§ 35.15. Minimum Safety and Lighting Standards.

(1)

Generally. All boats shall carry the safety equipment required by Florida Statutes § 327.50. Each child under the age of six (6) years who is a passenger in a boat shall wear a Coast Guard approved lifesaving device at all times. Each person being towed by a boat shall wear a Coast Guard approved Type I, II, or III lifesaving device suitable for such use. However, waterskiers participating in a sanctioned waterski tournament are exempt from this provision. Also exempt from this provision are persons who ski barefooted (i.e., without the use of skis). Persons skiing barefooted may wear specially designed flotation wetsuits in lieu of Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices. Any person opting to use a flotation wetsuit instead of a flotation device approved by the Coast Guard does so at his own risk, and the City shall not be liable for any damages or injuries resulting therefrom.

(2)

Class A Motorboats. All Class A motorboats (those motorboats less than sixteen (16) feet in length) shall have the following safety and lighting equipment:

(a)

Safety Equipment.

1.

One (1) wearable lifesaving device in good and serviceable condition approved by the Coast Guard for each person aboard. Each person being towed by a motorboat shall wear a Coast Guard approved Type I, II, or III lifesaving device suitable for such use, except for those persons specifically exempted in subsection (1) above.

2.

One (1) oar or paddle. Personal watercraft are exempt from this provision.

3.

One (1) anchor and line of appropriate size and length. Personal watercraft are exempt from this provision.

4.

One (1) Coast Guard approved or Underwriters' Laboratory "Marine Type," Class B, Size I fire extinguisher. This is not required on boats propelled by outboard motor and not carrying passengers for hire, if the motorboat is of open construction.

(b)

Lighting Requirements. Between sunset and sunrise, the following lights shall be required:

1.

One (1) white light aft, such light not to be obstructed by any part of the vessel so as to be visible in all directions.

2.

One (1) combination red and green light on fore part of boat showing green to starboard (right) and red to port (left), so fixed as to show the light from dead ahead to ten (10) points off the beam on their respective sides.

3.

Any boat may carry and exhibit the lights required by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea in lieu of the lights prescribed in this section.

(3)

Class I Motorboats. All Class I motorboats (motorboats sixteen (16) feet or greater in length) shall have the following safety and lighting equipment:

(a)

Safety Equipment.

1.

One (1) wearable lifesaving device in good serviceable condition approved by the Coast Guard for each person on board and one (1) Coast Guard approved throwable flotation device in each boat. Each person being towed by a motorboat shall wear a Coast Guard approved Type I, II, or III lifesaving device suitable for such use. However, waterskiers participating in a sanctioned waterski tournament are exempt from this provision, as are waterskiers engaged in barefooting as described in 35.15(1) above.

2.

One (1) Coast Guard approved or Underwriters' Laboratory "Marine Type," Class B, Size I fire extinguisher. This is not required on boats propelled by an outboard motor and not carrying passengers for hire, if the motorboat is of open construction.

3.

One (1) anchor and line of appropriate size and length.

4.

One (1) hand- or power-operated whistle or horn capable of producing a blast of two-second duration and audible for a distance of one-half mile.

(b)

Lighting requirements. Between sunset and sunrise, the following lights shall be required:

1.

One (1) white light aft, such light not to be obstructed by any part of the vessel so as to be visible in all directions.

2.

One (1) combination red and green light on fore part of boat showing green to starboard (right) and red to port (left), so fixed as to show the light from dead ahead to ten (10) points off the beam on their respective sides.

3.

Any motorboat may carry and exhibit lights required by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea in lieu of the lights prescribed in this section.

(4)

All Boats—Night Light. Between sunset and sunrise every boat or motorboat shall carry a lighting device capable of shining a white light around the horizon (three hundred sixty (360) degrees) and shall display such light in sufficient time as to avoid a collision with another vessel.

(5)

All Boats—Lifesaving Devices. Every boat or motorboat shall be equipped with at least one (1) Coast Guard approved wearable lifesaving device for every occupant.

(Ord. of 11-16-1992, Doc. #26143; Ord. of 10-9-1995, Doc. #28846)