention of The National Association of State Boating Law
Administrators to attempt to include every practice or procedure that might
be desirable or implemented within a boating education course since the
conditions, facilities, and goals of all courses are not identical or uniform.
The accreditation programs of the National Association of State Boating Law
Administrators are designed to be applied only to those boating education
courses that are consistent with the stated definitions and eligibility
requirements. Courses outside of these definitions or criteria are not subject
to our standards and are not considered for accreditation.
Standards Development - NASBLA developed its minimum content for
boating education courses over a decade ago. These standards have served
as a guide for state, non-profit and commercial providers to follow in
developing boating education materials. In July of 1998, NASBLA
contracted with a research team anchored at the Pennsylvania State
University to evaluate the existing guidelines and develop a new minimum
"standard of care" for boating education. This new set of standards is
intended to prescribe the minimum body of knowledge necessary to effect
safe, legal, and enjoyable boating. In addition, the proposed standard of care
is predicated on reducing risk in recreational boating based on empirical
accident and boating violation statistics.
Relevant documents listed in the reference section of this document were
reviewed and interviews were conducted with nationally prominent and
recognized boating educators. A working draft of the standards was written
and submitted to the Standards Advisory Committee for review and
comment. Several more drafts of the standards were completed, each going
through a revision process. In December of 1998, the Penn State team met
with the Standards Advisory Committee for two days of review and
comment. The result of that meeting was a draft set of standards to be
validated and pilot tested in the second phase of the study.
Phase 2 involved three separate tasks carried out between January and
August, 1999. . Task 1 solicited the input of almost 150 boating educators
representing major national boating organizations. This survey asked
boating experts whether or not each proposed standard should be included
as a minimum boating education standard, as well as the relative importance
of each standard. Task 2 involved a review of nine boating education
course/texts using the draft standards. This task used volunteers who
evaluated their own course materials against the standards, along with
independent reviews by the research team and NASBLA representatives. The
purpose of Task 2 was to simulate the NASBLA function of reviewing boating
- 102 -
courses submitted to NASBLA for compliance with each of the National
Boating Education Standards. Task 3 of the evaluation sought to understand
how instructors, presented with the draft standards, dealt with the design,
implementation, and teaching of a boating safety course using these
standards. In this task the purpose was to gain a deeper understanding of
the standards through intensive observations and discussions with boating
educators using the standards. Each of the three tasks was structured to
gain information that would be useful in revising the standards.
Briefly, the results of these three tasks showed a strong consensus among
boating educators that the draft standards represent the minimum
information that should be taught in an eight hour boating safety course.
The evaluation uncovered several standards that should be moved from the
recommended section to the required section. Also, there were many
wording changes that increased the clarity of the standard or illuminated
aspects of the standard not emphasized in the previous draft. The
information gathered in this evaluation is extensive and is summarized in a
separate detailed
report submitted to NASBLA. The final step in the standards development
process was another full day meeting with the Standards Advisory
Committee to review the phase 2 findings and resulting standards. The
current document presents the final standards, as approved by the Standards
Advisory Board, approved by the Education Committee and overall
membership of NASBLA on September 22, 1999.
Intended Audience - These standards were developed for use by boating
education course instructors, boating education text authors, and other
boating education professionals who intend to submit course materials for
NASBLA review and accreditation. It is anticipated that materials submitted
for NASBLA course accreditation based on these standards will require less
revisions than similar materials submitted in the past. It is hoped that this
document will clearly communicate with prospective authors what must be
included to provide a minimum standard of care, resulting in a more efficient
course review process.
Applicability and Definitions - These standards apply to courses for
operators of recreational motorized boats and sailboats. It is recognized that
there are different types of boating courses with different target audiences.
These standards identify the core topics that must be covered in most
courses, and this single set of standards replaces NASBLA’s previous
separate standards for general boating courses and PWC courses.
The standards use the term, "course," to refer to all components of a boating
education course, including instruction, texts, supplemental materials, and
tests. A boating course may be presented in various formats, including
classroom instruction, home study, video, distance learning, CD-ROM, or any
combination of these formats. "Boat" is used to refer to all types of
recreational watercraft. It is expected that any unique words or terminology
used in courses submitted will be clearly defined in the course materials.
- 10 -
MINIMUM Standards - These standards were intended to convey to
organizations and individuals the minimumbodyof knowledge that must be
included in a short, 6-8 hour, boating education course. Instructors, text
authors, boating professionals, and organizations are encouraged to go
beyond the standards when in their judgment and experience it assists the
boat operator to boat more safely. In addition, the standards are intended to
show just the minimum content of the course materials, not the sequence or
organization of the material. Although the standards are organized in a
particular way, course/text developers are welcome to organize their
information as they prefer.
Required Materials for NASBLAReview - It is assumed that the standards
will be met in various ways and that materials submitted to NASBLA may
include course texts, supplemental texts, instructor guidelines or outlines,
and handout materials. State-specific and localized information that is
relevant to the particular course audience may be provided through any of
these media (see standard 8.2 for the required content of this material). To
assist in the determination of whether the standards are met, the learning
objectives and exams must be included in the package of materials submitted
to NASBLA for review.
Accuracy Requirement – It is mandatory that all information contained in
course materials receiving NASBLA accreditation be factually correct.
StandardsRevision - At this point in time procedures for the revision of the
National Boating Education Standards are being developed. It is expected
that any new proposed standards or revisions to the standards will be
subject to the same rigorous review that the present standards have
undergone.
- 10 -
THE NATIONAL BOATING EDUCATION STANDARDS
NASBLA ACCREDITED BOATING EDUCATION COURSES
AND TEXTSWILLADDRESSAT LEAST THE
FOLLOWING MINIMUM STANDARDS.
THE BOAT
Standard 1.1 - Boat Capacities
The course will describe how to determine acceptable loading based on
locating and determining a boat’s gross load capacity (total weight and #
persons) from the boat capacity plateand horsepower recommendations.
Rationale - A boat operator must be able to avoid capsizing situations by
adhering to boat capacity limits and properly distributing the
weight in the boat for safe operation. Coast Guard accident
statistics indicate that capsizing was the leading cause of boater
fatalities in the last five years. Many capsizing incidents have
resulted from overloaded boats.
Standard 1.2 - Boat Registration Requirements
The course will describe:
1. that all motorized boats and many other boats are required to be
registered (check state requirements),
2. requirements for hull identification number,
3. the required certificate of number (registration documentation), and
external display of numbers,
4. the requirements for federally documented vessels,
5. reciprocity regulations, and
6. registration requirements in the boat’s state of principal use.
Rationale - In a recent survey of state boating law administrators (NASBLA
1998), 20% of boating citations were due to improper display of
vessel registration numbers. Understanding the legal
requirements for boat registration will help boaters to avoid
unnecessary violations and resulting fines.
- 105 -
BOATING EQUIPMENT
Standard 2.1 - Personal Flotation Device Types andCarriage
The course will describe the types of Coast Guard approved personal
flotation devices (PFDs) and their respective uses, advantages, and
disadvantages. The course will also describe the number and types of PFDs
that must be carried on the boat according to applicable regulations.
Rationale - U. S. Coast Guard statistics consistently show that at least 85%
of the people who died in boating accidents were not wearing
PFDs. Nationally, carrying improper PFDs for the number and
types of passengers on board is the second highest category of
citations issued to boaters. Special attention must be given to
the use of hybrid Type 5 inflatable PFDs and special restrictions
for totally inflatable PFDs.
Standard 2.2 – Personal Flotation Device Sizing andAvailability
The course will communicate that PFDs must be readily accessible and
correctly sized for the persons using them.
Rationale - Capsizing and falls overboard accounted for 488 fatalities in
1997 – nearly 60% of all boating fatalities. Proper use of PFDs
is essential for boater safety. The participant needs to
understand how to adjust PFDs of various types and styles for
themselves and other passengers.
Standard 2.3 – Wearing Personal Flotation Devices
The course must inform boat operators of the advisability of wearing PFDs
at all times. The course must emphasize the need for boat operators to be
alert to changing boating conditions and to inform all persons on board they
should be wearing PFDs in dangerous conditions such as high boat traffic,
severe weather, dangerous water conditions, dangerous local hazards,
distance from shore, operation at night, boating alone, etc. The course will
address the difficulty of putting PFDs on in the water.
Rationale - Nine out of 10 drowning victims in 1997 were not wearing
lifejackets. It is essential that boater safety education repeatedly
emphasize the importance of wearing PFDs, along with constant
vigilance and attention to changing conditions and adapting
behavior to those conditions. Hazardous waters and weather are
major causes of deaths in boating accidents. In 1997 these two
factors caused nine percent of reported boating accidents but
accounted for 21% of all boating fatalities.
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Standard 2.4 - Personal Flotation Device Serviceability
The course will describe the characteristics of serviceable (good) PFDs and
when to replace PFDs due to excessive wear or damage. Special attention
must be given to the maintenance of inflatable PFDs as per manufacturer
recommendations.
Rationale - PFDs are often subjected to rough handling, ultra violet sunlight,
and improper storage. These conditions reduce the ability of the
PFD to perform its intended function. The operator should be
able to distinguish serviceable PFDs and identify the key
conditions that necessitate replacing the PFD. Regular
maintenance checks are essential to ensure the proper
functioning of all PFDs and especially the inflatable PFD.
Standard 2.5 - Fire Extinguishers
The course will describe the legal requirements for fire extinguishers on
recreational boats, the kind of fire extinguishers needed for different types of
fires, the importance of placing fire extinguishers in a readily accessible
location, and the need for regular inspection of fire extinguishers.
Rationale - U.S. Coast Guard requirements specify the number and types of
fire extinguishers that must be carried for class "B" fires on boats
of various sizes. Boat operators must be able to respond quickly
in the event of fire. Anticipating the emergency by outfitting the
vessel with the appropriate equipment and understanding how to
use it reduces exposure to danger.
Standard 2.6 - Back-Fire Flame Control Device
The course will describe the purpose and maintenance of a back-fire flame
control device (a required device on all enclosed engines with a carburetor).
Rationale - The U. S. Coast Guard requires that boats with gasoline engines
be equipped with an acceptable means of backfire flame control.
Standard 2.7 – Ventilation Systems
The course will discuss the ventilation system requirements for different
types of boats.
Rationale - The U. S. Coast Guard requires that all recreational boats which
"use gasoline engines for electrical generation, mechanical power
or propulsion" must be equipped with a ventilation system.
Gasoline vapors can collect in the bilge and explode. "Boat
owners are responsible for keeping their boats’ ventilation in
operating condition."
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Standard 2.8 – NavigationLight Equipment
The course will cover the navigation light requirements for recreational boats
from applicable sections of Navigation Rules (Part C) as summarized in
Federal Requirements and Safety Tips for Recreational Boats. (Also see
standard 5.3.7)
Rationale - Recreational boats are required to display navigation lights
between sunset and sunrise and during periods of reduced
visibility. Boating accident statistics indicate that nighttime
collisions account for a significant proportion of total boat
collisions. Boat operators who know and follow navigation and
anchorage light requirements can help reduce nighttime
collisions. Many of the navigation rules are devoted to
navigation lights. The Coast Guard pamphlet, Federal
Requirements and Safety Tips for Recreational Boats, provides a
summary of the most relevant lighting requirements for
recreational boaters.
Standard 2.9 - SoundSignalingEquipment
The course will describe the types and use of sound producing devices
required on recreational boats. (Also see standard 5.3.6)
Rationale - Sound devices are required equipment on recreational boats. In
certain boating conditions, boat operators must be able to alert
other boats to their presence or operation intentions. The
number one type of reported boating accident is "collision with
another vessel," underscoring the importance of carrying the
appropriate sound warning equipment on board.
Also see Standard 5.3.10 – Visual Distress Signals
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TRIP PLANNING AND PREPARATION
Standard 3.1 - Checking Local Weather And WaterConditions
The course will describe how to make informed boating decisions based on
forecasted local weather and water conditions. It will also describe
dangerous weather conditions such as strong wind, storms, lightning,
hurricanes, fog, and their importance in trip planning.
Rationale - Capsizing continues to be reported as one of the leading or
contributing causes of boater fatalities. Boat operators must be
able to use weather information to make judgments about
probable water conditions and decisions about whether to
continue with the float plan. Often poor weather in combination
with other unexpected emergencies accelerates the danger to boat
operators and their passengers.
Standard 3.2 - Checking Local Hazards
The course will describe how to obtain information about local hazards that
may impede the operation of a recreational boat.
Rationale - Boating accidents continue to indicate that a lack of
understanding of local conditions contributes to boating
fatalities. Hazards requiring special attention include: low-head
dams, rapids, sudden winds, tides, currents, white water,
overhead cables, bridges, waves, and heavy boating traffic.
Standard 3.3 - Filing a Float Plan
The course will describe the importance of notifying someone of your
boating plans and the basic information that should be included.
Rationale - In the event of an accident, rescue authorities can respond much
faster and in a more focused way if a float plan has detailed
information about the expected destination, boat description,
course, time of departure, and time of expected return.
Standard 3.4 - Boat Preventive Maintenance
The course will communicate the need for regular inspection and
maintenance of the boat and its key components (e.g., through-hull fittings,
motor, electrical system, fuel system).
Rationale - Keeping a boat in good working order is as much a part of the
boating experience as boating itself. Almost all elements of
safety revolve around the fact that the boat has been maintained
and all its parts and systems are able to perform as they were
designed. Negligence in this area will eventually lead to an
unsafe or disastrous experience. In the last few years, 27% of
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vessels in reported accidents involved boat
equipment/maintenance related factors. In addition, 34% of
boating citations issued were due to boat equipment-related
violations.
Standard 3.5 – Transporting and Trailering
The course will describe procedures to prevent trailering accidents and
resulting injury and property damage. The course will cover safe trailering
procedures including: 1) safe towing preparation, 2) road handling factors
when pulling a trailer, 3) launching a boat, and 4) retrieving a boat from the
water.
Rationale - The majority of recreational boats in the U.S. are trailered to and
from the water. A boat trailer is one part of the entire boating
package, which includes boat, trailer, hitch, and towing vehicle.
Neglecting the trailer’s maintenance can result in damage to a
boat, the towing vehicle, or both, as well as create a hazard for
other boats and vehicles.
Standard 3.6 - Fueling Procedures
The course will provide information on proper procedures for fueling,
ventilation during fueling, and protection of the marine environment during
fueling.
Rationale - Gasoline and gasoline vapors are extremely explosive. Ignition
of spilled fuel or vapors continues to cause boating accidents,
injuries, and fatalities. Following safe fueling procedures
reduces the opportunity for gasoline explosions.
Standard 3.7 - Pre-Departure Checklist & Passenger Communication
The course must describe the importance of using a pre-departure checklist
and conducting an onboard safety discussion with passengers. Passengers
should be informed about the location of PFDs, fire extinguishers, flares,
first-aid kit, discharge and management of waste procedures, anchoring
procedures, emergency radio operation (if applicable), storm/rough weather
procedures, line handling, emergency boat operation, and falls overboard
procedure.
Rationale - The mental and physical rehearsal of procedures for various
boating emergencies can reduce the time passengers, crew and
operators are exposed to dangerous conditions and increase the
efficiency of rescue operations. Boat operators should inform
passengers of relevant safety information to prevent accidents,
increase safety, and reduce response time in the event of an
emergency.
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MARINE ENVIRONMENT
Standard 4.1 – Environmental Laws and Regulations
The course will describe the environmental laws and regulations concerning
littering (e.g., garbage and plastic), waste management plans, and display of
information placards (where applicable) and aquatic nuisance species.
Rationale - Boat operators should remember that water pollution ruins not
only the aesthetic beauty of the area, but harms human life,
marine life and damages boating equipment. The degree and
amount of garbage adrift on our coastal waterways continues to
increase. Plastic, which many species mistake as food, is a big
threat to marine life. Birds are found entangled in plastic rings,
fishing line, or nets. Various federal and state laws prohibit
throwing, discharging or depositing any sort of refuse matter in
the waters of the U.S. Other acts require boats of various sizes
to display placards and keep records of their refuse disposal. A
person who violates any of the requirements is liable to civil
penalties, fines, and imprisonment. Regional, state, and local
laws may also have specific restrictions on refuse disposal.
The spread of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) by recreational
boaters is an increasing concern across the country. Milfoil, zebra
mussels, and other ANSare being increasingly regulated by states
to prevent their spread, with specific regional, state and local laws.
Standard 4.2 - Human Waste Disposal
The course will describe the proper procedure for disposal of human waste
from recreational boats and how to identify no discharge zones and pumpout
station locations.
Rationale - It is illegal to discharge raw sewage from a vessel within
territorial waters (within the three-mile limit), the Great Lakes,
and navigable rivers. Recreational boats are not required to be
equipped with a toilet. However, the Clean Water Act requires
that, if a toilet is installed, it must be equipped with a Coast
Guard approved and operable Marine Sanitation Device (MSD).
Standard 4.3 – Disposal of Toxic Substances
The course will describe procedures for the prevention of spills and improper
disposal of toxic substances such as fuels, oils, and cleaning products into
the marine environment and the associated fines for non-compliance.
Rationale - Oil residue tends to build up in the bilges of boats and can easily
be discharged directly in the water. The federal Water Pollution
Control Act prohibits the discharge of oil or hazardous
substances into navigable waters. Powerboats must have the
capacity to retain oily mixtures on board and to transfer them to
an approved reception facility.
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SAFE BOAT OPERATION
Standard 5.1 - Operator Responsibilities
The course will describe a boat operator’s ultimate responsibility for safety
and all activity aboard the boat. This responsibility extends to other water
users and includes: controlling boat speed, obeying no wake/limited wake
restrictions, refraining from careless, reckless, or negligent operations on the
water, controlling boat noise, observing and operating in accordance with
homeland security measures, and other general boater courtesy.
Rationale - Boaters need to respect the rights of other people who live,
recreate, or work on the water. Approximately 80% of all
reported boating accidents involve operator controllable factors.
The most common types of such factors include operator
inattention or carelessness, operator inexperience, excessive
speed, and failure to maintain a proper lookout. According to
the Nighttime Boating Accident & Fatality Study, operator error is
to blame for the majority of nighttime boating accidents and
fatalities.
Negligent operation of a recreational boat which endangers lives
or property is illegal. Nationally, 32% of boating citations in
recent years were due to improper boat handling (e.g., negligent
operation, excessive speed, operating in restricted areas, no
wake area violations, collisions, going too fast at night, etc.).
In light of new security measures brought about by the events of
September 11, 2001, it is critical that all boaters be aware of and
comply with new homeland security measures set forth by
federal, state and local governments. These should include, but
are not limited to, keeping a safe prescribed distance from
military and commercial ships and avoiding commercial port
operations areas, observing all security zones, following
guidelines for appropriate conduct such as not stopping or
anchoring beneath bridges or in a channel, and observing and
reporting suspicious activity to proper authorities.
Standard 5.2 - Influence of DrugsandAlcohol onBoat Operation
The course will describe the effects of drinking alcohol or using drugs while
boating, and the boating laws pertinent to operating a boat while under the
influence.
Rationale - One-third of all boating fatalities are drug or alcohol related. It is
illegal to operate a boat while under the influence of such
substances. Further, according to the Nighttime Boating
Accident & Fatality Study, alcohol was by far the leading
contributing cause (53%) of nighttime boating accidents and
fatalities.
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Standard 5.3 - Navigation Rules of the Road
The course will describe safe boating operation and good seamanship,
including at least the following navigation rules:
5.3.1 -
Definitions relevant to understanding the navigation rules
[Navigation Rule 3]
5.3.2 – Rule of responsibility (to act in a reasonable and prudent manner
consistent with the ordinary practices of recreational boating)
[Navigation Rule 2]
5.3.3 – Proper lookout [Navigation Rule 5]
5.3.4 – Safe speed [Navigation Rule 6]
5.3.5 – Collision avoidance rules [Navigation Rules 7, 8, 11-18]
5.3.6 – Operation within narrow channels [Navigation Rule 9]
5.3.7 – Sound signals [Navigation Rules 32-37]
5.3.8 – Navigation light display and recognition [Navigation Rules 20-25]
5.3.9 – Restricted visibility [Navigation Rule 19]
5.3.10 – Visual distress signals [Navigation Rules 36-37]
5.3.11 – Rendering Assistance [Chapter 23]
Rationale - According to 1997 boating accident statistics, "collision with
another vessel" was the most reported type of accident, resulting
in 1,309 injuries, 80 fatalities, and 7.3 million dollars in property
damage. "Excessive speed" and "no proper lookout" were the
third and fourth most common factors in boating accidents
involving operator controllable factors. The Navigation Rules
were designed to reduce accidents by standardizing boat
navigation. Various laws require recreational boaters to operate
according to established rules such as those mentioned above.
More than two-thirds of boating accidents involving operator
controllable factors are caused by violations of one or more of
these navigation rules.
Standard 5.4 - Aids to Navigation
The course will describe the Federal U.S. Aids to Navigation (USATONS) and
the Uniform State Waterway Marking System (USWMS). The course must
provide information about regulatory/informational markers (identified by
orange bands on the top and bottom of each buoy) used to advise of
situations, dangers, or directions indicating shoals, swim areas, speed zones,
etc.
Rationale - Citations are regularly issued due to failure to obey regulatory
markers. In order to navigate safely from place to place on the
water, boat operators must depend on road signs just as we do
on land. Aids to navigation are the road signs of the water.
There are two systems of marking the waterways in the United
States – U.S. Aids to Navigation (USATONS) and the Uniform
State Waterway Marking System (USWMS). USATONS is a
system prescribing regulatory markers and aids to navigation
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that mark navigable waters of the United States. USWMS is a
system that prescribes regulatory markers and aids to navigation
for navigable state waters. The USWMS may also mark the nonnavigable internal waters of a state.
Note: Effective July 20, 1998, the United States Coast Guard
commenced a five-year phased-in merger of the Uniform State
Waterway Marking System with the United States Aids to
Navigation System. This merger eliminates distinctions between
the two systems and will ultimately create safer, less confusing
waterways.
Standard 5.5 - Docking and Mooring
The course will describe commonpractices for docking and mooring a boat
relative to boat size, type of boat, location, weather, and current.
Rationale - Significant boat/property damage, accidents and injuries result
from docking and mooring of boats in marinas and boat ramp
areas, particularly in adverse weather conditions. Docking
techniques vary depending on wind, current, location, degree of
boat traffic in the harbor, type of boat, size of boat and
skills/abilities of the boater and crew.
Standard 5.6 - Anchoring
The course will describe commonpractices for docking and mooring a boat
relative to boat size, type of boat, location, weather, and current.
Rationale - Anchoring skills and decisions of where to anchor can make the
difference between a successful or unsuccessful boating
experience. Significant property and environmental damage can
occur when improperly anchored boats slip anchor and drift into
reefs, boats, marinas, or run aground.
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EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Standard 6.1 - RenderingAssistance
The course will explain that, according to the Navigation Rules, boat
operators are required to render assistance to a boat in distress to the extent
they are able. (Also see standard 5.3.11)
Rationale - In the event of an emergency, individuals in charge of a vessel
are required to provide assistance so far as they can do so
without serious danger to their own vessel or the individuals on
board their vessel. Assistance from other boaters can reduce
the loss of life, injury or property damage resulting from boating
accidents.
Standard 6.2 - CapsizingEmergencies
The course will describe how to prevent and respond to capsizing
emergencies. These responses will include at least the following: donning
lifejackets, taking a head count, staying with the craft when appropriate,
signaling for assistance, using improvised floating aids, and initiation of
procedures to recover people in the water.
Rationale - Every year, capsizing emergencies are the leading cause of
boating fatalities. More significantly, in nearly half of the
capsizing emergencies there was at least one fatality. These
statistics underscore the need for boater education courses to
stress the proper response/action in a capsizing emergency.
Standard 6.3 - Falls Overboard Emergencies
The course will describe procedures for preventing and responding to fallsoverboard, including the proper response of persons on board for retrieval of
a person in the water.
Rationale - Falls overboard are the second leading cause of boating
fatalities. In 1997, 30% of total boating fatalities (243 deaths)
resulted from falls overboard situations. Overloading, passenger
movement on smaller crafts, and standing up contribute to manyof
the falls overboardaccidents.
Standard 6.4 - Hypothermia Prevention
The course will describe the conditions under which hypothermia is likely to
occur as well as its signs, symptoms, and prevention.
Rationale - Boaters have a much greater risk of dying when involved in a
cold water immersion accident. Boaters’ risk of dying increases
with colder water temperatures. Sportsmen who hunt or fish
from boats in cold weather are at greater risk of fatalities from
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capsizing or falling overboard. Water temperature varies by
season and location.
Standard 6.5 - Fire EmergencyPreparedness
The course will describe procedures to prevent and respond to boating fires
such as proper use of fire extinguishers and basic knowledge of fire
suppression principles.
Rationale - The potential for catastrophic emergencies from fire requires that
boat operators take measures to prevent and be prepared to deal
quickly and efficiently with fires. A key to understanding fire
suppression is to know that eliminating one of the fire’s key
ingredients, fuel, oxygen, or heat, can extinguish the fire.
Standard 6.6 - RunningAgroundPrevention and Response
The course will describe how to prevent and respond to running aground for
recreational boats.
Rationale - In 1997, groundings accounted for 15 fatalities, 217 injuries, and
$1.3 million in property damage. Preventing running aground is
an important boat operator competence. Following proper
procedures in the event of a grounding can reduce or minimize
fatalities, boat damage, submerged object damage, and
responses by public and private entities for salvage operations.
Standard 6.7 - Accident Reports
The course will describe what kinds of boating accidents require an accident
report as well as how, when, and where to file the report.
Rationale - Accident reports are legally required when the accident involves:
1) loss of life; or 2) personal injury requiring medical treatment
beyond first aid; or 3) property damage in excess of $500.00; or
4) complete loss of the boat. Proper filing of accident reports
provides information that can be used to assist boating safety
professionals to address the most serious concerns to boater
safety.
Standard 6.8 - BoatingAccident Report Form
The course will include a sample accident report form, which can be included
in the textbook or as a separate handout.
Rationale - U.S. Coast Guard reports indicate that only 5 to 10 percent of
non-fatal boating accidents are reported. Most accidents are not
reported because of ignorance of the law and difficulty in
enforcing the law. Every effort to assist boaters to report
accidents may increase the rate of compliance in reporting
accidents.
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OTHER WATER ACTIVITIES
Standard 7.1 – Personal Watercraft andother Jet Propelled Watercraft
The course will state that a Personal Watercraft is defined as a boat and must
observe all boating regulations. It must describe the unique characteristics
of Personal Watercraft (PWC), including at least the following topics:
7.1.1 – Operational characteristics of PWCs , including steering, stopping
and stability of PWC
7.1.2 – Off- throttle steering
7.1.3 – PWC load capacities as per manufacturer recommendations
7.1.4 – Re-boarding a PWC
7.1.5 – The purpose and use of a Lanyard/Cut (Shut) off switch
7.1.6 – The purpose and use of a fuel reserve tank
7.1.7 – Laws and regulations
7.1.8 – Accident prevention
7.1.9 – Noise control
7.1.10 – Hours of operation
Rationale - Recreational boaters share waterways with personal watercraft
or may themselves be operators of personal watercraft.
Understanding the handling characteristics of personal watercraft
can help keep adequate navigational distances to limit collisions
and fatalities. PWC sales are growing faster than any other type
of recreational boat, accounting for 30% of all sales. Of the
4,555 injuries from boating accidents in 1997, 40% involved
personal watercraft. In addition, 27 more fatalities were reported
with the use of PWCs in 1997 than in 1996, for an all time high
of 84 fatalities. For these reasons, special attention needs to be
addressed to PWC accident prevention.
Each PWC model has its own unique characteristics. New
operators must read their owner's manual to understand the
characteristics of their particular PWC. Knowing how to
effectively handle a PWC also takes practice. New operators
should practice their skills with an experienced operator who can
guide them on controlling the PWC and making safe boating
decisions.
PWCs operate differently than other boats. Releasing the throttle
completely eliminates the ability to steer the craft. This is an
important operating characteristic that is difficult for novice
operators to conceive, particularly in situations of potential
collisions.
PWC are highly maneuverable. The jet drive propulsion system is
extremely responsive to slight turns of the handlebars. The
responsiveness in maneuvering encourages operators of PWCs
to try unusual stunts. These actions can push the operators to
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attempt maneuvers that are dangerous and beyond the safe
operation of the PWC.
Operators must be able to re-board the PWC in deep water after
falling off. This is most easily done from the rear (stern) of the
craft. This maneuver is more challenging when the operator is
tired. The weight of the person re-boarding and the stability of
the model PWC being used also affect the ease of re-boarding.
Many states and local areas have laws and regulations specific to
PWC operation and safety, including laws that deal with the
preservation of the environment. Operators must understand
these regulations in order to boat safely and legally.
PWC have special operating concerns that relate to the type of
accidents these craft are most commonly involved in. A review
of these accidents and how they could be prevented should be
provided. For example, a proper lookout must be maintained
when turning (look all around and behind before turning). Many
accidents involving PWCs are caused by operators who do not
own the PWC.
Making excessive noise is one way to make PWC presence on
the water unpopular. PWC operators should avoid operating
continuously in one area and should stay a reasonable distance
from home and cottage owners trying to relax and enjoy the
waterfront.
PWCs are not equipped with lights and, according to
manufacturer recommendations, are not intended for nighttime
use. Many states and localities further limit the hours of
operation of PWCs.
Standard 7.2 - Water Skiing
The course will describe procedures to follow when pulling water-skiers or
operating in the vicinity of water-skiing or other activities using towed devices.
Rationale - The forces generated by water skiers and their possible
trajectory in a fall necessitate that each boat maintain as much
distance as possible with a minimum of a 200-foot wide "skicorridor" (100 feet on either side of the boat). "Skier mishaps"
constituted the fifth most common type of boating accident as
measured by total boats involved (445 boats in 1997) and
injuries were reported in all but one of these accidents.
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Standard 7.3 - Diving and Snorkeling
The course will describe how to recognize a diver down flag and the legal
requirements for operating a boat in the vicinity of snorkeling or scuba diving
activities.
Rationale - Recreational boats can present a hazard to divers in the water.
Federal and state navigation rules may require that diving flags
be displayed during diving activities. Flags can help prevent
injuries by informing boat operators to keep a respectful
distance.
Standard 7.4 - Hunting & Fishing
The course will inform people who fish and hunt from boats that they are
boaters and need to follow safe boating practices. Information must be
provided about accident risks unique to this group of recreational boaters.
Rationale - Fishermen and hunters often don’t consider themselves boaters
and thus pay little attention to learning and observing boating
safety rules. In a recent survey, 50% of those who purchased
boats say they bought them to go fishing. Approximately onethird of national boating fatalities occurred while people were
fishing from a boat. Likewise, more hunters die each year from
drowning and the effects of hypothermia than from gunshot
wounds. Many water-based hunting and fishing accidents occur
when a hunter reaches for a decoy, or the boat capsizes from an
unbalanced load, or a person falls overboard while standing up.
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BOATING EDUCATION PRACTICES
Standard 8.1 - ContinuingEducation
The course will outline the need for additional boating safety education and
staying informed of changes in boating safety requirements.
Rationale - It is important for boat operators to understand that one of their
responsibilities is to keep up-to-date with new developments in
boating laws and safety information. State laws vary with regard
to licensing, equipment requirements, accident reporting
procedures, etc. Boating equipment and safety information
available to boat operators is constantly changing and
improving. Boat operators who stay abreast of these changes
will be ready for new situations, thus improving their own
boating enjoyment as well as the safety of all boating
participants.
Standard 8.2 - State Specific Boating Information
The course will contain (as part of the text or a separate handout) state
specific information in regard to boating laws/regulations and local boating
conditions. The course will include the following topicsas applicable:
8.2.1 - registrationand titling requirements suchas number of years registration
decals are valid, expiration date of registration, decal placement.
8.2.2 - laws for required wearing of PFD’s for children, certain types of boats, and
for special boatingactivities suchas personal watercraft, skiers and others
being towed.
8.2.3 - additional equipment requirements suchas anchor, lanyard, bailing devices,
visual distress signals.
8.2.4 - mufflers and noise levels.
8.2.5 - requirements for waste discharge, no dischargezones, and litter laws.
8.2.6 - special requirements for mandatory education, licensing, rental operation,
and proficiency test certifications.
8.2.7 - age/horsepower restrictionsandadult supervision requirements for
children.
8.2.8 - laws further defining careless, reckless, unsafe, and negligent operations
suchas becomingairborneand operating less than specified distances
behinda water skier.
8.2.9 - boat speed limits and operation in zoned and restricted areas.
8.2.10 - laws on operating under the influence of drugsandalcohol suchas implied
consent andBAC levels.
8.2.11 - law enforcement officer authority and boater responsibility to comply.
8.2.12 - boat accident reporting requirements.
8.2.13 - a stateapproved boatingaccident report form.
8.2.14 - other laws or regulationsas required by the stateapprovingauthority.
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Rationale - Although course materials intended for national distribution do
not need to include state specific information, it is assumed that
sponsoring boating organizations have procedures in place to
assure that instructors provide supplemental materials and
instruction to meet the intent of this requirement. For state
courses, the relevant state specific information must be included in
the course materials.
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COURSE FORMAT AND TESTING REQUIREMENTS
Standard 9.1 – Boat Operator Knowledge Course Formats
The course submitted for NASBLA review may be in any format that meets
the standards as long as it can be reviewed easily by NASBLA. These may
include but are not limited to classroom instruction, distance learning, or
self-study programs.
Rationale - After extensive review of the relevant educational research
literature, the overwhelming body of research suggests that there
are significant differences in knowledge acquisition between
traditional classroom formats and distance learning or self-study
programs. Distance learning is thought of here as a wide range
of learning formats usually involving the use of technology that
includes Internet courses, tele-conferencing, and interactive
video. Self-study programs can be home study courses and are
usually thought of as an individual taking the initiative to learn
material at their own pace. Consultations with researchers in the
field confirmed that boat operator knowledge could be learned in
many ways.
Any well designed course format for learning boat operator
knowledge that results in the individual acquiring the essential
knowledge is appropriate to submit for NASBLA review.
Standard 9.2 – Boat Operator Knowledge Exams
In order to receive NASBLA approval, all exams, whether administered as
part of a course of study or as independent exams, must be submitted for
review.
9.2.1 – The exam must be well designed and comprehensive in covering
NASBLA’s standards for boat operator knowledge. Well designed
comprehensive exams assess boat operator knowledge equally well as an
independent exam or as an exam at theend of a course.
Rationale - Well-designed comprehensive exams, whether administered as
part of a course of study or independently as a challenge test,
are equal. Experts in educational testing recommend that once
exam standards are established and an exam constructed, then
that exam equally measures boat operator knowledge however it
was obtained. A well designed exam has a variety of types of
questions and covers the entire body of knowledge as outlined
by the National Boating Education Standards. Certain standards
carry more importance and should receive more attention within
the exam. At first, NASBLA will use experienced boating
educators to review exams to determine validity and will
eventually consider adopting additional review procedures that
will increase the quality of boat operator knowledge exams
nationwide.
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9.2.2 – Each exam submitted for review must be accompanied with a plan
that explains how the test administrator will seek to maintain exam integrity.
The plan must address security issues commensurate with the purpose of
the test and perceived opportunity to commit exam fraud.
Rationale - It is essential that test security be designed to be appropriate for
the exam purpose and the context of the test. Exam security
plans might address procedures such as: confirming the identity
of the test taker, randomizing test items, using different versions
of an exam, observing test takers during the exam, protecting
the security of the test item answers, using distinctive, hard to
duplicate certificates, maintaining test taker records, etc. Rather
than mandate a single exam security procedure for all
examinations regardless of format or context, reviewing exam
security plans provides NASBLA with the opportunity to
determine appropriate levels of security for varying levels of
exam circumstances. Exam security can be thought of as an
escalating series of procedures that respond in kind to potential
threats to exam integrity. Experienced boating education experts
that are asked to review exam security plans will determine these
judgements.
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RECOMMENDED BOATING SAFETY INFORMATION
The following items contain recommended course content but are not
considered part of the minimum standards for boater education courses.
R1 – Boat Types and Uses
The course should describe the common types of recreational boats,
commonhull designs, and their performance in various types of boating
situations.
Rationale - Boat operators should understand the handling characteristics of
various boat types so as to match the boat to the water and
planned activity. Boat performance characteristics as determined
by design features should be known to a boat operator and
factored into their boating decisions.
R2 - BoatingTerms
The course should describe commonly used boating terms in addition to
those terms required to follow the Navigation Rules. (see also standard
5.3.1).
Rationale - Knowing commonboating terms could save time and confusion
in the event of an emergency by enabling boat operators to
secure the situation efficiently and communicate clearly.
R3 - Boat Theft Prevention
The course should contain information that addresses actions the boat owner
can take to deter or prevent boat theft.
Rationale - Statistics indicate that boat theft is increasing. Boat owners can
deter theft and assist law enforcement authorities through their
actions and observations.
R4 - Communication Procedures
The course should describe the protocol and use of VHF marine radios and
other equipment for contacting the Coast Guard or other rescue personnel in
the event of a boating emergency.
Rationale - In the event of an emergency the boat operator must be able to
respond quickly and communicate his or her situation to relevant
authorities. Understanding how to use marine communication
procedures is an essential element of responding to
emergencies.
- 12 -
References Consulted
BOAT/U.S. Foundation for Boating Safety. (1995). Nighttime Boating Accident and Fatality
Study. Alexandria, VA.
Canadian Coast Guard. (1997). Boating Safety Course Standards Draft Report.
Ottawa, Canada.
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. (1998). Boating Basics: A Guide to
Responsible Boating. Outdoor Empire Publishing, Inc.: Seattle, WA.
Florida Marine Patrol & Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. How to Boat Smart: Florida
Boating Safety Course. Tallahassee, FL.
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. Minimum Standards for Boating
Safety Education. Lexington, KY.
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. Reference Guide to State Boating
Laws
National Safe Boating Council. Basic Boating Sample Lesson Plan Program Guidelines.
Delaware, OH.
National Transportation Safety Board. Safety Study - Personal Watercraft Safety. NTSB/SS98/01. Washington, D.C.
National Transportation Safety Board. (1993). Safety Study - Recreational Boating Safety.
NTSB/SS-93/01. Washington, D.C.
U.S Coast Guard Auxiliary. (1996). Skipper’s Safe Boating Course. Mosby Lifeline:
St. Louis, MO.
U.S Coast Guard Auxiliary. (1997). Boating Safety. Mosby Lifeline: St. Louis, MO.
U. S. Coast Guard & National Recreation and Park Association. (1995). Boating Fundamentals:
A Manual for Safe Boating. Arlington, VA.
