• Do not release plants or fish, including
bait, into a body of water unless they
came from that same body of water.
• Pump fresh water through the engine(s)
before leaving the area.
• Drain bait buckets as well as the bilge and
live and transom wells.
• Remove water from trailer boats by
removing drain plugs and parking on an
incline to facilitate drainage.
• Use high-pressure hot water (if available)
to wash both boat and trailer.
• Let boat, trailer, and equipment dry for at
least 5 days.
• Completely drain water from any canoes,
kayaks, or dinghies.
Apply these same rules to:
• Scuba-diving equipment
• Waterfowl hunting gear
• Angler’s rods and equipment
• Sailboats and sailboards
• Personal watercraft
• Water-skiing equipment
• Seaplanes
Whales and Manatees
If possible, do not operate near or approach
whales or manatees to avoid striking them
with your boat or propeller.
ACCIDENT REPORTING
The majority of boat accidents are caused
by the boat operators.
The primary causes of accidents have
been:
• Operator inattention
• Carelessness
• Speeding
Collision with another vessel is the type of
accident most often reported.
Boat operators are required to report
an accident to local authorities in the state
where the accident occurred. Figure 7-10
shows a sample form used to report an
accident.
Accident Reporting (federal
requirements)
The boat operator must report accidents
involving:
• The loss of life or disappearance of a person
• Personal injury that requires medical
treatment beyond first aid
• Property damage of $2,000 or more or
loss of vessel
Timeline
• Accidents involving death or personal
injury must be reported in 48 hours.
• A formal report must be made within 10
days for accidents involving property loss
in excess of $2000 or complete loss of the
vessel.
Note: State requirements for reporting
boating accidents may be more stringent
than the “federal,” i.e., some states
may require ALL boating accidents be
reported immediately. Check with the State
Boating Law Agencies in the state where
the accident occurred for proper reporting
procedures (see Appendix B for listing).
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