USCG Boating Safety
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LAWS AND REGULATIONS

Federal Law/United States Code

The United States Code contains a consolidation and codification of the general and permanent laws of the United States, arranged by subject matter under 50 title headings. It reflects the current status of the laws as amended, without repeating the full language of amendatory acts except where necessary. The U.S. Code is declared to be prima facie evidence of those laws. Its purpose is to present the laws in a concise and usable form without requiring recourse to the many volumes of the Statutes at Large.

United States Code

Subtitle II: Vessels and Seamen (Title 46)

Subtitle II is a codification of many maritime safety and seamen protection laws administered by the Coast Guard. Portions pertinent to Recreational Boating Safety include the following.

Part A: General Provisions

  • Chapter 21: General
  • Chapter 23: Operation of Vessels Generally

Part B: Inspection and Regulation of Vessels

  • Chapter 41: Uninspected Vessels Generally
  • Chapter 43: Recreational Vessels

Reference: Title 46, Subtitle II, Part B, Chapter 41

Part D: Marine Casualties

  • Chapter 61: Reporting Marine Casualties
  • Chapter 63: Investigating Marine Casualties

Part H: Identification of Vessels

  • Chapter 121: Documentation of Vessels
  • Chapter 123: Numbering Undocumented Vessels
  • Chapter 125: Vessel Identification System

Part I: State Boating Safety Programs

  • Chapter 131: Recreational Boating Safety

Part J: Measurement of Vessels

  • Chapter 141: General
  • Chapter 143: Convention Measurement
  • Chapter 145: Regulatory Measurement
  • Chapter 147: Penalties

State Guidance

HIN Validation Guidance

Guidance to the States on validating and verifying HINs

RBS Newsletter

Archived copies of the RBS newsletter

What is an equivalent electronic Visual Distress Signal Device

Information on identifying and understanding an eVDSD

 

 

State Boating Laws

Want to know more about your state’s boating laws or how they compare with boating laws in other states? The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) provides information to promote greater uniformity in state boating laws and to support the enforcement and administration of those laws.

NASBLA has developed Boating Safety Dashboards that allow users to review and compare state boating laws, policies, and safety data.

View State Law Dashboards

State Boating Contacts

Code of Federal Regulations

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) codifies the general and permanent rules of Executive departments and agencies that are published in the Federal Register. The Federal Register consists of two publications: the annually revised CFR and the daily Federal Register (FR).

The CFR is divided into 50 titles representing broad areas of federal regulation. Each title is organized into chapters, subchapters, and parts covering specific regulatory areas. The Federal Register serves as the daily supplement, providing official notice of new rules, proposed regulations, executive orders, public meetings, and opportunities for public comment.

Electronic CFR (eCFR)

Federal Register

Pertinent CFR and USC provisions related to Recreational Boating Safety

Coast Guard – Primary Duties 14 USC 102
Recreational Vessels 46 USC 43
Penalties for Negligent Operation and Interfering with Safe Operation 46 USC 2302
Numbering Undocumented Vessels 46 USC 123
Recreational Boating Safety 46 USC 131
Yacht Privileges and Obligations 19 CFR 4.94
Operating a Vessel While Under the Influence of Alcohol or a Dangerous Drug 33 CFR 95
Regulated Navigation Areas 33 CFR 165
Protection of Naval Vessels (Security Zones) 33 CFR 165.2010
Vessel Numbering and Casualty and Accident Reporting 33 CFR 173
State Numbering and Casualty Reporting Systems 33 CFR 174
Carriage and Use of Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) 33 CFR 175.15
Carriage and Use of Visual Distress Signals (VDS) 33 CFR 175.101
Correction of Especially Hazardous Conditions 33 CFR 177
Manufacturer Certification 33 CFR 181.5–19
Identification of Boats 33 CFR 181.21
Boats and Associated Equipment 33 CFR 183
Display of Capacity Information 33 CFR 183.21–27
Safe Loading 33 CFR 183.31–43
Safe Powering 33 CFR 183.51–53
Flotation Requirements for Boats 33 CFR 183.101–335
Electrical Systems 33 CFR 183.401–460
Fuel Systems 33 CFR 183.501–590
Ventilation 33 CFR 183.601–630
Start-in-Gear Protection 33 CFR 183.701–715
Navigation Lights 33 CFR 183.801–810
Vessel Identification System 33 CFR 187
Reporting Undocumented Vessel Accidents and Casualties 46 CFR 4.05
Carriage of Fire Extinguishing Equipment 46 CFR 25
Backfire Flame Control 46 CFR 25.35