U.S.D.O.T. United States Coast Guard. (1990). Navigation Rules: International – Inland
(COMDTINSTM16672.2B). U. S. Government Printing Office: Washington, D. C.
U.S.D.O.T United States Coast Guard. (1994). Federal Requirements and Safety Tips for
Recreational Boats. U. S. Government Printing Office: Washington, D. C.
U.S.D.O.T. United States Coast Guard. (1997). Boating Statistics - 1997. Preliminary Draft.
Washington, D.C.
U.S.D.O.T. United States Coast Guard. (1996). Boating Statistics - 1996. COMDTPUB
P16754.10. Washington, D.C.
U.S.D.O.T. United States Coast Guard. (1995). Boating Statistics - 1995. COMDTPUB
P16754.9. Washington, D.C.
U.S.D.O.T. United States Coast Guard. (1994). Boating Statistics - 1994. COMDTPUB
P16754.8. Washington, D.C.
United States Power Squadrons. (1997). The Squadron Boating Course. Raleigh, NC.
United States Power Squadrons. (1997). Boat Smart. Raleigh, NC.
Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (1998). Recreational Boat Manufacturing Compliance
WorkshopReport. Research Triangle Park, NC.
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SURVEY I N S T R U M E N T
National Association of StateBoating Law Administrators
Mandatory Education Survey
May 2002
Please return this survey by June 24, 2002 to:
Sarah Barker
NASBLA
1500 LeestownRoad, Suite 330
Lexington, KY 40511
Introduction
NASBLA is conducting a national survey of education professionals to
assist the association in producing the Reference Guide to State
Boating Education Laws and Regulations, First Edition. Additionally,
information obtained from the survey will assist NASBLA in
formulating public policy regarding educational issues. A copy of this
survey is being sent to BOTH the key education person for each state
and the boating law administrator. It is suggested that only one survey
be completed and that the BLA and education contact work
collaboratively.
If you have any questions regarding this survey, please contact:
Sarah Barker, Committee Staff
859-225-9487
859-231-6403 fax
sarah@nasbla.org
- 128 -
Survey Instructions
1. When appropriate, please circle your response from those given.
2. If additional information is requested or needed to complete an
answer, please use the space provided or attach additional sheets
and refer to the question number on the additional sheets.
3. When providing additional information, copies of laws, regulations,
rules, etc. are acceptable. Please indicate the pertinent information
if more than one law or rule is on a page. Electronic copies of
supporting information are welcomed and encouraged.
4. Please return the completed survey by June 24, 2002. We hope to
have the book available for distribution by the end of the summer.
Information about the personcompleting this survey:
Name:
Title:
Organization:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Fax:
Date survey completed:
Thank you for completing the survey
- 12 -
1. Please provide a copy of your state’s educational laws, rules or
regulations.
2. Who is required to complete an educational course in your state?
3. Are only residents of your state required to complete a boating
education course?
Yes
No
4. Who is exempted from having to take a boating education course
in your state?
5. Do you accept out-of-state boating education certificates
in your state?
Yes
No
6. If yes, which type of certificates do you accept
(please describe)?
7. Does your state issue wallet size boating certificate/ID cards?
Yes
No
8. Does your state allow proficiency exams to meet your state boating
education requirements?
Yes
No
9. Who is the point of contact for your agency if another state needs
to validate an educational certificate? Please provide name,
address, phone number, fax number and e-mail address. Also
please include the contact for weekends and evenings.
10. Does your state have a minimum age limit to certify minors
(a minor is described as someone under 18 years of age)?
Yes
No
11. If yes, what is the age limit?
12. Under what circumstance is adult supervision required for a minor
to operate a boat (please include type of boat, age requirements,
etc.)?
13. Does your state honor NASBLA course reciprocity for nonresidents?
Yes
No
-10-
14. If your state does not honor course reciprocity, please describe
what is required to obtain boating privileges in your state?
15. How long are education certificates/student wallet cards valid in
your state?
16. What, if any, are your state’s future plans for boater education?
PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
Please attach your state’s education laws, rules and regulations.
Please include a sample approved boating education certificate (no
copies or faxes please).
You can send all items to the following address:
NASBLA
1500 Leestown Road, Suite 330
Lexington KY 40511-2047
Thank you for completing the survey!
Please return the survey in the enclosed envelope
by June 24, 2002
-11-
1a) Analysis of Pollution from Marine Engines and Effects on the Environment –
Southern Lakes (The Lake X Study). Environmental Science and Engineering National
Environmental Research Center (NTIS), June 1975.
2a) A Partial Checklist of Florida Fresh Water Algae and Protozoa with Reference to
McCloud and Cue Lakes. Florida Engineering and Industrial Experiment Station
University of Florida, 1964-65.
3a) Effect of Water Skiing on Fish Populations at Green Valley Lake.
Iowa Conservation Commission, 1971-73.
4a) Eutrophication Factors in North Central Florida Lakes. Florida Engineering and
Industrial Experiment Station University of Florida, August 1969.
5a) Marine Sanitation Devices and Pollution from Small Recreational Boats. National
Boating Federation, 1982.
6a) Mixing Effects Due to Boating Activities in Shallow Lakes. Florida Technological
University Office of Water Research and Technology, June1978.
7a) Recreation in a Marine Environment. International Council of Marine Industry
Associations Marine Environmental Committee, 1973.
8a) The Role of Boat Wakes in Shore Erosion. Maryland Department of Natural
Resources, 1981.
9a) The Effect of Water Skiing on Fish Populations at San Justo Reservoir, Hollister,
California. California Department of Fish and Game, December, 1991.
Editors’s Note: The following 24 references are for literature citing the effects of
outboard motors on water quality. The literature search and following summaries were
done by Dr. S. Bradford Cook, Biological Scientist IV, Florida Game and Fresh Water
Fish Commission).
Conclusions from the studies are mixed, with respect to whether recreational boating
poses a hazard to the marine environment. The Commission has not taken a formal
position on outboard-powered boats with respect to what role they may play in
environmental quality in an aquatic environment. Based on the scientific literature
reviewed by Dr. Cook, he concluded that “moderate boating activity does not appear to
definitively cause direct deleterious effects to the aquatic environment.” All studies in
the “b” series were done with boats powered by outboard motors.
6b) Cole, B.J. 1974. Planning for Shoreline and Water Uses; A report on the Third
Marine Recreation Conference. University of Rhode Island, Kingston.
11b) Henigar and Ray Engineering Associates, Inc. 1989. City of Naples Boat Traffic
Study. 73 p.
12b) Hilmer, T. and G.C. Bate. 1983. Observation on the effect outboard motor fuel oil
on phytoplankton cultures. Environmental Pollution. Series A, Ecological and Biological
32 (4) :307-316.
13b) Hilton, J. and G.L. Phillips. 1982. The effect of boat activity of turbidity in a
shallow Broadland river. J. Applied Ecology 19:143-150.
15b) Jackivicz, T.P. Jr. and L.N. Kuzminski. 1973. A review of outboard motors effects
on the on the aquatic environment. J. Water Pollution Control Federation 45(8):17591770.
16b) Karaki, S. and J. vanHoften. 1975. Resuspension of bed material and wave effects
on the Illinois and Upper Mississippi rivers caused by boat traffic. Colorado State
University, Ft. Collins, Engineering Research Center.
17b) League of Women Voters of Orange County. 1989. Preserve Florida Waters.
Superior Printers, Inc.
22b) Sparks, R.E. 1975. Possible biological impacts of wave wash resuspension of
sediments caused by boat traffic in the Illinois River. Illinois Natural History Survey,
Havana, Illinois.
23b) Yousef, Y.A., W. McLellon, and H.H. Zebuth. 1980. Changes in phosphorus
concentrations due to mixing by motorboats in shallow lakes. Water Research 14:841852.
24b) Zieman, J.C. 1976. The ecological effects of physical damage from motor boats on
turtle grass beds in Southern Florida. Aquatic Botany 2:127-139.
25b) Effect of Powerboat Fuel Exhaust on Florida Lakes. Environmental Engineering,
Inc.; 2324 SW 34th Street; Gainesville, FL 32601.
1a) Effect of Power Boat Fuel Exhaust on Florida Lakes. Environmental
Engineering, Inc.; 2324 SW 34th Street; Gainesville, FL 32601.
Introduction
Kiekhaefer Mercury retained Environmental Engineering, Inc. of
Gainesville, Florida, to evaluate the water quality of two adjoining
lakes. The first lake, Lake X, is entirely surrounded by land owned by
the Lake X Corporation. This 1400-acre lake was utilized for 10 years
(1960-70) by the company to test outboard and inboard marine engines.
The lake was 15,000 feet in length; 7,400 feet in width; had an average
depth of 12 feet; and contains 5 billion gallons of water. The lake is
oriented north to south with the flow being from south to north. The
eastern shoreline was utilized for domestic animal grazing while the
western shoreline comprises the location of the company facilities.
Immediately adjoining the company property were: 1) a commercial hay
farm operation to the south and west, and 2) a 260,000-acre ranch
grazing some 60,000 cattle to the east and south. Neither operation was
part of Kiekhaefer Mercury.
The second lake, Cat Lake, was virtually undisturbed with the
exception of two tobacco fields approximately 1/2 mile to the west.
This lake was used as a control or comparison lake to Lake X. Cat Lake
was 7,400 feet in length; 3,800 feet in width; and had average depth of
12 feet. Cat Lake was roughly one-half the size of Lake X. There were
no docking or boating facilities on Cat Lake, which lies in a northsouth direction and drains into Lake X.
In the normal operation of Mercury outboard marine internal
combustion engines, the exhaust gases formed by the combustion of the
fuel-oil mixture are discharged underwater. The exhaust emissions are
discharged through the propellers and the homogenizing effect of the
propeller renders visual sighting of oil film on the lake surface
unlikely. Usually these emissions contain organic hydrocarbons (both
volatile and non-volatile) from the combustion of oil and gasoline;
carbon monoxide; and lead compounds.
Lake X was marked off in a 6-mile oval course. A minimum of five
boats circled the total area over a 24 hour period for five days each
week. In addition, a stationary dock extends into the lake with several
motors mounted into place and running constantly. The stationary motors
are connected directly to large gasoline storage tanks so there is
essentially no loss from spillage. However, the boats on the course
need to come into the docking area to be refueled. There is a loss of
fuel-oil mixtures into the lake during this fueling operation.
All motors (stationary or mounted on boats) continue operation until
mechanical failure occurs. At that time the motors are dismantled and
examined to determine the reason for failure.
Limnological Studies
The investigation by Environmental Engineering, Inc. on Cat Lake and
Lake X was designed to be broad in scope and specific for assessing
effects from outboard motors on fish and other lake organisms.
Beginning in the spring and through the fall of 1969, five separate
visits were made to these lakes and biological chemical samples were
returned to Environmental Engineering, Inc. laboratories for analysis.
In addition, essential physical measurements were made on both lakes.
These included bottom contouring, water temperature, (sentence
missing).
What does it mean?
From the results of this study some interesting observations can be
made by a simple application of the facts as they relate to
recreational boating.
Engine operation on Lake X consumed 340,552 gallons of fuel and oil
per year for four years. Based on an average consumption of 5 gallons
per hour, this translates to 68,000 engine hours annually, or a fleet
of 680 fishermen devoting 100 hours each to their hobby.
To achieve with outboards in Lake X the same degree of toxicity
proved dangerous to fish in the bio-assay experiment would require the
operation of 18,000 engines 24 hours a day for a period of one year.
Reducing the above activity to an eight hour fishing day and a six
month fishing season raises the number of outboards needed to 108,000.
This would require 77 boats per acre to produce a toxicity problem in
Lake X. “Quite obviously, this is a ridiculous and unreal parallel,”
compilers of the report stated.
Conclusions
Lake X offers an unusual environment for a study of this type in
view of the exceptional exposure to exhaust emissions over a long
period of time.
In Table 16 of the appendix appears a record of the average amount
of fuel and oil burned over a four year period. The type of fuel used
was leaded and non-leaded gasolines. The total amount of fuel and oil
burned in Lake X over the 10 years amounts to 3 million gallons.
Approximately 50 percent of this figure is composed of leaded gasoline.
This amount of fuel (340,552 gallons per year for four years)
translates to 68,110 outboard engine hours annually, if based on a 5
gallon per hour average consumption. Another way to look at this
concentrated exposure is to convert the figures to reasonable use in
the consumer area. More than 681 boats would each have to operate 100
hours each year on this small lake to equal the exposure generated by
normal engine test programs conducted here by Mercury and resulting in
no detectable pollution.
In spite of these unusual conditions, examination of Lake X water
and sediment by gas chromatography has revealed no evidence of
contamination by hydrocarbons found in exhaust water. Additional
studies of the water and the sediment showed that phytoplankton and
bottom organisms, which are necessary in a healthy ecological chain,
were not affected by exhaust water hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons in
exhaust water are toxic, but the concentration necessary to produce a
fish kill or damage to the ecological balance would require extremes
far beyond the normal use of marine engines on rivers and lakes.
An area of danger does exist at fueling stations where quantities of
gasoline and oil are spilled in careless operations. This source of
pollution indicates the value of a training program for marina
personnel.
“Generally speaking and based upon this study,” the compilers
stated, “the normal use of outboards constitutes minor pollution
compared to the major contributors in industry, agriculture, and
municipalities.”
Bibliography
1. Brezonik, P.L., W. H. Morgan, E.E. Shannon and H.D. Putnam, 1969.
“Eutrophication factors in north central Florida lakes.” Vol. XXIII,
No. 8, Engr. & Indust. Exp. Sta. Univ. of Fla., 101 pp.
2. Lackey, J.B. and E.W. Lackey, 1967. “A partial checklist of
Florida fresh-water algae and protozoa with reference to McCloud and
Cue lakes.” Bull. series 131, Vol. XXI(II), Engr. & Indust. Exp. Sta.,
Univ. of Fla., (word missing) pp.
3. Time Magazine. “Pesticide into Pest.” Page 56 and 57. July 11,
1969.
4. “Water Management and Control.” Nautical Academy of Sciences and
National Research Council. Publication 1400. Washington, D.C. 1966, 257
pp.
3a) Effect of Water Skiing on Fish Population at Green Valley Lake.
Fisheries Research Project 502-3 was conducted in part at Green Valley
Lake, Iowa. At the beginning of the research project, water skiing
activities were not allowed on Green Valley Lake. During the course of
this study, water skiing was allowed in the west arm of the lake (on an
experimental basis) but prohibited in the east arm of the lake. The
project was not originally designed to evaluate the effect of water
skiing activity on fish populations but some of the data will be
helpful to make this evaluation.
The most important parameters measured were turbidity, relative
abundance of bottom macro invertebrates and age 0 fish. Values for
these parameters were determined in 1971 and 1972. Any effect on adult
fish populations would ultimately become evident from changes in 0-age
fish and invertebrate populations. Turbidity may have an adverse affect
on both biological groups.
Four seine stations were used to determine relative abundance of 0age fish. Two were within the water skiing zone, one was near the dam
and one was on the east arm. There was no significant difference in
fish per haul between the seining sites for any species.
Tests of significant changes in relative abundance between 1971 and
1972 were conducted on age 0 bluegill, age 0 crappie and golden shiner.
Other species were not abundant enough to make valid conclusions.
Bluegill decreased from 53.8 in 1971 to 0.8 fish per haul in 1972. This
decrease was statistically significant using analysis of variance at
1.1 level of probability.
Crappie increased significantly from 3.9 in 1971 to 110.8 fish per
haul in 1972. Golden shiner increased from 18 in 1971 to 25 fish per
haul in 1972; the change was not statistically significant.
Macro invertebrates increased slightly from 32 per ft squared in
1971 to 36 per ft squared in 1972. The values were not significantly
different. Also differences between the stations within the water
skiing area and other stations were not significant.
Turbidity was measured monthly by standard Secchi disc 100 yards out
from the center of the dam. Values varied from (number not clear)
inches in May 1971 to 60 inches in July 1972. Mean turbidity was 18.8
inches in 1971 and 35.0 inches the following year. There was no
statistical difference in turbidity between years.
Water skiing created no adverse impacts on the fish population or
the water quality at Green Lake. The results indicate no adverse affect
of water skiing activity on turbidity, crappie, golden shiner or macro
invertebrate production. The significant decrease in bluegill
production was probably not caused by water skiing activity because
production was extremely low even outside the skiing area in the east
arm.
Fisheries Research Project 502-3 was conducted from 1971 to
1973 in part at Green Valley Lake; 20 years later (October 1991), water
skiing is still an accepted activity in the west arm of the lake.
Information submitted by Larry Mitzzner, Fisheries Research
Biologist, Iowa Conservation Commission.
Outboards are Vindicated — All available studies prove that outboard
motors do not pollute the waterways! Alan MacKay, Marine Services
Specialist.
This information is from an article by Alan MacKay in the April 1975
issue Pennsylvania Angler magazine.
The results of three separate studies conducted to determine the
effect of outboard motor operation on the waterways have all indicated
that outboards do not adversely effect water quality or the quality of
the marine environment.
The latest, most comprehensive study was a $750,000 two-and-a-half
year effort conducted under the joint sponsorship of the Environmental
Protection Agency and the Boating Industry Association. The final
analysis and report, soon to be issued by the EPA, should end, once and
for all, the years of controversy and debate centered around the
outboard and assure its future as the mainstay in the recreational
boating field. It was, after all, the development and sophistication of
the outboard motor that took boating from Long Island Sound and put it
within reach of every citizen on every inland waterway across the
country.
The real flap began in the late sixties when the entire nation was
experiencing an environmental consciousness expansion. The boating
industry was granted an early reprieve from the ecological furor with
the publication, in 1969, of the “Lake X Study” by the KiekhaeferMercury Corporation.
Lake X is a 1400-acre body of water in Florida that had been used by
the Mercury people as an engine test site. Accurate records had been
kept as to hours of engine use and the amount of fuel consumed over a
ten-year period. In the Spring of 1969 the company engaged the services
of Environmental Engineering, Inc., of Gainesville, Florida, to test
the water of Lake X and compare it with the waters of Cat Lake, a small
adjacent body of water that had never been exposed to outboard motor
operation. A series of 34 chemical and physical comparisons that were
made between water samples taken from the two lakes showed no
discernable difference in water quality. The Lake X water showed no
evidence of contamination from hydrocarbons in the exhaust water, and
phytoplankton and bottom organisms were not affected by exhaust
emissions.
Buoyed by the test results, Kiekhaefer published an elaborate
report, prefaced with a quote form Thoreau’s Walden Pond. For all
intents and purposes, the outboard industry was off the hook —they had
been tried in the “environmental courts” and found not guilty.
The euphoria proved to be short-lived. In early 1971 Washington
columnist Jack Anderson latched on to an obscure, unpublished report by
a Rensselaer Polytechnic Environmental Engineer, and in his inimitable
fashion, gleaned what he wanted from the document and let fly with a
column boldly titled “Outboard Motors Pollute Waters.” In his text,
Anderson maintained that, “a single outboard motor coughs, splutters,
and spits as much organic carbon pollution into the water in 24 hours
as the sewerage from a neighborhood of 400 persons.” He went on to say
that “more than 100 million gallons of (unburned) gasoline (is) poured
into our streams and lakes and along our coastlines” and “the residue
fouls the shorelines, kills fish, pollutes drinking water, and greases
the skins of swimmers.”
Anderson neglected to mention that the report was unpublished
because it was inconclusive, that the test was conducted in a swimming
pool and not in the natural environment, and that the author, Dr.
William Shuster clearly stated that the Lake X study refuted his own
findings.
The inaccuracy of Anderson’s reporting notwithstanding, the damage
had been done. Ecology was a hot issue and the media and the public had
acquired, overnight, a new Judas goat in the outboard industry, leaving
many boating editors and writers with egg on their face after having
given encouraging support to the findings of the Lake X studies. Even
Arthur Godfrey who had perhaps hawked more pollutant-laden detergents
over the airwaves than any other single individual in his lifetime
plucked some sour notes on his ukulele. Politicians were quick to jump
on the bandwagon, including Senator Gaylord Nelson, whose Wisconsin
constituents build nearly all of the world’s outboard engines. (An
incredible case of political amnesia, according to one industry
writer.)
The industry was quick to respond to the charges, but with all the
sensationalism generated it was definitely an uphill struggle. As it
was, the Mercury Corporation that had taken the initiative in the
environmental studies in the first place, found themselves on the front
burner! They were soon joined by Chrysler, OMC and the Boating Industry
Associations under the joint umbrella of the Marine Exhaust Research
Council (whose acronym MERC was later to generate some criticism).
As the boil festered, brickbats began to fly from both sides and a
numbers game was generated that reached truly comical proportions. Jack
Anderson was tarred and feathered by industry apologists for his method
of computation that equated overboard fuel spills to the Torrey Canyon
and Santa Barbara disasters. At the same time, the Research Council was
issuing a flyer attached to the Lake X study entitled, “What Does It
Mean?” It purported that to cause any damage to their 1400-acre lake,
you’d have to operate 108,000 motorboats all at the same time! Both
equations made liberal use of the “Fudge Factor.”
What the controversy finally produced was the conclusion that,
although studies to date were encouraging to both the industry and the
boater, further in-depth research was definitely needed. Project Number
P801799-02-4 was launched in April, 1971 under the joint sponsorship of
the Environmental Protection Agency and the Boating Industry
Associations. EPA provided one third of the project funds and BIA the
balance. To avoid “fox-in-the-hen-house” criticism, the Environmental
Protection Agency was solely responsible for establishing all testing
and sampling guidelines and closely monitored all phases of the
program. The major objective of the study was to determine the effects,
if any, of two-cycle outboard emissions on aquatic environments.
The study involved both laboratory and field investigations. The
laboratory phase was conducted by the Departments of Civil and
Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, and field studies
by Environmental Control Technology Corporation of Ann Arbor Michigan,
and Environmental Science and Engineering, Inc. of Gainesville,
Florida.
The field studies were performed in two one-half acre lakes near
Saline, Michigan and in three lakes of two to ten acres near Archer,
Florida. No boating activity had occurred on any of the lakes and the
only pollutional inputs they received were through the operation of
two-cycle outboard engines.
Each of the Michigan Lakes was divided into two sections, one
section of each was to receive the outboard input and the other was to
remain unused and act as a control. Both leaded and unleaded fuels were
used and all engines employed were of the drainless type. In Florida,
one lake was stressed with drainless engines and one with the older
type that drained unburned fuel into the water. Only leaded fuel was
used in the Florida studies.
The variety of engine types and fuels employed, and the difference
between warm and cold water lakes in the two locations were
incorporated into the studies to simulate as many boating situations as
possible. Additionally, the lakes were stressed at three times the
saturation boating level. A saturation situation exists when, in order
for one boat to enter the water, another must leave it.
What did all of this prove? Basically, the EPA-BIA study project
mirrored the results of the initial Lake X studies in determining that
there is no significant difference in water quality as a result of
outboard operation.
The actual results are contained in a ten-page abstract approved for
release by the EPA. Basically, researchers found:
That only a minuscule amount of nonvolatile hydrocarbon is not
removed from the water by evaporation and the aromatic hydrocarbons
remaining in the water were so low that they were barely detectable.
Quick evaporation and biodegradation probably explain the small
variations found between stressed and control lakes.
No significant differences in species diversity or richness of
periphyton, photoplankton or zooplankton communities. Populations of
these microscopic organisms followed normal seasonal variations in both
stressed and unstressed lakes.
No statistically significant increase in lead in either water or
bottom sediments and no effect in the benthic communities living in
these bottom sediments.
Only inconsequential differences in the chemical contents of the
waters.
Additionally, a third outboard study was conducted on the waters of
Lake George, New York, by scientists at the Renssalaer Polytechnic
Institute with results published by the government’s National
Environmental Research Center. The Renssalaer group’s findings closely
paralleled those of the EPA-BLA group, although the methodology
differed considerably.
The RPI scientists did extensive sampling of water and bottom
sediments in three bays of the 32-mile-long lake. Each of the bays was
subjected to varying degrees of boat usage, but the sampling produced
no measurable difference attributable to marine engines.
What this all implies, is that while there is no denying that
exhaust emissions are extremely toxic in the raw state, they are
rendered harmless to the marine environment through natural processes.
One fact does emerge from all of the conflict. While this does not
pretend to be an apologia for the marine industry, they have assumed a
responsible role in the quest for clean water and taken a definite
initiative in product development without being forced into compliance
by government regulations.
During the worst of the storm, an industry spokesman issued the
following statement: “Remember one thing when you question our
sincerity. Clean water and the inviting outdoors are the breath of life
upon which we depend. Now . . . argue with that!” We can’t.
8a) The Role of Boat Wakes in Shore Erosion in Anne Arundel County,
Maryland.
This Coast Report has been prepared to highlight the results of a
one-year study of the impacts of boat wakes in small creeks and coves
of Anne Arundel County. The study found that boats travelling at speeds
near the posted 6-knot speed limit in some creeks can generate their
maximum wake. The greatest impacts on shore erosion from boat wakes can
be expected where there is a high frequency of boats travelling within
a few hundred feet from the shore.
Background
Since the close of World War II, the population in the counties
fringing the Chesapeake Bay estuary in Maryland has increased
dramatically, particularly on the western shore. Along with this
population increase, recreational boating activity on the waterways has
also increased substantially. For example, the number of pleasure boats
registered in the State of Maryland grew from about 62,000 boats
registered in 1968 to over 134,717 in 1980.
There has been increasing concern that the wakes generated in some
areas due to the heavier boat traffic may be accelerating rates of
shore erosion, particularly in the smaller creeks and coves. In 1976,
the Maryland General Assembly passed a resolution requesting the
Department of Natural Resources to undertake a study to evaluate
whether recreational motorboat traffic is detrimental to the ecology of
small creeks and coves in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The Department
of Natural Resources working with consultants, performed a field study
in areas of the Severn and South Rivers, two tributaries to the
Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis (Figure 1), which are popular for
recreational boating.
The study addressed three important questions that can be asked
about the relationship between boat wakes and shoreline erosion.
1. How do boat wakes compare with the normal wind generated waves as
a source of energy for erosion and transport of the shoreline
sediments? Methodology: Boat wakes were monitored at five shoreline
sites in Anne Arundel County. The wake energies were compared with the
energy in wind waves to show the increased potential for shore erosion
due to boats.
2. How do rates of shore erosion during the boating season compare
to other times of the year? Methodology: Shoreline surveys were
performed in the study sites on a monthly basis for a year, and the
erosion rates during the boating season would be compared with other
times of the year.
3. Can different types of boating patterns change the levels of wave
energy in boat wakes? Methodology: Wakes were compared from a set of
boat passes made at different speeds and distances from the shore.
Study Sites
The study sites were selected principally because they were in
popular areas for boating and water skiing, but they also are
representative types of beaches, marshes, and bluffs which occur in
Anne Arundel County. The sites include:
• Site A – vegetated sand split on the lower South River, at the
entrance to Harness Creek.
• Site B – A steep bank on the upper South River, near Goose Island.
• Site C – A broad, marshy promontory on Broad Creek off the upper
South River.
• Site D – A bluff on the lower Severn River at Severnside.
• Site E – A pocket marsh near the entrance of Mayneider Creek, off the
upper Severn River. The shoreline in these areas is composed of sand,
silt, and clay sediments which are largely unconsolidated and easily
eroded.
Comparison of Wave Energies
One aspect of the study compared measurements of wind waves
collected at each of the study sites over a one-year period (October
1978 - October 1979) with the waves produced by boat wakes. The study
found boats were not the principal source of wave energy at any of the
sites, even though wakes were produced at intervals of every 1-2
minutes at some of the sites in the summertime.
Whether short-term changes in the beach, or actual erosion of
fastland, results from wave activity depends on the level of the water
surface. The normal tidal range of about 1 foot in the small creeks and
coves of Anne Arundel County changes the point where waves break along
the shoreline on a daily basis. Over longer periods of time, the point
where waves break is gradually migrating landward due to a long-term
rise in sea level. At Annapolis, for instance, the sea level has risen
at least 4 inches since 1929, when tide gauge records first began to be
collected.
During a regional “Northeaster” storm, storm surges of two to three
feet may occur, and waves may overtop the beach to expend their energy
directly against the fastland.
Other factors not related to storms (such as water temperature and
atmospheric pressure) also move breaking waves closer to the shore on a
seasonal basis, by raising the mean tidal level between April and
October. This is important because the point where waves break during
the recreational boating season is closer to the fastland, especially
during August and September.
Shoreline Changes
The five study sites were surveyed on a monthly basis for a one-year
period to determine whether there were marked differences in the rate
of fastland retreat during the recreational boating season and during
other times of the year. There were few effects which were able to be
attributed to the recreational boating activity in a single season.
Except for one site, the greatest changes were noted after the passage
of Tropical Storm David, which occurred in Maryland on September 5-6,
1979. Other small changes were measured in the surveys through the year
at three of the sites. But only the study site on Broad Creek (Figure
2) showed any important change in the shoreline profile during the
boating season.
This site did not experience the highest level of boating but it did
receive the highest amount of boat-wake energy of the five sites. As
well, boat-wake energy accounted for a substantially higher fraction of
the total wave energy at Site C than at the other sites.
At the same time boat wakes were measured at the sites, observations
were made of boat characteristics, speeds of the boats producing the
wakes, and the distances the boats were travelling from the shoreline.
Inspection of these boating characteristics for each showed that no
site had unusual frequencies of boat speeds, boat lengths, or hull
types. But there were important differences between the sites in the
distance of passage of boats from the shore. At Site C, 80% of the
boats passed at distances less than 200 feet from the shore. This was a
higher number of close passes than at any of the other sites. Trial
boat runs showed that this distance of passage is an important factor
controlling the level of boat-wake energy.
Wakes Generated By Passage of a Boat
A modest experiment was conducted at one site to understand the
behavior of wakes produced by boats cruising at different speeds and
distances from the shoreline. The results showed differences in the
sizes of boat wakes are due to a fairly complicated interaction between
the speed of the boat, the depth of the water, and the distance the
boat travels from the shore.
The boats which were used for the experiment were those operated by
the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Marine Police. One type
was a Uniflite cruiser which is a deep-V planing hull. The other was a
16 ft. Boston Whaler with a 3-point planing hull. Boat wakes were
measured from repeated passes made at distances of 200, 150, and 100
ft. (also 50 ft. in the case of the Whaler) from the shoreline at
different speeds between 6 and 30 knots. The wakes which were measured
far exceeded the heights of normal wind-generated waves. The largest
wakes produced by the Uniflite cruiser occurred at speeds between 8 and
10 knots, and wake height decreased as the boat speeds were increased.
In the case of the 16-foot planing hull of the Boston Whaler, the speed
at which the highest wakes occurred was between 6 and 8 knots.
Three runs were made by the Boston Whaler with a water skier in tow.
For runs at the same speed and distance from shore, higher wakes were
measured with a skier than without. These few runs do not display a
truly significant difference in a statistical sense, but they do
suggest that the effect of water skiers on boat wakes should be
examined further.
The most important observations to be drawn from the experimental
boat runs are:
1. As boats reduce their speeds to conform to posted speed limits,
they pass through a speed range in which the hull generates a maximum
wake.
2. If the approach to a posted speed-control area is within a narrow
creek, then the shores adjacent to the speed-reduction zone will be
exposed to the high wake energies.
3. For the range of basin depths in small creeks and coves of Anne
Arundel County, boats generate a near-maximum wake if they exceed the
posted speed-limit by only a few knots.
Conclusions
1. At four of the study sites, there was no increase in shore
erosion which could be attributed to boating during the summer. The
most important shoreline changes were after Tropical Storm David, which
passed though Maryland in early September 1979.
2. Wind waves ranked behind the storm effects in causing shoreline
changes over the year of observations, and in all cases boat wakes
represented lower levels of wave energy (Figure 3).
3. At Site C on Broad Creek, there was considerable erosion of the
fastland during the summer of 1979. Since Site C is located at a narrow
point on a creek, the boats pass particularly close to shore relative
to the other sites, and wake energy does not dissipate before reaching
the beach. Thus, this site experienced the highest boat-wake energy
during the summer of 1979, even though some of the other sites had
higher frequencies of boat passes.
4. The results of the experiment (words not clear) passes show
different types of boats and different modes of operation of the same
boat, can produce measurable differences in boat wakes. For the types
of boats tested, maximum boat-wake energy occurred when the boat speed
was about 8 knots; a high-speed passage (20 knots) produced lower wake
energy. Mathematical calculations show that in water depths of 6 feet
or less, maximum or near-maximum wake energies will occur at boat
speeds closer to 6 knots.
5. The largest contribution to the total wave energy (and thus to
the total potential for shore erosion) from wakes can be anticipated
where there is a high frequency of boat passes close to a particular
shoreline site. The actual level of fastland retreat in response to
recreational boating patterns at any particular site will also depend
upon the nearshore change in slope on the shoreline profile, upon the
composition of the fastland, and upon the supply of sediment carried
onto the shoreline site from alongshore.
The type of shoreline most susceptible to erosion would have a
combination of: exposed point of land in a narrow creek or cove;
fastland consisting of easily-erodible material such as sand or gravel;
steep nearshore gradient on the shoreline profile; and location
adjacent to a high rate of boating, with boat passes relatively close
to the shoreline.
The site on Broad Creek which experienced the most fastland erosion
during the 1979 boating season had all four of the above
characteristics.
Applications
The results of the study suggest there are three ways to mitigate
the potential erosion impacts due to boats:
1. Depth conditions in some creeks are suitable for generating
maximum boat-wake energies at speeds close to the posted 6 knot speed
limit. In these cases, a reduction of the speed limit would decrease
the unintentional generation of maximum wake.
2. Since boats approaching a speed-control zone [are slowing] from
high speed and pass through the speed range which generates maximum
wake, the speed-limit sign could be relocated when possible at
locations where the creek is so wide that the wake energy can dissipate
before reaching the shore.
3. The study indicates that the greatest potential for erosion
impacts due to boat wakes is to be expected where high frequency boat
passages occur within a few hundred feet from the shore. Restrictions
in such areas would reduce the potential for shore erosion.
For more detailed information on the results of the study, a copy of
the full study can be obtained from: Coastal Resources Division,
Tidewater Administration, Maryland Department of Natural Resources,
Tawes State Office Building C-2, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. For more
information contact: Chris Zabawa, Maryland DNR, 301-269-3782.
3 December 1992
Mr. Mike Stuart, Esquire
Stuart Law Office
Little Rock, Arkansas
FAX: 501-552-7717
Dear Mr. Stuart:
Jim Fletchall of Little Rock, who is president of the Arkansas Water
Ski Club, asked that we forward the following information to you. The
club is affiliated with USA Water Ski, which was established in 1939 as
the non-profit national governing body for organized skiing. USA Water
Ski, which has 30,000 members nationwide, is affiliated with the
International Water Ski Federation (world governing body) and is a
member of the United States Olympic Committee and the Pan-American
Sports Organization.
The purpose of the letter is to explain typically what kind of noise
levels can be expected from USA Water Ski-approved inboard and outboard
water ski towboats. Each September, USA Water Ski conducts a series of
tests on powerboats submitted by their manufacturers for “USA Water Ski
Eligible” status. These tests determine their suitability for USA Water
Ski-sanctioned water ski tournaments. Test criteria include performance
and safety factors and noise levels, the latter an important
consideration for environmental reasons.
The sound-level tests are conducted in accordance with measurement
procedures outlined in Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standard
SAE J1970, Shoreline Sound Level Measurement Procedure. For our tests,
the sound level is measured from a distance of 125 feet (centerline of
the boat path to the meter) and the boats are traveling the maximum
speed for slalom skiing — 36 miles per hour. Based on the 1992 USA
Water Ski Towboat Tests, the average readings are summarized as
follows:
Inboards
Average Reading
(* = Outboard-Powered Boat)
Boat ID
dB(A)
J
68.83
T
68.33
A
67.00
K
73.33
U
70.33
B
68.83
L
69.83
V
69.00
C
69.40
M
70.83
W
69.83
D
68.80
N
69.50
X
68.83
E
68.80
O
68.60
Y
68.50
F
69.60
P
67.83
Z
68.17
G
66.80
Q
73.17
Z2
69.83
H
70.00
R
68.67
Z3
69.25 *
I
66.50
S
73.67
Z4
68.17 *
Based on the above readings, the average dB(A) reading for inboardpowered boats was 69.36, and the average for outboard-powered boats was
68.71. (NOTE: The dB(A) scale is logarithmic, i.e., the threshold of
sound is 0 dB(A): 10 dB(A) represents a 10-fold increase in noise, 20
dB(A) represents a 100-fold increase in noise, and 30 dB(A) represents
a 1,000-fold increase in noise.)
USA Water Ski has patterned this test to comply with the regulations
established by the state of Maryland, which has one of the strictest
noise level requirements in the country. In Maryland, the maximum
allowable level is 75 dB(A). All of the above towboats met this
requirement, i.e., produced noise levels below the maximum allowable
level. The fact that the were below the 75 dB(A) is significant,
considering that the dB(A) scale is logarithmic.
The 75 dB(A) requirement in Maryland is based on studies performed
by the Environmental Protection Agency and various European
governmental agencies that suggest that peaks of 75 dB(A) are
acceptable in residential neighborhoods, such as those found on lake
shores. In addition, it must be noted that the above numbers represent
a worse case scenario, the observer located 125 feet from a towboat
under full-speed operation. The noise levels for observers located any
distance beyond 125 feet, as in the case of waterfront homes, would
obviously be less.
Sincerely,
Don Cullimore
Director of Communications & Public Affairs
F. Okeeheelee Park, Palm Beach County, Florida:
as a model for the inland lake water ski facility state of Maryland.
Thomas Boddorff and Ronald Ricketts, Maryland State Water Ski
Federation, 381 Spring Cove Road, Riva, MD 21140, February 22, 1989.
Table of Contents
1.0. Introduction
2.0. The Physical Layout of Okeeheelee Park
3.1. Okeeheelee Park and Water Ski Tournaments
3.2. The History of The Ski Club of the Palm Beaches (SCPB) 3.2.
Economic Impact of Tournaments
3.3. Tournament Logistics and Staff Requirements
4.1. The Proposed Inland Lake Water Ski Facility for Maryland
4.2. Water Skier Base in Maryland
4.3. South River Ski Club (SRSC) and How It Compares with SCPB
4.4. Local and Regional Impact of the Inland Lake Facility
4.5. Operating Costs and Income of a Water Ski Facility
4.6. Tournament and Event Potential
4.7. Physical Requirements
5.0. Conclusions and Recommendations
1.0. Introduction
Water skiing, along with the entire boating population, has
experienced rapid growth in the past six years as reflected in the
increased numbers of registered boaters. The number of recreational
skiers in the United States is estimated to be approximately 17 million
(Neilson). The surge in interest in skiing has been further
demonstrated by the 40% plus increase in membership over the past two
years in USA Water Ski. USA Water Ski serves as the national governing
body to the sport in the United States. These and other statistics have
brought new attention to a sport that was founded only 50 years ago.
