Ifyourboatwillbeoperatedbyaminor,remembertohaveanadultpresent
atalltimes.Manystateshavelawsregardingminimumageandlicensing
requirementsforminors.
Somestatesrequireboattrainingcourses,certication,orlicensingfor
minorsand/oradults.Contactstateandlocalauthoritiesforrequirementsthat
applyinyourarea.
safety and
required equipment
Yourboatandequipmentmustbeincompliancewithfederal,stateandlocalsafety
equipmentregulations.USCGregulationsrequirecertainsafetyequipmentbepresentonyour
boatduringoperation.Foradetaileddescription,obtain“FederalRequirementsforRecreational
Boats”publishedbytheU.S.CoastGuardandavailableonlineat:
http://www.uscgboating.org/images/420.PDF
InadditiontotheUSCGregulations,otherlocaland/orinternationallawenforcement
agenciesmayhavesimilarrequirements.Youshouldcheckwithyourlocalmarinelaw
enforcementagencyregardinganysuchrequirementsbeforeboating.
Equipmentrequirementsforcoastalandinlandwatersdier.Checkwithlocalauthorities
and/ortheUSCGforfurtherinformationaboutcoastalwaterrequirements.
TheFederalBoatSafetyActof1971(FBSA/71)andtheNationalRecreationBoatingSafety
Programhaveestablishedminimumsafetystandardsforboatsandassociatedequipment,
speciedbytheUSCG.Inaddition,theAmericanBoatandYachtCouncil(ABYC)andtheNational
MarineManufacturersAssociation(NMMA)workwithboatbuilderstodevelopvoluntary
standardsthatexceedtheUSCGrequirements.Theincludedsafetyequipmentonyourboat
meetsorexceedsthestandardsoftheUSCG,ABYCandtheNMMA.
Somerequiredsafetyequipment,suchaslifejackets(PFDs),arenotincludedwithyourboat.
Yourdealercanhelpyouchoosetheappropriateequipment.
Many states’ equipment requirements go beyond USCG requirements.
Contact your state boating oce for further information.
NA
Axis
Owners
Manual
2019
Page 11
operation
by
minors
and
licensing