Navigation light requirements for PA

[PaFrogThrower9]

Just wondering if anybody knows what the lighting requirement for PA is for a 14' jonboat. It's kinda unclear to me. Not sure if I need the red and green with the white in the back or just the white. I only go on electric only lakes so my boat only has trolling motors. Thanks.

[Choporoz]

What do the regs say?  Pls post a link to current.

[12poundbass]

I would guess it would be the same nation wide. Just a guess though.

[A-Jay]

A trolling motor is considered power so your vessel falls under the 'power boat' regs

 

 • All vessels must show required running lights between sunset and sunrise and during periods of restricted visibility. Check the Pennsylvania Boating Handbook for details. • All boats must display anchor lights when they are anchored on any boatable Commonwealth waters (except in special anchorage areas). • Unpowered boats must display a white light either handheld or installed in time to avoid a collision.

 

http://www.fishandboat.com/Boat/BoatingRegulations/Documents/boatrecap.pdf

 

Also I found this interesting and a really good reg. 

 

MANDATORY COLD WEATHER LIFE JACKET WEAR • From November 1 through April 30, boaters are required by law to wear life jackets on boats less than 16 feet in length or any canoe or kayak. This regulation went into effect in 2012 and is intended to protect boaters from the dangers of cold water shock if they fall into the water. Recreational boating fatalities that occur in Pennsylvania from November through April are primarily due to the effects of cold water immersion. When water temperatures are less than 70 degrees F, cold water shock is a major factor in boating fatalities. Victims who wear a life jacket when exposed to cold water have potentially life-saving advantages such as insulation from the cold, buoyancy for victims who are unable to tread water and reduced risk of aspiration of water. In an effort to reduce the number of fatalities related to cold water immersion, the Commission has amended regulations to require life jackets to be worn on small and unstable boats during the period most noted for cold water temperatures. 

 

A-Jay

[Choporoz]

I hope I don't come off as an ahole, but, threads like this drive me nuts.  When it comes to safety laws and fishing regs, I don't think that interweb forum advice and 'guessing' are good approaches.   Posting cut and paste or links of regs and asking for interpretation of current laws might be fine....but please don't make legal and safety decisions based on what I may tell you on BR.

[A-Jay]

21 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I hope I don't come off as an ahole, but, threads like this drive me nuts.  When it comes to safety laws and fishing regs, I don't think that interweb forum advice and 'guessing' are good approaches.   Posting cut and paste or links of regs and asking for interpretation of current laws might be fine....but please don't make legal and safety decisions based on what I may tell you on BR.

A-Jay

[Choporoz]

I'm a crotchety old fart....don't know my meme's.....either it means I shouldn't post until I've had my coffee.....or....you're generously offering me a heaping cup of shut the front door.....either way....get off my lawn!

[A-Jay]

4 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I'm a crotchety old fart....don't know my meme's.....either it means I shouldn't post until I've had my coffee.....or....you're generously offering me a heaping cup of shut the front door.....either way....get off my lawn!

 

I think your point's well taken.  

And considering the wide range of subjects forum member ask advice on, this one might not be that much of a surprise.

There's so much information available now when it comes to state & federal boating regs, it's almost too easy.

Applying them to ones particular deal is where the focus probably needs to be.

Either way,  the pic was simply a friendly good morning.

A-Jay

[PaFrogThrower9]

You guys crack me up....lol. 

I had a sneaky suspicion that I fell under the powered classification but I wasn't 100% sure. Thanks everyone.

[Choporoz]

well then.....:)   good morning to you fine gents, as well

[Lures'n'Liberty]

All vessels must show required running lights between sunset and sunrise and during periods of restricted visibility. Check the Pennsylvania Boating Handbook for details. • All boats must display anchor lights when they are anchored on any boatable Commonwealth waters (except in special anchorage areas). •Unpowered boats must display a white light either handheld or installed in time to avoid a collision.

 

Yes you are a powered vessel under 65.6 feet

 

No you are not required to have a boating education safety certificate, as you are under 25 HP

 

Yes you must carry PFD's and a sound producing device that has some means of making an efficient sound signal audible for 1/2 mile. 

 

Yes you are required to wear a life jacket From November 1 through April 30, as your vessel is under 16 feet. 

 

Yes, you must have a flare gun if you operate on Lake Erie, No, you don't need to bring it anywhere else.

 

No, you do not need to carry a fire extinguisher

 

http://www.fishandboat.com/Boat/BoatingRegulations/Documents/boatrecap.pdf

 

Yes, you can duct tape a flashlight to a stick and duct tape a clear plastic cup to the light and be legal.

 

Yes, even if unpowered, you must display the clear rear mounted 360 degree light any time you drop anchor. 

 

Hope that answers your questions.

 

[jon17948]

On 7/21/2017 at 2:53 PM, Lures'n'Liberty said:

 

No you are not required to have a boating education safety certificate, as you are under 25 HP

 

 

 

I dont believe this to be entirely true. I believe all PWC and powered boats require a boaters safety certificate if you were born after a certain year. I think the year was in the late 80s.  I'll reply back with the exact line of code when i pull up my regs in a bit