For those who have followed the sport closely, the recent acceptance
of water skiing as a Class C sport by the United States Olympic
Committee, and its pending consideration by the International Olympic
Committee as a Class A sport for the 1992 Olympic Games, has brought a
new level of attention to this boating activity. This rise in
popularity has begun to strain the availability of skiable water in
many urban areas.
In Maryland, water skiers are experiencing the same difficulties as
those attempting to ski in other congested, highly populated areas
around the country. A shortage of controlled skiable water, along with
competition with both the interests of property owners and other
special interest boating groups, has made it very difficult for many
skiers to pursue this sport.
There are solutions to these problems. This report details one such
approach as taken by the Parks and Recreation Department of Palm Beach
County in South Florida. The creation of the Okeeheelee Park, which
encompasses a water ski facility, has not only been a success in
helping to alleviate the overcrowded skiing conditions within the
bounds of the city of West Palm Beach, but also in helping to promote
the county as one concerned with water safety and that supports water
related sporting events. This park can be used as a model to
successfully serve the best interests of the boater in Maryland as
well.
For background information, Appendix J includes a brief description
of the three main events of water skiing. These three events, slalom
skiing, trick skiing, and ski jumping are considered the traditional
events and have gone through a considerable evolution. Several events
that are gaining very rapidly in popularity and are not covered are
barefooting and kneeboarding.
2.0. The Physical Layout of Okeeheelee Park
Okeeheelee Park is located along the Florida Turnpike on the western
edge of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida. The entire
facility occupies approximately 1.43 square miles (913 acres) of
property. The Master Plan can be seen in appendix A, included in the
end of this report. Also included, in appendix B, are a number of
photographs of Okeeheelee Park.
Okeeheelee Park opened to water skiers in March, 1981. The master
plan shows that the complex houses facilities for a multitude of
activities in addition to water skiing. These facilities (in various
stages of development) include a BMX bicycle course, 4 little league
fields, 4 softball fields, 4 general purpose (200 foot x 400 foot)
athletic fields, a racquet center (proposed), and 9 lakes (5 designated
for water skiing). The lake that is located in the center of the
complex is used for wind surfing activities, and around all the lakes
are located numerous picnic tables and group picnic shelters, a nature
center and nature trails. The lake located along Forest Hill Boulevard
just below Clearwater Lake (center) is used primarily for radio
controlled boats. On the east side of the complex is an area designated
for an outdoor amphitheater complex. In addition, the complex contains
parking facilities, concession stands and restroom facilities. A number
of these areas are illuminated, including the auxiliary slalom/trick
canal for evening operation.
The main water skiing canal is located on the west lake in the
southwest portion of the facility (running north-south). For day to day
operation this canal is used for slalom and trick skiing. A slalom
course is permanently installed in this canal. This canal measures
approximately 2800 feet in length and varies from approximately 240
feet to approximately 320 feet in width. Located on the east side of
this canal are bleachers for approximately 1000 spectators. To the
north end of this canal are the boat ramp and parking facilities. To
the south is the skier staging area and several boat slips. This area
can be seen in photographs 2 through 7, 12 and 14.
Along Forest Hill Boulevard is an auxiliary slalom and trick canal.
This canal is common with the main canal and shares the same staging
area. This canal measures approximately 2240 feet in length and varies
from approximately 120 feet to 320 feet in width. In this canal, as in
the main water skiing canal, is located a permanent slalom course for
day to day operation. However, during tournaments this area is used
primarily for trick skiing. This is the area where permanent lighting
is currently being installed for night operation. Prior to the
permanent poles and fixtures, temporary lighting has been in place.
This area can be seen in photographs 2, and 6 through 9.
Located on the north side of the west lake is the canal used for
trick skiing and jump skiing. Permanently installed in this area is a
jump ramp and jump course. On the southeastern shore of this canal
adjacent to the Micanopy Pavilion are the skier staging area and
several boat slips. This canal measures approximately 2160 feet in
length and varies from a minimum of approximately 240 feet to over 500
feet in width. During tournaments the jumping event is held in this
area; however, the jump is often moved to the main canal to utilize the
spectator facilities located there. This area can be seen in
photographs 10 and 11.
Located to the west of the west lake two more canals are currently
under construction. Both of these canals will measure approximately
2250 feet in length and approximately 190 feet in width. They will be
used for additional slalom and trick areas. Photograph 17, taken
January 20, 1989, is of the slalom area under construction.
3.1. Okeeheelee Park and Water Ski Tournaments
3.2. The History of Ski Club of the Palm Beaches (SCPB)
The Ski Club of the Palm Beaches Inc. (SCPB) was originally
organized in 1954 and began sponsoring tournaments in the early ’60s.
Having been subjected to similar overcrowded and unsafe skiing
conditions that we are currently experiencing in the state of Maryland,
the organization began talks with Department of Parks and Recreation,
Palm Beach County in 1975. As a result, the ski site at Okeeheelee Park
opened to skiers in March of 1981. Since that time, SCPB has sponsored
an average of five tournaments a year. The first major tournaments
sponsored by SCPB were in 1984, the first host for the Professional
Water Ski Tour of the 1984 season and the host of the 1984 Southern
Regional Championship. Since then SCPB has sponsored the National
Championship for three consecutive years, 1986, 1987, and 1988, and the
US Open Tournament in 1988. During September of 1989, SCPB will be
sponsoring the 1989 World Championship. It is for that purpose that the
additional slalom and trick canals are being constructed.
Appendix K contains one of the original agreements between SCPB and
Palm Beach County on the formulation of the Master Plan and another
agreement for the use of the facility for the 1987 National
Championship.
3.3. Economic Impact of Tournaments
The economic impact of a water ski tournament has been positive for
the SCPB and Palm Beach County. For example, the professional
tournament that was held in 1984 had an estimated 5000 spectators. The
event generated revenue for the county by simply drawing a large number
of spectators who spent money on travel, meals and hotel rooms. In
addition, the press coverage generated a tremendous amount of favorable
exposure for the park. This favorable exposure generated unseen revenue
by water skiers who visited Okeeheelee Park during the year.
The local, state, regional, and national tournaments have in every
case generated revenue for the sponsor. These tournaments usually have
a high number of contestants where competition is offered in divisions,
broken down by age and sex. It is not unusual to see an entire family
competing in their respective divisions. Again, expenses for meals and
lodging are revenue that is brought into the county. In Mark
Bozicevics’ (President of SCPB) letter to Dennis Eshleman, dated
October 30, 1984, (Appendix C), he states, “SCPB estimates that
approximately $930,000 was spent in Palm Beach county by water skiers,
primarily in the 1984 summer season.”
Several surveys were available that estimated the revenue into the
county from the 1987 National Championships. The first survey included
in Appendix D is the 1987 National Water Ski Championships participant
survey. Several points of interest in this survey are as follows:
– 720 contestants participated
– 260 contestants made 632 other visits to the county that year
– each contestant had 3.14 people in their party and did not
include
non-related spectators, officials or exhibitors
– average hotel stay was 4.43 nights
– average food/beverage expenditure $146.54 for the stay
Included in Appendix E is a report on eight events receiving
“Discover Palm Beach County” category A funding. The 1987 National
Championship was one of these surveyed.
Of interest in table 9 is
total tourist expenditures for the five-day event: $1,184,459. When
compared to the grant money received, which amounted to $15,000, the
championship brought in $78.96 per $1.00 of grant money. The famed PGA
golf tour drew $24.84 per $1.00 of grant money received.
3.4. Tournament Logistics and Staff Requirements
Running a tournament is a complex process, as is any competition
with a large number of competitors or a when large amount of prize
money is at stake. Over the years, the process has become well-defined
and the actual event management is taken care of by highly qualified
and trained officials. In the local and state tournaments the sponsor,
usually an organized ski club, has the responsibility to prepare the
facility and select the officials to run the tournament. In larger
tournaments, ie. regional or national championships, the officials are
selected by regional representatives to run the event. The sponsor must
submit a “bid,” which explains its plan on how the tournament will be
organized and what the costs will be. The most desirable bid will then
be selected by the regional representatives.
Obviously, the bigger the tournament, the more complex the logistics
become. However, the tournament bid must meet USA WATER SKI criteria
prior to approval. Included in Appendix F is an USA WATER SKI
tournament sanction application, Appendix G is the Eastern Region
Championship bid criteria, Appendix H includes the National
Championship bid criteria, and Appendix I includes the World
Championship bid criteria. Appendix L includes a copy of the USA WATER
SKI Official Tournament Rules.
4.1. The Proposed Inland Lake Water Ski Facility
4.2. Water Skier Base in Maryland
As mentioned in section 1.0, water skiing in the United States is
big business, attracting some 17 million participants. For the vast
majority of casual skiers, the use of uncontrolled bodies of water
provide the surface plane for this boating activity. As skiers’ level
of expertise has risen and the shear numbers of skiers have increased
in densely populated areas, states, counties and local jurisdictions
are realizing that controls are required to provide safe and adequate
facilities for this special interest group of boaters.
In the state of Maryland, with 167,000 registered boats, 46,200 are
powerboats in the 16 to 20 foot range (DNR). Of that, it is
conservatively estimated that 50% or 23,100 boats are used on a regular
basis (more than 10 times per season) for skiing activities. Since it
requires 3 participants to ski, it is estimated that there are 69,000
regular water skiers in the state. Of these, a small handful have
pursued the sport and its competitive aspects to a serious degree. This
last group of individuals represents a very knowledgeable base of
skiers who know and understand both the rewards and dangers involved in
skiing and boating. Most of these skiers are members of USA WATER SKI,
and many belong to the newly formed Maryland State Water Ski Federation
(MSWSF). However, many are not affiliated with either USA WATER SKI or
MSWSF but are associated with an organized water ski club. At present
this group, estimated at approximately 480 amateur athletes, are
distributed around Maryland and in five clubs as noted as follows:
Ski Club
Location
Membership
SRSC
Annapolis
130
Carpenter’s Point
Perryville
50
Upper Chesapeake
Elkton
100
Western Maryland
Oakland 10
Deep Creek Water Sports
Deep Creek
Southern Maryland
California
15
Independent
n/a
100 (estimated)
Total:
480
75
4.3. The South River Ski Club and How It Compares With SCPB
Currently SRSC is the largest organized water ski club in the state
of Maryland. SRSC has been in existence as a sanctioned USA WATER SKI
Ski Club since 1978 and unofficially since approximately 1968. The SRSC
uses public water located on the north end of the South River near the
Route 50 bridge. This body of water is somewhat unique in that it is
controllable to limited degree on weekdays and till about noon on
weekends and holidays. This water, which fluctuates with the tides,
also is very hard on the slalom course, jump, and jump course. In
addition, vandalism, and careless boaters are responsible for
approximately $100 worth of buoys a month. Despite the problems with
the facilities, SRSC has approximately 130 members, and holds an
average of four tournaments a year, including the Maryland State
Championship. The SRSC boasts nine nationally ranked skiers, despite
these adverse conditions, three who placed in the 1988 National
Championships.
In 1981, when Okeeheelee Park originally opened, SCPB consisted of
approximately 25 members. Prior to this SCPB held 1 to 2 tournaments a
year with many of the same problems SRSC encounters. In addition, in
1981 SCPB had no skiers of national caliber. Currently, SCPB has
approximately 150 on its membership roll, 20 to 30 are from different
regions in Florida or from out of state. They hold an average of five
tournaments a year and boast over 30 nationally ranked skiers.
In summary, SRSC with a very poor facility has approximately the
same number of members as SCPB today. The Okeeheelee Park facility
certainly has helped SCPB in promoting tournaments and improved the
quality of its skiers.
4.4. Local and Regional Impact of the Inland Lake Facility
A facility modeled after Okeeheelee Park would serve both the
interest of the casual skiers and these serious amateurs in Maryland.
For the many casual skiers, the facility would serve as an organized
focal point for water skiing activity. To use the facility the casual
skier would have to conform to operating procedures that are designed
with safety and fairness in mind. Photograph 16 shows the operational
policy of Okeeheelee Park as posted at the boat ramp area. The boats
used in this facility would be subject to a safety inspection and rules
of etiquette will be understood prior to use of the facility. The
facility could provide a location where skiing, driving, and safety
clinics could be provided. For the serious amateurs, the facility would
serve as a venue from which competitive athletic events could be hosted
and where controlled conditions for skiing would be available.
The current demand for such a facility on a day to day basis could
be anticipated to be as high or higher than what is seen at Okeeheelee
Park today. Obviously, there would be several months of the year that
the facility would not be used due to our dissimilar climates. However,
SRSC is now of the size SCPB was in 1981 when Okeeheelee Park first
opened. Presently, on the South River on any given weekend morning, at
7:00 AM there is a 3 hour wait in line for the use of the current
facilities.
If such a facility were built in Maryland, it would be the first of
its kind in the Eastern Region. The Eastern Region includes VA, MD, WV,
PA, NY, NJ, DE, NH, MA, VT, CN, and ME. The Regional Championship is
growing to such a size that it is difficult to hold the event on a
single lake site. Until last year, there was only one two-lake site in
the Eastern Region and that private facility is no longer available.
Having a facility the quality of Okeeheelee Park in Maryland would open
up a number of possibilities for the state of Maryland. In addition to
serving the local skiers, this facility would have potential to bid
Regional, National, and World level events as well as attract skiers
from not only the state, but from our neighboring states as well.
4.5. Operating Costs and Income of a Water Ski Facility
The operating costs of maintaining the current SRSC facilities
amount to approximately $3000.00 per year. Many of these costs could be
minimized if the organization had control of the water. The biggest
expense by far is the maintenance of the jump ramp. Due to the
inaccessibility of the current South River site, repairs often are put
off until they are overdue and expensive. Other costs arise from
maintenance of the club rafts. In an inland facility, these would be
unnecessary. Another cost of the operation is for the constant
replacement of buoys that are cut out by vandals or careless boaters.
In an inland facility, we would obviously eliminate the careless
boaters. All of these facility expenses are currently being covered by
the dues structure and projects such as Tournaments.
In an inland lake facility there will be operating costs that are
not currently being encountered, i.e. maintenance on the facilities,
utilities, etc. To perform a detailed cost analysis is beyond the scope
of this report. However, based on the experience
of the SCPB and the
resulting revenues that have been generated, enough has been raised to
sustain most operating costs. In addition, they have funded a full time
employee in cooperation with the Palm Beach Parks and Recreation
Department and USA WATER SKI.
4.6. Tournaments and Event Potential in Maryland
Currently, SRSC sponsors on the average of four USA WATER SKI or
American Barefoot Club (ABC) sanctioned tournaments a year, either
class “C” or “N”. USA WATER SKI sanctions various levels of
competition; class “A” for National or Regional tournaments, class “R”
for record capability tournaments, class “C” for local events and class
“N” for novice events. The events SRSC sponsors are listed as follows:
Dates
Title
Type
Pulls
June
Annapolis Open
3 Event, 2 Round
120
July
MD State Championship
3 Event, 2 Round
August
Barefoot Blast
2 Event, 2 Round
50
120
Sept.
Fall Novice
3 Event, 1 Round
50
These tournaments are limited in size and type primarily due to the
facilities currently available to the SRSC. Sponsoring a tournament on
the South River requires a great deal of initiative and planning since
there is no land adjacent to the South River facilities.
Having a facility similar to Okeeheelee would open up a number of
opportunities. Initially, the class of the tournaments could be
upgraded to class “R” with a minimum of effort. The quality of the
facility satisfies the major requirement in upgrading to an “R”
tournament. Since only a handful of sites in the country can qualify
and have the manpower to run a “record capability” tournament, a higher
caliber of skier would be attracted to such a tournament. In addition,
the inland site would become a permanent facility for the Maryland
State Championship. As a site for holding the Eastern Regional
Championship, Maryland is ideally situated. The 1988 Eastern Regional
Championship had 220 competitors, many competing in all three events.
An inland lake facility in Maryland would be a facility that could
accommodate such an event and in fact would attract more skiers because
of the close proximity to other major attractions.
The National Championship is the largest water ski tournament in the
world. The Nationals boasts over 800 competitors and requires a
minimum of three lakes to run. The Nationals has been held at
Okeeheelee Park in August of 1986, 1987, and 1988. A facility such as
being proposed could potentially the sponsorship of such an event. In
addition other potential events are listed as follows:
1) World Championship
2) US Team Trials
3) Professional (Cash Prize) Tournaments
4) USA WATER SKI Boat Certification Tests
5) Skiers, judges, scorers, drivers, and safety clinics
6) Technical controller clinics
7) Misc. meetings ie. SRSC, Eastern Region Winter Meeting, Board of
Directors, etc.
8) Similar events that pertain to the American Barefoot Club (ABC) and
the American Kneeboard Association (AKA)
The following page is a listing of the USA WATER SKI national
championship events which include some interesting particulars.
4.7. Physical Requirements
The physical requirements for a ski site such the one developed in
West Palm Beach can be detailed as the actual lakes and surrounding
amenities.
Lakes
Each lake should be a minimum of 2200 feet in length and 230 feet in
width. In the lake determined to be used for jumping, a width of 300
feet is required for a distance of 400 feet in the area of the jump.
Each lake should have a skier staging area (starting dock) and slips
for at least 6 boats. The boat ramp for each body of water need only be
large enough to accommodate one boat at a time. There should also be
loading pier and several slips.
Judging Facilities
For each lake there must be 7 judges towers and one central judges
facility. Each tower must be at least 15 ft above the surface of the
water and be capable of seating two adults. The central facility should
be large enough for seating 8 to 10 adults with several desks. The lake
designated for the jump must have 3 meter stands for metering the jump
distances. These towers and facilities should be wired for
interfacility phone communications.
Storage Facilities
Some provision for equipment storage and repair should be provided.
A storage shed the size of a one or two car garage would be more than
adequate. Additionally, boat storage facilities would be an asset and
could be a source of revenue for the facility. This sort of storage
could be as simple as a chain link fence cubicle for each boat.
Administration, Parking, Concession and Restroom Facilities These
facilities would be site-dependent and fully defined after the site
selection had been made for the proposed site.
Location
The ideal location for this project would be in Prince George’s or
Anne Arundel County in order to be within close proximity to the
majority of the South River Ski Club members. In addition, it would be
desirable to be near adequate motel/hotel accommodations in the event
that major events were sponsored. The Davidsonville area would be ideal
for this project.
Future Expansion
The design of this facility should be able to accommodate future
expansion. As was seen at Okeeheelee Park, the demand outgrew the
facilities and two more lakes are currently under construction. With
the potential that the Baltimore-Washington, Annapolis corridor has to
offer, it can be anticipated that after several years a similar problem
will occur here also.
5.0. Conclusions and Recommendations
This report details a positive solution to a growing problem within
our boating/skiing community. The experience in West Palm Beach has
demonstrated its feasibility and parallels have been drawn between the
two areas. The concept is a viable way to solve a problem that has even
recently been reported in the Evening Capital as skiers struggle to
find quality places to pursue their sport. With the rise in popularity
of this sport and inevitable Olympic involvement, it is time to take
advantage of the West Palm Beach experience and move ahead here in
Maryland. >>This concept is an ambitious one that requires foresight
into the future. Those who believed in it in West Palm Beach worked for
6 years to see it materialize. The time is propitious to develop a
facility that could rival the one in South Florida.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas C. Boddorff
USA Water Ski Council Representative
Maryland State Water Ski Federation
Ronald Ricketts
International Activities Committee
Slalom Skiing
FROM:
Hawkeye Water Ski Club
121 Harbor Drive
Sweetwater, Minnesota 02223
CONTACT: Jack Walton at (444) 395-4846
FOR RELEASE: June 1, 1992
Ski Club Opposes Measure to Ban Slalom Ski Course in Lake Lucerne
SWEETWATER, Minn. — Members of the Hawkeye Water Ski Club of Sweetwater are opposed to
a proposed city ordinance that would ban the use of an existing slalom water ski course
in the north end of Lake Lucerne, said Robert Green, president of the 48-member club.
“We think that the reasons put forth for enacting such an ordinance are not based on
solid evidence, and that a segment of the public would be denied rightful access to and
use of a public waterway,” Green said.
Green noted that questions of boating safety and bank erosion were cited by Councilman
Bob Warren when he introduced the proposed measure to prohibit the slalom course, which
has been in use for five years.
“The Hawkeye Ski Club,” Green said, “has researched the boating safety record of the
lake and environmental studies relating to water quality and shore erosion. Based on the
facts we uncovered, safety and environmental issues are not valid reasons for banning the
slalom course.”
Green said state Marine Patrol and local sheriff’s department records show that a
boating or skiing accident involving the slalom course has never occurred in the five
years of its existence. And that a study conducted by the state Department of
Environmental Quality showed that bank erosion of several lakes in the state was caused
primarily by normal wind and wave action, not by boating and water skiing activities.
Green noted also that many local businesses — restaurants, motels, gifts shops —
report that they receive a large amount of business from people who come to see the
Hawkeye Ski Club’s regular summer show ski exhibitions at the lake. And local marine
dealers and sporting goods shops that sell ski gear report that they do considerable
business with boaters and skiers who use Lake Lucerne.
“We will support regulatory actions that are needed to ensure public safety and
environmental protection,” Green added, ‘But in this case there is no solid evidence on
these grounds to support enactment of the proposed ordinance, and it would have an
adverse effect on the local economy. We urge the city council not to pass such a poorly
conceived ordinance.”
Green said that copies of the safety and environmental studies he cited have been
provided to the city council, which is to hold a final public hearing on the ordinance on
June 29.
The Hawkeye Water Ski Club is affiliated with USA Water Ski, the non-profit national
governing body for organized water skiing. USA Water Ski was established in 1939 and has
30,000 members divided among five regions nationwide. It is an Affiliated Sports
Organization of the United States Olympic Committee and a member of the International
Water Ski Federation (world governing body) and the Pan American Sports Organization.
— 30 —
NOTE TO MEDIA: Copies of the studies are attached for your review. If you want additional
information, contact Jack Walton or Robert Green at the above telephone number.
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For Office Use Only
Sanction #
USA Water Ski
Tournament Organizer’s Safety Checklist
This agreement to comply with the recommendations of the AWSA Safety Committee must be completed for each sanctioned tournament and
returned to USA Water Ski Headquarters (USAWS) with the sanction application. USAWS will include a copy of this form in the tournament
kit safety packet.
Club Name:
Tournament Name:
Date:
Tournament Location (site/city/state):
The following safety preparations and equipment is considered by the USAWS Safety Committee to be minimum recommended for the safe
operation of a tournament. It is the responsibility of the tournament sponsor to supply the following.
A.
B.
MEDICAL LIAISON WITH OFF-SITE MEDICAL FACILITIES:
1.
There must be a phone or radio/telephone communication on-site for direct communication to an emergency facility or
emergency services.
2.
Licensed or certified EMT or medical assistance available on-site or no more than 20 minutes travel away.
3.
Posted emergency route maps and phone numbers at several locations on the tournament site.
SAFETY OF ON-SITE FACILITIES:
1.
You will be required to maintain the facility in a safe and hazard free environment. This will include removing all trash from the
water areas that could injure the competitors, officials, and spectators.
2.
You must clearly mark, cover and render safe any unmovable objects that will endanger the participants. These obstructions are
to be marked and pointed out to everyone in the area by announcements and/or proper signage of the danger.
3.
You must maintain the docks and take off and landing areas in a safe manner to avoid injuries to the participants and swimmers.
4.
You will be required to prepare the jump ramp/kickers/sliders for competition with the following items checked and inspected:
i. Properly secured (lines & anchors)
ii. Surface area and aprons smooth with no protruding nails/screws.
iii. A good contrast of colors between the surface, side curtains and water.
iv. All algae and scumshould be removed at the water line so that skiers/riders can differentiate between the
jump/kicker/slider surface and the water.
5.
Towers:
i.
ii.
iii.
6.
Refueling area:
i. Appropriate fire extinguisher in close proximity.
ii. NO SMOKING and FLAMMABLE signs posted and visible.
iii. Area cordoned off.
7.
Requirements for Safety Boat(s) and Crews and Swimmers:
i. One (1) Type III PFD for each person and a spare.
ii. Two-way radio to Safety Director.
iii. Water rescue personnel in adequate numbers to cover all events (to be trained by the Safety Director.)
iv. Adequate safety boats where needed.
8.
Shore Safety Facilities:
i. Designated safety/first aid area.
ii. First Aid equipment.
a. Rigid spine board
b. Universal type C.I.D.
c. First Aid kit of adequate size
The towers/scaffolding provided for the Officials and Announcers for the tournament shall meet the following criteria:
Stable and securely anchored.
Ladders secured at the top and no loose foot/hand holds.
Floors, hand rails in place and in good repair.
I hereby acknowledge and certify that compliance with these minimum recommendations will be in place prior to the tournament and available
for the inspection of the Safety Director before the tournament begins.
Tournament Organizer’s Signature:
F:\COMPSVCS\SANCTION\Safety Checklist-03.2.doc
Date:
USA Water Ski Insurance Fact Page
A Reference To USA Water Ski’s Medical & Liability Insurance Plan
Perhaps the single most important benefit of USA Water Ski membership is medical and liability insurance, which covers clubs and members.
The following review details USA Water Ski’s insurance coverage and
provides answers to commonly asked questions about the program.
Medical Accident Insurance
As a USA Water Ski Active member competing in various USA Water
Ski-sanctioned events, either locally or nationally, you are covered by the
organization’s Medical Accident insurance policy.The policy provides you
with a total coverage of $10,000, subject to a $1,000 per claim deductible
and in excess over any valid, collectible medical insurance coverage you
may have.This coverage is limited to members engaged in a USA Water
Ski-sanctioned event or covered practice (see last paragraph for definition
of a covered practice). USA Water Ski sanctioning is required to verify
compliance with USA Water Ski safety standards. Coverage is not limited
to major national events and may include local, state and regional tournaments or an individual club’s ski show exhibition or inter-club competition.
Coverage applies to club members only if the club has 100-percent USA
Water Ski membership for all participants.
If you have a claim under this portion of your USA Water Ski insurance,
an official of the club or event in which you are partici- pating must assist
you in completing a Preliminary Notice Of Injury card, which includes
details about the event and your injury. All completed cards must be sent to:
R.W. Barss, Inc. Insurance Agency
15 Division Ave S
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(800) 968-6232 or (616) 235-3785
Preliminary Notice Of Injury cards are included in all USA Water Ski
tournament kits, club kits and also are available from USA Water Ski
Headquarters.
After receiving medical treatment, file a claim with your own medical
insurance carrier, such as Blue Cross.Your medical insurance carrier will
probably pay a portion of your medical bills and then send you proof of
payment.
Next, to file a claim on your USA Water Ski medical insurance, contact
R.W. Barss, Inc. for claim forms and instructions,. It is very important to
submit all documentation requested to help speed handling. If you do not
have medical insurance coverage of your own, you must submit a letter
with your claim stating that you have no other medical insurance.All
injury claim correspondance should be directed to R.W. Barss, Inc. Do
not call USA Water Ski seeking answers to questions about claims.
Liability Insurance Coverage
While the previously discussed medical insurance coverage is important to each water skier’s ability to safely enjoy the sport, he would be
unable to do so without a lake.The availability of private or public bodies
of water is often dependent on proper insurance being in force. USA Water
Ski’s liability insurance coverage opens up the sport to many people who
otherwise would not be able to fully enjoy it. USA Water Ski’s liability
insurance provides $1,000,000 of coverage per occurrence and protects
USA Water Ski, its member clubs and officials and volunteers.Without such
insurance, USA Water Ski would be unable to use many lakes be- cause
liability exposures would make water skiing an impossible risk.
Typically, a USA Water Ski-affiliated club will be required to provide a
lake owner or government entity with a Certificate Of Insurance, which is
evidence that liability insurance is in force.
The Certificate may name the lake owner as Additional Insured, which
protects him against lawsuits arising from any negligent act that occurs
on his property by USA Water Ski or its member club. It does not
cover the lake owner for liability arising from his own negligent acts,
for which he must have his own insurance policy. A.J.Gallagher's
insurance program can provide a separate policy for ski lake owners
which will provide coverage for their own liability. To obtain a Certificate Of Insurance, the club must complete a Certificate Request form
which is part of each USA Water Ski club membership kit available at
http://www.usawaterski.org/downloads/clubapps/
2005ClubAdditionalInsuredApp.pdf or go online at https://
joinusawaterski.org/clubs/clubinfo.asp The form must show the full
name and address of the lake owner and be accompanied by the fee
charged for this service.
Return the Certificate Request form and fee to USA Water Ski.
Submit the forms well in advance, since it takes time for the insurance
company,A.J.Gallagher, to issue a certificate, especially if all
information isn’t immediately available. In particular, your club will
need to provide a certificate of insurance, minimum $500,000
coverage, naming USA Water Ski as additional insured for any
towboats that will be used in covered activities.
At a USA Water Ski-sanctioned event or covered practice in
preparation for one, USA Water Ski’s liability insurance provides
coverage for all normal water skiing exposures, including jump ramps
and docks or floats which may be left on the lake throughout the season.
However, there is no coverage for liability arising from own- ership of
a towboat. (See questions and answers for more informa- tion). USA
Water Ski also requires all club members that participate in
any covered USA Water Ski event to be Active members.
Covered Practices
There are two classifications of Covered Practices – Approved
Practices and USA Water Ski-Sanctioned Practices.
Approved Practice – An approved practice must be at a site
approved by a USA Water Ski-affiliated club. All state and
USA Water Ski safety regulations must be adhered to. Also,
all participants must be USA Water Ski Active members.
Approved practices must be logged in advance with a list of
all skiers, towboat drivers and times. Guest and Learn-to-Ski
members may not participate in approved practices.
Sanctioned Practice – A rated safety official must be present at a
USA Water Ski-sanctioned practice, which must be at a site
approved by a USA Water Ski-affiliated club. All state and
USA Water Ski safety regulations must be adhered to. Also,
all participants must be USA Water Ski Active members.
Non-USA Water Ski members may be invited to participate
as Learn-to-Ski members at USA Water Ski-sanctioned
practices for up to 12 times at a cost of $5 per event. Upon
participating as a Learn-to-Ski member a 12th time, an
individual is automatically upgraded to Active membership
status. USA Water Ski-sanctioned practices must be logged
in advance with a list of all skiers, towboat drivers and times.
Also, a USA Water Ski Club Practice Sanction Application
must be completed and submitted to USA Water Ski Headquarters a minimum of 14 days in advance.
Club Insurance Information
For additional information about USA Water Ski’s insurance
coverage for affiliated water ski clubs, refer to the matrix and
Frequently Asked Questions on the other side of this document.
Toll Free 800. 533.2972  Phone 863.324.4341  Fax 863.325.8259
E-mail – memberservices@usawaterski.org  Web site – USAWATERSKI.org
R.W. Barss Inc. Water Ski Club Insurance – Which Activities Are Covered?
Club Activity
Sanction Requirements
Required Personnel
USA Water Ski Membership Requirements
Approved
Club Practice
(non-sanctioned)
No. However, all non-sanctioned club
practices must be documented in the club’s
official log book
None
All participants must be:
• Active USA Water Ski/Club Members
Supporting, Guest and Learn-to-Ski members are
not eligible to participate in on-water activities
Sanctioned
Club Practice
Yes. First sanction of the year must be
received by USA Water Ski HQ. All
subsequent requests can be phoned in to
HQ.
Safety Coordinator
All participants must be:
• Active USA Water Ski/Club Members
• Learn-to-Ski USA Water Ski Members
(Learn-to-Ski members are not allowed to jump)
USA Water Ski Supporting members are not eligible
to participate in on-water activities
Ski Show
Exhibitio
n
Yes. First sanction application must be
received by USA Water Ski HQ prior to
exhibition. HQ must be notified prior to
any subsequent exhibition not on original
sanction application.
Safety Coordinator
All participants must be:
• Active USA Water Ski/Club Members
• Guest USA Water SkiMembers
(Guest members are not allowed to jump)
Supporting and Learn-to-Ski members are not
eligible to participate in on-water activities
Trained Driver
Clinic
Yes. Sanction application must be received by
USA Water Ski HQ 21 days prior to clinic
Course Conductor
(A 3-Event, Barefoot or Kneeboard driver
who is a rated senior or regular driver)
All participants must be:
• Active USA Water Ski Members
Supporting, Guest and Learn-to-Ski members are
not eligible to participate in a trained driver clinic
Skier Clinic
Yes. Sanction application must be received by
USA Water Ski HQ 21 days prior to clinic
Level 1 Instructor/Trained Driver
Safety Coordinator
(A person with all three ratings
qualifies to serve as Trained Driver/
Safety Coordinator/Instructor
simultaneously.)
All participants must be:
• Active USA Water Ski Members
• Learn-to-Ski USA Water Ski Members
(Learn-to-Ski members are not allowed to jump)
Supporting members are not eligible to participate
in on-water activities
Fun (Class
F)
Tournament
Yes. Sanction application must be received by
USA Water Ski HQ 21 days prior to
tournament
Trained Driver
Safety Coordinator
(A person with both ratings qualifies
to serve as Trained Driver/Safety
Coordinator simultaneously.)
All participants must be:
• Active USA Water Ski Members
• Guest USA Water Ski Members
(No jumping is allowed at Class "F" events)
Supporting and Learn-to-Ski members are not
eligible to participate in on-water activities
Some Frequently Asked Questions About R.W. Barss
Question
IsUSAWater Ski’sliabilityand medicalinsurancecoverage
in place if I’m water skiing for fun and not in a covered
prac- tice for a USAWater Ski-sanctioned event?
Answer
No! Liability and medical insurance are not in place.
Question
My friend, who is not a USAWater Ski active member, wants
to ski with us. Is our insurance in force if he skis?What if he
rides in the boat?
Answer
If your friend is not a USA Water Ski member, then it’s not
an official USA Water Ski activity and there is no insurance
coverage for either of you.
Question
Can club members who have a USAWater Ski supporting
membership work at tournaments or participate in any other
on-water event?
Answer
No! They must become USA Water Ski active members.
Question
My friend’s wife and kids will be there,too.What happens if one of the kids is injured while swimming on the
beach? Does our club have liability insurance coverage
with USA Water Ski if we are sued as a result?
Insurance
Answer
Question
Yes,if your club is sued as a result of such an accident,
your liability insurance policy would defend you.
Must all of our club members be USA Water Ski members for the insurance to be in effect?
Question
Answer
If we borrow a boat for a tournament, will our liability insurance be in force if a USAWater Ski member drives it?
No! However,all club members that participate in any USA
Water Ski covered event must maintain Active membership.
Answer
Question
The primary liability for the boat is the responsibility of the
boat owner.Should there be an accident and an ensuing
lawsuit,the boat policy will have primary responsibility.If
USAWaterSki oranofficialis suedseparately,the USA
Water Ski liability policy would come into play since the
boat is a non-owned boat.
Answer
At our club’s covered practices and ski show exhibitions,my
wife doesn’t ski or ride in the boat.However,she helps
straightenskis,recoilropeson the dock,andannounces.
Doesshe needto be a USAWater Skiactive member?
Are boats covered by our club's liability insurance policy?
Yes!Although she isn’t skiing or riding in the boat, she is
participating in covered club activities.Therefore, she must
be a USAWater Ski active member.
Answer
Question
Question
USA Water Ski’s insurance policy provides coverage for USA
Water Ski’s liability arising out of the use of boats not owned
by USA Water Ski, but would not protect the boat owner. This
is not primary insurance on the boats. Anyone who owns a
boat should obtain adequate liability insurance as well as
physical damage (theft and collision) just as they would for
a car.A special insurance Web site –
www.insuremyskiboat.com – has been established for
USA Water Ski members. There, members will find information about Global Marine, INAMAR, and the types of
coverage available.
Are our club boats covered by the liability policy? What if
we take them to a tournament in another state?
Answer
No, all boats must have their own limits of liability and
physical damage. Such insurance would be primarily responsible for damages resulting from an accident in which the
boat played a contributing role. This is true regardless of
which state the boat is operating in.
F:\membsvcs\Club\General\insfacts.p65 - 11/17/04
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002
ORIGINAL COPY
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PAGE 1
AMENDMENTS TO ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 2538
AS AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 21, 2000
Amendment 1
On page 6, line 26, strike out, “unless" strike out lines 27 and 28 and insert:
(1) This subdivision does not apply to a person aboard a personal watercraft or a person
being towed behind a vessel on water skis, it that person is a performer engaged in a professional
exhibition, or preparing to participate or participating in an official regatta, marine parade, tournament, or
exhibition.
(2) In lieu of wearing a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device of a type described
in this subdivision, any person engaged in slalom skiing on a marked course or any person engaged in
barefoot, jump, or trick water skiing may elect to wear a wetsuit designed for the activity and labeled by the
manufacturer as a water ski wetsuit. A Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device of a type described
in this subdivision shall be carried in the tow vessel for each skier electing to wear a water ski wetsuit
pursuant to this paragraph.
0
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002
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE, 21, 2000
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 30,2000
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE - 1999-2000 REGULAR SESSION
ASSEMBLY BILL
No. 2538
Introduced by Assembly Member Brewer
(Coauthor.- Assembly Member Davis)
February 24, 2000
An act to amend Sections 651 and 658.3 of the Harbors and Navigation Code, relating to
vessels.
Legislative Cousel’s Digest
AB 2538, as amended, Brewer. Operation of vessels: boating safety.
(1) Existing law prohibits a person from operating a motorboat, sailboat, or vessel that is
26 feet or less in length unless every person who is 6 years of age or younger is wearing a
type I, II, or III Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device, or unless the person is
operating a sailboat on which the person who is 6 years of age or younger is restrained, as
provided, or the person is operating a vessel on which the person who is 6 years of age or
younger is in an enclosed cabin, or unless the person is operating a motorboat, sailboat, or
vessel if the operator is reacting to an emergency rescue situation.
This bill would make those requirements that currently apply to a person who is 6 years of
age or younger, instead, apply to a person who is 11 years of age or younger, and would
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AB 2538
MARI LYN C. BREWER
-2
require the flotation device to be a type I, II, III, or V Coast Guard-approved personal
flotation device. The bill would also require any person aboard a personal watercraft
or any person being towed behind a vessel on water skis, an aquaplane, or similar
device to wear a type I, II, III or V Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device,
except as provided. Because other existing law makes a violation of these
requirements an infracti on, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
(2) Existing law prescribes the length of "personal watercraft" as less than 12
feet.
This bill, instead, would prescribe the length of "personal watercraft" as 13 feet or
less.
(3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and
school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish
procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no
reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State- mandated local
program: yes.
The people of rhe Srate of California do enact as follows:
1
SECTION
1. Section 651 of the Harbors and
2 Navigation Code is amended to read:
3
651. As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly
4 requires a different meaning:
5
(a) "Alcohol"' means any form or derivative of ethyl
6 alcohol (ethanol).
