Boating Regulations

[assists21]

Lifejacket - Check
Fishing License - Check

WHAT ELSE?

Any new regulations that I may be missing for the 2014 season? What will DNR ask for on the water to be compliant on a kayak?

[mweber02]

I think a whistle is required as well.

[echo5oscar]

It is required. Also a white light, visible 360 degrees if you plan to fish at night.

[Buzzy.i.am]

All the regs are in this checklist, note the footnotes for non motorized vessels.
http://dnr.maryland.gov/boating/pdfs/md_req_equip.pdf

[assists21]

Boaters safety education certificate required for kayak?

[Runnin]

What jurisdiction? Rules vary. DC require boat education certificate for paddle craft. I don't know that they ever check, but is in the rules last time I checked. Maryland does not require certificate for paddle craft.

[MetroMan]

In Maryland, if your kayak is motorized

In Maryland, the law states that anyone born on or after July 1, 1972, must possess a certificate of boating safety education in order to operate any motorized vessel.

[plastic boat]

Required equip: per DNR 2014 web page for manual propelled craft. Aka a kayak

here is the page : http://dnr.maryland.gov/boating/pdfs...ionvessels.pdf

I was stopped and checked on the Chester River last fall just outside Kent Narrows.
this is what I was checked for.

Life jacket
Sound producing device aka a whistle
Flares if the body of water is over 2 miles wide. also checked the date on them
hand held light

Luckily I had stopped that morning at the Wal-mart in Middletown DE and picked up new flares for my power boat and tossed them into my milk crate on the way to kayak fish Kent Narrows. I did check about the flares when I got home. I didn't know I needed them, now I carry them all the time. Flares don't like to get wet so mine are sealed in a food saver bag.


Copied from MD Dnr's site listed above

Life jackets are required on non-motorized
vessels including canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards and any other device
capable of being used as a means of transporation on the water or ice.

Visual Distress Signals
All vessels in Maryland waters that are greater than 2 miles wide must be equipped
with U.S. Coast Guard Approved visual distress signals. Vessels owned in the United
States and operating on the high seas must be equipped with U.S. Coast Guard Approved
visual distress signals.
The following are not required to carry day signals but must carry night signals when
operating from sunset to sunrise:
1. Recreational boats less than 16 feet in length.
2. Boats participating in organized events such as races, regattas, or marine parades.
3. Open sailboats less than 26 feet in length not equipped with propulsion machinery.
4. Manually propelled boats

Sound Producing Devices
The navigation rules require sound signals to be made under certain circumstances.
Meeting, crossing, and overtaking situations described in the Navigation Rules section
are examples of when sound signals are required. Vessels 12 meters or more in length are
required to carry on board a whistle or horn, and a bell. Any vessel less than 12 meters
in length (including Personal Watercraft) must carry a whistle or horn, or some means
to make an efficient sound to signal your intentions and to signal your position during
periods of reduced visibility.

Navigation Lights
Vessels under oars may display the lights prescribed for sailing vessels, but if not, one
must have an electric torch ready at hand, or lighted lantern showing a white light to be
displayed in sufficient time to prevent collision.

[Cowpokey]

Visual Distress Signals
All vessels in Maryland waters that are greater than 2 miles wide must be equipped
with U.S. Coast Guard Approved visual distress signals. Vessels owned in the United
States and operating on the high seas must be equipped with U.S. Coast Guard Approved
visual distress signals.
The following are not required to carry day signals but must carry night signals when
operating from sunset to sunrise:
1. Recreational boats less than 16 feet in length.
2. Boats participating in organized events such as races, regattas, or marine parades.
3. Open sailboats less than 26 feet in length not equipped with propulsion machinery.
4. Manually propelled boats

By my interpretation, visual signal is not required on a kayak during daylight hours.

[buzz]

Luckily I had stopped that morning at the Wal-mart in Middletown DE and picked up new flares for my power boat and tossed them into my milk crate on the way to kayak fish Kent Narrows. I did check about the flares when I got home. I didn't know I needed them, now I carry them all the time. Flares don't like to get wet so mine are sealed in a food saver bag.

In Maryland...

If your kayak is over 16 feet long AND you use a motor AND you're on water more than 2 miles wide THEN you need a visual distress signal device.

