America

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Americas Boating Course3rd Edition
gtgt
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Continuing Education DO IT

• Keep up-to-date with New Boating Laws
• Stay Abreast of Evolving Safety Equipment
• Frequently Visit Alabamas Boating Web-sites
• www.outdooralabama.com/boating-rules-and-reg
  ulations
• www.outdooralabama.com/boating-equipment-checkl
  ist
• www.alea.gov
• Subscribe to Outdoor Alabama

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STATE REGISTRATION

• Alabama Boat Registration Certificate -
  certificate of number
• Number placed forward / Port Starboard
• Certificate On-board When Boating
• Renewable Annually Shown by Validation Decal
  placed w/in 6 inches of number
• Off shore - Federal Rules Apply

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FEDERAL DOCUMENTATION

• Federal Procedure / Documented with USCG
• Permanently Affixed Number
• 5 Tons / Most Longer Than 25 Feet
• Must Comply with State and Federal
• Pay State Registration Fee / Display
  validation decal
• Display Name and Hailing Port

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Hull Identification Number(HIN)

• All boats have a 12 character HIN (built after
  1972)
• First three characters identify manufacturer
• Next five characters are the hull serial number
• Next character is month of manufacture
• Last two numbers are the year of manufacture
  (Model Year)
• HIN for home-made boat is assigned by AL Marine
  Police

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OPERATIONS IN CONTIGUOUS STATES

• Reciprocal Agreements
• Know and Comply with Neighbors Rules
• Know Child Life Jacket Must-wear Age
• Fed-under 13 / Al-under 8 / Fl-under 6
• Know Visual Distress Signal Minimums

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Boating Equipment

• Life Jackets Are Required
• Life Jackets for All USCG Approved for type of
  boating, proper size (or for child weight size)
  and serviceable
• Life Jacket label must be legible
• Inflatable lifejackets must be worn others worn
  or ready
• On Children Under 8 Years Wear (Unless Inside)
• PWC All Operator, Passenger, Being Towed impact
  rated
• Boat 16 feet plus additionally have throwable
  flotation aid
• All Being Towed Tubing, Skiing, Knee boarding -
  wear
• All MUST Wear When Within 800 Feet of Lock or Dam

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Additional Equipment to Federal Minimum

• Trash bag no trash overboard
• All around white masthead light at least 3.28
  feet above side lights
• Human powered boats less than 23 feet with
  hand-held light or lantern
• Engine turn-off switch with lanyard attached to
  operator on open boat less that 24 feet with more
  that 50 HP engine
• Gasoline-kerosene-oil-stove alcohol fire
  extinguishers required
• PWC-if towing must have hull-mounted rear view
  mirrors (10 sq. in. each side)
• Visual Distress Signals (VDS)

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Marine Environment and Noise

• RESPONSIBLE BOATING INCLUDES PROTECTING THE
  ENVIRONMENT
• NO Littering! Take trash home
• Human waste discharge to designated pump-out
  stations
• The International MARPOL Decal zones
• Waste Management Briefing and Plans
• Placards required as reminder on boats 26 feet
  and larger

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AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES

• Section 7 in your ABC3 Student Manual pg. 91-92
• Section 8 in your ABC3 Student Manual pg. 96-98
• Alabama Waters include
• Red Lionfish
• Zebra Muscles
• Asian Carp
• Tiger Prawn
• Report location, type of structure, depth,
  numbers and date
• to 251-861-2882 (AL. Marine Resources Division)

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POLLUTION PREVENTION

• Clean boat at ramp before leaving area of boating
  
• SpillsPre-boating briefings
• Fueling procedures
• Pump-out stationslocation and use
• Engine exhaust mufflers required

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Age and EducationRequirements

• BOAT OPERATORS
• Age 12-13 with an adult 21 yo with V
  endorsement
• 14 to operate a power boat independently
• Boating Safety Education REQUIRED
• Minimal training for rental boats
• Operator license V on drivers license
• NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 12 MAY OPERATE A
  MOTORIZED VESSEL ON ALABAMAS WATERS!

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Safe Boat Operation

• DEFINITIONS
• Enforcement by Alabama Marine Police/Sheriff/State
  Parks/City
• Reckless Operation
• Careless Operation
• Homicide by vessel
• Accident Reports w/in 10 days for loss of life
  / injury / damage exceeding 2000.00

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REGULATORY AND ADVISORY MARKS

• White buoys and boards with ORANGE geometric
  markings
• Prevent damage and personnel injury
• Mark pump-out stations

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• Regulatory Marks

Exclusion Mark
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BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (BUI)

• REAL PROBLEM!
• BUI level 0.08 as measured by breathalyzer
  w/AL State Troopers
• Penalties as with DUI

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ACCIDENT REPORTING

• Report within 10 days
• loss of life
• injury
• over 2000 damage
• To Alabama Marine Police, County Sheriff,
• local State Trooper post or dial 911

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ACCIDENT REPORT FORM
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Speed and Hours of Operation
Alabama sunrise to sunset for water-jet
boats Florida ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour
after sunset for water-jet boats. Alabama and
Florida NO WAKE means slowest speed at which it
is still possible to maintain steerage. Florida
speed zones include specific geographic areas
for the safety of swimmers and manatees.
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Other Laws and SafetyInformation

• ALABAMA ACT 2006-398
• Applies to Lake Harris, Lake Martin, and Weiss
  Lake only
• Bans 26-ft 11-in boats capable of speeds over 60
  mph
• Bans houseboats residential and recreational
• Bans recreational boats more that 30-ft 6-in

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PWC

• Alabama has specific rules for Personal
  Watercraft
• Impact rated life jackets
• Engine shut-off lanyard connected to switch
• No-one under the age of 12 may operate
• Safe operation practices
• Towing procedures
• Obey USCG Rules and Regulations

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SPORT DIVERS

• Divers Flag A rectangular red flag with a white
  diagonal stripe attached to a vessel, float or
  buoy. Stay away 100 feet.

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End Section 8 Alabama State LocalRegulations
END