7 (b) "Alcohol concentration" means either grams of
8 alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood or grams of alcohol per
9 210 liters of breath.
10
(c) "Associated equipment" means any of the
11 following, excluding radio equipment:
12 (1) Any system, part or component of a boat as
13 originally manufactured or any similar part or
14 component manufactured or sold for replacement,
15 repair, or improvement of the system, part, or
16 component.
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AB 2538
(2) Any accessory or equipment for, or appurtenance
to, a boat.
(3) Any marine safety article, accessory, or equipment
inteinded for use by a person on board a boat.
(d) "Boat" means any vessel that is any of the
following:
(1) Manufactured or used primarily for
noncommercial use.
(2) Leased, rented, or chartered to another for the
latter's noncornrnercial use.
(3) Engaged in the carrying of six or fewer passengers,
including those for-hire vessels carrying more than three
passengers while using inland waters of the state that are
not declared navigable by the United States Coast Guard.
(4) Commercial vessels required to be numbered
pursuant to Section 9850 of the Vehicle Code.
(e) "Chemical test" means a test that analyzes an
individual's breath, blood, or urine, for evidence of drug
or alcohol use.
(f) "Controlled substance" means controlled
substance as defined in Section 11007 of the Health and
Safety Code.
(g) "Department" means the Department of Boating
and Waterways.
(b) "Director" means the Director of Boating and
Waterways.
(i) "Drug" means any substance or combination of
substances other than alcohol that could so affect the
nervous system, brain, or muscles of a person as to impair
to an appreciable degree his or her ability to operate a
vessel in the manner that an ordinarily prudent person,
in full possession of his or her faculties, using reasonable
care, would operate a similar vessel under like conditions.
(j) "Intoxicant" means any form of alcohol, drug, or
combination thereof.
(k) "Legal owner"' is a person holding the legal title to
a vessel under a conditional sale contract, the mortgagee
of a vessel, or the renter or lessor of a vessel to the state,
or to any county, city, district, or political subdivision of
the state, under a lease, lease-sale, or rental-purchase
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agreement that grants possession of the vessel to the
lessee for a period of 30 consecutive days or more.
(l) “Manufacturer” means any person engaged in any
of the following:
(1) The manufacture, construction, or assembly of
boats or associated equipment.
(2) The manufacture or construction of components
for boats and associated equipment to be sold for
subsequent assembly.
(3) The importation into this state for sale of boats,
associated equipment, or components thereof.
(m) "Marine employer" means the owner, managing
operator, charterer, agent, master, or person in charge of
a vessel other than a recreational vessel.
(n) "Motorboat" means any vessel propelled by
machinery, whether or not the machbiery is the principal
source of propulsion, but shall not include a vessel that has
a valid marine document issued by the United States
Coast Guard or any federal agency successor thereto.
(o) "Operator" means the person . on board who is
steering the vessel while underway.
(p) "Owner" is a person having all the incidents of
ownership, including the legal title, of a vessel whether or
not that person lends, rents, or pledges the vessel; the
person entitled to the possession of a vessel as the
purchaser under a conditional sale contract; or the
mortgagor of a vessel. "Owner" does not include a person
holding legal title to a vessel under a conditional sale
contract, the mortgagee of a vessel, or the renter or lessor
of a vessel to the state or to any county, city, district, or
political subdivision of the state under a lease, lease-sale,
or rental-purchase agreement that grants possession of
the vessel to the lessee for a period of 30 c onsecutive days
or more.
(q) "Passenger" means every person carried on board
avessel other than any of the following:
(1) The owner or his or her representative.
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(2) The operator.
(3) Bona fide members of the crew engaged in the
business of the vessel who have contributed no
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consideration for their carriage and who are paid for their
services.
(4) Any guest on board a vessel that is being used
exclusively for pleasure purposes who has not contributed
any consideration, directly or indirectly, for his or her
carriage.
(r) “Person” means an individual, partnership, firm,
corporation, limited liability company, association, or
other entity, but does not include the United States, the
state, or a municipality or subdivision thereof.
(s) “Personal watercraft” means a vessel less than 13
feet in length 13 feet in length or less, propelled by
machinery, that is designed to be operated by a person
sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel, rather than in
the conventional manner of sitting or standing inside the
16 vessel.
(t) "Recreational vessel" means a vessel that is being
used only for pleasure.
(u) “Registered owner” is the person registered by the
Department of Motor Vehicles as the owner of the vessel.
(v) “Special-use area” means all or a portion of a
waterway that is set aside for specific uses or activities
to the exclusion of other incompatible uses or activities.
(w) “State” means a state of the United States, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam,
American Samoa, and the District of Columbia.
(x) “State of principal use” means the state on wbich
waters a vessel is used or intended to be used most during
a calendar year.
(y) “Undocumented vessel” means any vessel that is
not required to have, and does not have, a valid marine
document issued by the United States Coast Guard or any
federal agency successor thereto.
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(z) “Use” means operate, navigate, or employ.
(aa) “Vessel” includes every description of watercraft
used or capable of being used as a means of transportation
on water, except either of the following:
(1) A seaplane on the water.
(2) A watercraft specifically designed to operate on a
permanently fixed course, the movement of which is
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AB 2538
restricted to a fixed track or arm to which the watercraft
is attached or by which the watercraft is controlled.
(bb) “Water skis, an aquaplane, or a similar device”
includes all forms of water skiing, barefoot skiing, skiing
on skim boards, knee boards, or other contrivances,
parasailing, ski kiting, or any activity where a person is
towed behind or alongside a boat.
(cc) “Waters of this state” means any waters within
the territorial limits of this state.
SEC. 2 Section 658.3 of the Harbors and Navigation
Code is amended to read:
658.3 (a) No person shall operate a motorboat,
sailboat, or vessel that is 26 feet or less in length unless
every person on board who is 11 years of age or less is
wearing a type I, II, III, or V Coast Guard-approved
personal flotaition device while that motorboat, sailboat
or vessel is underway.
(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to a person
operating a sailboat on which a person who is 11 years of
age or less is restrained by a harness tethered to the vessel,
or to a person operating a vessel on which a person who
is 11 years of age of less is in an enclosed cabin.
(c) Any person on board a personal watercraft or any
person being towed behind a vessel on water skis, an
aquaplane, or similar device shall wear a type I, II, III, or
V Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device, unless
That person is descibed in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of
Subdivision © of Section 658.5.
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(d) Subdivisions (a) and (c) do not apply to a person
operating a motorboat, sailboat, or vessel if the operator
is reating to an emergency rescue situation.
(e) The following definitions govern the consturction
of this section:
(1) “Enclosed cabin” means a space on board a vessel
that is surrounded by bulkheads and covered by a roof.
(2) “Operate a motorboat, sailboat or vessel” means to
be in control or in hcarge of a motorboat, sailboat or
vessel while it is underway.
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1 (3) "Underway" means all times except when the
2 motorboat, sailboat, or vessel is anchored, moored, or
3 aground.
4 (f) A violation of this section is an infraction
5 punishable as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 668.
6 SEC. 3. No reimbursement is required by this act
7 pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
8 Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred
9 by a local agency or school district will be incurred
10 because this act creates a new crime or infraction,
11 eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
12 for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section
13 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition
14 of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article
XIII B of the California Constitution.
AB 2538
February 3,1994
Representative Cynthia Moore chestnut 101 S.E. Second- Place Sun Center,
Suite 108 Gainesville, Florida 32601
Dear Rep Chestnut,
When considering, the passage of s.327.37,F.S, of which you are a
co-sponsor, please also consider sponsorin g the following amendment: “
Exempt from this law will be barefooters, Jumpers, and trick skiers.
Barefooters and Jumpers must however wear floatation devices designed- and
manufactured specifically for that discipline. Trick skiers need not wear
floatation devices. This exemption would be in effect while practicing for or
competing in a water ski tournament.”
Rationale: Barefooters and water ski jumpers traditionally wear
floatation devices built into the full body suits worn for that event. These
devices, although not Coast Guard approved, provide adequate floatation for
the skier along with additional protection for other body parts. Trick skiers
traditionally do not wear floatation devices as they present a significant
encumbrance to the performance of that discipline. Boat speeds for the trick
event are relatively slow and 1ittle danger is involved.
The American Water Ski Association applauds the efforts of the Florida
Legislature in promulgating water safety regulations and supports S
327.37,F.S. with the aforementioned exemptions.
Sincerely.
Leon J. Larson
Chairman AWSA Safety Committee
American Water Ski Assocation
795 Overlook Dr.
Winter Haven, Fl. 33884
327-17 Water Ski and aquaplanes regulated.-
(1) No person shall operate a vessel on any waters of this state towing a person on water
skis or an aquaplane, or similar device unless there is in such vessel a person in addition
to the operator, in a position to observe the progress of the person being to -wed, or the
vessel is equipped with a wide-angle rear view mirror mounted in Such manner as to
permit the operator of the vessel to observe the progress of the person being towed. This
subsection does not apply to class A motorboats operated, by the person being towed and
designed to be incapable of carrying the operator in the motorboat.
(2) (a) No person shall engage in water skiing, aquaplaning, or similar activity at any
time
between the hours from one-half hour after sunset to one- half hour before sunrise.
(b) No person shall engage in water skiing or aquaplaning unless such person is
wearing a Type I, Type II, or Type III of personal flotation device approved by the
United States Coast Guard. (3) The provisions Of subsections (1) and (2) do not apply
to a performer engaged in a professional exhibition or a person preparing to participate
or participating in an official regatta, boat race, marine parade, tournament, or
exhibition. (4) No person shall operate or manipulate any vessel, tow rope, or other device
by which the direction or location of water skis, aquaplane, intertube, sled, or
similar device may be affected or controlled, in such a way as to cause the water skis,
aquaplane, intertube, sled, or similar device or any person there on to collide or strike
against any vessel, bridge, wharf, pier, dock, buoy, platform, piling, channel marker, or
other object, except slalom buoys, ski jumps, or like objects used normally in competitive
or recreatio nal skiing. History.ch. 59-400; s. 9,. ch. 0.1- 105; s. ch. 65-34(ij; s. S", ch. 84-138-, s. 6. ch.
.1.
87-392: s. 4. ch. 94-24 1. Note.Fonner s. 371.54.
Florida Slatute..
5 /2 6/0. 94:32: 10 PNI
--I.`~') C'Onl"SS ')Ut""
Systenis. Inc. 1097
The International Water Ski Federation (IWSF) and its member organizations recognize
the importance of taking care of the environment -- our future, as individuals and as a
sport, depends on it. Water skiers have a vested interest in protecting the environment,
as the ability to enjoy our sport, and good health, depends on clean, safe and non-polluted
waterways.
Why this Handbook?
The IWSF recognizes that environmental management is an important component of
responsible sports management. It acknowledges that the sport of water skiing creates
some environmental impacts that must be addressed. As a result, one of the IWSF’s
priorities for the new millennium is to embrace and implement environmentally responsible
management practices. The IWSF encourages its members, the water ski community,
and the boating industry as a whole to do likewise.
It is the intention of this Handbook to inspire all members of the water ski community to
implement a positive, practical and proactive approach to environmental management.
1
IWSF Environmental Handbook
OBJECTIVES of this Handbook:
The objectives of this handbook are to:
1. Highlight the types of environmental impacts associated with boating and
water skiing
2. Offer water skiers, boaters, and club/marina operators recommended best
practices and wise boating tips to reduce or prevent these impacts.
WHAT’S Inside:
The handbook is divided into the following four main parts:
Part A – Introduction – to the IWSF handbook and its objectives
Part B – Water Skiing, Boating and the Environment – Issues and Impacts
Part C – Practical Steps to Environmentally Responsible Water Skiing and
Boating
Part D – Recommended Environmental Practices for Club/marina Operators
This handbook is based on an extensive literature review on the impact of water skiing
(and boating) on the environment. Most of this handbook’s facts and findings are based
on conclusions drawn from numerous papers, reports, books, and studies, which can be
found in the bibliography. The recommended best practices and practical steps were
developed primarily by the IWSF, with contributions made by various individuals and
respected water ski and boating organizations from around the world.
THE Sport of Water Skiing:
Water skiing is a sport with many social, economic and health benefits to society. It is
unique in that it is a sport where able and disabled persons, and people as young as 5
years and as old as 80 years of age can participate alongside each other. It is a sport that
involves more than one person, and is a wonderful family activity that gathers members
together for a day of fun at a favorite waterway.
Anyone who has put on water skis can attest to its health benefits – it is a sport that
demands and develops strength, agility and endurance. The sport includes several
disciplines including slalom, tricks, cable, jump, ski racing, kneeboard, wakeboard, and
barefoot, with each of these practiced for either recreational or competitive enjoyment.
Economically, water skiing can be credited with generating capital and employment
opportunities worldwide from both direct economic activity and spin-off products and
services. The sport plays an important role in the economy, tourism, and culture of many
countries around the globe.
2
IWSF Environmental Handbook
WATER SKIING Into the Future
The sport of water skiing has already begun taking action towards reducing environmental
impacts, as demonstrated by the creation of this Handbook and through numerous other
activities. The most significant step forward for the sport has come from the technological
advancements made by the marine industry. Almost all major marine engine
manufacturers are today producing engines that emit significantly less hydrocarbons and
less noise, with reductions in emissions in the order of up to 80% recorded by some twostroke engine manufacturers. As well, there has been a shift away from the more polluting
and less efficient older two-stroke engines towards both more efficient and less harmful
four-stroke V-8 engines, and most recently toward cleaner more efficient two-stroke
models. This trend toward cleaner, quieter, more efficient engines is sure to continue as
pollution abatement technology becomes more sophisticated for the marine engine and as
pressure from pollution regulators grows. (More on marine engines can be found in
Appendix B.)
However, despite the anticipated benefits from technological advancements, there still
remains much that can be done by administrators, club/marina operators, event
organizers and individual participants to prevent impacts from ever occurring. This
Handbook provides numerous tips and suggested best practices to help move our sport
towards pro-active environmental management for all. Not only will such practices benefit
the natural ecology, they can also result in various other social and economic benefits
such as cost savings and enhanced member pride.
Furthermore, a sound environmental approach will assist water ski regulatory authorities
in any country to set strategies for the sport’s development based on the philosophy of
"sustainable development": meeting the needs of the present in a way that does not limit
the ability of future generations to meet their needs or harm the integrity of the natural
environment. By taking action today, the sport of water skiing will be in a strong position
down the road if and when regulatory authorities pass judgement, and set laws, based on
the sport’s record in environmental protection. Furthermore, an environmental
management approach to our sport will help ensure that boating and water skiing are safe
activities for both participants and the public. And finally, by implementing sustainable
development practices we will enhance the conditions under which indigenous species of
flora and fauna will flourish in countries around the world.
The following are just some of the reasons why it is in the best interest of the water ski
community to embrace sound environmental management practices.
BENEFITS of Environmental Management:
Due Diligence – this is a fundamental requirement of any legal defense against an
environmental prosecution. This is especially pertinent for club/marina operators with
regards to major spills of fuel and oil into the water or onto the ground. Part of due
diligence is the adoption of a regularly updated emergency response plan with which all
staff are familiar.
Regulatory Requirements – Club/marina operators must be fully aware of all applicable
environmental regulations and make sure that they are being met at all times. In some
jurisdictions the government’s environmental regulatory body has the authority to close
down a club/marina if such regulations are not being upheld.
3
IWSF Environmental Handbook
Reduce Operating Costs – There are many small ways a club/marina can reduce costs
and improve operating efficiencies. One of the simplest of these is waste reduction; an
efficient waste reduction plan will ensure minimal waste arrives at the club/marina, which
in turn results in reduced clean-up and waste haulage costs.
Fuel Savings – Modern two-stoke marine engines (models built after 1997) burn, and
emit, significantly less fuel than their predecessors. In fact, the new engines burn up to 40
percent less fuel than the traditional two-stroke engines. This improved efficiency results
in considerable fuel savings for boaters and benefits the environment by substantially
reducing hydrocarbon emissions.
Public Relations – A clean, well-run marina will go a long way to improving public
perception and the image of boating and water skiing in general. It also has the ability to
improve the marketability of special events or competitions to potential sponsors.
Property Value – Property value relies largely on its salability. Many banks and lending
institutions require environmental site assessments to be undertaken before financ ing.
Sound environmental practices will help prevent spills of toxic substances or other types
of environmental mishaps, which could reduce the value of the property.
Legacy – Taking steps today to protect the environment is the right thing to do for many
reasons but especially because we owe it to the generations of tomorrow. Not only do we
have a responsibility to clean up past damage, but also to prevent further contamination
and pollution. This approach will help ensure that the sport of water skiing will exist for
years and years to come. It is not unrealistic to imagine watching our grandchildren water
ski behind a boat that only leaves bubbles in its wake.
This handbook is one tool which the IWSF encourages its members to use both at the
national and the club/marina levels to help bring the sport of water skiing to the highest
standards of environmental performance. This endeavor will not only benefit clubs/
marinas and water skiers locally, but it has the potential to bring about positive change for
the global environment.
The IWSF hopes that you, as a member of the international water skiing community, will
find this handbook useful in identifying ways in which to improve your environmental
management practices. By doing so, you and thousands of others at all levels will
continue the sport’s movement toward increasingly sustainable practices.
4
IWSF Environmental Handbook
WlTEIsmN&, IOAT•G
udJ Ute ENVllOIMENl
ISSUES aid EM•ACTS
-IWSF Environmental Handbook
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5
1. OVERVIEW
Like most human activities, water skiing causes a certain degree of impact to the natural
environment in which it takes place. Whether that impact is negative, neutral or potentially
even positive is often a matter of some debate. Studies and reports rarely come to the
same conclusions concerning either the degree of impact or the relative priority of any one
issue as opposed to another. Several major studies undertaken in Europe and the United
States conclude that in general, and relative to other boating activities, water skiing does
not significantly impact the natural environment. On the other hand, various studies and
one book in particular conclude that boating (more so than water skiing) does have a
significant ecological impact, particularly in regards to certain environmental issues.
Rather than enter into this ongoing debate, the following pages focus instead on the most
commonly cited and studied environmental impacts associated with boating and water
skiing, drawn from the literature review.
The objectives of this section are to provide the reader a description of what impacts are
associated with boating and water skiing, and secondly, how these impacts affect the
environment as well as human, animal and plant life.
2. THE WATER CYCLE— HOW WATER SKIING IS GLOBALLY CONNECTED
What would water skiing be without water, moreover, without CLEAN water?
We are all globally connected through nature’s ecological cycles, in particular the water
cycle, also known as the hydrological cycle. Through a variety of unique natural processes
all of earth’s water supplies, be they from rivers, icecaps, oceans or seas, eventually
evaporate into the atmosphere to become part of a continuous phenomenon called the
hydrological cycle. Those raindrops that cause you to cancel a day of water skiing are
actually part of a much larger and vital natural process, one that all living beings depend
on for survival.
When unnatural substances, like hydrocarbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels,
enter the hydrological cycle they have a detrimental effect on earth’s ecosystems, and
human health. This is evident from the damage created by acid rain and greenhouse
gases which are the products of human activity.
6
IWSF Environmental Handbook
Acid rain is precipitation that contains a high level of acidic compounds such as sulfur dioxide
and nitrogen oxide which come from fossil fuel emissions and some natural processes like
volcanism. These compounds react in the atmosphere to produce sulfuric acid, a highly
corrosive compound, and ozone, a major factor in the trapping of heat and pollutants close to
ground level – the greenhouse effect.
Greenhouse gases related to human activity are increasing at an unprecedented rate leading to
an overall warming of the earth’s surface, called the greenhouse effect or global warming. The
principal gases related to human activity include:
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) -- the major contributor to the greenhouse effect primarily from the
burning of fossil fuel, coal, oil, gasoline, and natural gas
Methane – from natural decompostion process involving bacteria and the absence of oxygen -considered to be about 20 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas than CO2
Nitrous Oxide (NOx) -- from burning of fossil fuels, nitrogen based fertilizers, and some manmade chemicals such as nitric acid
Ozone – main component of urban smog caused when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and
N0x react with sunlight. VOCs are released from a wide variety of chemicals and solvents
Halocarbons – they trap heat in the atmosphere much better than CO2 – the best known of
these is chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) which is known to destroy the ozone layer. The ozone layer
protects us from ultraviolet rays that can cause melanoma type cancer and cataracts.
HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ASSOCIATED with WATER SKIING and
BOATING
The main environmental impacts associated with boating and water skiing fall into four key
categories:
1. Noise – engine and human noise
2. Pollution – chemicals, gases, solid wastes, and biological contamination
3. Geomorphology and Hydrology – shoreline and flora degradation, and
turbidity
4. Birds and Wildlife – disturbance and dislocation
Some of the more common types of impacts associated with these categories include:
Noise pollution – from boat movement on the water and the club/marina grounds
Emission of harmful gases, gaseous products and particulates from marine engines
Emission of hydrocarbons into water body, ground water, lake sediments and
atmosphere
Release of potentially toxic heavy metals in the water
Increased water turbidity due to the engine, boat and even water skier
Clogged intake valves from biological contaminants such as zebra mussels
Creations of excess garbage on land and water
Disturbance of birds and wildlife due to boating activity and noise
While most of the above impacts are negative, there are also some benefits of both water
skiing and boating on the environment.
BENEFITS of Water Skiing and Boating on the Aquatic Environment
In some instances, boating and water skiing can directly benefit the ecosystem by adding
much needed oxygen to the water body. Studies have indicated that the action of the
engine propeller, the boat hull, and the water skier cause an increase in the oxygen content
in the water. This in turn can benefit the health and diversity of the animal and
plant life living in that water. This oxygenation process is most advantageous in shallow
waters, waters that have minimal fresh water exchange and a high incidence of algae
growth.
Another benefit of water skiing and boating is the removal of carbon dioxide, and other
pollutants, from the water body. This benefit is credited to marine engines with
underwater exhausts. As the bubbles containing the exhaust gases are dispersed behind
the boat they help to reduce noise and to transport emissions to the surface where they
are evaporated. An underwater study done by Outboard Marine Corporation found that air
bubbles moving through the water at high speeds can help to degrade certain pollutants.
In narrow waterways, especially canals, a low density of regular boat traffic discourages
the overgrowth of potentially troublesome plant species, and helps maintain a diversity of
native plant species. In addition, the restoration of disused canals and open pit mining
quarries for water based recreation has benefited many types of wildlife and waterfowl.
Furthermore, in some cases the presence of water skiing has led to significant
enhancements to the local ecosystems. In one region of the United Kingdom, a local
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
water ski club, together with the region’s conservation authority implemented a
comprehensive remediation strategy to protect both plants and animals along a stretch of
river. Some of the actions taken included the introduction of native plant species, the
construction of natural berms and islands, the implementation of strict no-pass zones
along certain shorelines, and the creation of a slalom course a safe distance from nesting
areas. The enhancements would most likely not have taken place if the water ski club had
not initiated them.
1. NOISE
When compared with many other types of human activities, water skiing is not particularly
noisy. The typical, older two-stroke, 68 horsepower engine, operating under normal water
skiing conditions produces a range between 60 to 70 dBAs1.
The following values help put this range into perspective relative to other types of common
noise pollution:
120 dB(A)
100 “
 70 “
 40 “
Discotheque – 1m in front of loudspeaker
Pneumatic drill at 5 m
Telephone ringing at 2m
Refrigerator humming at 2m
Unfortunately, in many parts of the world water skiing still has a reputation for being a
noisy and dangerous sport, often more so than other watercraft activities. Recent studies
on engine noise undertaken in different countries have shown that the typical water ski
boat engine produces a level of noise well below the national standards for noise, and
frequently below that of other watercraft.
In recent years, marine engine manufacturers have taken significant steps to reduce the
level of noise created by their motors (refer to Appendix B on Marine Engines for more
details). This move towards quieter technology should help to counter the image that
water skiing and boating are excessively noisy.
BWSF’s Code of Practice for Noise:
The British Water Ski Federation has produced one of the m ost thorough and widely used
documents on noise entitled “Code of Practice for Water Skiing & Noise” (1997).
Table 1 reveals the BWSF’s standards for noise emissions for water skiing:
dB(A) – dB stands for decibel, which is a logarithmic scale used to measure sound. ‘A’ means it is a
weighted decibel which is an internationally accepted unit for most noise measurement, and represents
the sound pressure level weighted to correspond to the frequency response of the human ear.
1
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
Table 1
British Water Ski Federation’s Standards for Noise
Maximum noise emission for one recreational boat:
 75 dB (A) for boat traveling 22 miles per hour at a minimum of 25 metres from shore
Maximum noise emission for any boat traveling outside an environmentally sensitive area:
55 dB(A)
Maximum noise emission for one boat for water ski racing (other conditions stated in Code):
 98 dB(A) with boat traveling at constant maximum design engine speed, 30m from
shore
 105 dB(A) for international and World Championship IWSF sanctioned events
It is important to remember that noise is a SUBJECTIVE, and SENSITIVE issue -- what is
offensive to some may not be so to others. It is wise to approach all conflicts related to
noise disturbance with sensitivity. Always respect others’ right to peaceful enjoyment of
their property and common waterway.
A recent trend of concern is the increase in boat and jet ski stereo systems with large
amplifiers. As sound travels much farther on water, skiers and boaters should make sure
to keep the volume low and respect other’s privacy when on the water. This additional
source of noise could be a detriment to the image of boating and water skiing if allowed to
get out of hand.
It is responsible boating to always abide by the club/marina’s Code of Practice for Noise.
If your club/marina does not have a Code, a copy of the BWSF’s can be obtained and
customized for your club/marina.
2. POLLUTION – Chemicals, Gases, Solid Waste, and Biological Contamination
GASOLINE and Oil:
Despite the best efforts of respons ible boaters to prevent water contamination, gasoline
and oil exhaust, namely hydrocarbons, are released every time a marine engine operates.
Depending on the type of engine used, the degree of such pollution will vary.
Have you ever wondered what a few hours of boating fun and water skiing activity may be
doing to the water we swim in and the air we breathe?
On an individual basis the impact of your boat and skier on local ecosystems is minimal.
However, over time, and considering the combined effect of thousands of other boaters
and water skiers around the world, the impact can be significant.
Consider what the typical marine engine emits from a few hours of water skiing activity.
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A Typical Two-Stroke Boat Engine and its Emissions:
The impact of a two-stroke, 68 horsepower outboard (built before 1997) mounted on a 17
to 21 foot planing runabout boat hull -- at the lower end of boats commonly used by
recreational water skiers -- serves as a useful illustration.
During a three to four hour afternoon of water ski and boating activity this two-stroke
engine will consume about:
20 gallons (80 litres) of gasoline and
3.5 pints (2 litres) of lubricating oil.
Of this, approximately 30 percent of the "unbent" (see Table 2) gasoline will be emitted
directly into the water during operation.
Estimates for the United States alone are that 567 million to 1.6 billion litres of unburned
fuel is exhausted into the environment each year by 12 million gasoline powered pleasure
boats (1993 figures).
SO, What’s in Boat Engine Exhaust?
Table 2
Emissions from two- and four-stroke gasoline and diesel engines includes:
Hydrocarbons: Unbent or partially burned fuel molecules that react in the atmosphere to form ground-level
ozone, a major component of smog. Some hydrocarbons, such as benzene, are toxic and may cause
cancer or other health problems. Another source of hydrocarbon pollution is fuel evaporation, which occurs
when gasoline vapours are forced out of the fuel tank (during refueling) or when gasoline spills and
evaporates.
Particulates: An exhaust product that com es mainly from diesel-fuelled vehicles. These microscopic
airborne particles can damage the respiratory system and contribute to nuisance smoke and odour
associated with diesel exhaust.
Nitrogen Oxides: Nitrogen and oxygen in the air, when subjected to th e high temperatures and highpressure conditions in an internal combustion engine, form nitrogen oxides. Nitrogen oxides react in the
atmosphere to form ground-level ozone and contribute to acid rain.
Carbon Monoxide: A colourless, odourless, poisonous gas that results from incomplete fuel combustion.
Carbon Dioxide: CO2 is the ultimate product of burning carbon-based fuel. Carbon dioxide does not impair
human health, but it is a “greenhouse gas” that contributes to the potential for global warming. As engine
fuel economy declines, carbon dioxide emissions increase.
Boat Engine Exhaust
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WHAT Happens to Boat Exhaust?
Hydrocarbons end up in the water column, in the bottom sediments, as surface film, or
released into the atmosphere. Atmospheric hydrocarbons are also a prime cause of
greenhouse gases and thinning of the ozone layer. Furthermore, both burnt and unburned
fuel contain compounds, like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, that are toxic to aquatic
organisms and are linked to human illnesses like asthma, cancer, and genetic mutations.
However, there is considerable evidence to indicate that marine engine exhaust does not
cause permanent damage to the aquatic environment. In particular, evidence of
hydrocarbon accumulation in the sediment is inconclusive, and lead c oncentration is not
thought to be significant. It is therefore most likely that the majority of the exhaust
emissions are ending up in the atmosphere, where they are quickly dispersed. This may
be good news for the local marine ecosystem but not for global air quality.
SOLID Wastes
All man-made materials abandoned either on land or in the water can be considered
waste, or more commonly, garbage. Not only is waste unsightly, it reduces the esthetic
appeal of a club/marina and its grounds and waterways, and is a hazard to wildlife, birds
and even children. Some wastes, even though they are biodegradable, will persist for
many years. Those wastes that are not made of natural materials will either break down
and leach minute toxic elements into the soil and groundwater or they will persist for
decades and even centuries.
To sort, haul, and dispose of wastes costs the club/marina and governments considerable
amounts of money that could be better spent for more productive purposes.
Fortunately, wastes are one of the impacts that club/marina operators can address
through a waste prevention plan and Codes of Conduct (addressed in Part D).
Individuals also play an important role in the success of the waste prevention plan. Part C
offers several suggestions on ways individual water skiers and boaters can prevent
wastes, and dispose of them properly.
BIOLOGICAL Contamination
Biological contamination is a term used to describe unwanted, non-native organisms, both
plant and animal, that can invade aquatic ecosystems. Water skiers can unwittingly play a
role in spreading these species when boats and watercraft move from one water system
to another without taking proper precautions to cleanse themselves of these unwanted
"hitchhikers".
The zebra mussel is one such organism that has wreaked havoc in many water systems
throughout North America. The mussels attach themselves to boat hulls and propellers,
intake and outtake valves, and water ballast tanks and spread rapidly once relocated to a
new body of water. The plant contaminants, such as hydrilla, hyacinth and milfoil, can
spread in a similar manner as the zebra mussels.
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These organisms also cause an increase in fuel consumption, a decrease in native plant
diversity and survival rates, deoxygenation of the water body, loss of fish life and other
aquatic species. They can also prevent the safe use of a body of water for recreational
activities like water skiing or swimming as the water becomes so clogged as to be
impassable. Many of these biological contaminants are difficult and costly to remove.
For additional information on the different categories of pollutants, their harmful effects,
and points of control both on and off the water please refer to Appendix A.
GEOMORPHOLOGY and HYDROGEOLOGY
SHORELINE Degradation and Turbidity:
Shoreline erosion, degradation of shoreline flora, and turbid water (unclear or sedimentfilled) are natural phenomena resulting from wind action and hydrological activities. They
are also directly affected by human, water-based activities such as boating, water skiing,
and docking.
Compared to all factors, such as weather and other watercrafts, recreational boating
activity has been shown to contribute minimally to erosion and turbidity. However, some
studies have shown that if water skiing and boating are practised too close to shore, and
in environmentally sensitive areas, the impact from boat and skier wash can be
significant.
Determining the degree of impact is complex and often involves any combination of
factors from the number of boats, to the shape of the boat hull, to the speed of the boat, to
the depth of the water, and the distance the boat is from shore.
When considering the causes of erosion and turbidity both natural phenomena and
seasonality must be taken into account. Wind action is a major contributor to both and
has a greater impact during the winter season when
One benchmark used in
weather conditions can be a great deal rougher. Other
factors that will influence erosion and turbidity include
parts of North America
the form and composition of the soil, the shoreline
and Europe is that the
gradient, and the degree of natural or artificial protection.
minimum depth in which
The degree of damage can be severe at sites which
a boat and water skier
have unstable soils, or generally weak vegetative
should operate is 1.5
growth.
metres.
Turbidity is caused when engine propellers and boat
wash stir up bottom sediments in shallow waters and the particulates remain suspended
in the water column. The degree of turbidity is directly proportional to the depth of the
water, i.e. the shallower the water the greater the turbidity levels.
BIRDS and WILDLIFE – Disturbance and Dislocation:
Considerable research has been undertaken in different countries to determine if and how
boating and water skiing affects birds, namely waterfowl. Considerably less work has
been done on the impacts on wildlife.
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In general, the majority of boating and ski activity that takes place 50 metres or more from
shore usually does not cause any significant impact to birds and wildlife. However, where
the disturbance and dislocation is often the most serious is:
In narrow bodies of water
With sensitive species
When boaters and skiers pass repeatedly too close to shorelines inhabited by
birds and wildlife.
Shorelines with poor vegetative cover
Birds, particularly waterfowl, nest close to shorelines and are especially vulnerable when
molting (losing feathers). As each water body will have different characteristics related to
types of species, nesting habits, and seasonal factors, it is difficult to generalize on the
impacts. However, what is known is that in areas where waterfowl disturbance has been
recorded, the types of impacts can include relocation of nesting site, abandonment of
nest, and loss of young. There can also be long term impacts as many species of birds
that normally would return year after year to the same nesting area are forced elsewhere
to perhaps less desirable bodies of water.
In general, measures to protect waterfowl are also beneficial in protecting wildlife.
In summary, it can be said that all of us have a responsibility to ski and boat with care and
to show respect for the environment and all the living things in it.
With that goal in mind a universal motto for the water ski community could be:
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
OVERVIEW
Environmentally responsible water skiing and boating implies respect and care for the
natural environment, both on and off the water. To become an environmentally
responsible water skier and boater means first being aware of how your actions affect the
environment, and second, taking steps to prevent such impacts.
In most cases a simple change of old habits is the biggest step an individual needs to take
to make a difference. Here are a few examples:
Purchase a biodegradable boat cleaner instead of one containing toxic compounds
Switch your engine lubricant to a biodegradable brand
Stay as far away from the shoreline as possible when water skiing
For club/marina operators there are comprehensive environmental management
strategies available, if desired. One of these models is the internationally recognized ISO
14000 series of environmental management standards. Other sources include your local
environmental groups or environmental consultants who specialize in Environmental
Management Systems (EMS).
HOW CAN I MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Water skiers and boaters play an important role in protecting the environment, both as
members of their club/marina and as individual consumers. Simple steps can be taken
now and in the future to safeguard the environment.
This section provides a range of suggested steps and best practices for each of the
following areas:
Green Practices – Members/guests
Boat Maintenance
Wise Boating
Consumer Power
 Fueling Practices
 Dockside Practices
 Waste Prevention
1. CLUB/MARINA GREEN PRACTICES
CODE of Practice:
Your club/marina may already have in place Code(s) of
Conduct which specify acceptable boating behavior as
well as the responsibilities that go with being a member.
Some clubs/marinas may also have specific Codes of
Conduct for noise control as well as a general Code of
Practice to cover all other aspects.
Green Rule # 1
Always respect Codes
of Conduct especially
with regards to noise
control, distance of boat
and skier from
shoreline, and
restricted zones.
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If your club/marina has such a Code in place you should be familiar with all its restrictions
and guidelines including those pertaining to the environment. If no such Code exists, or it
does not address environmental issues, then the following pages provide recommended
best practices that could be part of any club/marina’s Codes (for an overview of Codes of
Practice see Appendix C).
GREEN Practices To Live By – Member/Guests:
The following are some of the more simple habits individuals can adopt:
Conserve energy when and where possible:
> turn off lights if leaving a room
> use water conservatively at all times
Minimize all wastes or garbage brought into club/marina
Always try to Reduce, Re-Use and Recycle whenever possible (see Waste
Management below)
Seek alternative, environmentally safe cleaning products
Minimize use of paper when possible i.e. use rags instead of paper towels, double
side photocopies, canvas bags instead of paper bags etc.
GETTING There:
Carpool whenever possible for travel to the club/marina to conserve fuel and
prevent air pollution
Ride a bicycle or take public transportation to get to the club/marina whenever
possible
If you drive a vehicle do so with the environment in mind - make sure your car
engine and tires are in proper working order, and avoid excessive trips to and from
the club/marina
2. WISE FUELING PRACTICES
A simple spill at a re-fueling station in itself is not a serious threat to the environment. But
when added to hundreds of other spills occurring over a season the effects can be
detrimental to some marine and land ecosystems. By adopting some simple and safe
practices this unnecessary impact can be prevented.
GENERAL Fueling Tips:
Carry a spare fuel tank instead of jerry cans or other containers -- this allows you
to exchange tanks rather than refilling the tanks while on the water and risking a
spill
Use a gasoline container that you can handle and pour easily
Use a funnel or spout with an automatic stop device to prevent overfilling
Fill up your tank before a trip and NOT just before mooring at the dock -- a full tank
of gas can expand and overflow in the hot sun
Check your boat for any leaks of gasoline or oil – follow club/marina Codes of
Conduct, or Emergency Response Protocol, for cleaning up spills safely
Install a fuel/air separator on tank vents where appropriate
Transport and store gasoline out of direct sunlight in a cool dry place
Always use caution when pumping gasoline and mixing it with oil
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Follow the manufacturers recommended engine maintenance schedule
Be a wise shopper – make a list of alternate cleaners and products, and purchase
them at the start of the boating season.
BEFORE Starting to Refuel a Boat:
Ensure that emergency absorb ent materials are available including lots of rags
Do not distract the person filling the tank
Ensure that the boat is securely moored to the dock
Estimate the amount of fuel to be pumped
Locate the air vent and install a special overflow container with suction pads, if
available
Ensure that there is an absorbent donut in place around the filler on deck.
Always have a rag on hand. This rag should be placed in a vented container
once used.
Ask the owner to switch off all of the boat’s electrical circuits
Ask the owner to close all ports and deck hatches
Turn off engines
Ensure that there is no smoking or open flames in the area of the refueling
dock
Ask the owner to ensure that no persons remain on the boat
WHILE Refueling:
Use a funnel to prevent spillage if appropriate
Do not clip the nozzle handle open but hold it during the refueling operation
Do not walk away from the boat
Do not overfill. If possible, feel the air vent for increasing pressure as the level
nears the top of the tank
Advise the customer against ‘topping up’. Explain that fuel expands and that
the tank may overflow if filled to the brim
Keep an eye on the air vent. If there is a distinct increase in the airflow the
tank is nearing full and fuelling should be stopped. A ‘feel’ for a full tank can
be quickly developed.
