September 22nd, 2011
Owning a sail boat can be lots of fun if you love sailing. But, buying the right sail boat is just the first requirement to owning a boat. You also need to know how to keep it in line with the legal requirements if you do not want to run into any trouble with the law.
Obtaining the right paper work and certification is a very important legal requirement. These set of documents will include certification of registration for the boat, a Validation Decal (required for power boats and PWC) and a certification card for Boater Safety. You should have copies of these documents onboard whenever you take your boat out.
Apart from certification documents, you are also required to always have protective devices onboard. Examples of these include a flotation device or life jackets, which are to be kept on at all times by children below age 10. Other required safety devices include flame arrestors and fire extinguishers.
Next, the boat will need to contain some distress notification devices. One of such devices is an emergency alarm for emergency situations such as a bell, whistle or horn. Distress lights should also be onboard in case of emergency situations at nights. The boat should also have proper mooring and anchor facilities.
While these are the basic legal requirements, it is important to note that different states and regions may have slightly different boat legal requirements.