Otherwise... Flares and other Visual Distress Signals are NOT required.

[plastic boat]

By my interpretation, visual signal is not required on a kayak during daylight hours.

Thankfully I didn't get a ticket and you are right
when I was stopped it's wasn't dark yet but was just after the official sunset time .
We all launch early in the mornings before official sunrise too.
just something to think about

And flares are not that expensive, and worth it when the fishing is great and we stay after dark

[Cowpokey]

Thankfully I didn't get a ticket and you are right
when I was stopped it's wasn't dark yet but was just after the official sunset time .
We all launch early in the mornings before official sunrise too.
just something to know about

And flares are not that expensive, and worth it when the fishing is great and we stay after dark

Yeah, I'm going to get some...even though I don't plan on being on the water between sunset and sunrise.

[plastic boat]

In Maryland...

If your kayak is over 16 feet long AND you use a motor AND you're on water more than 2 miles wide THEN you need a visual distress signal device.

Otherwise... Flares and other Visual Distress Signals are NOT required.

Here is my take on this after being stopped by MD DNR and checked

after official sunset until official sunrise time as posted on DNR's web site for the location you are at, That every boat in Maryland waters needs a night time visual distress signal

Visual Distress Signals
All vessels in Maryland waters that are greater than 2 miles wide must be equipped
with U.S. Coast Guard Approved visual distress signals. Vessels owned in the United
States and operating on the high seas must be equipped with U.S. Coast Guard Approved
visual distress signals.
The following are not required to carry day signals but must carry night signals when operating from sunset to sunrise
1. Recreational boats less than 16 feet in length.
2. Boats participating in organized events such as races, regattas, or marine parades.
3. Open sailboats less than 26 feet in length not equipped with propulsion machinery.
4. Manually propelled boats

3 flares was what the DNR officer asked to see after he had already had seen my flashlight.
After the safety check he told me have a nice night.
He also reminded me that if I was to keep my limit of stripers I had to be off the water by midnight.

What Another Rule -- can't possess striped bass between midnight and 5am on the water. Had to look that up too. It took forever to find that one

From DNR's web site again

Striped Bass
It is Illegal:
•To possess any cut up or filleted Striped Bass at any time aboard any boat on the tidal waters of Maryland. Striped Bass must be landed whole.
•To use more than 2 hooks or 2 sets of hooks for each rod or line. Artificial lures or plugs with multiple hooks are considered 1 set of hooks.
•To use eels as bait while fishing for Striped Bass with hook and line from Dec. 16 through May 15, inclusive, in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries.
•To cull Striped Bass.
•To possess Striped Bass while fishing in the Chesapeake Bay or its tidal tributaries from 12 a.m. to 5 a.m.
•To use a gaff to land Striped Bass.
•To take or shoot Striped Bass with a spear gun and spear in the tidal waters of the state.
•To fish for Striped Bass by any means or practice catch-and-release of Striped Bass in designated spawning areas from March 1 through May 31.
•To intentionally snag a Striped Bass.

I now know why there are so many officers around Kent Island.
There is a DNR office at the narrows at the old ramp and another office at the Matapeake ramp

But the Striper fishing is so good after dark under the lights on the Kent Narrows bridge and right there the ramp, just get out of casting range of the shore bound anglers

[reel-em-in]

And for clarification for boats <16' a night signal is defined as ..."One electric distress light or three combination (day/night) red flares." per http://www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/p..._req_equip.pdf

[plastic boat]

And for clarification for boats <16' a night signal is defined as ..."One electric distress light or three combination (day/night) red flares." per http://www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/p..._req_equip.pdf

Right

Here is what I found on visual distress lights

Electric Distress Light for Boats
The electric distress light is accepted for night use only and must automatically flash the international SOS distress signal, which is three short flashes, three long flashes, and three short flashes. Flashed four to six times each minute, this is an unmistakable distress signal, well known to most boaters. The device can be checked any time for serviceability if shielded from view.

NOTE: An ordinary flashlight is not acceptable since it must be manually flashed and does not normally produce enough candle power.

I carried a electric distress signal a few years ago. Every time I checked it the batteries were dead. Seamed like they lasted 1 trip. that was before LEDS. but the only time it was on was when I checked it.