AFTER Refueling:
Remove the overflow container from the air vent and, if necessary, pour the
contents back into the fuel tank
Replace the filler cap and tighten securely
Return the fuel nozzle to its holder, turning the nozzle upwards to avoid
dripping gas between the boat and the holder
Avoid leaving fuel lines loose on the dock
Clean up all small spills IMMEDIATELY and place the used absorbent material
in a sealed container for proper disposal
Politely remind the owner to turn on the blower for five minutes before starting
the engine
FILLING Portable Fuel Tanks
Do not fill a portable tank while it is onboard a boat or in the back of a vehicle.
Place the tank on an impermeable pad with catchment and absorbent material
ready.
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Do not fill anything other than approved portable fuel tanks
Do not fill portable fuel tanks beyond their stated capacity. Remember that fuel
expands in the heat of summer.
Ensure that the filler cap is properly secured before the tank is replaced on
board.
Observe the practices for filling inboard fuel tanks where applicable
FUELING PWCs and Small Outboard Motors with Built-in Tanks:
Ensure the craft is tied securely before starting to refuel
Do not fill the tank onboard a small craft that may rock around. If necessary
move the craft to calmer water beside or behind the gas dock.
If practical, before refueling, place motor/PWC ashore over an impermeable
pad with catchment and absorbent material. Some club/marinas install floating
drive -on PWC docks for this purpose
Do not overfill the tank. Always leave room for the fuel to expand.
Ensure that the filler cap is properly secured before replacing an outboard
motor on the boat.
Observe the practices for filling inboard fuel tanks where applicable.
3. BOAT and ENGINE MAINTENANCE
Boat maintenance can cover a range of activities including washing, painting and mechanical repairs.
These activities often require the use of chemicals, cleaners or petroleum based products which can end
up released into the environment.
Whoever undertakes the work assumes the responsibility to do the job in an environmentally responsible
manner. When they do not it is the environment and the club/marina that suffers in the long run.
The following practices should be made known to everyone who is working on a boat on club/marina
property. All boaters, skiers and club/marina staff should not only be familiar with these clean practices but
make them part of his/her wise boating habits:
Hull and engine maintenance activities most often include:




Woodworking
Metal working
Surface preparation
Engine work
Fiberglass repair
Washing and polishing
Painting and coating
Work on mechanical and hydraulic systems
The type of impacts associated with these activities include the release of:
 Metals, metal-containing compounds from paint chips direct or indirectly into the water
 Acids and alkalis directly or indirectly into the water
 Solvents direct or indirectly into the water
 Soaps, cleaners and nutrients directly into the water
 Air emissions including particulates and ozone depleting substances like hydrocarbons
 Generation of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes including used oil, coolant, gasoline and
grease, dead batteries, unused cleaners and solvents, and oily rags
HULL Maintenance Practices:
The following practices should be posted in an easy to read site in your club/marina’s boat work area:
 Always try to keep the hull clean to reduce friction and conserve fuel
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 All exterior hull work done on site by boat owners or outside contractors should have the approval
of the management
Purchase alternate cleaners and products that do not harm the environment and
purchase them at the start of the boating season (see E, Tables 1,2,3)
 All hull work should be done in the designated area
 Waste should be segregated and disposed on in accordance with the waste the club/marina’s
waste management guidelines
 Minimize waste by opening only enough product needed to complete the task at hand.
 Always ensure that dust and particles are collected and do not blow away. To achieve this
members should be encouraged to:
 place the boat over a hard non-porous surface such as a concrete pad
 place tarpaulins beneath the boat if working over a porous surface
 use a vacuum regularly to collect dust and particles
 use dustless vacuum sanders
 always wear personal protective gear
 AVOID working over water
 Use abrasive processes or heat guns to strip off old paint wherever possible
 AVOID the use of solvents for stripping paint
MECHANICAL Maintenance Practices:
 Keep your engine well tuned
 Make sure the right propeller is being used
 Make sure that all mechanical work is done in designated area where spills can be contained
Always make sure to use the proper oil mix for the motor
 DO dispose of used oils, greases and antifreeze, used oil filters, old fuel and other waste in
accordance with the club/marina’s waste management practices
 DO keep your engines clean to minimize chance of discharges
 Reuse and recycle all waste materials whenever possible
 DO NOT work on the gas side of air-conditioning systems unless facilities are available to
contain and collect the refrigerant and a certified technician performs the work.
 Change oil before winter storage to eliminate residual acids and moisture in crankcase
 Add a fuel stabilizer to fuel tanks before onset of winter to avoid deterioration of fuel and the
needless dumping of stale fuel in the spring
 Avoid ethylene glycol anti-freeze as it is highly toxic. Use a low toxic, propylene glycol-type
antifreeze specially des igned for marine engines.
 Make sure batteries are filled with distilled water and are fully charged. Recycle old ones.
BEFORE Starting:
Make sure suitable containment is in place including absorbent material and separate containers for all
fluids, rags etc.
IF Afloat – isolate the bilge pump from the automatic switch
Ensure that absorbent materials are in place around the work area when working on hydraulic equipment
on deck.
WHEN Working:
Clean all spills immediately and follow all applicable protocols for spills.
Do not wash away spills and do not mix wastes. Use a wash tank for cleaning parts.
AFTER Completion:
Check for leaks
Clean work area thoroughly and deposit wastes in designated containers
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END of Season
Follow the manufacturers recommended engine maintenance schedule
Prepare boat engines properly for winter storage. Make sure that:
batteries are clean, do not leak, and are stored properly
a low-toxic propylene glycol brand of antifreeze is used
used antifreeze is recycled and stored properly for reuse for the next season
tanks are left close to full to reduce condensation and corrosion (room must be left
for expansion when temperatures warm up)
a fuel stabilizer is added to tank before winter arrives – this prevents deterioration
of fuel quality and harmful dumping of old fuel come spring
If you purchase a new engine make sure it at least meets the US EPA’s 2006
standards for hydrocarbon emissions (see Appendix B for details)
Plan Ahead – make a list of environmentally safe cleaners and products you need
to replenish or purchase, and put the list in an easy-to-find place ready for next
season’s preparations
CLEANING, Polishing, and Painting Your Boat:
There are many ways to clean a boat without
harming the environment. One of the besttools at
hand is ‘elbow -grease’ instead of harsh detergents
and cleaners. Another is to make sure to purchase
products that are environmentally benign and nontoxic whenever possible (see Appendix E for
alternative products).
Here are some suggested best practices for
cleaning, polishing and painting:
In some countries, or districts, there are
government sponsored programs that identify
environmentally-responsible products.
Canada has its Ecologo program that has to
date certified hundreds of products, including
some specifically for the marine market, that
in some way or another are more
environmentally acceptable than their
competitors. Check with your government
environment office for a similar certification
program.)
 Use portable high-pressure power water sprayer whenever possible
 DO NOT use high-pressure washers on the slip where paint particles can be washed back into
the water
 Use only pure soaps and environmentally-acceptable cleaners for hull washing
 Use cleaners and polishes that have minimal environmental impact i.e.:
 AVOID using bleach, detergents and soaps that contain chlorine, phosphates, inorganic salts and
metals
 substitute water-based cleaners in place of those that are solvent based
 use environmentally-safe alternatives whenever possible
 Reduce solvent use by first cleaning area with water, keep containers closed when not in use,
reuse used solvents for the first rinse of the spray gun
 Reduce paint use by adjusting spray nozzle to minimize over spray, and use a gravity spray gun
instead of a suction cup gun
 Change filters in the paint work shop ventilation system regularly as this reduces emissions and
improves dust extraction
CLEAN Green Reminders:
BEFORE launch, the boat should be given a thorough cleaning, in an
area where run-off will not go into the waterway.
Next, a good coat of BOAT WAX should be applied and polished
Green Rule # 2
Always try to use
alternative, nonhazardous materials
whenever possible
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
on as this will help prevent surface dirt from becoming engrained in the hull. Re-waxing periodically will
keep the boat in excellent condition.
Finally, when STORING the boat, give it a thorough cleaning and add a final coat of wax for the season.
This will protect the hull and help avoid the use of harsh chemicals come the next boating season. When
covering the boat, use an all-weather tarp. They last longer and are less damaging to the environment
than shrink-wrap.
ANTIFOULING Paints:
Hard antifouling paints are more environmentally safe than the ablative and the non-ablative (sloughing)
brands. However, all commercial anti-fouling paints are made using heavy metals (tin and copper) which
are toxic to certain species above natural levels.
Anti-fouling Practices:
 Instead of using an anti-fouling paint use a regular hull paint and a coat of slick non-toxic, bottom
wax.
 Do not use paints containing tributyl tin (TBT) except where required and permitted for painting
aluminum hulls and aluminum stern drive legs
 Always use the least toxic anti-fouling paint that is compatible with the water conditions (salt or
fresh) and the required surface finish
 If anti-fouling paints are used, frequent hull scrubbing should be avoided as excessive amounts
of chemicals are released
 Use water-based and high-solids paints in preference to solvent-based paints
4. WISE BOATING PRACTICES
Boating smart is not only safe but it also helps the
environment and all those living near the body of water.
Operating a boat wisely can lead to fuel savings and in
turn less air and water pollution, and it c an reduce noise
levels which benefits cottagers, birds and wildlife.
Green Rule # 3
Always try to avoid
disturbing birds and
wildlife when boating
and water skiing.
ECO-FRIENDLY Tips to Boat By:
Always try to conserve fuel
Limit engine operation at full throttle and minimize engine accelerations
Distribute the boat weight evenly and do not overload
Adopt practices to keep noise levels to a minimum
Plane quickly at take-off, then throttle back to cruising speed immediately
Avoid boating and skiing too close to shorelines to minimize erosion and the
destruction of vegetation, and to prevent the contamination of the intake valve
Avoid, where possible, boating and skiing close to shorelines that may have
nesting areas and
other wildlife (check
Green Rule # 4
your club/marina’s
To prevent shoreline erosion, loss of vegetation
Code of Conduct or
cover, and turbidity always try to stay as far away as
with operator)
possible from shorelines, shallow waters, and
Make fewer turns so
environmentally sensitive areas.
you can reduce
motor load and
conserve fuel
Eliminate unnecessary idling
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
Avoid shallow waters (less than 1.5 metres depth) where possible
Clean all debris off your boat and trailer when going from one water body to
another
Always remove water from the compartment bilge and storage areas
5. WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste management applies to almost all activities associated with boating as most, if not all, generate
waste to some degree. It is up to each and every boater and water skier to do their part to keep water
skiing a clean and respected sport activity.
What is Waste?
Waste consists of any unwanted products and materials, either hazardous or nonhazardous, and can be defined as:
By-products resulting from processing, manufacturing and/or consumptive
activities which cannot, for whatever reason at the time, be recycled or reused and
must be landfilled, incinerated or otherwise disposed.
There are basically three classes of wastes; solid, liquid and gas. Each of these can be
further categorized as either non-hazardous or hazardous. Non-hazardous solid wastes
typically make up the majority of the waste stream and are often the easiest to prevent or
reduce.
Why Prevent Waste?
Taking steps to reduce waste means:
A reduction in the use of raw resources, like paper and fuel oil.
Cost savings from reduced waste disposal for your club/marina
Conservation of valuable resources like trees
Reduced pollution levels in water and air
Improved image of boating and water skiing to public
Less visual pollution
Reduced risk of injury to birds, wildlife and children
The 4Rs:
The best approach to live by to prevent all types of wastes is the "4Rs":
Rethink
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
The first R, Rethink, is all about doing things in a new way. It is a reminder to always think of new
ways to reduce waste, to seek new, less harmful methods or products, and to continually ask
ourselves how to prevent waste from being created in the first place.
The best way to avoid waste is to Reduce it right at the source. Here are 9 simple rules
to reduce:
1. Purchase supplies in bulk
22
IWSF Environmental Handbook
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Purchase materials in re-usable containers
Encourage retailers to use minimal packaging
Minimize your packaging needs when planning your day on the water
Use reusable containers wherever possible
Adopt “clean” working practices at all times
Avoid buying or using anything described as being “disposable”
Use products described as “long-life” (i.e. solar powered) whenever possible
Seek out alternative, environmentally friendly products where possible
Reuse When Possible
Products and materials can often have several uses and should be Reused as often as
possible. This approach requires one to think of alternatives for an item such as
converting old clothing into boat rags, using old food or product containers for storage
bins, composting food wastes for garden fertilizer.
Recycle When Possible
Find out what types of waste materials (such as plastics or newsprint) are recycled at
your club/marina.
Use reusable containers to sort the waste on your boat.
Avoid contaminating the club/marina’s recycling containers by carefully placing your
recyclable items in the correct container.
Green Rule # 5
(Everything taken out
on the boat, must come
TIPS to Waste -Free Boating:
back on the boat
DO NOT take packaging and other waste onboard
DO NOT pour waste liquids into any solid waste containers
DO NOT put waste directly into the dumpster without first checking with the
club/marina operators to find out what type of waste should go where
DO find out if club/marina operators have services to collect all liquid wastes from
boats. This is important for preventing contamination of valuable recyclables.
HAZARDOUS Waste
All persons who use a club/marina should be aware
that some materials are considered dangerous and/or
hazardous. Such materials must be handled very
carefully, kept segregated from other waste, and
disposed of according to strict protocols usually
dictated by the appropriate government or state
regulations.
Green Rule # 6
Always know what
products are hazardous
and handle them with
extreme caution at all
times.
WHAT Qualifies as Hazardous Waste?
A hazardous waste is usually labeled as hazardous in print on the package and by
universally recognized symbols, such as a skull with an ‘X’ or a caution sign. Hazardous
wastes are often poisonous and can cause serious or fatal reactions if ingested.
23
IWSF Environmental Handbook
Other ways to determine if a material is hazardous include:
Examine the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) supplied with the material.
MSDS describe the physical and chemical nature of the substance and the
methods for proper handling, storage and disposal.
Check with the club/marina staff responsible for handling hazardous materials
Contact the retailer or manufacturer of the product
Contact the local government office responsible for the environment and waste
management issues.
WISE Handling Practices for Hazardous Materials:
Confirm with club/marina operators the procedure for handling hazardous wastes
i.e. location of storage containers, safe work areas for transferring liquids, lock-up
areas, holding drums etc.
Handle all hazardous waste extremely cautiously—have safety gloves, spill rags,
and proper containers readily available
Handle hazardous wastes on land and not on boat whenever possible
Have First Aid Kit in an easy to access location
Place materials that are contaminated with a hazardous substance in tightly
closed containers of a
compatible material (refer to
Green Rule # 7
manufacturers instructions or
“ALL SPILLS must be cleaned up
MSDS for guidance)
IMMEDIATELY using the proper absorbent
Keep hazardous chemicals
materials contained in the Emergency Spills
separated according to their
Kit. Used absorbent materials must be
classes
placed into a sealed container and stored
Keep hazardous wastes in
for proper disposal. DO NOT place used
separate containers that are
absorbent materials in the dumpster. Treat
clearly labeled with their
gasoline cautiously because of fire risk
contents prior to being
disposed of in a proper manner
Never leave hazardous materials stored on boat – dispose of as soon as possible
Ensure that the storage location for hazardous materials is out of high traffic areas
and can be secured from children and public at all times
6. CONSUMER POWER
As a consumer you have the power to influence and set trends by the choices you make
at the cash register. Collectively, consumers wield an even greater influence over
governments and in turn manufacturers.
The recent introduction of hydrocarbon emission regulations by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency acts as proof in point (see Appendix B for details). After
years of lobbying by the public and environmental groups demanding better air quality, the
US government took action to address the pollution issues with off-road vehicles, including
recreational marine engines.
24
IWSF Environmental Handbook
These 1998 regulations have forced manufacturers to produce more efficient marine
engines (as high as 40 percent less fuel consumed), reduce hydrocarbon emissions (by
as much as 90 percent), and operate with less noise.
As American manufacturers account for over 50% of all marine engines sold worldwide,
significant global reductions in hydrocarbon levels can be expected.
POSITIVE Trends
Today, marine engine manufacturers recognize that consumers and regulators demand
cleaner and quieter engines. As a result older two-stroke engines are being gradually
phased out and a much wider range of four-stroke engines being phased in. More
recently, state-of-the-art cleaner direct fuel-injected (DFI) two-stroke technology has
reached the marketplace in a number of models of larger engines. Not surprisingly, more
consumers are choosing cleaner four-stroke engines and moving toward the newer DFI
two-strokes, and an increasing number of authorities in different parts of the world are
banning the older models of two-stroke engine.
There is also an increase in the use of the much cleaner burning propane gas fuel,
particularly in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe, and the use of synthetic
lubricants that require a lower mixing ratio.
The combined effect of these trends will mean significant reductions in hydrocarbon
emissions worldwide. They also demonstrate that marine engine manufacturers are
taking steps to significantly reduce emissions, and ultimately enhance the public image of
water skiing and boating.
WHAT Can I Do?
Today, most major engine manufacturers are already producing engines that meet or
exceed the EPA emission standards. Therefore, when purchasing a new engine, make
sure you choose one that meets, or preferably exceeds, the USEPA standards.
Be a wise consumer and always compare manufacturers' pollution control features -there may be significant variances in quality or grades of efficiency.
Older engines, on the other hand, can produce less emissions through a retrofit with
modern pollution control devices. To significantly reduce emission levels it is essential for
owners of older marine engines to service their engines regularly, use cleaner burning
reformulated fuels and bio-degradable lubricants, and use the correct gasoline-to-oil
ratios.
Whether you have an old, retrofitted marine engine or a brand new one you will not only
incur significant fuel savings, but you will be playing an important part in pollution
prevention.
ECO-WISE Consumer Tips:
1. Do Your Homework:
When shopping for a new engine ask plenty of questions. Now that the move towards
cleaner and quieter engines is underway, innovations will continue to be made to pollution
and noise control features. Some of the best sources of information on what is new in
engines include:
local club/marina operators and staff
25
IWSF Environmental Handbook
marine engine dealers
marine engine sales representatives
local marine engine repair shop mechanics
boating magazines and journals
Internet web sites for boats, engines, magazines etc.
2. Use leaner fuel mixtures to reduce inefficient burning. This can be done on existing
engines without totally redesigning the engine.
3. Use simple direct fuel injection on existing engines. This modification simply
means that the fuel is injected into the cylinder after closure of the exhaust port,
thereby almost eliminating unburned fuel emissions.
4. Purchase the most advanced two-stroke design such as the direct fuel injection
systems.
5. Upgrade the advanced two-stroke design engine with a catalytic converter once this
technology is readily available to consumers.
6. Install noise reduction devices, such as mufflers and engine box insulation,
wherever possible on old engines. Make sure the operating level falls within your
club/marina’s Code of Practice for Noise.
Finally, remember to always live by the 4Rs—Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
Support your club/marina in the implementation of its Codes of Conduct at all times. By
taking small steps and actions we can all make big differences for the betterment of the
environment and the sport of water skiing.
26
IWSF Environmental Handbook
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OVERVIEW
If you are a club/marina operator and are looking for practical advice on environmental
management strategies, this section will help you get started.
The term ‘environmental management’ is used broadly to describe the process of
managing an activity or program that ultimately has one or more benefits for the natural
environment. This can be as simple as providing a spill prevention course for club/marina
staff to implementing a comprehensive top to bottom Environmental Management System
(discussed below).
Regardless of the extent of the program, the important fact is that steps are being taken
today to minimize the environmental impacts of tomorrow.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES
Environmental Management System (EMS):
If a comprehensive, top to bottom management approach is what your club/marina
requires, then an Environmental Management System (EMS) is an excellent tool to help
you achieve a high level of environmental performance.
Today, organizations of all types and sizes are implementing EMSs. There are several
options as to how to implement an EMS. They range from hiring a consultant, to doing it on
your own, to being part of a government or university case study program. There are
also journals, publications, and public information on EMS from environmental groups and
government agencies. The challenge for you, the operator, is in the practical
implementation of an EMS.
An EMS guides the user through a series of logical, interconnected steps based on well
thought-out goals and objectives intended to address one or more environmental issues.
While there are minor variations in different EMS models, they are all very similar in the
main components and overall objectives.
The following is an outline of the main components of an EMS model:
Management Support – ensure that all key decision-makers endorse the program?
Statement of the Issue – develop clear definition of the issue and its impact(s)
Program Leader – point person who drives program and oversees its progress
Regulations -- list all that apply to issue and incorporate into strategy
Goals and Performance Ta rgets – establish realistic goals and performance targets for each issue
Implementation Strategy – develop strategies to meet performance targets within a time frame?
Performance Measures– establish benchmarks by which to measure progress
Resource Needs – determine resource requirements within a realistic time frame
Observe and Record – monitor progress and maintain accurate records
Educate and Communicate – inform and educate staff, members, other stakeholders about issues,
strategies, and how they cancontribute to the program
Review and Improve -- establish regular review periods and
Remember, the greater
make changes as needed
The preparation, the more
likely the program is to be a
Fund Raising and Promotion – develop strategies to fund and/or
promote the program if necessary.
success
BEST PRACTICES for CLUB/MARINA OPERATORS
28
IWSF Environmental Handbook
Preparatory work is important as it helps prevent misunderstandings and setbacks, and
lays a foundation for long-term program success. It can also have other additional
benefits such as cost savings, overall improved operating efficiencies, improved public
image for club/marina, and enhanced member pride.
The following headings cover the main areas of operation for club/marina operators, and
include suggested best practices for preventing or minimizing environmental impacts.
1. CODES of PRACTICE
One of a club/marina’s best security blankets is its Codes of Practice. Codes provide
members and the public a clear understanding of the club/marina’s guidelines,
restrictions, and rules of membership for safe, responsible boating.
WHY Have Codes Of Practice?
Codes of Practice are invaluable tools as they:
 Set the boundaries of acceptable behaviour both on and off the water
 Demonstrate the marina’s commitment to the environment
 Help reduce the marina’s liability and risk
 Demonstrate the marina’s commitment to safety both on and off the water
 Demonstrate to the local community that the marina upholds principles of sound management
and respect for the environment
 Demonstrate sensitivity and respect for neighbours and other waterway users
 Demonstrate a level of professionalism and due diligence many potential sponsors value
All Codes of Practice should be posted in the clubhouse and dock areas, and communicated
regularly through the appropriate club/marina publications. As part of a Code, some
clubs/marinas have developed policy statements and agreements for members to sign that
demonstrate a commitment to clean and safe boating practices. A sample of such a policy and
agreement can be found in Appendix E.
For a sample outline of a Code of Practice, produced by Britain’s Sports Council, and a Code of
Conduct for Noise, produced by the British Water Ski Federation, refer to Appendix C.
2. ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS:
To reduce and eliminate risk and liability a club/marina must be fully aware of all
environmental legislation and regulations related in any way to its activities, services and
products. This also includes proposed or draft legislation.
Not only does this awareness help the marina address environmental liability issues, but it
also provides lenders, employees, and other stakeholders evidence of sound
environmental performance. Management is advised to check with local authorities and
government agencies on a regular basis to make sure
that
they are current on proposed legislation.
Green Rule # 8:
Environmental
regulations should be
updated regularly, and
where appropriate,
29
posted
for staff and
Environmental
Handbook
IWSF
members to see
All regulations and by-laws which affect boaters, water skiers, and members should be
posted, printed in marina literature, included in member contracts, and updated regularly.
3.
ECOLOGICAL ISSUES – Addressing the Impacts:
Operators should at a minimum be aware of the types of ecological impacts associated
with the club/marina’s land and water-based activities. With some issues, and in certain
bodies of water, these impacts may be well known and documented, while with others
there may be no awareness or history of reporting.
It is to your advantage to be as knowledgeable as possible about the impacts – not only
will it demonstrate a level of responsibility but you will also be prepared to respond publicly
if the issue were to become controversial. It also provides you with a strong base of
knowledge when the time comes to choose a strategy to minimize or prevent the impact.
It is helpful to put together a list of the most commonly known impacts and start a file on
each. This is a great opportunity to seek input from other "stakeholders"/interested parties,
such as members, the local cottage association, or conservation group, and invite them
to be part of an environmental team.
If more information is required on an impact, the following sources may be helpful:
Government bodies responsible for environment and land use –all recent biological
and environmental reports undertaken on area
Local library
Local and/or national environmental groups
Local and/or national conservation groups
Local and/or national interest groups
Private developers that have worked near shoreline or in general vicinity
Universities or Colleges – potential source for biological or environmental studies
Maintaining files on each impact is beneficial because they:
Provide management with a recorded history of the issues
Reduce the marina’s environmental risk through sound record keeping
Involve stakeholders, and potential funding
Perhaps an environmental
partners, in pursuit of common environmental
resource library could be
goals
Influence the type of remedial steps taken
started at the club/marina - great for school-age
Can be used as educational material for teaching
young and old boaters and skiers
water skiers and boaters
If you are not sure where to begin, you may want to
consider one or more of the following:
Hire an environmental consultant to perform study and develop recommendations
Undertake work on your own with professional input where necessary
Seek assistance from affiliated organizations, such as your national water ski
federation, the IWSF, or other boat or ski groups
Partner with academic institutions to undertake study (i.e. a graduate degree project)
Approach local government for funding or to undertake study
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
If your time and resources are limited, a volunteer committee could be struck to manage
the program. If well organized, a volunteer program is not only cost effective but it
provides people opportunities to get involved. However, as with staff, a volunteer driven
program still requires guidance, direction, review and recognition on a regular basis.
4. DOCK and YARD MANAGEMENT
Dock and yard management is an important issue for a club/marina as they are two of its
most visible assets. They are also the busiest, and potentially the most hazardous areas
of the club/marina. Sound dock and yard management is not only important for
environmental and safety reasons, but also for attracting new business.
Typically, the dock area provides the following services to the club/marina:
Fuel dock
Pump-out facility
Launching and Storage
Grounds Maintenance
Water body usage i.e. water skiing
Each of these services has the ability to affect the environment and therefore they are
addressed individually.
FUEL Dock:
One of the most common and severe risks that occur in the dock area is the spill of
hydrocarbons (oil, gasoline, and diesel) in the water, on land, and in the atmosphere (see
Appendix A for details of impacts). Another risk in the fuel dock area is fire - a potentially
devastating threat intensified by poor fueling techniques.
The following are recommended best practices for dock management:
SAFE Practices for Dock Managers:
List proper re -fuelling practices including safety issues
Comply with the requirements of relevant fuel handling codes and regulations
Provide clear instructions for reporting spills
Indicate location of absorbent materials and instructions for their use
Make sure instructions are readily visible to boaters
GENERAL Rules for Pump-Out Facilities
The following are some basic rules for the management of pump-out facilities:
The pump-out facility shall be available and in good operating condition at all times. If it
is not, customers should be asked to inform management immediately
Customers should be informed of what practices are and are not permitted
Ensure that the tank is pumped out regularly – don’t wait until the tank is full before
calling a licensed sewage haulage contractor
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If a pump-out facility is not on site, management must indicate the nearest location
Suction and washout hoses should be clearly marked and their storage position
clearly labeled. Coil and hang the wash-water hose beside a sign which states that
the water from that hose is NOT A DRINKING WATER SUPPLY
Location of onshore toilet facilities should be clearly indicated
Check the pipes from the dock pump-out station regularly for damage and leaks
LAUNCHING and Storage:
Some of the impacts associated with launching and retrieving boats include the release
of hydrocarbons (gas, oil, and diesel) and heavy metals into the water, atmosphere and on
the ground. Also, the transfer of unwanted marine organisms, or biological contam inants,
can be prevented before boats are put onto the trailers.
The following are some best practice tips for safe launching and retrieving:
Keep fuel, oil, grease and heavy metals out of the water
Help members reduce their launching time whenever possible. Explain that oil, grease
and other contaminants may drip from the hull into the water
Remove boats from the ramp as quickly as possible to minimize oil and grease spills
Avoid leaving the travel hoist parked over the haul-out dock when not in use to
minimize the chance of hydraulic oil and grease dripping into the water. The hoist
must be well maintained to prevent leaks.
Boats should be removed from the haul-out slip area to a designated wash area
before hulls are power washed. Only light hosing or hand washing should be done in
the ramp and haul-out areas
Encourage members to keep trailers well maintained and free of excessive oil and
grease
Encourage members to use vegetable-based greases for trailer wheel bearings
Similarly, storage of boats and liquids can also lead to release of hydrocarbons and heavy
metals due to leaks. And, the storing of boats can be done without the creation of
unnecessary solid wastes.
The following are some best practice tips for boat storage:
Ensure stern drive units and outboard engines are not leaking
Place drip trays under grease-filled stern tubes
Place drip trays under stern drives and outboards
Add inhibitors to the gas tank before long term storage to stabilize the fuel
Ensure that fuel tank suction line valves are closed where appropriate
Encourage boat owners to use tarpaulins or invest in a canvas boat cover that can be
reused over and over
As an added incentive
If possible, restrict the use of shrink-wrap in the
members could be
absence of a recycling contract with the supplier
offered free storage of
as part of the standard service
tarpaulins as part of
If shrink-wrap is being used, be sure to tape over
their storage of cradles
all fuel vents before igniting heat gun
contract
For the storage of liquids make sure to:
Check the condition of fuel lines to the gas dock
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Check the condition of above ground tanks and secondary containment walls for
damage and/or corrosion
Check that the drain valves to the secondary containment are kept closed
Verify that the fuel pumped at the gas dock corresponds to changes in tank levels.
This should be done on a daily basis during the season and once a month out of
season. When dipping, look for water in the tank as well as checking the fuel level
Always have someone standing by when fuel tanks are being refilled
5. GROUNDS MAINTENANCE
The grounds of a club/marina include everything from roads, parking, and outdoor storage
to drainage, grass, buildings and utilities.
The following are some suggested best practices for grounds maintenance:
Allow the grounds to grow as naturally as possible and explain this to the members
Avoid or at least minimize the use of toxic herbicides
Check with local
and pesticides for weed and insect control – use
gardening shops or
biological means of control whenever possible
agricultural
Do not cut grass more often than necessary and
departments of
leave all grass at least 5cm long
universities or
Cut grass only where necessary for recreational
governments for
purposes
alternative methods
Do not water more often than absolutely necessary
of weed and pest
Maintain a natural buffer area wherever possible
control
between marina and the shoreline. This will help to
restrict storm-water runoff and will improve visual impact of club/marina
Keep storm -water gullies clear of debris and grass well groomed
Encourage members to enjoy the wildlife that will be attracted
Ask members to avoid throwing food and fish scraps that may attract unwanted
wildlife pests. Also, discarded fish parts can lead to a reduction in the oxygen content
of the water and foul smells
Provide members a fish cleaning station with a closed lid container for fish scraps.
Ensure that fish cleaning station has running water and filtered drain that leads into
sewer drain—do not allow fishy water to drain into water body
Provide members with baggies for cleaning up after pets and encourage them to take
pets far from recreational and work areas
Collect and properly dispose of garbage regularly
Maintain granular surfaces to maximize storm water absorption and minimize runoff
Use only vegetable-based liquids (such as black liquor from the pulp and paper
industry) or calcium for dust suppression.
Use only environmentally acceptable cleaners and disinfectants for buildings and
washrooms – avoid flushing any chemicals as they may be toxic to the bacteria that
keep a septic system functional.
Avoid using any air conditioning units that produce chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Do not let refrigerant gases be released during maintenance of air conditioning units
Maintain all machinery in good working condition and repair all leaks immediately
Provide drip trays or other containment wherever leaks occur in machinery
Use vegetable-based greases where possible
6. WATER BODY USAGE
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We all have a responsibility to keep the water body in as natural, and clean a state as possible.
While the majority of the evidence finds that boating and water skiing has a minimal impact on
aquatic ecosystems, there are also studies that find that boating activity can have a significant
impact on certain aquatic environments.
The following are suggested best practice tips to prevent damage to the water body:
Do not allow members to operate boats, or water ski at high speeds in shallow waters (a minimum
level in some areas is 1.5 metres) – not only does it cause turbidity and destroy fish habitats, but it is
very dangerous where there are swimmers in the water
Put in place no-pass zones to prevent shoreline erosion from wash especially if shorelines do not
have natural or artificial reinforcement or protection barriers. It can also damage boats moored on
outer docks of some club/marinas
Put in place controls to prevent excessive noise (as in Code of Conduct for Noise)
Inform customers that they are responsible for their ow n waste management and request that they
use the club/marina facilities and containers for appropriate wastes
Introduce a Safety Education Program for water skiers and boaters
Create an Awards Program to recognize members for excellence in boat and ski safety and
environmental responsibility.
To control aquatic plant growth around dock and the
shoreline certain precautions can be taken including:
Green Rule # 9
Always strive to keep
the water body in a
clean, natural state and
prevent damage to
shorelines and all types
of natural habitats
Obtain appropriate permits for weed removal from
government, if necessary.
Keep plant removal to a minimum—in some areas
the removal of a small amount can have a detrimental
effect on a marine environment
Be aware of periods when fish spawn in order to protect spawning habitats
Avoid use of herbicides and pesticides – some jurisdictions ban such chemicals
Use m echanical methods, such as boat-mounted cutters, to cut back excess plant
growth where possible and practical. The plant debris should then be collected and
composted at a suitable composting site away from
Weeds that have been
recreational areas.
removed
can
be
Dredging should be avoided as much as possible – it
composted, used as
destroys habitats and breeding areas for fish,
amphibians and other organisms. It can also disturb
mulch or given away to
harmful contaminants that may have settled in the
local
gardeners
for
sediments and affect water quality
fertilizer
All dredged material must be disposed of on land and
suitably contained to prevent it from washing back into the water
7. WASTE MANAGEMENT
Implementing a waste prevention program is usually simple and, if done correctly, cost
effective. The 4R philosophy should be promoted and members encouraged to reduce
wastes in every way possible.
A waste prevention program can provide the following benefits:
Reduction in use of raw materials
Cost savings from reduced waste disposal fees
Conservation of valuable resources
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Reduced pollution and enhanced visual impact
Improved public image and employee pride
Compliance with regulations and reduced liability
The Waste Audit
One of the best steps to take before implementing a waste management program is to
conduct a waste audit at your club/marina. This is a simple procedure that will tell you
what categories of waste are being generated and in what volumes. The findings become
the benchmarks upon which realistic waste reduction targets can be set and measured
against.
For an outline of a waste audit please refer to Appendix D.
WASTE Collection -- Non- Hazardous:
Once management has determined what the waste categories will be, separate
containers for garbage, recyclable materials, and reusable items should be set up side by
side, at convenient locations around the marina.
Members and other club users should be encouraged to participate in the recycling
program. This requires plenty of easy to read informative signs and containers placed in
convenient locations. This program also demands that the containers be emptied on a
regular and/or as needed basis.
WASTE Management Practices for Operators:
Ensure that containers have lids that are in place
Ensure that containers for recyclables are clearly labeled
Ensure that containers are emptied into the dumpster regularly
Keep collection areas neat and tidy
Ensure that lids on dumpsters are kept closed
Ensure that dumpsters drains are kept closed
Call the waste hauler for pick-up before the container is completely full
Always set a good example by picking up waste and keeping the marina premises tidy.
MEMBERS and Customers:
Members should be discouraged from taking packaging and other waste onboard.
Members should be offered onboard containers for their recyclables
Do not allow members to pour waste liquids into any solid waste containers
Do not allow members to put waste directly into the dumpster. Management should
know and control what goes into the dumpster.
Management can offer a service to collect all liquid wastes from the boats. This will
prevent contamination of valuable recyclables and of dumpster
WHAT Qualifies as Hazardous Waste?
A hazardous waste can be either liquid or solid and is usually labeled as hazardous in
print, by universally recognized symbols. The other ways to properly identify a hazardous
waste include:
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Examine the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) supplied with the material. MSDS
describe the physical and chemical nature of the substance and the methods for
proper handling, storage and disposal.
Contact the manufacturer of the product
Contact the local government office responsible for the environment and waste
management
Obtain a copy of a registration guidance manual for generators of liquid industrial
waste and hazardous waste usually available from government offices.
SAFE Hazardous Waste Handling Practices:
Register as a generator of hazardous waste (depending on local government
regulations)
Ensure that the hazardous wastes are collected regularly by a registered hauler
Ensure that each shipment is properly manifested.
WISE Storage Practices for Hazardous Materials:
Place materials that are contaminated with a hazardous substance in tightly closed
containers of a compatible material (refer to MSDS for guidance)
Keep hazardous chemicals separated according to their classes
Keep hazardous wastes in separate containers that are clearly labeled with their
contents prior to being disposed of in a proper manner
Minimize the amount of materials stored on site
Ensure that the storage location for hazardous materials is out of high traffic areas
and can be secured from public at all times
The contracted waste hauler should be asked to assist in the preparation of both the
waste generator registration report and the manifests. This co-operation will be of benefit
to both parties in ensuring that the documentation correctly identifies the waste to be
transported.
WASTE Collection – Hazardous Waste:
All persons who use a marina should be aware that some materials are considered to be
hazardous wastes and are regulated accordingly. Such materials must be segregated
and collected separately.
Management would also be wise to check periodically with local environmental
organizations for suggestions on alternative products, and where applicable, with
government departments that have a labeling program for environmentally approved
products or services.
9. ENERGY CONSERVATION
One of the best ways to determine if a club/marina could be more energy efficient is to
undertake an energy audit. The audit should be carried out by someone with an
understanding of the various energy systems of the club/marina, or by an energy
consultant. In many countries there are private companies who will undertake an audit,
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
retrofit a facility, and arrange for financing based on the savings accrued over time from
the retrofit.
To find such an energy consultant check with your local government agency, hydroelectric
commission, or energy association. A search of the internet may also prove worthwhile.
ENERGY Efficiency Practices:
Management should have a good understanding of what operations consume energy,
how much energy is used, and at what times during a 24-hour period. An energy audit is
the best way to reveal this, while simple things, like monthly hydroelectric bills, can help
pinpoint general energy consumption practices.
The following are some energy saving tips for a club/marina and its facilities:
DOCK Area:
Provide a metered electrical supply to individual docks to encourage energy savings
Provide customers with magnetic identity cards to use the toilet facilities where
possible
Turn off unnecessary lights--operate area lighting on automatic timers or motion
sensors
OFFICE:
Turn off unnecessary lights--operate area lighting on automatic timers or motion
sensors
Use only enough wattage per bulb as necessary
Turn off all computers and other office machines when not in use
Use high quality, energy efficient lighting throughout offices – compact fluorescent
bulbs use 70% to 80% less energy than regular light bulbs
Plant deciduous shade trees near windows to reduce demand for air conditioning in
summer, and heat in the winter months by allowing sun through windows
Attach awnings outside and curtains (or blinds) inside to reduce demand for air
conditioning and heat in summer and winter months
Use fans instead of air conditioning if possible – fans use less energy and do not
contain the ozone depleting coolants that many air conditioners require (like
chlorofluorocarbons)
YARDS and Grounds:
Where possible, use hand operated equipment over power tools or vehicles
Let grass areas grow longer and cut less frequently to reduce use of electric mowers
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10. OTHER KEY SUCCESS FACTORS
EDUCATION and Communication Programs:
Effective education and communication strategies can be critical to the success of an
environmental program. They inform members and in turn encourage them to
participate. They can also ensure a minimum level of compliance by all, and make
the enforcement of Codes of Conduct by management and staff much easier.
