Boating Laws in WA

[johnbenj]

Hello all,

Is it legal to allow a passenger to ride on the bow of a c-dory while underway such as when moving slowly in a marina or through a harbor area?

Thanks in advance,
John

 

[dotnmarty]

I can't cite the exact WA law, but a quick search brought this quote;

"Allowing a passenger to ride on the gunwale, bow, transom or in any other position obviously dangerous while underway may be considered negligent operation if the boat does not have adequate railings."

Subsequent discussion left the impression that the interpretation of "position obviously dangerous" and "adequate railings" is at the discretion of the law enforcement officers.

 

[thataway]

Not a good idea--a few years back a young boy was riding with his feet over the bow of a 40 foot commercial charter boat on the ICW--just before the boat was to dock, in a no wake zone. There was a minimal wake, and the boy lost his grip on the bow rail--fell under the boat, and was chopped up by the props.

Washington specifically:

Negligent Operation is operating a vessel in disregard of careful and prudent
operation, or in disregard of careful and prudent rates of speed in a manner that unduly or unreasonably endangers the life, limb, property, or other rights of any person. This includes:
• Not paying attention to the operation of the vessel
• Failing to keep a proper lookout
• Failing to follow the navigation rules
• Causing danger from the effects of the vessel’s wake (see sidebar)
• Allowing passengers to ride on the bow, gunwales, or transom of a vessel not
equipped with adequate railings to prevent falls overboard

 

[johnbenj]

Thank you for those responses dotnmarty and thataway. Question asked and answered.

 

[DuckDogTitus]

I'm glad you brought the discussion up though.. it always makes me cringe when I see people doing this. particularly at planing speed.