In most states, the boat owner is legally responsible for damages or injuries he or she
causes, even if someone else is operating the boat at the time of the accident.
Common sense dictates that you carry adequate personal liability and property
damage insurance, just as you would on an automobile. You should also protect your
investment by insuring the boat against physical damage or theft.
After an accident, the operator of the boat is responsible for filing a report with the
appropriate authorities. Reports are generally necessary for accidents involving loss of
life, injury, or in some cases when the damage amount exceeds a specific limit. Ask
your insurance agent for more information. If you are involved in an accident, check
with your local authorities for reporting requirements.
If you see a distress signal, you must assume it is a real emergency and render
assistance immediately. The person in charge of a boat is obligated by law to provide
assistance to any individual in danger at sea. However, you should not put your crew
or passengers in a dangerous situation which exceeds your capabilities or those of
your boat. In the United States the 1971 Boating Safety Act grants protection to a
“Good Samaritan” boater offering good faith assistance, and absolves a boater from
any civil liability arising from assistance given.
Regulations prohibit the discharge of oil or oily waste into or upon navigable waters,
if such discharge causes a film or sheen upon, or a discoloration of, the surface of the
water or causes sludge or an emulsion beneath the surface of the water. Violators are
subject to a monetary penalities as allowed by law.
Plastic refuse dumped in the water can kill fish and marine wildlife and can foul boat
propellers and cooling water intakes. Other forms of waterborne garbage can litter our
beaches and make people sick. Regulations prohibit the dumping of plastic refuse or
other garbage mixed with plastic into the water anywhere, and restrict the dumping of
other forms of garbage within specified distances from shore.
Some or all of the hazard communication labels shown on the following pages can be
found in various locations on your boat or trailer. (Labels are not necessarily to size or
scale.) The appropriate labels are determined by the standard and optional equipment
actually installed upon delivery. Check with your dealer to find out what labels your
boat or trailer should have. If any label is missing, ask your dealer for a replacement.
Lund-01.indd 6 7/9/10 1:44 PM
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