Water skiers and boaters need to know what the environmental issues are, and how
their activities contribute to the impacts. And importantly, they need to be informed in
a constructive way as to what steps they can take to prevent further impacts.
A Communications Committee made up of volunteer members is one way to
develop a communications strategy. This committee would be responsible for making
sure that the correct messages are getting out and in a timely manner.
Some of the information vehicles at their disposal may include:
Provide regular updates to members through club/marina newsletter
Ensure a staff member is on the Committee to ensure all staff are informed
Create an environmental section on club/marina notice board
Use posters and flyers
Make announcements over public service system
Place inserts into regular club/marina mail outs
Use member internet e-mailings and a club/marina web site
Annual reports
The Communications Committee can oversee a staff awareness program and make
sure th at required protocols, like Emergency Spill Plans, First Aid, or Hazardous
Waste Management Procedures are updated, well communicated, and visible to all
affected.
Management and its Committee members may also want an external
communication plan to inform sponsors, the boating/water ski public, and other
stakeholders about the environmental programs. A separate mailing may be the way
to communicate with some of these audiences, or any of the above listed vehicles
could also be used.
MONITOR and Review:
In order to assess a club/marina’s environmental performance, regular record
keeping should be maintained. This will provide results, allow managers to spot weak
areas, and provide the benchmark for setting new goals.
Furthermore, a regular review period of all environmental programs is wise as it will
help club/marina operators measure performance, control spending, and ensure that
performance targets are being met.
RECOGNITION and Awards:
Last, but certainly not least, is a reminder to recognize all those who contribute to the environmental
management program. Some organizations create awards to recognize staff and volunteers who made a
valuable contribution to an environmental goal. Some possible awards include:
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
Best Boat Driver
Lowest Marine Engine Emission
Quietest Marine Engine
Green Volunteer Award
An environmental management program is an excellent way for a club/marina to introduce
a range of stakeholders to the world of water skiing and boating and strengthen bonds
within the community. Their assistance can sometimes make an environmental program
truly successful. Expressing gratitude to these persons is not only the right thing to do, but
good public relations for the club/marina and the sport of water skiing.
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
APPENDIX A
TYPES OF POLLUTANTS AND THEIR IMPACTS
Hydrocarbons -- Gasoline and Oil Emissions
What are Hydrocarbons? Hydrocarbons are products derived from crude oil and include
gasoline, diesel fuel and most oils and greases.
Why are they harmful? They are toxic to humans and some species. Being less dense
than water, they float on the surface and smother marine larvae that need to breathe at the
surface. This loss can impact the water body’s food chain of species. In their gaseous
state, they contribute to ground level ozone that is a major component of smog. Smog, or
air pollution, is known to cause asthma and cancer in humans.
Points of Control: Boat engine operation (through Codes of Practice), Gas docks,
pumping bilges, machinery service, engine tuning, and transfer of fuel tanks.
Air Emissions
What are they? There are five main classes of atmospheric pollutants, namely
particulates, ground level ozone, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and
sulfur oxides. They originate from three processes: combustion, vapourization and
mechanical abrasion and wear.
Why are they harmful? As contaminants in the atmosphere these air emissions are
highly toxic to plants and animals; consequently, they directly disrupt the ecosystem.
These contaminants cause local problems, including summer smog. They are also
responsible for acid rain, global warming, ozone depletion and the ‘green-house’ effect.
Points of control: The operation of engines and furnaces, fuel filling and storage,
mechanical service and maintenance work, engine tuning, and use of some aerosol
products.
Bacteria and Viruses
What are they? Microbial organisms contained in human and animal sewage.
Why are they harmful? They include bacteria and viruses that are directly harmful to
human health. Illnesses resulting from ingestion of polluted water include diarrhea,
dysentery, hepatitis and salmonella.
Points of control: Pump-out station, black water holding tanks and overboard
discharges (especially the “Y” valve release system); septic systems, grounds
maintenance.
Sediments
What are they? Suspended particulate matter from bottom of water body that causes
water turbidity.
Particulate matter washed off the land into the water column.
Why are they harmful.
They contain organic material that uses up the water’s dissolved oxygen in their
decomposition process. An increase in the turbidity of the water reduces the amount of
light getting into the water column and in turn reduces the growth of submerged aquatic
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
vegetation. They also cause an increase in phosphorous concentrations that can lead to
increase in algae, chlorophyll concentrations, and gross oxygen production.
Points of control: Boat engine operation (especially in waters less than 2 metres);
stormwater management system; dock and shore area where boats and other vehicles
may be washed; garage and repair shop areas.
Metals including Anti-fouling Paints
What are they? Metals and metal-containing compounds have many marine applications
including use as fuel additives (lead), paint pigments (arsenic), wood preservatives
(arsenic), corrosion protection (zinc), anti-fouling (tin and copper), construction materials
(iron, aluminum and chrome).
Anti-fouling paints – these are used widely by all boaters as they protect the hull and
improve fuel efficiency. They are made using metals which can be carcinogenic and toxic
to both marine and land animals, and humans. Tributyltin (TBT) was the major biocide
used before being banned in the late eighties in most developed countries because of its
toxicity, specifically to shellfish.
Why are they harmful? Above certain concentrations metals are toxic to humans and
aquatic organisms. They are bio-accumulative and may eventually reach concentrations
in the food chain where they are toxic to larger species, like humans.
New anti-fouling paints are being made using copper. Copper ingestion above natural
levels can prove toxic to certain marine organisms.
Points of control: Boat engine operation, fuel dock, engine and hull maintenance area,
retail store, water and wash areas.
Solvents
What are they? Chemicals used as cleaners, degreasers, thinners for paints and
lacquers, including substances such as trichloroethylene and methylene chloride.
Why are they harmful? Many are known carcinogens. Being relatively stable, they are
insoluble in water and tend to accumulate in the ecosystem.
Points of control: Machinery and hull maintenance areas, retail store
Antifreeze
What is it? Ethylene glycol or propylene glycol used in engine cooling systems to prevent
freezing during winter storage
Why is it harmful? Both types can be harmful to humans and aquatic organisms.
Points of control: Machinery service, boat storage areas, and retail store.
Acids and Alkalis
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What are they? Acids are used as the electrolyte in batteries and occasionally as straight
cleaners. Both strong acids and alkalis are often the main constituents of cleaning
compounds and detergents.
Why are they harmful? They are toxic if ingested. Acids in particular will dissolve other
contaminants such as heavy metals, resulting in indirect toxicity to humans and aquatic
organisms.
Points of control: Machinery and hull maintenance areas, dock area, and retail store.
Surfactants
What are they? Chemicals added to detergents to reduce surface tension.
Why are they harmful? Some, such as alkyl benzene sulfonate (ABS), are chronically
toxic to aquatic organisms. Surfactants can form a film on the surface of water and
reduce oxygen transfer at the air/water interface.
Points of control: Any process that generates grey water
Nutrients
What are they? Chemical elements, primarily nitrogen and phosphorous, that are
essential for aquatic plants and algae to grow and reproduce. They are found in many
soaps and detergents and are the main working ingredients of fertilizers.
Why are they harmful? In excessive concentrations they may stimulate nuisance
growths of some plants and algae. Excessive growth and decay of plants lowers
dissolved oxygen concentrations and reduces water clarity.
Points of control: All processes that generate grey water containing soaps and
detergents; ground maintenance (especially fertilizers).
Solid Wastes
What are they? All man-made solid debris that finds its way into the natural environment.
Why are they harmful? Plastics, in particular, remain intact for decades. They attract
wildlife that then tries to eat them or gets caught in them. Nylon fishing line and the plastic
ring holders for beverage six-packs are especially dangerous to birds and water fowl. All
debris is visually unacceptable.
Concentrations of food waste can affect dissolved oxygen levels as they decompose in
the water.
Points of control: The marina’s waste management system, boaters (Code of
Practice), dock area, and retail store.
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APPENDIX B
MARINE ENGINES
Recreational marine engines, either gasoline or diesel burning, generate pollution from the
combustion of fuel which creates exhaust. In the early 1990s it was estimated that
between 567 million to 1.6 billion litres of unburned fuel was emitted into the environment
each year by 12 million gas powered pleasure boats, in the United States alone (Mele,
1993). By factoring in an estimate for the impact from all recreational boats operating in
countries around the world, over several decades, it quickly becomes apparent why the
boating industry must, and is, taking action to significantly reduce hydrocarbon emissions.
The following section provides an overview of:
The different types of marine engines used for water skiing and how they impact the
environment.
The various types of fuels used in boating
The most recent technological advancements in marine engines
The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (and California’s) recent
regulations for m arine engines
TYPES OF MARINE ENGINES SUITABLE FOR WATER SKIING
The engines used for water skiing are either inboard or outboard, with the former most
likely a four-stroke gasoline or diesel engine. Boat engines used for water ski racing are
often turbo or supercharged. Outboard engines are attached to the stern of the boat and
are invariably two- stroke, operating on a gasoline/oil mix. Historically, the typical twostroke engine tended to be noisier and emit considerably higher levels of hydrocarbons ,
than the four-stroke engines.
Two-Stroke and Four-Stroke Marine Engines
Older two-stroke outboard engines have the reputation of being one of the most polluting
of recreational engines because of an inefficient 'scavenging' process. What this means
is that incoming fuel to the piston's combustion chamber 'scavenges' or pushes the
burned exhaust gases out of the cylinder causing compression, ignition and energy.
Through this scavenging process between 20 and 50 percent of the unburned fuel is
emitted into the water through the exhaust system.
The four-stroke engine is considerably cleaner as there is no mixing of gas and oil and it
typically gets about twice the mileage of the common older model two-stroke engine. A
four-stroke fires its spark plug to make power every other time the piston has climbed to
the top of the cylinder verses the two-stroke engine firing every time. The other major
difference between these two engines is that the lubricating oil for the two-stroke engine is
mixed with the fuel and is emitted on each stroke whereas the oil for the four-stroke sits in
the crankcase or sump. Only if the piston rings that seal the gap between the piston and
the cylinder wall become badly worn does this heavy fluid find its way into the cylinder
head.
The two-stroke engines built after 1997 are not at question, rather the biggest polluters are
the older two-strokes, many of which have a typical life span of 20 years or more. Unless
these older engines are mechanically retrofitted, they will continue to emit excessively high
levels of hydrocarbons into the water and atmosphere.
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FUELS – OLD AND NEW
Gasoline
Gasoline, as a fuel, has been in use since around 1910 and its early forms were relatively
simple and burned clean. The gasoline used today is a complex blend that varies from
producer to producer, from grade to grade, and even by location and season.
This fuel is so widely used because it is inexpensive to produce and contains 50 times
more energy by weight than lead-acid batteries. The advent of a range of sophisticated
engine refinements have resulted in emission levels dropping to single-digit percentages
as compared to the double-digit levels of only twenty years ago.
Emissions from
gasoline contain zinc,
The new ‘reformulated’ gasolines are the result of certain
platinum, rhodium,
compounds being removed and others added to produce a fuel
cadmium, and iron plus
that is intended to be higher in octane, keep engines cleaner, and
six fundamental
produce less emissions. However, engine manufacturers and
hydrocarbons, eleven
boaters have complained that this reformulated gasoline clogs
basic polycyclic
and damages outboard motors due to high carbon deposits.
hydrocarbons, cyanides,
ammonia, nitrous
Check with your supplier, and or mechanic, to make sure that you
oxides, hydrogen
are using the best form of gasoline for your marine engine.
sulfide, sulfur dioxide,
ten individual
Ethanol and Methanol
aldehydes and ketones,
phenols, amines,
Over the years, millions of dollars have been spent on research
nitrosamines, and
into alternative fuels, namely ethanol and methane. Emission
myriads variants
tests support the claim that alcohols burn cleaner, reduce
hydrocarbon emissions by half in uncatalyzed engines, and less
so in a variety of catalyzed engines. Ethanol is made from corn, wheat, rice, oats, rye,
beets, sugarcane and other common crops. Methanol is made primarily from coal, natural
gas, and a variety of woods and wood by-products or effluent. While both have higher
octane ratings than gasoline, they are less energy-dense than gasoline: a gallon of ethanol
contains only as much energy as two-thirds of a gallon of gasoline. Most alcohol fuels are
being used as additives in around 10 percent solution with gasoline, sold as super
unleaded. These biomass fuels emit fewer greenhouse gases but generate large
quantities of formaldehyde (Mele, p 99)
Diesel
Diesel fuel is a better source of energy than gasoline. In fact, it produces more footpounds of torque per gallon and per mile/km than gasoline, and at a lower cost. It
operates with an oxygen surplus (a lean exhaust condition) and produces much less
carbon dioxide emissions.
The problem with diesel fuel is primarily its emission of sulfates due to its high sulfur
content, as well as the emission of particulates, unburned hydrocarbons, polycyclic
aromatics, aldehydes, and a high degree of nitrogen oxides. These compounds are
associated with smog and its many negative effects on the environment and human
health. However the new, reformulated diesel fuels have a reduced sulfur and aromatics
content, and contain cetane-enhancing additives (a hydrocarbon of the methane family
that assists ignition).
Natural Gas
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This naturally occurring petroleum product is found in abundance worldwide. It is a very
pure fuel, requiring almost nothing in the way of refinement. The emissions from the
combustion of natural gas are much lower than gasoline, diesel fuel, and even the alcohol
fuels. There are no particulates, and almost no engine residue deposits. It is also one of
the least expensive fuels on the market.
The downside for boaters is that to retrofit an existing fuel system to natural gas is not
practical as it requires large storage space for the holding tanks. Also, its availability is
limited in certain countries and regions as distribution networks are not well established.
Alternatives
There are other types of fuels being proposed for boating, but none are yet widely available
or affordable. Some of these include fuel hydrogen, solar, and electric powered. You can
check with your local marine dealer, or engine manufacturer, to find out if such soft energy
options will be available in the near future. It is not unrealistic to imagine boaters one day
using zero emission fuel systems, or a combination of very low emission systems such
as ethanol fuel and electric motors.
US EPA HYDROCARBON EMISSION CONTROL REGULATIONS
In 1998 the United States Environmental Protection Agency introduced regulations to
reduce hydrocarbon emissions from marine engines by 70 to 80 percent over a phase in
period ending in 2006. In the state of California even more stringent regulations have been
introduced called California Air Resources Board (CARB). CARB requires all gasoline
engine manufacturers to meet the USEPA 2006 standards by 2002 and continue the
gradual reduction of exhaust emissions through 2008. This long-term target will mean an
additional 2/3 reduction in hydrocarbon emissions of engines that meet the USEPA 2006
standard.
To satisfy these standards, marine engine manufacturers are producing new engines that
meet, and often exceed these regulatory standards for outboards, personal watercraft,
and jetboats. And because American manufactured motors account for over fifty percent
of worldwide sales of marine engines, these regulations will translate into significant
reduction in global hydrocarbon emissions.
MODERN ENGINES – NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN POLLUTION CONTROL
To meet the USEPA regulatory requirements engine manufacturers have been relying on
three basic technologies; direct injection for two-stroke engines, catalytic converters, and
high performance four-stroke technology for outboard motors.
Direct fuel injection (DFI), two-stroke technology is designed to significantly reduce HC
emissions from engines used in outboard boats and personal watercraft . This process
injects the fuel charge directly into the cylinder above the piston, after the exhaust port is
closed. Since the exhaust port is closed at time of injection, unburned fuel cannot escape
through the exhaust port, as it used to in earlier two-stroke models. The outcome of this
new technology is an engine that produces 80 percent less hydrocarbon emissions and
consumes between 35 to 45 percent less fuel.
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
Direct-injection technology is currently available from a variety of manufacturers of
outboards and range in power from 90 to 225 horsepower. Some of the most recent
PWCs go as high as 135 horsepower.
Catalytic converters present a greater challenge despite their proven success in
automotive applications. The two main challenges to the engineers involve temperature
control. Many marine engines require water to help cool the engine and quiet the exhaust.
If the water used is saltwater, as is often the case, it will corrode engine parts and reduce
the longevity of the catalyst. The second challenge is that marine engines often operate
at higher temperatures for extended periods of time. This type of operation can lead to
significant loss of conversion efficiency of the catalyst over time. Engines equipped with
catalysts and closed-loop, electronic-fuel-injection systems, like automotive engines, often
can achieve more than 90 percent HC conversion efficiency. However, these engines do
not operate at higher temperatures for extended periods, which keeps the catalyst from
reaching the high temperatures that can result in deactivation of the catalyst.
For marine applications, catalyst conversion efficiency may be restricted to lower
conversion efficiency levels (below 80 percent) due to these temperature concerns. The
outboard engine manufacturers are working hard to address these challenges and
predictions are that a catalytic conversion system for the marine industry will be perfected
by the millennium. One PWC manufacturer has introduced a 1999 model that is equipped
with a catalyst.
Four-stroke engine designs have traditionally made up a smaller percent of the engines
used to pull water skiers because they have generally been more expensive, not as quick
at the start, and are usually heavier motors. However, in recent years manufacturers have
made some significant changes to make the four-stroke engines lighter, quicker to start,
and smoother to operate. They have also been able to build engines that exceed 100
horsepower due to the lighter components.
Just about every marine engine manufacturer offers a range of four-stroke power options
for nearly any marine application.
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APPENDIX C
CODES OF PRACTICE
Codes of Practice, namely ones for Conduct and Noise, help ensure that club members
are more environmentally responsible and practice safe boating. It also may reduce
management liability should a case arise involving negligent behavior on the part of a club
member.
Some Codes include separate sections for each major area of concern such as safety
regulations, boating, and water skiing. However it is divided, the Code should be targeted
to the marina operators, the water ski boat driver, and the water skier.
Every member should be given a copy of the Code and asked to read it in its entirety.
The following are examples of the type of ingredients found in a Code of Conduct and a
Code of Practice for Water skiing and Noise:
Table of Contents of a Code of Conduct for Water Skiers and Boat Drivers
All boat drivers and water skiers agree to:
Comply with all the club’s By-Laws at all times
Respect speed limits on the water at all times
Take care not to disturb wildlife and waterfowl, particularly during nesting and moulting
and in sensitive areas
Use unleaded fuel or propane gas instead of leaded fuel
Do not idle engines unnecessarily
Drive the motorboat in a manner which produces least fuel emissions
Reduce wash as much as possible
Stay out of shallow water and well away from shorelines
Meet requirements for boat registration and display certificate on boat
Meet requirements for certificate of insurance and display certificate on boat
Respect club policy on noise emissions and display noise emission certificate on boat
Respect club requirements for driver license including annual testing and carrying the
license on their person at all times when driving a motorboat
Follow accepted standards of boating etiquette including acting with due consideration
for swimmers, fishermen and all other water or shore side users
Abide by By-Law # which specifies the distanc e from shore water skiing is permitted
Abide by By-Law # which specifies the hours of operation permitted for water skiing
and power-boating
Respect all restrictions placed on sensitive areas and areas that are seasonally
constrained.
Only refuel or use the bilge pump far from any sensitive wildlife areas.
Follow club policy and state law that no person shall drive a vessel, observe in a
vessel or water ski behind a vessel whilst under the influence of alcohol.
Follow the club Safety Code and carry a copy of this Code at all times in boat
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
BWSF’S Code of Practice for Water Skiing and Noise
Table of Contents
The following table of contents indicates the elements of the British Water Ski Federation’s
Code of Practice for Water Skiing and Noise (1997).
Introduction
Aims of the Code
Guidance for Avoiding Significant Impact of Water Skiing Noise
Existing Facility
New Facility
Noise Limits
Method of Rating Water Ski Noise
Control and Monitoring
Water Ski Racing
Appendices:
Pass-by Test – Recreational, Tournament & Barefoot Skiing
Pass-by Test- Water Ski Racing
Summary of Criteria
Typical Activities at British Water Ski Clubs
Characteristics Usage of Water Ski Tow Boats
Possible Boat Concentrations for Water Skiing
Guidance on Method of Calculation of Water Ski Noise
Glossary of Acoustical Terms
The BWSF’s Code of Practice for Noise states that “the following factors should be
considered where water skiing takes place or is proposed to take place:”
Regard should be had to the following factors:
Noise output of boat
Course layout
Hours of Operation
Number of boats in use at any one time
Screening
Public address systems
Cars and car parking
To obtain a copy of the BWSF’s Code of Practice for Noise contact:
The British Water Ski Federation
390 City Road
London
EC1V 2QA
BRITAIN
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
APPENDIX D
WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
The Waste Audit:
A first step of a waste management plan is to conduct a waste audit to determine what
items are going into the waste stream at the marina. While a waste audit is not critical to
a sound waste management program it is a very good barometer for determining its
success, particularly over the long term.
Waste audits are simple and usually not unreasonable in cost. They often pay for
themselves over a short time due to accrued savings from reduced waste haulage costs.
The following are the steps involved in a standard solid waste audit:
1. Review and inventory all marina operations and activities
2. Identify waste categories (i.e. plastics, cardboard, newsprint, aluminum, glass, yard
waste etc.)
3. Plan audit (when, where, tools needed, waste collection, how much, number of audits
etc)
4. Conduct audit
5. Prepare waste audit report
Typically, a club/marina will examine the types of wastes and how much of each type is
being generated over a given time period, usually not less than one week’s operation.
At the end of each day during that period, the waste materials are separated into preset
categories such as glass, plastic, paper and hazardous waste.
After all categories have been weighed and weights recorded management will have a
fairly accurate picture of what wastes are being generated.
All audit findings are projected over time (usually a year) making it all the more important
that the waste audit reflect normal operating practices. If special events are scheduled,
then projections for these events can be made and added as separate line items in the
report.
Waste auditing can be a messy business and it may be best to let a professional
consulting company perform the audit. The findings will play an important role in the
waste reduction targets you set for your club/marina.
Another place to look for support is your local government office that deals with waste
issues. Often, these departments have advisors and useful guide documents to take you
through an audit and help you set up a waste diversion program.
Based on the audit findings, management can then develop a comprehensive 4Rs waste
management strategy and set objectives figuring in how many categories of items can be
diverted from landfill or incineration, recycled, reused or avoided altogether.
Performance indicators, like waste diversion goals, can then be set.
Your next step is to contract with a local waste hauler for removal of recyclables and other
wastes. By shopping around you may find one more reasonable in price than another.
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
Waste Diversion Program:
Once you have decided what materials you intend to divert from the waste stream through
a recycling or reuse program, and have contracted with your local waste hauler, you are
ready to set up your containers.
What you will Need:
Waste containers for recyclables, reusable items, and other garbage wastes—all with
strong ,secure lids.
Colour code and label systems for the different material containers to prevent
contamination (i.e. recyclables being placed in garbage containers)
Well thought out placement for each of the containers
Very easy to read signage indicating what item goes where
Storage space for each category of wastes
Regular emptying of containers
Res ponse system to questions about waste program from staff and customers
Staff trained to look for contamination problems with recyclables and encouraged to
come up with solutions to problems
Another waste audit to measure effectiveness of program
Improvements made where necessary keeping principles of 4Rs in mind
Communication and Education:
Key components of a successful waste diversion program are communication and
education. All staff, members, and guests coming on to the property should be aware that
such a program is in place. They can be encouraged to participate through well placed,
easy to understand signage and club/marina posters and literature.
If records are being well kept and waste diversion successes evident, the program
manager may want to post these results for all to see. By letting people know that the
club/marina has diverted x number of tons of waste, and saved x number of dollars, they
may feel a greater sense of program ownership and desire to see it to succeed even
further.
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
APPENDIX E
A SAMPLE "CLEAN BOATING POLICY"
I have read and agree with the intent of the Clean Boating Policy. I am aware that
the marina is adopting Clean Boating Practices throughout the facility. I will make
every effort to comply with those practices where possible and help the marina to
protest our natural environment.
As the owner of
(boat name)
, and as the tenant of
(Marina name)
, I,
(Name)
, confirm that I have read, that I am familiar with and I fully agree with
the intent of the Clean Boating Policy and the following guidelines.
In becoming a tenant, I commit myself, by guests, and my crew:
1) To keep all refuse and garbage of any kind on board the boat until we are able to place
it in the waste containers on shore.
2) To separate all recyclables and place them in the appropriate containers
3) To separate hazardous wastes, including used oils and antifreeze, unwanted paints,
solvents and cleaners, batteries, old unusable fuel, and used oil filters and dispose of
them in accordance with marina guidelines or else take such waste to the licensed
household hazardous waste collection site.
1) To take all necessary steps to avoid spilling fuel, oil or any chemicals or cleaners
whatsoever into the water, to refrain from pumping oil-contaminated bilge water
overboard and to be guided by instructions from the attendant when at the gasoline
and/or pump-out dock..
2) To carry out any repair work on the boat in designated areas only, taking all
precautions required by the marina to avoid leaving any debris, litter or liquid
contaminants on the ground.
1) To use the onshore washroom facilities whenever practical, as long as the boat is at
the dock and to avoid pumping grey water overboard when in the marina.
1) To never discharge raw sewage from the black-water holding tanks to anywhere other
than an approved pump-out facility.
2) To use environmentally-safe products whenever and wherever possible
3) To operate my boat in a safe and considerate manner at all times, to operate the
engines only when necessary, to avoid creating a wake when entering and leaving the
dock, and to avoid causing a nuisance to all others using the marina’s facilities.
1) To always show respect for the environment and for the fish, birds, and animals and all
other creatures that share it with us.
2) To abide by all of the marina’s Codes, including the Code of Conduct and Code of
Practice for Noise.
Signed:
Date:
(OMOA, p 115)
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
APPENDIX F
REFERENCES and RESOURCES
INTERNATIONAL WATER SKI FEDERATION
President
Mr Andres Botero
Medellin, Colombia
Office Phone: +57.426.045.26
Home phone: +57.431.312.22
Fax Number: +57.426.045.26
Email: IWSF@epm.net.co
Secretary General
Mr Graziano Tognala Region: IWSF
Via Altopiano 55
40044 Pontecchio Marconi (BO)
Italy
Office Phone: +39.051.615.295.6
Home phone: +39.051.845.285
Fax Number: +39.051.845.806
Email: g.tognala.@bo.nettuno.it
IWSF Environment Sub Committee
Chairperson:
Region: EAME
Aubrey Sheena
Great Britain
Members:
Region: AA
Colin Ellison
Australia
Gillian Hill
Great Britain
Region: EAME
Chris Howarth
China
Region: AA
Leon Larsen
United States of America
Region: PANAM
Vern Oberg
Canada
Region: PANAM
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS
Every country and/or region has its own national and provincial/state organizations and
associations that may be of interest. The following lists offer some of the possible titles to
search for, keeping in mind that there may be variations in titles from country to country,
and language to language.
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
Most of the listings can be located on the internet through a search by name and
jurisdiction (i.e. ‘Greenpeace and Germany’ or ‘American Water Ski Association’). Other
sources are the library, your local phone book, and trade magazines or journals.
Water Ski and Boating
National Water Ski Federation or Association
Water Skiing Associations
Marina Operators Association
Marine Manufacturers Association
Marine Industries Association/Federation
Marine Boatbuilders Association/Federation
Government
Government Agency – Ministry of Natural Resources or Environment, Environmental
Protection Agency, Department of Marine Management etc.
Conservation Authority
Environmental
Greenpeace – by country
Conservation Associations/Clubs -- Audobon Society, Sierra Club
Other
Cottagers Association
National Standards Institute / Association
Educational Institutions
University – Departments of: Aquatic Sciences, Biology, Environmental Sciences,
Ecology, Resource Management, Mechanical Engineering etc.
Library – local and university
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (EMS)
For consultants and general information on EMS search the internet under key words
such as:
ISO and 14000
EMS Consultants
EMS and Marina
International Standards Organization Hompage -- http://www.ndt.net
ISO 14000 series on EMS -- http://www.iso.ch/9000e/14kbusy.htm
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
Both the Canadian Standards Association and the British Standards Institution have
produced extensive materials on EMS. These can be obtained by contacting either
organization on the internet or directly
Canadian Standards Association
http://rts.ceogroup.com/csa/pg1.htm
CSA
178 Rexdale Boulevard
Etobicoke, ON
M9W 1R3
Other Locations – CSA Edmonton, CSA Montreal, CSA Vancouver, CSA Hong Kong, CSA
Japan, CSA California
British Standards Institution – http://www.bsi.org.uk
British Standards House
389 Chiswick High Road
London, United Kingdom
W4 4AL
Tel: +44 (0) 208 996 9000
Fax: +44 (0) 208 996 7400
Email: info@bsi.org.uk
Customer Services:
Tel: +44 (0) 208 996 9001
Fax: +44 (0) 208 996 7001
INTERNET -- WEB SITES of INTEREST
American Water Ski Association – www.usawaterski.org
British Columbia Marine Awareness Society – wbs@pacificcoast.net
Center for Marine Conservation – http://www.cmc -ocean.org
Conservation and Land Management (Australia) – http://www.wa.gov.au/
Department of Transport Marine Section (Australia) (Rob Kay) – rkay@dot.wa.gov.au
Environment Canada
Marine Environmental Data Service – www.cbsc.org and www.oag-bvg.gc.ca
Leif Stephanson, Transportation Systems Branch – leifstephanson@ec.gc.ca
The Canadian Pollution Prevention In formation Clearinghouse:
http://www.ec.gc.ca/water/index.htm
International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) –
http://www.tecc.co.uk/marine/
International Water Ski Federation – http://www.iwsf.com
Mining Company – http://powerboat.miningco.com
National Boat Network – http://www.boatnetwork.com
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
Boating Industry International Online: http://www.boatbiz.com/
North American Lake Management Society – http://www.nalms.org
Canadian Office – Canada@nalms.org
Ontario Environmental Network – oen@web.apc.org
Recreational Boat Building Industry – http://www.rbbi.com
Swan River Trust (Perth, Australia) – www.whitepages.com.au
United States Environmental Protection Agency – Office of Mobile Sources:
www.epa.gov/OMS
USEPA – Boat Operation Management Measure:
USEPA -- Final rule on emission regulations:
USEPA – Management Measures for Marinas and Recreational Boating:
USEPA – Petroleum Control Management Measure:
Waterski News Online – http://www.mooseweb.com/
Water Ski Canada – http:\\wsc@waterski.ca
Worldwatch Institute – http://www.worldwatch.org/
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
BIBLIOGRAPHY
AUSTRALIA
Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Trust. Interim Information Management
Protocols – State of the Environment Reporting, Windsor, Australia: 1996.
Healthy Rivers Commission of New South Wales. Independent Inquiry into the
Hawkesbury Nepean River System – Draft Report, November ,1997.
River Murray Basin Commission. River Murray Floodplain Planning Guidelines – Draft
Discussion Paper, Canberra, Australia: October, 1992.
Vant, W.N. “What Are We Getting Into – Recreation and Water Appearance,” Soil & Water,
Summer 1987.
W.G. Martinick and Associates PTY Ltd. Greenough River Estuary Management Plan,
April, 1994.
Waterways Authority Noise Committee. Report on the Control of Noise from Vessels on
NSW Waterways, Sydney, NSW: September, 1996.
CANADA
Hilchey, Tim. “Why Outboards are in Dispute,” The Globe & Mail, May 24, 1994.
McGregor, Cathy, B. C. Minister of Environment Lands & Parks – several letters of
correspondence between the Minister and Gloria Heisterman of Water Ski Canada with
regards to boating restrictions on several lakes in B.C.
Ontario Marina Operators Association. Clean Marine Practices Handbook, Kingston,
Ontario: 1997.
Spray’s Water Ski Magazine. “Wake Height” (April 1983) and “Sound Level” (April 1994).
Found in package of information from Water Ski Manitoba, Inc.
Stoller, Gary. “Are PWC’s Safe?” Conde Nast Traveller, New York, August, 1996.
Water Ski Manitoba, Inc. Several letters of correspondence between WSM, Water Ski
Canada, stakeholders over establishment of a ski jump at Triple Creek Water Ski Club,
and waterskiing at Selkirk Park, Winnipeg, Manitoba: January, 1995.
Winnicki, Maureen. “Tempers Boil Over Fight For Waters – Residents, waterskiers at
stand-off over creek use,” The Selkirk Journal. Winnipeg, July 25, 1994.
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IWSF Environmental Handbook
EUROPE
Federation Française de Ski Nautique. Le Ski Nautique et L’environnement, Montbéliard,
France: June, 1981.
TNO Industrial Research. Study on Exhaust Gas Regulations for Pleasure Boat
Propulsion Engines – Executive Summary. Delft, Netherlands: December, 1991.
van Donkelaar, Pieter. “Positive Environmental Effects of Pleasure Boating,” Ambiente ,
July, 1994.
Zois-Moros, Athanassia. Assessment of Water Skiing Environmental Impact, Athens,
Greece, July 1, 1993.
SOUTH AFRICA
Rand Water. Minutes of the Sixth Sub-Committee (Power Boats) Meeting of the
Working Group Regarding the Investigation into and Drafting of Legislation
Regarding Small Vessels on Inland Waters Held at Rand, Johannesburg, South Africa,
January 7, 1994.
UNITED KINGDOM
Bickerdike Allen Partners, Letters to Mike Walker regarding the BWSF – Noise Code of
Practice, Rotherham, England: May 3, 1995.
British Marine Industries Federation. A Guide to Boating and the Environment. Egham
Surrey, England.
British Marine Industries Federation. Steering a Balanced Course – The Boating
Industry and the Marine Environment. Egham Surrey, England, 1994.
British Marine Industries Federation. The BMIF Environment Project – Poole Harbour –
Renowned Internationally for its Ecological, Commercial and Recreational
Importance, Poole, England.
British Water Ski Federation. Draft Code of Practice for Water Skiing & Noise. London,
December, 1997.
British Water Ski Federation. Second D raft of Demand for Water Skiing - Memo,
London, England: July, 1993.
British Water Ski Federation. Ski Boat Driver Award —Candidates Manual, London
British Water Ski Federation. Windermere Inquiry—The Establishment of Sites for
Waterskiing and Powerboating: The Role of the Sports Council, London, England:
June 20, 1994.
Chapman Warren. Memorandum of Evidence to the Environment Committee Inquiry
into the Environmental Impact of Leisure Activities on Behalf of: The British Water Ski
rd
Federation, London, England: February 3 , 1995.
57
IWSF Environmental Handbook
Chapman Warren. Town and Country Planning Act 1990 – Appeal by Mr.R.H. Kindell
Against the Decision of Milton Keynes Borough Council to Refuse Permission for
Change of Use From Sailing to Water Skiing, Erection of Boathouse, Pro vision of
Compensatory Flood Storage and Provision of 54 Car Parking Spaces: Dovecote
Lake, Little Linford, NR Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Wiltshire, England,
September, 1992.
Chapman Warren. Windermere Inquiry – NPA 28 and 29 Existing Sites and Sites with
Potential for further Development for Water Skiing, Power Boating or Jet Skiing,
st
Wiltshire, England: September 1 , 1994.
Hill, David (Dr.). Dosthill Pit and Adjacent Areas: Conservation Management Plan:
Habitat Prescriptions. North Yorkshire: Ecoscope Applied Ecologists, June 1998.
Hill, David (Dr.). Dosthill Pit and Adjacent Areas: Ecology and Nature Conservation –
Proof of Evidence. North Yorkshire: Ecoscope Applied Ecologists, June 1998.
Hill, David (Dr.). Dosthill Pit and Adjacent Areas: Conservation Management Plans.
North Yorkshire: Ecosphere Applied Ecologists, September, 1997.
Hill, David (Dr.). The British Water Ski Federation and the Windermere Water Skiers
Association—Windermere Inquiry 1994—Nature Conservation at Lake Windermere
in Relation to the 10 mph Speed Restriction, Appendix 8 to the Proof of Evidence of Mr.
R. Gillespie, Document no. 35a, Cambridge, England: April 1994.
House of Commons, Environment Committee. Minutes of Evidence taken before
Environment Committee. Memorandum submitted by the British Water Ski Federation –
Examination of Witnesses, London, England: March 22, 1995.
Flavin, Christopher and Seth Dunn. “Rising Sun, Gathering Winds: Policies to Stabilize
the Climate and Strengthen Economies” Worldwatch Paper # 138, Washington, 1997.
Gardner, Gary and Payal Sampat. “Mind Over Matter – Recasting the Role of Materials in
our Lives”, Worldwatch Paper #144, Washington, 1998
House of Commons, Environment Committee. The Environmental Impact of Leisure
Activities, Volume I. Session 1994-95, London, England: July 12, 1995.
Johnson, Dick. “An Eco-Step Too Far?” International Boat Industry, April/May 1993.
Johnson, Dick. “Bodensee Research Clears Boating” International Boat Industry,
April/May 1993.
Lanpheer, Richard. Recreational Motorboat Sound Level Test Report. IMEC 17F/01,
ICOMIA Marine Environmental Committee. June 21, 1993.
Moss,B. “Conservation Problems in the Norfolk Broads and Rivers of East Anglia, England
– Phytoplankton, Boats and the Causes of Turbidity,” Biological Conservation (12), 1977.
Pearce, Howard. Water Skiing and the Environment. Paper presented at the Sports
Council’s Fourth European Seminar (no year provided).
58
IWSF Environmental Handbook
RPS Clouston. A Proposal for an Integrated Water Ski and Nature Conservation
facility at Denham Green – Pre - application discussion document, Abingdon, England:
September, 1994.
Sidaway, Roger. Extracts from Sports Council Study 32 – Sport, Recreation and
Nature Conservation. London, England: December 1988.
Sports Council. Lake Windermere Public Inquiry – The Management Plan and Code
of Conduct, London, England: July, 1994.
Tuddenham, Cecile. Market Research Survey with Broads Hire Craft Holiday Makers,
Draft Report for the Water Ski Working Group, Item No. 6, Norwich: Broads Authority,
November, 1995.
UK Centre for Economic and Environmental Development, Waterskiing and the
Environment – A literature Review . Cambridge, England: January, 1993.
Ward, David. “Water Skiers Face Ban from Broads,” The Guardian , March 9, 1998.
Water Ski Working Group, Assessment of the Impact of Water Skiing on the Broads,
Norwich: Broads Authority, 1997.
Water Ski Working Group, Water Ski Working Group Report – Report by
Management Team, Agenda Item No. 7. Norwich: Broads Authority, March 2, 1998.
UNITED STATES
Albert, Daniel. “Ski Laws: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” Boating Industry, June, 1991.
American Water Ski Association. Legal Source Document, Winter Haven, Florida:1983.
