Indiana Boating Safety

AGE OPERATOR RESTRICTIONS:

All Motorboat or PWC operators in Indiana must have a valid driver’s license to operate on all public waters Operators who are at least 15 years of age and don’t have a driver’s license may operate a motor vessel if they take a NASBLA approved boater education course and have an I .D . Card on board issued by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)

PERSONAL FLOTATION

DEVICES (PFD):

Boats less than 16 feet long, and a canoe or kayak of any length, must have onboard a wearable U S C G approved PFD for everyone onboard or being towed

Boats 16 feet and longer must have wearable PFDs for everyone onboard and readily accessible

Personal Watercraft operators and passengers must wear an approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD

Required PFDs must be readily accessible

RECKLESS OPERATION:

Reckless operation of a boat, when a boat is operated carelessly in willful disregard of the rights, safety, or property of others, is a crime in Indiana Examples of reckless operation include:

• Excessive speed in regulated or congested areas or during times of restricted visibility

• Operating in a manner that may cause an accident

• Operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs

• Operating in a swimming area with swimmers present

• Towing water skiers where obstructions exist or a fall might cause them to be injured

• Bow riding or riding on the gunwale or transom where no seating is provided

• Operation of a personal watercraft which endangers life or property

EXHAUST MUFFLER REQUIRED:

No person shall operate any powercraft without a muffler, underwater exhaust, or other device that muffles or suppresses the sound of the exhaust at all speeds

WATER SKIING/TUBING:

No person shall tow a person on water skis, tube, or similar device without an observer (in addition to the boat operator) aboard to observe the skier and the towline

Water skiing/tubing is not permitted between after sunset and before sunrise

PERSONAL WATERCRAFT (PWC):

Persons less than 15 years of age shall not operate a Personal Watercraft Each person on a Personal Watercraft (PWC) must wear a Coast Guard approved PFD Additionally, the operator must wear a lanyard type cut off switch provided by the manufacturer which will shut off the PWC should the operator fall off .

A PWC is a boat and operators of PWCs must obey all boating regulations and requirements PWC operators must adhere to additional legal requirements that apply specifically to the operation of PWCs on Indiana waterss. The operator of a Personal Watercraft should operate in a reasonable and prudent manner

PWCs may be operated during daylight hours only unless equipped with the appropriate lighting

PWCs may be used to tow skiers/ tubes if the PWC is designed to seat at least three people and is at least 9 feet long Also, a person other than the operator must be onboard as an observer

BOAT LIGHT REQUIREMENTS:

Boats under way between sunset and sunrise must display a green bow light on the starboard (right) and red bow light on the port (left), as well as an “all around” (visible from 360 degrees) white light on the stern Boats at anchor must display one all around white light visible to any approaching crafts . Rowboats or paddleboats must have an all around white light ready to display in time to prevent collision

BOATING WHILE INTOXICATED:

Operating a boat or PWC while intoxicated is against the law . Refusal to submit to a test may result in loss of operating privileges for at least one year .

SPEED LIMITS AFTER “OFFICIAL SUNSET”:

No skiing, or any other activity requiring speeds in excess of 10 MPH may be engaged in between the official time of sunset and sunrise. Syracuse has a flashing beacon light on the NW corner of the lake (at the public pier) that starts flashing at sunset

DAMAGE TO MARKER BUOYS:

The Lake Association has been charged by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources with the responsibility of placing and maintaining State-Owned Marker Buoys These are placed less than 200 feet from shore in locations considered particularly critical as warning to boaters to keep their distance from shore (such as off point of land) or to reduce their speed (such as entries to channels) Intentional damage or other interference with these buoys is a crime against the State and carries a severe fine, a jail sentence, or both. These buoys are anchored with a chain and will probably damage a boat if hit

LEGAL DISTANCE FROM SHORE:

It is unlawful to operate a motorized boat closer than 200 feet from the shoreline, unless coming or going from the shore; also to operate at greater than idle speed closer than 200 feet from shore

REGISTRATION/TITLING:

All motorboats operated on the waters of Indiana must be registered and numbered Motorboats legally registered in another state can be used in Indiana for 60 consecutive days before an Indiana registration is required

Indiana and federal boating laws are presented in a summarized form The laws in their entirety can be found by consulting Indiana State Law . These laws are subject to change It is the responsibility of the operator to be aware of the most current laws when using a boat

Certain bodies of water in Indiana have local restrictions as to type and size of watercraft or motor horsepower, restricted use areas, boat speed, and times for use Check with the local authorities for these additional restrictions

You may obtain registration and title application forms at any BMV location

FOR MORE INFORMATION : Department of Natural Resources, 402 West Washington St., Room W160A, Indianapolis, IN 46204. (317) 232-4010.