Chapter 11.16
OPERATION OF WATERCRAFT
Sections:
11.16.020 Interference with navigation or disturbing other boats.
11.16.030 Incapacity of operator.
11.16.070 Yielding right-of-way to authorized emergency vessels.
11.16.100 Creating a wake prohibited.
11.16.010 Speed regulations.
A. It is unlawful for any person to operate any watercraft or vessel at a speed in excess of eight miles per hour within 100 yards of any pier, dock, shoreline, bridge or shore installation, except as provided in YPMC 11.12.030.
B. The operation of a vessel with a designed planing hull while being operated on a plane shall be prima facie evidence of speed in excess of eight miles per hour. (Ord. 507 § 1, 2001)
11.16.020 Interference with navigation or disturbing other boats.
A. No person shall operate any watercraft or vessel in a manner which shall unreasonably or unnecessarily interfere with other watercraft or vessels or with the free and proper navigation of the harbor of the town. Anchoring or mooring under bridges or in heavily traveled channels constitutes such interference.
B. No person shall operate any watercraft in such a manner as to unjustifiably or unnecessarily annoy, frighten or endanger the occupants of any other watercraft, or throw up a wake when approaching another watercraft or other property in or adjacent to the harbor. (Ord. 507 § 1, 2001)
11.16.030 Incapacity of operator.
It is unlawful for the owner or person in charge of a watercraft or vessel to authorize or knowingly permit the same to be operated by any person who is physically or mentally incapable of operating the vessel or watercraft under the prevailing circumstances. (Ord. 507 § 1, 2001)
11.16.040 Overloading.
No watercraft shall be loaded with passengers or cargo beyond its safe carrying capacity, nor carry passengers in an unsafe manner, including but not limited to bow riding, taking into consideration weather and other existing operating conditions. (Ord. 507 § 1, 2001)
11.16.050 Rules of the road.
Except as otherwise specified in this title, vessels or watercraft shall be subject to the “Navigation Rules, International-Inland, CG-169, May 1, 1977”, promulgated by the United States Coast Guard, pursuant to act of Congress, as such rules are now or may hereafter be amended or adopted; and provided further, that sailing vessels or other watercraft, while engaged in a sanctioned or authorized race, predicted log race, regatta, or similar event, shall be subject to the applicable rules for such event including, but not limited to, differing right-of-way rules. (Ord. 507 § 1, 2001)
11.16.060 Propellers.
No master, owner or other person in charge of any vessels or watercraft shall, while the same is lying in any slip or at any pier, either cause or allow the propeller, wheel, jet or other means of propulsion of such vessel or watercraft to be worked in such a manner as to endanger any person, vessel, watercraft or structure. (Ord. 507 § 1, 2001)
11.16.070 Yielding right-of-way to authorized emergency vessels.
It shall be the duty of the master, owner or operator of a vessel or watercraft to reduce speed and if necessary stop his vessel or watercraft, at the same time yielding right-of-way as otherwise specified in this title, upon the approach of an authorized emergency vessel or watercraft displaying an emergency light and/or sounding a siren and while actually responding to an emergency or in immediate pursuit of any violator of the law. (Ord. 507 § 1, 2001)
11.16.080 Racing.
Nothing in the provisions of this title shall be construed to mean that the operator of a vessel or watercraft competing in a race or regatta or trials therefor, which has been duly authorized by an appropriate governmental agency or authority, or an operator engaged in industrial development and testing of experimental and production watercraft and vessels, shall be prohibited from attempting to attain high speeds on a duly designated and indicated racing or testing courses. (Ord. 507 § 1, 2001)
11.16.090 Aircraft.
A. All vessels or watercraft shall keep clear of seaplanes landing within any area now or hereafter set aside by law for such purpose.
B. All seaplanes must comply with the civil air regulations (14 CFR CFR) as now enacted or hereafter amended which govern seaplanes upon the navigable water of the United States and conform with the inland rules of CG-169 applicable to vessels. (Ord. 507 § 1, 2001)
11.16.100 Creating a wake prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any watercraft to create a wake within 100 yards of any shoreline or bridge, or shore installation, except as provided in YPMC 11.12.030. (Ord. 507 § 1, 2001)