American Water Ski Association. Waterways Education Manual, Winter Haven, Florida:
1993.
American Water Ski Association -- Several articles written by the AWSA Waterways
Education Committee published in Waterways Education including:
Cleaning Up Our Shorelines (July/Aug 1990)
Florida Threatens to Curb Boating, Water Skiing (Jan/Feb 1990)
Florida Lawmakers Reject Boating Restrictions (July/Aug 1990)
Learning to Fight and Win Battles in Legal and Legislative Theatres
(March/April1992)
Environmental Engineering, Inc. Effect of Power Boat Fuel Exhaust on Florida Lakes,
Gainesville, Florida: 1969.
EPA/BIA. Analysis of Pollution from Marine Engines and Effects on the Environment.
Washington, D.C.: National Technical Information Service, US Department of Commerce,
1975.
Henigar and Ray Engineering Associates, Inc. City of Naples Boat Traffic Study, Naples,
Florida: 1989.
59
IWSF Environmental Handbook
Honda North America Inc. The Environmental Challenge, Corporate Report, 1997.
Knowles, Chris. “Quiet Revolutions,” Cottage Life, July / August 1995.
Mele, Andre, Polluting for Pleasure. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1993.
York, Darryl. Recreational Boating Disturbances of Natural Communities and Wildlife:
An Annotated Bibliography, Biological Report 22, National Biological Survey, U.S.
Department of the Interior, Washingtion, D.C.: May, 1994.
Yousef, Y.A., W.M. McLellon, and H.H. Zebuthh. “Changes in Phosphorus Concentrations
due to Mixing by Motorboats in Shallow Lakes” Water Research 14:841-852, 1980.
MISCELLANEOUS
National Rivers Authority. Blue-Green Algae, Brochure
MSB Waterways. Noise Annoys—Keep the Soundwave Down on the Water.
Information flyer
MSB Waterways, Preventing Waterways Pollution – A boater’s guide, Brochure
Vant, W.N. and R.J. Davies -Colley. Water Appearance and Recreational Use of 10
Lakes of the North Island (New Zealand), Water Quality Centre, Ministry of Works and
Development, Hamilton, New Zealand: 1988.
60
IWSF Environmental Handbook
BRITISH WATER SKI
DRAFT
CODE OF PRACTICE
for
WATER SKIING & NOISE
OCTOBER 1999
This Code of Practice contains proposed revisions to the British Water Ski Federation’s Code
of Practice, April 1989. The latter was based on the original Consultation Draft produced by
the Water Space Amenity Commission, October 1980.
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CODE OF PRACTICE FOR WATER SKIING AND NOISE
FOREWORD
This Code of Practice has been developed by the British Water Ski and is to be used as a guide
for all who enjoy the sport and recreation of the sport of water skiing and all who are concerned
with the future development of the sport.
Development of the code has so far drawn heavily on the experience and knowledge of water
ski organisations throughout this Country and in Europe and the specialist advise of the
Federation’s professional advisers together with considerable help and advise from the Sports
Council.
The British Water Ski Federation intends to request all affiliated clubs to conform to the Code
following completion of the consultation process, making this in turn a requirement of
affiliation for all clubs to the Federation within 2 years.
British Water Ski believes that the Code provides a framework for the development of new sites
and for the continued use of existing sites and clubs. As our society becomes increasingly more
aware environmentally we are confident that the Code will be of considerable benefit to water
skiers, local authorities and environmental organisations alike. British Water Ski hopes that
the Code will go a long way to dispel many of the myths and prejudices that exist about water
skiing and noise.
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CONTENTS
PAGE No.
1.0
INTRODUCTION
4
2.0
AIMS OF THE CODE
5
3.0
GUIDANCE FOR AVOIDING SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OF WATER
SKIING NOISE
5
4.0
EXISTING FACILITY
7
5.0
NEW FACILITY
8
6.0
NOISE LIMITS
8
7.0
METHOD OF RATING WATER SKI NOISE
10
8.0
CONTROL AND MONITORING
11
9.0
WATER SKI RACING
11
APPENDICES
A.
Pass-by Test - Recreational, Tournament & Barefoot Skiing
13
B.
Pass-by Test - Water Ski Racing
14
C.
Summary of Criteria
15
D.
Typical activities at British water ski clubs
17
E.
Characteristic usage of water ski tow boats
18
F.
Possible boat concentrations for water skiing
19
G.
Guidance on method of calculation of water ski noise
21
REFERENCES
23
GLOSSARY OF ACOUSTICAL TERMS
24
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1.0
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Water skiing is a healthy sport enjoyed by members of both sexes of all ages
throughout Great Britain. The movement of a ski over water creates very little noise
itself, however, in most cases the skier is pulled by a boat which by necessity must
cause some noise.
1.2
Boat noise is created by the engine and the movement of the hull through the water.
Engine noise itself is a combination of exhaust noise which are muffled by water
cooled manifolds, and mechanical vibration which is muffled by flexible engine
mountings and sound absorbent cowlings. The development of better shapes and
design characteristics by boat designers and manufacturers are contributing to a
reduction in boat hull noise. Modern outboard engines properly maintained will meet
the noise levels proposed in this code of practice. Inboard engines of reputable
manufacture should also have no difficulty in meeting the code and first class
equipment is available to individuals building their own inboard powered boats.
1.3
Alternative methods of towing, such as electrically driven overhead tow lines (cable ski
tows) may become more wide spread in the future. Cable tow water skiing is likely to
become a major part of the sport in the future as a result of being capable of use on a
smaller area of water and having the ability to ski more people per hour, but it is
unlikely to take the place of conventional boat towed water skiing.
1.4
An assessment of typical activities of both individual skiing and water ski clubs is
given in Appendices D and E. The lay person without knowledge of water skiing is
strongly recommended to visit a ski club affiliated to the British Water Ski
Federation to witness the activity.
1.5
This Code considers water skiing at a typical club level and covers Tournament skiing
which in turn embraces the three disciplines of slalom, tricks and jump, together with
Recreational and Barefoot skiing. Water Ski Racing is also included in this Code but
is treated separately in view of its format.
1.6
Whilst there are many similarities between Water Ski Racing and Recreational,
Tournament and Barefoot skiing, it is as its name suggests a race usually at
considerable speed depending on conditions and thus, types of boat, engines and engine
size can differ fundamentally from the equipment used for the other types of skiing
referred to in this Code.
1.7
British Water Ski (BWS) gave evidence to the House of Commons Environment
Committee in March 1995 which took evidence on the Environmental Impact of
Leisure Activities. The report with that title and printed on the July 1995 contains
considerable relevant information on the sport.
1.8
It is stressed that this Code will be monitored and revised on a six monthly basis as
more data is acquired. British Water Ski would welcome receipt of any information
derived from use of this Code so as to assist in the development of this guidance
document.
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2.0
AIMS OF THE CODE
2.1
The principal aims of this Code are: (i)
To provide guidelines for avoiding significant impact of noise from water
skiing on the surrounding community for both existing and new site.
(ii)
Where concerns or complaints have arisen at an existing site, to provide a
method of assessing the noise arising from current operations and to provide
guidance on means of resolving the problem.
3.0
GUIDANCE FOR AVOIDING SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OF
WATER SKIING NOISE
3.1
The following factors should be considered where water skiing takes place or is
proposed to take place.
3.2
Regard should be had to the following factors: (i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
Noise output of boat
Course layout
Hours of operation
Number of boats in use at any one time
Screening
Public address systems
Cars and car parking
These are now separately considered
.1
Noise output of boat
The water ski boat is singly the most important source of the noise. The most effective
means of control is to use quiet boats. Recommended limits of noise emission from
water boats are given in 6.1.2 and 9.9 below.
.2
Water Ski Area Layout
Since noise diminishes with distance from the source, a water ski area should be
designed so as to maximise the separation distance between the water ski boats and any
potentially noise sensitive premises or location(s). Note that it requires a doubling in
separation distance to achieve a major noise reduction.
.3
Hours of operation
Clubs should be aware that the impact of noise may differ according to the time of day
and week, these impacts can be greater during the early morning period and late
evening period, particularly at weekends. As a result, it may be appropriate in some
circumstances to set limits on the hours of operation to limit activity to within
reasonable daytime hours or even to certain days of the week. Close liaison with
British Water Ski is necessary to establish what is considered to be suitable.
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BRITISH WATER SKI
.4
Number of boats in use at one time
The number of boats in use on an area of water will affect the noise emission to the
surrounding area. Operators should be aware of the effect that the number of boats in
use at any one time may have and apply control where necessary.
For example, assuming all boats operate in a similar manner for a specific point on the
shore the noise energy received in one hour from one boat in use will be the same as
that received in half an hour from two boats in use and the same as that received in a
quarter of an hour from four boats in use e.g. it is the proportional changes in the
number of boats in operation that are important.
.5
Screening
Screening can provide a useful reduction in noise level. The degree of reduction will
vary according to the nature and the extent of the screen.
Screen can include natural rises in the terrain, man-made earth bunds, solid fences,
buildings among others. Trees do not normally provide useful screening unless densely
packed to a depth in excess of 50 metres between source and receiver.
For new sites, use a natural topography and its screening potential should be
considered in relation to the positioning of the jetty and clubhouse which are likely to
be focal points of water ski activity.
The following factors should be taken into account when considering the use of
screening as a means of noise reduction.
o
There must be no line of sight between source and receiver
o
Screening is generally most efficient when provided either close to the source
or close to the receiver
o
The screen should extend horizontally in each direction a distance significantly
greater than the height of the screen
o
.6
The mass of the screen should be at least 15kg/m2 and it should be free from
holes or gaps beneath or within the fabric.
Public address systems
At most Water Ski Clubs public address systems are rarely used and then usually only
for special events. Where they are used they should be sited and used with great care,
liaising with neighbours if necessary in an attempt to minimise disturbance. Some
methods for minimising annoyance include orientating loudspeakers away from noise
sensitive locations, mounting loudspeakers at low level, and minimising the areas
covered by the system and in turn keeping such areas away from noise sensitive
locations.
.7
Cars and car parking
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BRITISH WATER SKI
Cars arriving and departing from the facility are a potential noise source and
consideration should be given to the location of the car park. The use of screening may
also be appropriate to reduce noise from this source.
.8
Summary of Guidance
i)
Use quiet, well maintained boats
ii)
Optimise the water ski area layout to minimise noise effects paying particular
attention to the prevailing wind and the position of any turn buoys on the lake
in relation to potential noise sensitive sources
iii)
Determine the hours of operation
iv)
Control the number of boats in operation at any one time
v)
Have regard to screening as a means of noise control
vi)
Minimise the use of public address systems where possible
vii)
Locate car park with care
4.0
EXISTING FACILITY
4.1
Where a site has been used for some years without causing complaint, there will be no
need to require the pattern of use to be modified, unless external circumstances or the
character of use alters significantly.
4.2
Where complaints have been received about existing sites, the Code is intended to help
local authorities, water skiers and others on the ways in which practices may be
modified to ensure that compliance takes place with the following time period to allow
the sport to continue while at the same time taking into account the local surroundings.
4.3
The first action should be for a Club to discuss the nature of the complaint with the
complainant in an attempt to remedy the situation. Follow this by contacting the BWS
and agree how the factors listed in 3.0 can be controlled to minimise the nuisance so as
to prevent if at all possible the receipt of a Noise Abatement Notice from the local
Council.
4.4
Local circumstances differ, and more stringent or less stringent controls may be
appropriate. In any event this Code provides guidance in 3.0 above on the factors that
affect the noise received by local surroundings. Control may be applied to one or a
number of the above factors in order to introduce reductions in noise levels where
deemed necessary.
4.5
It is desirable wherever possible that control should be simple and within the guidance
given in Section 3.0 of this Code. However it may be appropriate in certain cases to
agree a noise limit.
4.6
The implementation of any noise limit should generally be avoided owing to the
complex nature of noise measurement and monitoring which might be required to prove
any noise target is consistently met. However, any degree of noise reduction required in
decibels will depend upon individual circumstances. Agreement should always try to be
reached using the guidance contained in the advice given in Sections 6.0 and 9.0 of this
Code.
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BRITISH WATER SKI
5.0
NEW FACILITY
5.1
Where the use of a new site is contemplated, the Code may be used to determine what
constraints may be appropriate. In both this case and that of any existing site which
has caused complaints it is recommended that the water skiers, the local Authority in the
form of their Planning Department and Environmental Health Department and the near
neighbours of the site should discuss, in the light of the Code, any limits which might
be necessary to prevent serious disturbance. Since clubs can exert very effective control
over the type, manner of use and maintenance of water ski boats on a site it is
recommended that, wherever possible, those wishing to operate water ski boats, should
join or form a club to arrange their activities responsibly. A local authority or
landowner considering the use of a site for water skiing is strongly advised to insist on
the use of the site being under the auspices of a club affiliated to British Water Ski,
who will be prepared to assist in the compliance to this Code.
5.2
When considering the use of a new site, it will normally be necessary to evaluate the
noise likely to arise from the proposed activities. For this purpose, it is necessary to
identify any possible nearly noise sensitive areas likely to be affected and establish
noise criteria by which to rate the acceptability of the proposed operations, see Section
6.0 and 9.0.
5.3
Appendix C contains a summary of some other guidance that has been provided
controlling noise from water skiing. Section 6.0 and 9.0 below make recommendations
on noise limits that should be applied in light of this taking account of World Health
Organisation recommendations and guidance from the Department of the Environment,
included in PPG 24.
5.4
In order to predict the noise emission expected from the proposed facilities, a prediction
model may be required and advice on this is provided in Section 7.0 and Appendix G
below.
6.0
NOISE LIMITS
6.1
Source Limits
.1
Noise control at source is the most effective method of controlling noise affecting the
environment. Operators of boats should ensure wherever possible that boats have
recommended exhaust muffling systems and that these systems are in good working
order. Appendix A describes a noise testing method which can be used to rate the
noise output of a water ski boat under specified controlled conditions.
.2
In addition, the maximum noise emission from individual boats used for towing water
skiers should not be more that 75 dB (A) measured from the shore when the boat is
travelling at 22 miles per hour (35 KPH), 25 metres from the measuring instrument
under the conditions described in Appendix A. This paragraph does not apply to
Water Ski Racing. Please refer to Section 9, paragraph 9.9 which relates to Water Ski
Racing Noise Emission.
.3
Under certain circumstances, for example, where the limits delineated on 6.2 below
might otherwise be exceeded, it may be appropriate for a limit slightly lower that the
above to be adopted as a criterion for acceptance of boats using a water ski facility.
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BRITISH WATER SKI
6.2
Environmental Noise Limits
.1
This Code aims to provide guidance on ways of ensuring that noise emissions from
water skiing is maintained below levels which are acceptable to the local community.
.2
Noise limits which will protect the amenity of the local community have been suggested
in the past together with various rating methods. A selection of these are described in
Appendix C.
.3
This Code complies with recommendations given in BS 7445:1991 “Description and
measurement of environmental noise”, it recommends that the Laeq,T unit of
measurement is used to set noise limits for environmental control purposes. This unit
of measurement is now adopted in the UK for the assessment of railway noise,
industrial noise, ,community noise and aircraft noise.
.4
Water skiing is principally a daytime activity and therefore, in line with guidance related
to criteria given in Planning Policy Guidance 24 “Planning and Noise” (1), noise arising
from such activities may be described in terms of the daytime noise index,
Laeq,16h which covers the 16 hour period from 07.00 - 23.00h. The PPG suggests a
limit of 55 Laeq,16h as the level below which noise from mixed sources need not be
considered as a determining factor in granting planning permission for new residential
development. In the absence of any social survey suggesting an alternative unit it is
considered that the guidance relating to criteria given in PPG24 is appropriate i.e. noise
etc. However there may be a case for making an assessment over a much shorter time
period i.e. when only limited activity is expected during the daytime (see 6.2.10 below)
.5
The World Health Organisation (who) (2) provides the following guidance regarding the
environment of the general population:“The result of social surveys on the extent of annoyance can be used as guidance
concerning the relation between different types of outdoor noise and the extent of
dissatisfaction or annoyance in the community. Available data indicate that daytime
noise levels of less than 50 dB(A)Leq cause little or no serious annoyance in the
community ....... daytime noise limits in the region of 55 dB(A) Leq might be
considered as a general environmental health goal for outdoor noise levels in residential
areas.”
.6
During 1990, a noise incidence study (3) was undertaken to establish the noise climate
outside homes in England and Wales. The study found that 56% of the sample
population were exposed to a greater daytime noise level than 55 dB(A)LAeq and 89%
exposed to a greater daytime noise level than 50 dB(A)LAeq.
.7
Adoption of a noise limit of 55 dB(A)LAeq, 16h for water skiing outside noise sensitive
locations would be in line with WHO recommendations for preventing significant
community annoyance. However, given that this is a limit as opposed to a desirable
level, and taking into consideration that water skiing is often carried out in rural
locations where the ambient levels are often lower than normally found in urban areas,
it is recommended that the following noise limits should not be exceeded as a result of
water skiing activities:-
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BRITISH WATER SKI
(i)
50 LAeq , 16h. (free field) as measured outside any potentially noise sensitive
buildings e.g. dwellings, school, library.
(ii)
55 LAeq , 16h. (free field) as measured in gardens, parks or other countryside
areas where there is general public access, excluding footpaths and bridleways.
The above limits relate to operations throughout the day during a typical busy
summer’s day at a water ski site.
.8
The above criteria are provided for guidance purposes in assessing noise from water
skiing arising from existing facilities and for establishing the suitability of a site for
future water ski use.
.9
In some circumstances, for example in noise sensitive rural areas, it may be
appropriate to consider a reduction in the above limits. Equally, in areas where the
ambient noise levels are already close to the above limits or above, it may be
appropriate to consider an increase in noise limits.
.10
If a typical busy summer day’s activities at a site falls significantly short of 12 hours
duration, for example, where activity takes place for the morning period only, it may be
appropriate to modify the noise limits by reducing the assessment period of 16 hours but
where any reduction is made the assessment period must encompass the full period
of activity.
6.3
Noise Abatement
.1
The Environmental Protection Act 1990, Section 80, enables a local authority to serve
a notice requiring the abatement of noise which it is satisfied amounts to a nuisance, or
prohibiting or restricting the occurrence or recurrence of such noise whether caused by
an act within or outside the authority’s area. Section 82 provides for a Magistrate’s
Court to act on a complaint made by any person on the ground that he is aggrieved by
the existence of a statutory nuisance. It is hoped that the terms of this code will not
only avoid the need for action under these sections of the Act but also provide a
framework whereby the use of these powers is both consistent and effective.
7.0
METHOD OF RATING WATER SKI NOISE
7.1
In order to determine the suitability of a site for water skiing activity, whether it is an
existing or proposed facility, an assessment may be required to evaluate the rating
noise level for comparison with the limits given in 6.2.7 above.
7.2
BS7445:1991 provides guidance on the method of rating and factors to be taken into
account when carrying out an assessment for rating purposes.
7.3
For existing sites, or where demonstrations of proposed activities take place, the rating
method could consist of either measurement, prediction or a combination of both.
7.4
For proposed sites, the expected noise climate should be determined using a suitable
prediction method. Since universally agreed prediction methods do not exist, the
method adopted should be carefully described. Further information on this subject is
given in Appendix G.
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8.0
CONTROL AND MONITORING
8.1
Assistance in this respect can be obtained from suitably qualified companies. A list of
these can in turn be obtained via the Association of Noise Consultants and or the
Institute of Acoustics. Should difficulty be experienced in organising a company to
undertake monitoring then the Local Authority Environmental Health Department may
well be able to offer assistance, on a chargeable basis. Where necessary, water ski
demonstrations for sound level testing can be arranged by British Water Ski.
8.2
Noise monitoring for the purposes of checking compliance with the environmental noise
limits specified in 6.2.7 should be carried out over an appropriate period(s) of time.
It is not necessary and would not normally be appropriate to monitor for the full
16 hour period. The time period may comprise a number of short term intervals during
which representative water skiing activities are carried out. Guidance parameters for
noise monitoring are given in BS 7445:Part 2 1991. It is also necessary to determine by
monitoring the source noise level of each boat used in the monitoring exercise as
referred to in Appendix A.
8.3
An assessment to check compliance with environmental noise limits should be based
upon a typical busy summer day’s activities at a water ski site. The overall 16 hour
noise exposure level (LAeq , 16h. ) at a point may be determined by considering the results
of noise monitoring and the variations in activities, for example on an hourly basis
throughout the day.
9.0
WATER SKI RACING
9.1
Water ski racing differs fundamentally from Tournament, Recreational and Barefoot
skiing. As its name suggests it is a race either between two points or for a period of
time involving a number of boats all towing one or two skiers at relatively high speed.
9.2
All ski racing should take place under the auspices of British Water Ski at club,
regional, national, international and world championship levels and is divided up into
classes, one, as a combination of engine size and two, as a combination of age and sex,
current classes are formula 1, formula 2, formula 3, formula 4/sports and Dauphin,
Bambino and Juniors, (open to both sexes) then mens, ladies and veterans.
9.3
Typical speeds reached obviously vary on conditions but can be as high as 100 miles
per hour for formula 1 down to 45+ miles per hour for formula 4.
9.4
In view of the speeds, water ski racing is restricted by British Water Ski to large
expanses of water.
9.5
Duration of the races vary in length of time at club and regional level, are typically 50
minutes plus one lap at national and international level and one hour at world
championship level.
9.6
Maximum engine capacity is currently 8.2 litres petrol and 16.4 litres diesel.
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9.7
In view of the relatively high speeds involved in ski racing, skiers wear special life
jackets, crash helmets and ski on an extended type of slalom ski in what is termed a
wrapped position. Similarly the driver and observer (who always faces the skier) have
to wear approved life jackets and crash helmets, all crash helmets being coloured dayglo orange/red.
9.8
Boat Engines are either inboard or outboard types. Inboard engines are generally 4
stroke petrol or diesel and quite often turbo or supercharged. Outboard engines are
attached to the stern of the boat and are invariably 2 stroke, operating on a petrol/oil
mix. The maximum boat length is 21 feet.
9.9
For Club, Regional and National competitions held in Great Britain the maximum noise
emission from individual boats used for water ski racing will not be more than 98 dB(A)
measured from the shore when the boat is travelling at a constant maximum design
engine speed, 30 metres from the measurement instrument under the conditions
described in Appendix B. At International and World Championship level this figure
would be increased to 105 dB(A) in accordance with parameters set down by the
International Water Ski Federation.(6)
9.10
Most water ski racing in the U.K. is held either in off shore or esturial waters but there
are a number of events held on inland waters. Examples of places where water ski
racing take place off shore are Weymouth and Lyme Regis on the South coast, Allhallows in Kent and Dunoon in Scotland being examples of esturial waters and Chase
water and Loch Earnhead being examples of inland waters. Water ski racing again
falls under the control of British Water Ski and races take place on a regular basis but
normally at weekends between May-October with water ski racers training during the
week.
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BRITISH WATER SKI
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A
British Water Ski Approved
Pass-by Test - Recreational, Tournament & Barefoot Skiing
Test for measuring maximum noise emissions from boats used for water skiing
(excluding water ski racing)
The maximum noise level emitted by a towing boat shall not exceed 75 dB LAmax where:
(1)
The LAmax level is the arithmetic average of the LAmax readings from at least four straight
passes, two in each direction, past the microphone at a distance of 25 metres.
(2)
The boat under test is travelling at a constant speed of 10 metres per second (+/- 1 m/s)
35kph +/- 3 kph (22 miles per hour +/- 2 mph) measured by timing the boat with a
stopwatch over a known distance.
(3)
The microphone is sited at a fixed location (for example on a solid jetty or the bank)
where the sound is transmitted directly to the microphone over water with no
intervening objects, and is at a height of 1.2 metres vertically above the water level.
There should be no reflective or absorbent surfaces near the microphone position.
(4)
Measurements should be made using a sound level meter conforming to BS 5969:1981
or BS 6698:1986 and set on “A” weighting and “S” time weighting, under conditions
of wind speed below 3 metres per second. The equipment shall be calibrated and used
as given in the manufacturer’s recommendations.
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BRITISH WATER SKI
APPENDIX B
British Water Ski Federation Approved
Pass-by Test - Water Ski Racing
Tests for measuring maximum noise emissions from boats used for water racing
The maximum noise level emitted by a water ski racing boat shall not exceed 98 dB LAmax ,
where:
(1)
The LAmax level is the arithmetic average of the LAmax readings from at least four straight
passes, two in each direction, past the microphone at a distance of 30 metres.
(2)
The boat under test is travelling at a constant maximum design engine speed.
(3)
The microphone is sited at a fixed location (for example on a solid jetty or the bank)
where the sound is transmitted directly to the microphone over water with no
intervening objects, and is at a height of 1.2 metres vertically above the water level.
There should be no reflective or absorbent surfaces near the microphone position.
(4)
Measurements should be made using a sound level meter conforming to BS 5969:1981
or BS 6698:1986 and set on “A” weighting and “S” time weighting, under conditions
of wind speed below 3 metres per second. The equipment shall be calibrated and used
as given in the manufacturer’s recommendations.
(5)
The figure of 98 dB LAmax would be increased to 105 dB LAmax on occasions when
International or World Championship sanctioned water ski racing events are held.
N.B.
The distance used in the above appendix of 30 metres rather than 25 metres brings
the pass-by test for water ski racing directly in line with the Belgian Water Ski
Federation guidelines (6) on noise for water ski racing and also the additional
distance affords a greater margin of safety between the boat and the shore in view
of the high speeds undertaken by Ski Racing Boats.
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BRITISH WATER SKI
APPENDIX C
Summary of Criteria
In Great Britain there are no agreed criteria for establishing the impact of water skiing noise.
Guidance is available however in the form of current codes of practice and other documents on
methods of mitigating noise from water sports.
Listed below are documents that have been used in the past to rate or consider water ski noise.
BS 4142
In the past, in the absence of other guidance, assessment methods using BS 4142 have on
occasion been used to rate water skiing noise although this is specifically intended as a method
of rating industrial noise affecting mixed and residential areas. This method allows for a
comparison of the specific noise against the background noise level LA90.
Planning Policy Guidance: Planning and Noise (PPG 24)
This document is the replacement for Circular 10/73. It builds on the basic principles
established in Circular 10/73 and suggests new mechanisms and guidelines for local planning
authorities to adopt.
In particular, it provides guidance in the form of noise exposure categories on planning matters
for various noise sources, including mixed sources where road traffic for example and another
source(s) affects a location. This method of rating noise according to the category into which it
falls is principally aimed at planning for the introduction of new dwellings into an existing
noise affected environment.
In applying these noise exposure categories, it states:
“Traditionally, different indices have been used to describe noise from different sources, and
limits have been set over different time periods. This has caused confusion, and a move
towards consistency has been made here by expressing all noises of LAeq.T over the periods
07.00-23.00 or 23.00-07.00.”
This document gives guidance about acceptable limits at the nearest dwelling of:
< 45 LAeq.16h at night time (23.00 - 07.00)
and
< 55 LAeq.16h during the day (07.00 - 23.00)
It states that for recreational and sporting activities, the local planning authority will have to
take account of how frequently the noise will be generated and how disturbing it will be and
balance the enjoyment of the participants against the nuisance to other people.
The document states that the Sports Council has published a report Providing for Motorised
Water Sport (1990). It also states governing bodies of sport have produced codes of conduct
which are used when organising events, and these should be consulted when new sites are being
selected. This advice is repeated in PPG 17: Sport and Recreation which gives additional
guidance on noise.
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BRITISH WATER SKI
Planning Policy Guidance: Sport and Recreation (PPG 17)
This document suggests that suitable sites for water sports which give rise to noise could
include former mineral sites adjacent to an existing noise generator such as a main road.
Code of Practice for Water Skiing in Noise Sensitive Areas (dated April 1989)
This document, prepared by the British Water Ski Federation, the national Governing Body for
the sport, sets out rules which are intended to ensure that serious disturbance is avoided in most
circumstances.
It states that where the use of a new site is contemplated, the code may be used to determine
what constraints may be necessary to avoid serious disturbance. In this case and that of any
existing site which has caused complaints, it recommends that the water skiers, the local
authority and the near neighbours of the site should discuss, in the light of the Code, any limits
which might be necessary to prevent serious disturbance.
The Code recommends that the maximum peak noise emission from individual boats used for
towing water skiers should not be more than 75 dB(A), measured at 25 metres, under test
conditions given in the Code.
As regards noise limits in countryside areas, the Code includes an optional clause suggesting
that the equivalent continuous sound level (Leq) for a 12 hour period from water skiing as a
whole at the boundary of the zone of activity, should not be more than 7 dB(A) over the
ambient Leq.
It should be noted that the above Code of Practice was produced to primarily include
Tournament, Recreational and Barefoot skiing and did not specifically include Ski Racing.
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BRITISH WATER SKI
APPENDIX D
Typical activities at British water ski clubs
Water ski clubs in Great Britain operate in a variety of ways on widely differing waters
including both inland and coastal sites. British Water Ski promotes a policy of water skiing
through clubs on all sites that are important to water skiing. An indication of how skiing takes
place is given below.
i.
Inland Waters
Inland clubs may be situated on rivers, natural lakes, active and disused mineral
working, such as gravel pits and on water supply regulating and canal feeder
reservoirs. At some clubs the boats are privately owned whilst at others they are
owned and operated by the club. The utilisation of boats varies greatly between clubs
which teach tournament and barefoot skiing as indicated in paragraph 1.5 above, and
other clubs which tend to cater for recreational skiing.
Clubs which specialise in tournament and barefoot skiing may be active throughout the
year with a single boat. A stand-by boat will normally be in attendance as well.
During training and tournament sessions it is only possible for one boat to operate and
use the jump or slalom course facilities.
Most clubs operate throughout the year with peak activity between May and October,
mainly in the evening and at weekends. At some of these clubs there may be privately
owned boats but the safety factors and the amount of water required by a skier and
boat limits the number of boats that may be used at any one time.
ii.
Coastal Waters
Possibly the greatest amount of recreational skiing takes place along our extensive
coastline. Rough seas and tides severely affect many launching sites and restrict the
amount of water skiing which can actually take place. Noise attenuation with distance
is such that boats operating beyond one hundred metres from the shoreline are seldom
heard above the background noise of beach surf.
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APPENDIX E
Characteristic usage of water ski tow boats
Appendix D gives a general guide to where skiing may be expected to take place.
Determination of equivalent sound levels requires a more precise indication of how long peak
noise levels may be generated, so a more detailed explanation of water skiing is necessary.
A boat uses idle power whilst the skier is in the water preparing to be pulled out. Once the
skier is pulled to a skiing position an average figure for his speed might be 35 kilometres per
hour (22 miles per hour) and the boat’s engine might typically be at 70% of the maximum
engine speed. The boat then travels at a constant speed and in as straight a direction as the
shape of the water area allows. Owing to the sustained muscular tension a typical run will last
for only ten minutes when the boat will return to the dock to pick up another skier.
Breaks in continuous skiing occur when falls take place and the boat returns the tow rope to the
skier at idle power. All skiers from beginners to the most proficient tournament competitor fall
when they are attempting to improve their proficiency. A boat returning to a fallen skier and
starting again, might take an average of two minutes, and considering all the differing types of
instructions and casual skiing that take place this might be considered to happen at least once
every ten minutes. Changing skiers would also take an average of two minutes. Therefore at a
busy time in a well organised club one would expect a ski boat to be operating at normal speed
for approximately 40 minutes in every hour.
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APPENDIX F
Possible boat concentrations for water skiing
Because so many variable factors are involved, each area of water needs individual
consideration but an appreciation of the various limitations may help relevant authorities in
deciding upon the maximum number of boats that might be used at one time.
First, to prevent collisions when more than one boat is in use there must be sufficient room to
manoeuvre bearing in mind that towing a skier limits the radius of turn.
Second, it must be appreciated that water skiers prefer calm water and that for certain
competitive skiing practice and instructing beginners, it is essential. Most disturbance to the
water is caused by wind driven waves and the position of wind shielding barriers such as trees
and banks is of importance in selecting the best sites for water skiing. Thus the amount of
usable water may be less than the whole body of water and impose a restriction on the number
of boats that can be used at one time.
It can be seen that with so many factors each body of water must be separately assessed but
some examples can be quoted. The Thorpe Water Park ski area is purpose made for major ski
tournaments. The arena measures approximately 650 metres by 75 metres and is suitable for
use by only one boat at a time. Conversely Stewartby Water Ski Club in Bedfordshire consists
of approximately 100 acres of water where 10 boats can operate in a satisfactory manner
although this maximum number is rarely reached. Two further examples are South Yorkshire
Boat and Ski Club near Sheffield, a lake of some 45 acres which can accommodate 5 boats at
any one time and Church Wilne Water Ski Club south of Derby which has two lakes, one a
recreational lake where 4 boats are allowed and a tournament arena measuring approximately
650 metres x 80 metres where only 1 boat is allowed at any one time.
The recommended standards set by the BWSF for water ski sites are as follows:
A.
TOURNAMENT SITE
1.
NATIONAL STANDARD SITE
Preferably not less than 650 metres long (750 metres preferred) by 80 metres wide.
2.
REGIONAL STANDARD SITE
Preferably 500-650 metres long by 80 metres wide with larger areas for turning.
3.
SUB-REGIONAL SITE
400-500 metres long and not less than 80 metres wide to accommodate trick, jump and
four or eight buoy slalom courses, but larger areas are required for turning.
B.
RECREATIONAL SKIING SITE
Recreational skiing can take place on sites 300 metres long and along the skiing area a width of
50 metres is safe. Larger areas are, however, preferable and large lakes with central islands
and several long thin areas of water are better than one large open lake of the same water area.
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BRITISH WATER SKI
Maximum usage of small lakes would only occur on summer weekends because many skiers
prefer to wait until only one boat will be in use
Obviously coastal sites are not normally limited in available water but weather and tide
conditions as well as launching facilities may restrict usage.
British Water Ski is pleased to offer technical guidance on the maximum number of ski
boats that may be operated in specific bodies of water.
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BRITISH WATER SKI
APPENDIX G
Guidance on method of calculation of water ski noise
There is no universally agreed prediction method for water ski noise. The method adopted for
this purpose should therefore be carefully described.
For guidance purposes, the principles of a suitable method of prediction to rate water ski noise
with respect to noise limits given in this Code of Practice is given below. A glossary of
acoustical terms is given at the rear of this appendix.
This method is based on the procedure give in BS 7445:Part 1:1991 for determination of the
LAeq value on the assumption that the noise environment is the result of a number of identifiable
noise events. Under these circumstances, the LAeq value may be calculated from the sound
exposure levels (SEL) of the individual events occurring within a time period T.
Information on the following is required for the purposes of noise prediction:i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
vii)
Water ski circuit layout
Location of noise sensitive buildings and areas
Types of boat in use at facility
Number of circuits made by each boat type per day
Reference noise data (and if provided in terms of LAmax speed data) for each boat type
Land topography between water ski lake and reception points
Meteorological date (where relevant)
For each boat type, carry out the following (Stages 1-4):Stage 1.
Divide the water ski circuit used by the boat type into a number of segments
such that the variation in noise (as determined at the reception point) between
points within the segment is small (i.e. less that 2dB(A)).
For each segment, determine the following for each boat type (Stages 2-4):Stage 2.
A reference noise level at a specified reference distance commensurate with
typical boat operations. This could be derived from measurement or other
data. It may be in terms of an LAmax If this unit is used, the speed at which the
boat traverses the segment should be used to record the duration, hence
allowing the SEL to be derived.
NB.
It may be appropriate to provide more than one reference noise level
for each boat type since there will be some variation in SEL between
that arising when a skier is being towed and when a skier falls off and
requires the boat to stop and re-start. The SEL arising from the
former activity is normally slightly higher.
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BRITISH WATER SKI
Stage 3.
Adjust the reference noise level to determine the SEL at the reception point
taking account of the following factors:i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
Stage 4.
distance from centre point of segment to receiver
soft ground attenuation and air absorption
the effect of screening by barriers
the angle of view (where relevant)
meteorological conditions (where relevant)
NB. It may be appropriate in some circumstances to take
account of the prevailing winds. Further guidance on this is
given in MPG 11 (See Page 9 of this Code Reference 4).
Convert the SEL values at the reception point to values of LAeq taking into
account the 16 hour daytime period and the number of movements by the
particular type of boat in use during this period.
After completion of Stages 1-4 for each boat type, carry out the following:Stage 5.
Combine the total contributions from each boat type to obtain the total day
LAeq,16h value at the reception point.
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BRITISH WATER SKI
REFERENCES USED IN THIS CODE
(1)
Planning Policy Guidance: Planning and Noise, (PPG 24), Department of the
Environment, Welsh Office, 1994.
(2)
Environmental Health Criteria, 12, Noise, Published under the joint sponsorship of the
United Nations Environment Programme and the World Health Organisation, Geneva,
1980.
(3)
BRE Information Paper IP 21/93, Building Research Establishment, December 1993.
(4)
Minerals Planning Guidance: The Control of Noise at Surface Mineral Workings,
MPG 11, Department of the Environment, Welsh Office: April 1993.
(5)
House of Commons Environment Committee Fourth Report The Environmental Impact
of Leisure Activities Volume 1 Session 1994 - 1995, July 1995 H.M.S.O.
(6)
Belgian Water Ski Federation’s adopted guide lines on noise for water ski racing, used
at the 1995 World Ski Racing Championships hosted by Belgium.
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BRITISH WATER SKI
GLOSSARY OF ACOUSTICAL TERMS
dB - Decibel
Logarithmic ratio used to relate a sound pressure level to a standard reference level.
dB(A) - A-weighted decibel
Internationally accepted unit for most noise measurement and represents the sound pressure
level weighted to correspond to the frequency response of the human ear. A difference of
3dB(A) may just be noticeable and a difference of 10dB(A) represents a doubling or halving of
subjective loudness for a steady state continuous noise.
LAeq,T - A-weighted equivalent continuous sound level
The equivalent continuous sound level is a notional steady sound level which would cause the
same A-weighted sound energy to be received as that due to the actual and possibly fluctuating
sound over a period of time, T.
SEL - Sound exposure level
The sound exposure level is a measure of noise from a single event which takes account of the
duration as well as the intensity. It is the level which if maintained constant for a period of one
second, would deliver the same A-weighted sound energy as a given noise event.
