Please follow safe
boating practices and let any renters know of special areas of concern:
loon nesting, 200 foot safety zone along the shore and islands (i.e.,
headway speed except for directly picking up or dropping off skiers),
proper boat lighting after dark,
no
jet skis (PWCs) between sunset and sunrise, boats towing skiers and tubers must have
an appropriately aged observer and all skiers/tubers must have PFDs on,
age limits on PWC operation, etc.
See
Maine Boating laws here.
Excerpts from the Maine Boating laws:
"Headway speed" means
the minimum speed necessary to maintain steerage and control of the
watercraft while the watercraft is moving.
Age Requirements for Operating Watercraft
When operating a motorboat with more than 10 horsepower,
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. A person between 16 & 18 years of age may
operate a personal watercraft if they have successfully completed an
approved education course, or if they are accompanied by a person 18
years of age or older. Proof of age and course must be possessed while
operating a personal watercraft.
Imprudent Operation
A person is guilty of imprudent operation of a
watercraft if that person, while operating a watercraft on the inland
or coastal waters of the State, engages in prolonged circling, informal
racing, wake jumping or other types of continued and repeated
activities that harass another person. This subsection may be enforced
by any law enforcement officer or a person may bring a private nuisance
action for a violation of this subsection pursuant to Title 17, section
2802.
Boating & Alcohol
Any person who operates or attempts to operate any
watercraft while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs or
a combination of liquor and drugs; or while having 0.08% or more by
weight of alcohol in that person's blood is guilty of a criminal
violation. The operator of any watercraft must complete a blood-alcohol
test when requested to do so by a law enforcement officer who has
probable cause to believe that the person operated or attempted to
operate a watercraft while under the influence of intoxicating liquor;
or when the person was the operator of a watercraft involved in a
watercraft accident which results in the death of any person.
Waterskiing
A. Watercraft towing a person or
persons on water-skis, surfboards, aquaplanes or similar devices shall
not operate within the "water safety zone" which means the area of
water within 200 feet of any shoreline, whether the shoreline of the
mainland or of an island. A person may not manipulate any watercraft,
tow rope or other device in a way that will cause the device, or any
person on the device, to enter the water safety zone.
Exception: A watercraft may enter or
leave the water safety zone, as directly as possible, to pick up or
drop off water skiers, surfboarders or persons on similar devices. In
doing so, it is the watercraft operator’s responsibility not to
endanger any person or property.
B. Watercraft towing a person or
persons on water skis, surfboard or other similar devices must have a
person in the watercraft who is at least 12 years of age, in addition
to the operator, who is in a position to continually observe the person
or persons being towed.* This does not apply to
devices actually operated by the person being towed and incapable of
carrying the operator in or on the devices.
C. No person shall operate any
watercraft for the purpose of towing a person or persons on water-skis,
surfboards, or similar devices nor shall any person water-ski,
surfboard or use similar devices on any waters of this State between
the hours of 1/2 hour after sunset until 1/2 hour before sunrise.
D. Any person being towed on water
skis, surfboards, or similar devices must wear a life jacket, life
belt, or similar life saving device. The operator of a watercraft shall
not tow a person or persons on water skis, a surfboard or similar
device, unless the person being towed has complied with this
requirement.
Navigational Requirements
2. It is illegal
to operate a watercraft to molest wild animals or wild birds so as to
pursue, molest, harass, drive or herd any wild animal or wild birds
Personal Watercraft (PWC) Requirements
- Any person under 16 years of age may not operate a
personal watercraft which includes jet-skis.
- A person between 16 & 18 years of age may operate
a personal watecraft if they have successfully completed an approved
education course, or if they are accompanied by a person 18 years of
age or older. Proof of age and course completion must be possessed
while operating a personal watercraft.
- Anyone operating or riding on a personal watercraft
must wear a Type I, II or III PFD.
- The parent or guardian of a minor under 18 years of
age is responsible for the minor’s actions while operating a personal
watercraft.
- Personal watercraft may not be operated during the
hours between sunset and sunrise.
Lake and River Protection Stickers
Fees
The fee for a sticker is $20 for a motorboat or
personal watercraft not registered in the State of Maine and $10 for a
motorboat or personal watercraft registered in the State of Maine. For
residents, this sticker is part of the registration sticker. For
nonresidents there is a separate lake and River Protection Sticker,
which must be permanently affixed to each side of the bow of the
watercraft above the waterline and approximately 3 inches to the right
of the registration number. These stickers are nontransferable. See display
of stickers.
Use of Fees
All fees collected from the sale of stickers are
credited as follows:
- 60% of the revenues are credited to the Invasive
Aquatic Plant and Nuisance Species Fund established in the Department
of Environmental Protection.
- 40% of the revenues are credited to the Lake and
River Protection Fund*, established in the Department of Inland
Fisheries and Wildlife.
* The Lake and River Protection Fund is funded from fees
collected for lake and river protection stickers and from other funds
accepted by the commissioner or allocated by the Legislature. Money in
this fund may be used for enforcing laws pertaining to invasive aquatic
plants, inspecting watercraft for invasive plants prevention,
eradication and management activities and the production and
distribution of stickers. These stickers may be purchased from any
agent authorized to register watercraft or issue licenses. A new Lake
and River Protection Sticker must be purchased every year and may be
purchased from our Online Store.
To report boating
violations, call 207-xxx-xxxx
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