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BRITISH WATER SKI
THE CODE OF PRACTICE FOR WATER SKIING AND NOISE HAS BEEN
PREPARED BY BRITISH WATER SKI IN ASSOCIATION WITH:
Bickerdike Allen Partners, 121 Salisbury Road, London NW6 6RG Acousticians - Peter Henson - Tel. 0171 - 6250250
Wilford Smith, 22 Westgate, Rotherham S60 1AP
- Solicitors - Michael Walker - Tel. 01709 - 828044
Barry Odell, Development Officer, British Water Ski Federation
390 City Road, London EC1V 2QA - Tel. 01778 - 560680
Chapman Warren, Fairwater House, 1 High Street, Wroughton,
Swindon SN4 9JX
- Town Planning Consultants - Robert Gillespie - Tel. 01793 - 814800
25
NOISE_99.DOC
Buffer zone distances to protect foraging and loafing
waterbirds from human disturbance in Florida
James A. Rodgers, Jr., and Henry T. Smith
Abstract
Sixteen species of water birds (Pelecaniformes, Ciconiiformes, Charadriiformes) in
north and central Florida were exposed to 4 types of human disturbances (walking,
all-terrain vehicle, automobile, boat) to determine buffer zones that minimize
flushing of foraging or loafing birds. Both intraspecific and interspecific variations
were observed in flushing-response distances to the same type of disturbance.
Buffer zones were estimated using a formula based one the mean plus 1.6495
standard deviations of the observed flushing distance plus 40 m. A buffer of about
100 m should minimize disturbance to most species of water birds we studied in
Florida.
Table 1. Study areas in Florida where flush distances were measured in response to 4 types of disturbances
Habitat Description
Disturbance Type
Amelia Island
Beach Shoreline
Walk, All-terrain
Relative impact of
human activity
Moderate
Anastasia Island
Beach Shoreline
All-terrain
Moderate
Crescent Beach
Beach Shoreline
Automobile
High
Dee Dot Ranch
Freshwater Lake Shoreline
Automobile, boat
Low
Ft. Pierce
Coastal Sandbar
Walk, boat
Low
Haulover
Coastal Marshes and Shoreline
Walk, boat
Low
Huguenot Beach
Beach Shoreline
Walk, All-terrain
Low
Lake Kissimmee
Freshwater Lake Shoreline
Walk, boat
Low
Lake Jackson
Freshwater Lake Shoreline
Walk,
Low
Matanzas Beach
Beach Shoreline
Walk, All-terrain
Moderate
Merritt Island
Coastal Marshes and Shoreline
Walk, automobile
Moderate
Ochlocknee Bay
Coastal and Freshwater Marshes
Walk
Low
Pelican Island
Coastal Island Shoreline
Walk, boat
Low
Phipps Point
Coastal Shoreline
Walk
Low
Ponte Verde Beach
Beach Shoreline
Walk, All-terrain
High
Port Orange
Coastal Shoreline
Walk, boat
Moderate
St. Augustine
Coastal Shoreline
Boat
Moderate
St. Augustine Beach
Beach Shoreline
All-terrain, automobile
High
St. George Island
Causeway Shoreline
Walk
Low
St. Marks
Coastal Marshes
Walk
Low
Tallahassee
Isolated Freshwater Ponds
Walk
Low
Tampa Bay
Coastal Shoreline
Walk, boat
Moderate
Vilano Beach
Beach Shoreline
Walk, All-terrain
High
Site
STATE OF FLORIDA
DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
PHILLIP BUCHNER, STAN KRUPSKI,
and JACK K. AUSTIN,
)
)
)
Petitioners,
)
)
vs.
)
)
MARK GRONLUND and DEPARTMENT OF
)
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,
)
)
Respondents.
)
__________________________________)
Case Nos. 02-2940
02-2941
RECOMMENDED ORDER
On September 27, 2002, final administrative hearing was
held in this case in Leesburg, Florida, before J. Lawrence
Johnston, Administrative Law Judge, Division of Administrative
Hearings.
APPEARANCES
For Petitioners:
Stan Krupski, pro se
38545 County Road 44A
Post Office Box 685
Umatilla, Florida 32784
Phillip Buchner, pro se
38615 North County Road 44A
Umatilla, Florida 32784
For Respondent Department of Environmental Protection:
Craig D. Varn, Esquire
Department of Environmental Protection
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard
Mail Station 35
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000
For Respondent Mark Gronlund:
Mark Gronlund, pro se
Post Office Box 1476
Umatilla, Florida 32784
STATEMENT OF THE ISSUE
The issue in this case is whether Respondent, the
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), should grant the
application of Respondent, Mark Gronlund, to modify his
Standard General Environmental Resource Permit for water ski
jump and slalom courses on Lake Blanchester in Lake County,
Florida, to increase the size of the jump course and combine
it with a new slalom course, so that buoys are shared by the
two courses, and to add gate alignment buoys to the existing
slalom course.
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
DEP gave notice of intent to issue the requested
modification, and two timely requests for an administrative
hearing contesting both the existing permit and the proposed
modification were filed by neighbors of Gronlund who reside on
Lake Blanchester--one by Phillip Buchner, and a second by Stan
Krupski and Jack K. Austin.
On July 23, 2002, DEP referred
the requests to the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH)
for assignment of an administrative law judge.
Buchner's
request was given DOAH Case No. 02-2940; the request by
Krupski and Austin was given DOAH Case No. 02-2941.
2
The cases
were consolidated and scheduled for final hearing on September
27, 2002.
A Joint Prehearing Statement was filed on
September 11, 2002.
On September 25, 2002, Krupski filed a Request for
Continuance on behalf of all Petitioners, and Gronlund filed
an objection, a telephone hearing was held, and the Request
for Continuance was denied.
At final hearing, Gronlund called six witnesses and had
Applicant Exhibits 1-7 admitted in evidence.
DEP called one
witness (DEP Environmental Manager, Tammy Dabu) and had DEP
Exhibits 1-4 admitted in evidence.
Krupski called one witness
(Bobby Grinstead, a fisheries biologist), had Krupski Exhibits
1-5 admitted in evidence, and testified in his own behalf, as
did Buchner.
No transcript of the final hearing was requested, and the
parties were given until October 7, 2002, to file proposed
recommended orders (PROs).
DEP timely filed a PRO; Krupski
and Buchner filed written argument.
The post-hearing
submissions have been fully considered, along with the oral
argument and evidence presented at final hearing.
FINDINGS OF FACT
1.
Mark Gronlund owns property which includes some lake
bottom and shoreline at the southeast corner of Lake
3
Blanchester in Lake County, Florida.
His property also
includes a residence on the uplands.
2.
Lake Blanchester is a small, Class III waterbody
located in Section 20, Township 18S, Range 27E in Lake County.
It is not classified as an Outstanding Florida Water.
It is
roughly triangular in shape, with angles roughly in the west,
southeast, and northeast.
The eastern shoreline of the lake
appears to be approximately 2400 feet in length; the southern
shoreline is longer, about 3200 feet; the northern shoreline
is in between, approximately 2800 feet long.
The lake bottom
is not owned by the State of Florida; instead, it appears to
be owned by individual riparian owners around the lake.
3.
Other than Gronlund's courses and proposed courses,
there are no other water ski courses on Lake Blanchester.
There also are no others under construction, and there was no
evidence of any reason to expect other courses in the future.
Existing Permit
4.
On June 21, 2000, DEP issued Gronlund a Standard
General Environmental Resource Permit, No. 35-167439-001, to
construct a private, single-family use only dock, a boat ramp,
and skiing facilities in Lake Blanchester.
The permitted
skiing facilities consisted of "a 850 feet long by 75 feet 5
1/2 inches wide slalom course and 623 feet long by 74 feet 10
inches wide ski jump course that is equipped with a 24 feet
4
long by 25 feet wide ski jump ramp.
The slalom course will
comprise 22 buoys and the ski jump course will comprise 7
buoys.
All buoys are 8 inches in diameter and anchored to the
bottom of Lake Blanchester with galvanized screws."
5.
The permitted ski slalom course was oriented
approximately parallel to the southern shoreline of the lake,
at least 350 feet from the shoreline, apparently over and on
lake bottom owned by riparian owners along the southern
shoreline of the lake.
The ski jump course was oriented
approximately south-southeast to north-northwest.
One end of
the jump course was near the southeast corner of the lake,
near Gronlund's property, approximately 350 feet from the
shoreline; from there, the course angled slightly away from
the eastern shoreline of the lake towards the north-northwest,
so that the other end of the course was well over 350 feet
from the eastern shoreline of the lake.
Despite the proximity
of the jump course to Gronlund's property, because Gronlund
appears to own so little lake bottom, the entire jump course
also appears to be located on and over lake bottom owned by
his neighbors.
6.
Among other general conditions, the permit limited
Gronlund to implementation of the plans, specifications, and
performance criteria approved by the permit; deviations would
constitute a violation of the permit.
5
General and special
conditions also required permitted activities to be conducted
in a manner so as not to cause violations of state water
quality standards.
Gronlund also was advised by a general
condition of the permit:
"This permit does not convey to the
permittee or create in the permittee any property right, or
any interest in real property, nor does it authorize any
entrances upon or activities on property which is not owned or
controlled by the permittee, or convey any rights or
privileges other than those specified in the permit and
chapter 40C-4 or chapter 40C-40, F.A.C."
Permit Violations
7.
After issuance of the permit, DEP received complaints
about Gronlund's activities.
First, and most significant, it
was alleged that Gronlund was clearing most of his shoreline
(approximately 500 linear feet) and was placing sand on it
without a permit.
It also was alleged that his dock structure
was larger than permitted and that he added unauthorized buoys
to his ski jump and slalom courses.
8.
DEP's investigation of the first complaint confirmed
a violation.
It appears from the evidence that Gronlund began
to take corrective action to restore his disturbed shoreline
while DEP was investigating.
It also appears from the
evidence that DEP's enforcement section ultimately required
Gronlund to restore at least part of his shoreline.
6
The
details of DEP's requirements for restoration and Gronlund's
performance of restoration requirements are not clear.
The
testimony presented by Petitioners was that the restoration
does not yet match conditions before Gronlund cleared the
shoreline.
But DEP's witness testified that, according to
DEP's enforcement section, Gronlund was in compliance with the
terms of the consent agreement entered into to resolve that
complaint as of September 19, 2002.1
9.
It does not appear from the evidence that Gronlund's
dock itself was oversized.
However, it appears that Gronlund
included a pole and swing structure that was not included on
the permit drawings and might constitute a violation.
DEP's
witness characterized the issue as a possible enforcement
matter.
10.
It is not clear from the evidence when Gronlund
began adding buoys to those originally permitted.
The first
additions probably were for alignment gates for the two
existing permitted courses.
It appears from the evidence that
Gronlund eventually also put in a new slalom course without
authorization; it was not clear from the evidence whether this
occurred before or after Gronlund applied for permission to do
so.
It appears that Gronlund subsequently removed most if not
all of the unauthorized surface buoys but that the anchors,
polypropylene rope, and sub-buoys remain in place.
7
Permit Modification
11.
On April 2, 2002, Gronlund applied to modify his ski
courses, listing himself and his wife as "Owner(s) of Land."
First, he applied to add four buoys and 360 feet of length to
the east-west slalom course and to modify the angle of the
jump course, bringing it closer to the eastern shoreline.
Second, he applied to add a slalom course to the northnorthwest end of the jump course, for a combined jump/slalom
course 1615 feet long by 124 feet wide.
12.
In response to a request for additional information
(RAI), Gronlund explained that the change to the east-west
slalom course added two gate alignment buoys and 180 feet in
length to either end of that course.
He also explained that
the new slalom course would have the same number of buoys and
length but would share some buoys with the combined jump
course, reducing the number of additional buoys and length
otherwise required for separate jump and slalom courses.
13.
In Gronlund's modification application, the combined
jump/slalom course appeared to be less than 250 feet from
Gronlund's shoreline and less than 300 feet from some of the
shoreline of the riparian owner to Gronlund's immediate north.
Petitioner, Buchner, testified that some of the sub-buoys in
place at this time actually are only approximately 200 feet
from the nearest shoreline.
Farther away from Gronlund's
8
property, the course's angle to the north-northwest and the
eastern shoreline's angle to towards the north-northeast
combine to separate the course from the shoreline by more than
300 feet.
In his response to DEP's RAI, Gronlund gave
assurances that both courses would be least 300 feet from all
shorelines, except "at the south end of the [proposed
combined] ski course and ski jump ramp [which are] located
closer to the shoreline, directly adjacent to the applicant's
shoreline . . . to avoid placing the ski jump where it could
interfere with other boating traffic."
14.
DEP's RAI also asked Gronlund to "provide
documentation from other properties [sic] owners with riparian
rights to Lake Blanchester, stating no objections to your
proposed project."
Gronlund's response stated only:
"The
other property owners with riparian rights to Lake Blanchester
that do no object to my proposed project are the same ones
that have not issued any complaints in the two years I have
been skiing on the lake."
15.
Based on Gronlund's response to DEP's RAI, DEP gave
notice of intent to modify Gronlund's permit to allow "62
buoys in Lake Blanchester (26 buoys for the slalom course and
36 buoys in the combined ski/slalom course).
These buoys will
range in size from 7-9 inches in diameter and will be made of
soft, lightweight, plastic.
The buoys will be anchored into
9
Lake Blanchester using galvanized screw attached to
polypropylene rope, sub-buoys, and rubber strips.
This
modification will increase the size of the slalom course from
850 feet long by 75 feet and 5.5 inches wide to 1210 feet long
by 75 feet and 5.5 inches wide.
This modification would
increase the size of the ski-course from 623 feet long by 74
feet and 10 inches wide to accommodate the combined ski/slalom
course at 1615 feet long by 124 feet wide."
Permit Challenges
16.
Petitioners not only seek to have DEP deny
Gronlund's application for modification, they also want DEP to
revoke Gronlund's existing permit for the ski slalom and jump
courses.
Except for general testimony from Buchner that he
was not aware of Gronlund's original permit application and
DEP's notice of intent to issue a permit, Petitioners
introduced no evidence as to why any challenge to Gronlund's
existing permit should not be considered untimely.
17.
Petitioners contended that Gronlund's existing and
proposed ski courses themselves interfere with navigation,
infringe riparian rights, and are unsightly.
There is no
contention or evidence that the installation and maintenance
of the ski courses themselves cause any significant
environmental impacts.
However, Petitioners presented
evidence in support of their contention that the use of the
10
ski courses will adversely impact water quality, aquatic
vegetation, and fish populations.
They also contended that
use of the ski courses interferes with navigation and other
uses of the lake, causes unsafe conditions, infringes riparian
rights, and constitutes a trespass on others' property,
including the property of Petitioner, Austin.
18.
The evidence was that the buoys and ski jump ramp
themselves are not navigation hazards.
The buoys are tethered
in position so that they are half in and half out of the water
and easily visible to boaters.
If a boat were to approach
close to one, the bow of the boat would likely push the buoy
out of the way.
Even if a boat made contact with a buoy, the
"collision" probably would not even be noticed by the boater
since the buoys are made of soft, lightweight plastic.
While
the jump ramp could cause damage in a collision with a boat,
it is easily visible and should not pose a navigation or
safety hazard to other boats.
19.
The ski courses themselves do not impair access to
the lake and do not infringe any riparian rights.
While they
change the view, the buoys are fairly unobtrusive visually,
and the ski jump is comparable to a large dock or boat house.
20.
As to Petitioners' contentions regarding the use of
the ski courses, it is first noted that all of the alleged
impacts are similar to the impacts from skiing on the lake
11
without a course (or, for that matter, any other similar
operation of a similar boat on the lake).
One primary
difference is that impacts from use of a course would tend to
be repetitive and confined to one part of the lake.
Another
difference is that, at least for the slalom courses, the tow
boat usually accelerates from a stop and decelerates to a stop
at the beginning and end of end run down the length of the
course.
(It was not clear from the evidence whether the jump
course is used in the same manner.)
21.
Petitioners accused Gronlund of dominating Lake
Blanchester, causing a hazard to navigation, and infringing
riparian rights by his use of the existing and proposed ski
courses.
Petitioners also accused Gronlund of exacerbating
these problems by operating his ski boat in a reckless manner,
often illegally without a spotter.
22.
Gronlund put on ample evidence that he operates his
boat in a safe and considerate manner.
When there is no
spotter in the boat, the driver utilizes a wide-view mirror to
maintain eye contact with the skier, as allowed by law.
When
possible, Gronlund alerts other boaters on the lake of his
intention to use the course and attempts to obtain the other
boaters' agreement that Gronlund's skiing will not endanger or
interfere with the other boat.
Sometimes, Gronlund will
12
choose a course he thinks will not conflict with the other
boaters.
23.
It appears that most of the boating conflicts on the
lake to date have been the result of misunderstandings.
First, it appears that some other boaters view all slalom
skiing and ski jumping as inherently reckless regardless
whether standard safety protocols are being used.
Secondly,
it appears that boaters sometimes miscommunicate or
misinterpret intentions.
This type of problem once led
Petitioner, Buchner, to erroneously believe that Gronlund's
boat was intentionally moving into the way of Buchner's small
boat, while the operator of Gronlund's boat thought Buchner
was intentionally moving into the way of Gronlund's boat.
Third, it appears that Gronlund sometimes thinks other boaters
are far enough away not to be disturbed by skiing when the
other boater thinks the skiing is still to close.
Finally,
Gronlund has allowed a neighbor to use Gronlund's boat ramp on
occasion, and it is possible that boaters on the lake have
mistaken the other boat for Gronlund.
24.
Obviously, as a practical matter, when Gronlund's
ski courses are in use, no one else can use the part of the
lake being used for skiing. But this kind of preemption of
part of the lake, which is inherent in any ski course and
13
boating in general, does not constitute a navigation hazard or
an infringement of riparian rights to access to the lake.
25.
Petitioners complained of the noise level generated
by Gronlund's use of his ski courses.
Gronlund responded with
evidence that his boat, a 1997 Ski Nautique, is well-muffled.
The decibel level generated when this type boat passes by at a
distance of 25 feet is between the decibel level of normal
conversation and the decibel level next to a busy street; when
this type ski boat accelerates away from a location, by the
time it is 100 feet away, the decibel level at the starting
location already would be lower than normal conversation.
26.
Turbulence created by a boat's propeller can cause
prop scouring and turbidity, which can adversely impact water
quality and fish populations, if the water is shallow enough.
But the evidence was that these problems would not be expected
in water four or more feet deep.
Gronlund reported to DEP
that the water in the vicinity of his existing and proposed
ski courses ranges from approximately 16-22 feet deep.
While
Petitioners questioned the accuracy of those reported depths,
it appears from the evidence that the water in the vicinity of
the ski courses is at least nine feet deep.
No prop scouring
or turbidity should result from use of the courses.
27.
Usually, the impact of waves from a boat's wake
would not be expected to create much environmental impact,
14
even when the waves reach shallow water.
Their impact would
not differ much from naturally wind-driven waves.
But wind-
driven waves depend on wind strength and direction, and the
possibility of significant additional turbidity and even
erosion from constant waves generated by a ski boat going back
and forth on a ski course cannot be completely disregarded,
especially if the course is used a lot.
28.
In addition to how often a ski course is used, the
impact of wake-generated waves would depend on several other
factors as well, including:
the size of the wake-generated
waves; the proximity of the shallow water; slope of the
bottom; the composition of the bottom substrate; and the
amount of vegetation present to absorb and attenuate wave
energy.
29. Addressing the first factor, a well-designed ski boat
such as Gronlund's minimizes the size of the wake.
At
competition-level slalom speed--approximately 34 miles per
hour--the wake directed back towards the skier from Gronlund's
boat would be only approximately 3-4 1/2 inches high.
(Exact
measurement is difficult, but tests of an open-bowed 1995
model Ski Nautique indicated wakes of 4.7 inches at slalom
speed.
The wake from Gronlund's newer 1997 model, which
appears to be closed-bow, would be expected to be lower than
that.)
A relatively small wake also would be expected at high
15
ski-jumping speed.
A larger wake would be generated at the
lower speeds skied by younger and less-skilled skiers.
Trick
skiing also is done at lower speeds, but trick skiing does not
occur on a marked course and is not relevant to a permit for a
slalom or jump course.
But even at lower speeds, the wake
directed back towards the skier still would not be extremely
high--certainly not as high as 2 1/2 to 3 feet.
30. Petitioners contend that the bow of Gronlund's ski
boat throws a larger wake off to the side which is higher than
the wake measured behind the boat where the skiing takes
place.
But the videotape placed in evidence by Gronlund does
not support this contention.
There does not appear to be any
additional wake forward of the wake involved in slalom skiing.
31.
The largest wakes are generated during acceleration
(before the boat planes off) and deceleration (after it comes
off its plane).
In slalom skiing at least, the course
normally is used repeatedly in alternating directions, with a
stop between runs.2
As a result, the ski boat accelerates at
the beginning and decelerates at the end of each run down the
length of the course.
But even then, it does not appear from
the videotape that the wake generated at those times is very
large or that it remain larger for very long.
32.
Addressing the other factors, the closest shallow
water to the existing and proposed ski courses would be the
16
nearest shoreline of Lake Blanchester.
Based on the evidence,
much of the lake bottom near the shoreline is relatively silty
(except where Gronlund placed sand on his property), which
increases the likelihood of erosion and turbidity.
But the
slope of the shoreline bottom is relatively gentle; and there
is considerable vegetation (including maiden cane, native
rushes, and spatterdock) along the eastern shore of Lake
Blanchester (again, except where Gronlund cleared his
shoreline), and the vegetation along the southern shoreline of
the lake is even denser, reducing the likelihood of erosion
and turbidity.
33.
Krupski's witness, Bobby Grinstead, who is a
fisheries biologist, testified that Lake Blanchester is a
"perched lake" which is high in acidity and low in nutrients,
making its shoreline relatively fragile.
It was his opinion
that adverse impacts on aquatic flora and fauna (primarily,
fish) can be expected from use of Gronlund's ski courses.
But
DEP's witness, who has had considerable experience reviewing
similar applications, disagreed; instead, she supported the
testimony of Gronlund's witness, based on a literature review,
that no adverse environmental impacts should be expected from
use of Gronlund's course.
Based on all of the evidence, it is
found that Gronlund gave reasonable assurances that his
existing and proposed ski courses will not result in
17
significant adverse impacts to water quality, aquatic
vegetation, or fish populations.
34.
As found, Gronlund gave reasonable assurance that
his proposed ski courses will not adversely impact navigation,
public safety, or riparian rights of neighbors.
However, as
noted, the courses are placed on and over lake bottom owned by
persons other than Gronlund.
It is not clear that Gronlund
has the permission of these owners to put his courses on their
property.
At least one of these owners--namely, Petitioner,
Austin--clearly objects.
Need for Additional Condition
35.
To address some of Petitioners' concerns, Gronlund
presented evidence that he actually has spent relatively
little time skiing on the lake--approximately 300 engine
hours, including engine warm-up time, time to the course, time
picking up skiers (after each trip down the course), and time
returning to the dock), in two and one-half years.
Gronlund's
evidence also refuted Petitioners' contention that Gronlund is
operating a ski school out of his house--to date, Gronlund has
used the facilities by himself, with a ski partner, and with
his immediate family.
Gronlund's purpose in presenting this
evidence was to assure Petitioners and DEP that he plans to
continue to use his courses in a similar manner.
18
36.
Gronlund also devoted a great deal of his
presentation to evidence of how important it is to the
continued success of competitive skiing, as well as the ski
industry as a whole, in this country, for his application (and
others like his) to be granted.
His evidence emphasized the
world water skiing championships being held in Lake County in
2003, and their expected contribution to the local economy.
Those aspects of Gronlund's presentation raised some question
as to the reliability of Gronlund's assurances that his
relatively elaborate proposed ski facilities will only be for
personal use in the future.
To allay these concerns, and to
assure that the ski courses are operated as represented by
Gronlund, an additional permit condition to that effect would
be appropriate.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
37.
The evidence was that Petitioners' challenges to
Gronlund's existing permit were untimely.
In addition,
Petitioners do not have standing to initiate a proceeding to
revoke an existing permit.
Only DEP has such standing.
See
Friends of the Robert Crown Wilderness Area, Inc., v. Dept. of
Environmental Reg., OGC Case No. 89-0068, 1989 WL 197902 (DER
1989), aff'd, 558 So. 2d 20 (Fla. 1st DCA 1990).
As a result,
Petitioners' challenges must be limited to the modification
application.
19
38.
Sections 403.087(1) and 373.413, Florida Statutes,
and the pertinent administrative rules, required Gronlund to
obtain a permit for his water ski jump and slalom courses.
Florida Administrative Code Rule 62-312.815 grants a general
permit for ski jumps and slalom courses, but Gronlund does not
seek to use this general permit.
For one thing, the general
permit cannot be used under Rule 62-312.815(1)(c) because part
of the proposed combined jump/slalom course is not "placed at
least three hundred (300) feet from any shoreline that is not
under the ownership or control of the permittee . . . ."
For
another, the general permit also was not utilized for the
existing permit (although the existing ski courses appear to
have been placed arguably at least 300 feet from "any
shoreline" not owned or controlled by Gronlund).
Instead, the
existing ski jump and slalom courses were included in
Gronlund's Standard General Environmental Resource Permit, No.
35-167439-001, which also included Gronlund's private, singlefamily use dock and boat ramp, and his proposed ski courses
were processed as a modification of the existing Standard
General Environmental Resource Permit--apparently as a major
modification under Florida Administrative Code Rule 62343.100(1)(b).
39.
DEP only cited two statutes and one rule in its PRO.
(Krupski cited one in post-hearing argument, and no other
20
party cited any.)
But it actually appears necessary to follow
a complicated maze of administrative rules to ascertain the
applicable law in this case.
40.
Since Gronlund's Standard General Permit was
required in part by Section 373.413, Florida Statutes, most of
Parts I and III of DEP's Florida Administrative Code Rule
Chapter 62-4 do not apply.
Rules 62-4.001 and 62-4.510.
See Florida Administrative Code
Instead, certain rules of the
St. Johns River Water Management District, including those
cited infra, are adopted by reference for use in this case in
conjunction with applicable DEP rules.
41.
Since Gronlund was issued a standard general permit,
Florida Administrative Code Rule 40C-40.302 might apply.3
This rule states:
"To qualify for a standard permit under
this chapter, the permittee must give reasonable assurances
that the surface water management system meets subsection (1)
and all of the threshold conditions of subsection (2)."
But
Gronlund's proposed ski courses is not a surface water
management system.
In addition, by its terms, Section (1) of
the Rule applies to surface water management systems; and the
threshold conditions in subsection (2) do not seem at all
applicable to ski jump and slalom courses.
However, while
referring to conditions that must be met by a surface water
management system, subsection (1) references the conditions
21
for issuance specified in Florida Administrative Code Rules
40C-4.301 and 40C-4.302, some of which appear to be applicable
to a ski jump and slalom course.
42.
Pertinent to this case, Rule 40C-4.301 requires
applicants for "a standard individual, or conceptual approval
permit under this chapter or Chapter 40C-40" to provide
reasonable assurance that a surface water management system:
(d) Will not adversely impact the value of
functions provided to fish and wildlife and
listed species by wetlands and other
surface waters;
(e) Will not adversely affect the quality
of receiving waters such that the water
qualify standards set for the in Chapters
62-3, 62-4, 62-302, 62-520, 62-522, and 62550, F.A.C., including any antidegradation
provisions of paragraphs 62-4.242(1)(a) and
(b), subsections 62-4.242(2) and (3), and
Rule 62-302.300, F.A.C., and any special
standards for Outstanding Florida Waters
and Outstanding National Resource Waters
set forth in subsections 62-4.242(2) and
(3), F.A.C., will be violated;
(f) Will not cause adverse secondary
impacts to the water resources; . . . .
Since Gronlund's proposed ski courses do not appear to
constitute a "surface water management system," these rules
may not apply.
If they do, it is clear from the evidence that
there will be no adverse impacts under Subsections (1)(d)-(e)
from the installation and maintenance of the ski courses in
Class III waters; the only possible consideration would be
secondary impacts under Subsection (1)(f).
22
43.
"Secondary impacts are impacts caused not by the
construction of the project itself but by 'other relevant
activities very closely linked or causally related to the
construction of the project.' See Conservancy, Inc. v. A.
Vernon Allen Builder, Inc., 580 So. 2d 772, 777 (Fla. 1st DCA
1991); Florida Power Corp., Inc. v. Department of
Environmental Regulation, 605 So. 2d 149, 152 (Fla. 1st DCA
1992)."
Deep Lagoon Boat Club, Ltd. v. Sheridan, 784 So. 2d
1140, 1142 fn.3 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998).
44.
The possible secondary impacts from Gronlund's
proposed ski courses include impacts on water quality and fish
populations from waves generated by boat wakes, impacts on
navigation, impacts on safety, noise impacts, and the impact
of preemption of part of the lake when the course is in use.
But, as found, most of these possible impacts differ little
from impacts from skiing on the lake without a course (or, for
that matter, any other similar operation of a similar boat on
the lake).
In addition, Gronlund gave reasonable assurances
that there will be no adverse secondary impacts from his use
of the proposed ski courses.
45.
Rule 40C-4.302 states in pertinent part:
(1) In addition to the conditions set
forth in Rule 40C-4.301, F.A.C., in order
to obtain a standard individual, or
conceptual approval permit under this
chapter or Chapter 40C-40, F.A.C., an
applicant must provide reasonable assurance
23
that the construction, alteration,
operation, maintenance, removal, and
abandonment of a system:
(a) located in, on, or over wetlands or
other surface waters will not be contrary
to the public interest, or if such an
activity significantly degrades or is
within an Outstanding Florida Water, that
the activity will be clearly in the public
interest, as determined by balancing the
following criteria as set forth in
subsections 12.2.3 through 12.2.3.7 of the
Applicant's Handbook: Management and
Storage of Surface Waters:
1. Whether the activity will adversely
affect the public health, safety, or
welfare or the property of others;
2. Whether the activity will adversely
affect the conservation of fish and
wildlife, including endangered or
threatened species, or their habitats;
3. Whether the activity will adversely
affect navigation or the flow of water or
cause harmful erosion or shoaling;
4. Whether the activity will adversely
affect the fishing or recreational values or
marine productivity in the vicinity of the
activity;
5. Whether the activity will be of a
temporary or permanent nature;
6. Whether the activity will adversely
affect or will enhance significant
historical and archaeological resources
under the provisions of Section 267.061,
FRS.; and
7. The current condition and relative value
of functions being performed by areas
affected by the proposed activity.
(b) Will not cause unacceptable cumulative
impacts upon wetlands and other surface
waters as set forth in subsections 12.2.8
through 12.2.8.2 of the Applicant's
Handbook: Management and Storage of Surface
Waters adopted by reference in Rule 40C4.091, F.A.C.
24
There is no language in this rule that would limit its
application to surface water management systems, and it
presumably would apply to Gronlund's proposed ski courses.
In
addition, the assurance required under Subsection (1)(a) of
this rule essentially mirrors the assurance required under
Section 373.414(1)(a), Florida Statutes--namely, in this case,
reasonable assurance that the "activity regulated" is not
contrary to the public interest.
46.
If the "activity regulated" was considered to be
just the construction and maintenance of the ski facilities,
it would be relatively easy to decide that Gronlund's
modification application would not be contrary to the public
interest.
Actual construction and maintenance has very little
environmental impact.
But DEP's predecessor agency has held:
applicant must also show that secondary
impacts of the project, and cumulative
impacts of reasonably foreseeable similar
projects in the same geographical location
will not result in violations of water
quality standards, and will not result in
the project being not clearly in the public
interest. Conservancy, Inc. v. A. Vernon
Allen Builder, Inc., No. 90-520 (Fla. 1st
DCA, March 29, 1991); Caloosa Property
Owners' Ass'n v. Department of
Environmental Regulation, 462 So. 2d 523
(Fla. 1st DCA 1985); Section 403.919,
Florida Statutes. The analysis of
secondary and cumulative impacts is not a
third test; rather, it is a factor to be
considered in determining whether
reasonable assurance has been provided that
the project will not result in violations
of water quality standards, and that the
25
project meets the applicable public
interest test. Conservancy, Inc., supra;
Peebles v. Department of Environmental
Regulation, 12 FALR 1961 (DER, April 11,
1990); Concerned Citizens League of America
v. Department of Environmental Regulation,
11 FALR 4237, 4246 (DER, March 29, 1989).
Sarasota County, et al. v. Dept. of Environmental Reg., et
al., DOAH Case No. 90-3533, OGC File No. 90-0857, 1991 WL
161053, at *10 (DER Final Order 1991).
See also Florida Power
Corporation v. Dept. of Environmental Reg., et al., DOAH Case
No. 91-2148, OGC File No. 90-1520, 1992 WL 279020, at *15 (DER
Final Order 1992).
For this reason, secondary and cumulative
impacts must be considered as part of the regulated activity
in applying the public interest test.
47.
Secondary impacts already have been addressed in
Conclusions 43-44, supra.
"Cumulative impacts analysis
involves consideration of 'the cumulative impacts of projects
which are existing, under construction or reasonably expected
in the future" upon surface waters and wetlands.
See, e.g.,
Florida Power Corp. v. Dep't of Envtl. Regulation, 638 So. 2d
545 (Fla. 1st DCA 1994), rev. denied, 650 So. 2d 989 (Fla.
1994)."
Sierra Club v. St. Johns River Water Management
District, 816 So. 2d 687 (Fla. 5th DCA 2002).
In this case,
there are no other ski jump or slalom courses existing on Lake
Blanchester, under construction, or reasonably expected in the
26
future.
Petitioners' cumulative impact arguments are
speculative.
48.
Based on the facts of this case, and balancing the
factors listed in Section 373.414(1)(a), Florida Statutes, and
in Florida Administrative Code Rule 40C-4.302(1), Gronlund's
evidence was sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that
his proposed ski courses will not be contrary to the public
interest.
49.
As mentioned, this is not a proceeding to determine
whether Gronlund should be allowed to use the general permit
for ski jumps and slalom courses granted by Florida
Administrative Code Rule 62-312.815.
But the requirements for
use of the general permit are instructive as to what kind of
ski jump and slalom courses would be likely to meet the
criteria for issuance of a standard general environmental
resource permit for these facilities.
As already noted in
Conclusion 38, supra, Gronlund would not meet the criterion
set out in Rule 62-312.815(1)(c).
But his proposed ski
courses would meet the other criteria for use of the general
permit.
Otherwise, as found, the proposed modification would
not create a navigational hazard or interfere with public use
of waters of the state (other than the obvious preemptive use
of the waters of the courses while being skied).
27
Also, as
found, no riparian rights (as opposed to other property
rights) would be infringed.
50.
As to other property rights, no applicable statute
or rule explicitly requires Gronlund to demonstrate ownership
or control of the lake bottom on and over which he intends to
place his proposed ski courses.
Instead, as found, Gronlund's
permit conditions are explicit that the permit does not convey
or create any property right, or any interest in real
property, or authorize any entrances upon or activities on
property which is not owned or controlled by Gronlund.
Finding 6, supra.
62-343.020(5).
See
See also Florida Administrative Code Rule
Contrast, e.g., Florida Administrative Code
Rules 40D-4.101(2) and 40D-1.6105(1).
Contrast also Brown v.
Winter Haven Ski Club and Dept. of Environmental Reg., DOAH
Case No. 82-988, OGC Case 82-0228, 1983 WL 36417, at *2 (DER
Final Order 1983)(where Rule 17-1.122(15) required an
applicant to execute an "affidavit of ownership or control,"
which was not done, and DER adopted a Recommended Order to
deny a permit for a ski jump and slalom course, stating it
"will not knowingly issue a permit for dredging and filling or
other activities which would constitute a trespass on private
property").
For these reasons, it appears that Gronlund's
permit modification can be granted without a showing of
ownership or control, leaving those issues to a state circuit
28
court in an action in trespass or some other action involving
title and boundaries of real property under Section 26.012(2),
Florida Statutes.
51.
Rule 40C-4.302 states in pertinent part:
(2) When determining whether a permit
applicant has provided reasonable assurances
that District permitting standards will be
met, the District shall take into
consideration the applicant's violation of
any Department rules adopted pursuant to
sections 403.91 -- 403.929, F.S. (1984
Supp.), as amended, which the District had
the responsibility to enforce pursuant to
delegation, or any District rules adopted
pursuant to Part IV, Chapter 373, F.S.,
relating to any other project or activity and
efforts taken by the applicant to resolve
these violations. . . ..
As found, Gronlund was found to have provided the necessary
reasonable assurances after consideration of the pertinent
enforcement matters and Gronlund's efforts to resolve them.
RECOMMENDATION
Based upon the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions
of Law, it is
RECOMMENDED that the Respondent, the Department of
Environmental Protection, enter a final order granting the
application for modification of Standard General Environmental
Resource Permit, No. 35-167439-001, with the additional
condition that the permitted ski jump and slalom courses will
be for personal use only, and will not be used for a ski
school or for organized ski tournaments.
29
DONE AND ENTERED this 13th day of November, 2002, in
Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.
___________________________________
J. LAWRENCE JOHNSTON
Administrative Law Judge
Division of Administrative Hearings
The DeSoto Building
1230 Apalachee Parkway
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060
(850) 488-9675
SUNCOM 278-9675
Fax Filing (850) 921-6847
www.doah.state.fl.us
Filed with the Clerk of the
Division of Administrative Hearings
this 13th day of November, 2002.
ENDNOTES
1/ Petitioner, Buchner, testified that approximately 92 feet
of Gronlund's shoreline remained sandy beach at the time of
final hearing. It is not clear from the evidence whether the
consent agreement complied with Section 369.20, Florida
Statutes, which requires a permit to remove "herbaceous
aquatic plants and semiwoody herbaceous plants, such as shrub
species and willow" except "within an area delimited by up to
50 percent of the property owner's frontage or 50 feet,
whichever is less, and by a sufficient length waterward from,
and perpendicular to, the riparian owner's shoreline to create
a corridor to allow access for a boat or swimmer to reach open
water."
2/
See Endnote 1, supra.
3/ According to Rule 40C-40.011, these rules apply to systems
which have been determined to be not harmful to the water
resources of the water management district and not
inconsistent with its objectives.
30
COPIES FURNISHED:
Stan Krupski
Jack Austin
38545 County Road 44A
Post Office Box 685
Umatilla, Florida 32784
Phillip Buchner
38615 North County Road 44A
Umatilla, Florida 32784
Mark Gronlund
Post Office Box 1476
Umatilla, Florida 32784
Craig D. Varn, Esquire
Department of Environmental Protection
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard
Mail Station 35
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000
David B. Struhs, Secretary
Department of Environmental Protection
Douglas Building
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000
Teri L. Donaldson, General Counsel
Department of Environmental Protection
Douglas Building
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 35
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000
Kathy C. Carter, Agency Clerk
Department of Environmental Protection
Douglas Building
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, Mail Station 35
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000
31
NOTICE OF RIGHT TO SUBMIT EXCEPTIONS
All parties have the right to submit written exceptions within 15
days from the date of this Recommended Order. Any exceptions to
this Recommended Order should be filed with the agency that will
issue the final order in this case.
32
National Association of
State Boating Law Administrators
Standing Watch
A Boating Coalition
32