AT
ANCHOR - Held in place in the water by an anchor, includes
"moored" to a buoy or anchored vessel and "dragging anchor."
BOATING ACCIDENT - A collision,
accident, or casualty involving a vessel in or upon, or entering
into or exiting from, the water, including capsizing, collision
with another vessel or object, sinking, personal injury, death or
disappearance of any person from on board under circumstances which
indicate the possibility of death or injury, or property damage to
any vessel or dock.
CABIN MOTORBOAT - Motorboats with
a cabin which can be completely closed by means of doors or
hatches. Large motorboats with cabins, even though referred to as
yachts, are considered to be cabin motorboats.
CAPSIZING - Overturning of a
vessel.
COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VESSEL -
Any striking together of two or more vessels, regardless of
operation at time of the accident, is a collision. (Also includes
colliding with the tow of another vessel, regardless of the nature
of the tow; e.g., surfboard, ski ropes, skier, tow line, etc.)
COLLISION WITH FIXED OBJECT - The
striking of any fixed object above or below the surface of the
water.
COLLISION WITH A FLOATING OBJECT-
Collision with any waterborne object (except another vessel) above
or below the surface that is free to move with the tide, current,
or wind.
CRUISING - Proceeding normally,
unrestricted, with an absence of drastic rudder or engine
changes.
DOCUMENTED VESSEL - A vessel for
which a valid certificate of documentation is outstanding pursuant
to 46 C.F.R. part 67. Documented vessels are not numbered.
DOCUMENTED YACHT - A vessel of
five or more net tons owned by a citizen of the United States and
used exclusively for pleasure with a valid marine document issued
by the United States Coast Guard. Documented vessels are not
numbered.
DRIFTING - Underway, but not
proceeding over the bottom with use of engines, oars, or sails;
being carried along only by the tide, current, or wind.
FALLEN SKIER - A person who has
fallen off their waterskis.
FALL OVERBOARD - A person who
unintentionally exits the vessel.
FAULT OF OPERATOR - Speeding,
overloading, improper loading, not properly seating occupants of
boat, no proper look-out, carelessness, failure to heed weather
warnings, operating in a congested area, not observing the Rules of
the Road, unsafe fueling practices, lack of experience, ignorance
of aids to navigation, lack of caution in an unfamiliar area of
operation, improper installation or maintenance of hull, machinery
or equipment, poor judgment, recklessness, overpowering the boat,
panic, proceeding in an unseaworthy craft, operating a motorboat
near persons in the water, starting the engine with clutch engaged
or throttle advanced, or irresponsible boat handling (such as
quick, sharp turns).
FIBERGLASS (PLASTIC) HULL - Hulls
of fiber-reinforced plastic. The laminate consists of two basic
components, the reinforcing material (glass filaments) and the
plastic or resin in which it is embedded.
FIRE/EXPLOSION (FUEL) - Accidental
combustion of vessel fuel, liquids (including their vapors) or
other substances such as wood or coal.
FIRE/EXPLOSION (OTHER) -
Accidental burning or explosion of any material on board except
vessel fuels or their vapors.
FLORIDA INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY -
The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from the Georgia state line
north of Fernandina to Miami, the Port of Canaveral lock and canal
to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway; the Atlantic Intracoastal
Waterway, Miami to Key West; the Okeechobee Waterway, Stuart to
Fort Myers; the St. Johns River, Jacksonville to Sanford; the Gulf
Intracoastal Waterway, Anclote to Fort Myers; the Gulf Intracoastal
Waterway, Carrabelle to Tampa Bay; Carrabelle to Anclote open bay
section (using Gulf of Mexico); the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway,
Carrabelle to the Alabama state line west of Pensacola; and the
Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint Rivers in Florida.
FLOODING - Filling with water,
regardless of method on ingress, but retaining sufficient buoyancy
to remain on the surface.
FUELING - Any stage of the fueling
operation, primarily concerned with introduction of explosive or
combustible vapors or liquids on board.
GROUNDING - Running aground of a
vessel, striking or pounding on rocks, reefs, or shoals;
"stranding."
IMPROPER LOADING - Loading,
including weight shifting of the vessel causing instability,
limited maneuverability, or dangerously reduced freeboard.
INBOARD/OUTBOARD - Also referred
to as inboard/outdrive. Regarded as inboard because the power unit
is located inside the boat and has a stern mounted propulsion
unit.
MANEUVERING - Changing of course,
speed, or similar boat handling action during which a high degree
of alertness is required or the boat is imperiled because of the
operation (docking).
MOTORBOAT - (1) Any vessel which
is propelled or powered by machinery and which is used or capable
of being used as a means of transportation on water. (2) Any vessel
equipped with propulsion machinery, not more than sixty-five feet
in length.
MOTOR VESSEL - Any vessel equipped
with propulsion machinery (other than steam) more than sixty-five
feet in length.
NAVIGATION RULES - The
International Navigation Rules Act of 1977 for vessels on waters
outside of established navigation lines of demarcation as specified
in 33 C.F.R., Part 80 or the Inland Navigation Rules Act of 1980
for vessels on all waters not outside of such lines of
demarcation.
NONRESIDENT - A citizen of the
United States who has not established residence in this state and
has not continuously resided in this state for 1 year and in one
county for the 6 months immediately preceding the initiation of a
vessel titling or registration action.
NO PROPER LOOK-OUT - No proper
watch, the failure of the operator to perceive danger because no
one was serving as look-out, or the person so serving failed in
that regard.
NUMBERED VESSEL - An undocumented
vessel numbered by a state with a numbering system approved by the
United States Coast Guard under Chapter 123, Title 46, U.S.C.
OPEN MOTORBOAT - Craft of open
construction specifically built for operating with a motor,
including boats canopied or fitted with temporary partial
shelters.
OPERATE - To be in charge of or in
command of or in actual physical control of a vessel upon the
waters of this state, or to exercise control over or to have
responsibility for a vessel=s navigation or safety while the vessel
is underway upon the waters of this state, or to control or steer a
vessel being towed by another vessel upon the waters of this
state.
OWNER - A person, other than a
lien holder, having the property in or title to a vessel. The term
includes a person entitled to the use or possession of a vessel
subject to an interest in another person, reserved or created by
agreement and securing payment of performance of an obligation, but
the term excludes a lessee under a lease not intended as
security.
OUTBOARD - An engine not
permanently affixed to the structure of the craft, regardless of
the method or location used to mount the engine; e.g., motor wells,
Akicker pits,@ motor pockets, etc.
OVERLOADING - Excessive loading of
the vessel causing instability, limited maneuverability,
dangerously reduced freeboard, etc.
PERSONAL WATERCRAFT - A vessel
less than 16 feet in length which uses an inboard motor powering a
water jet pump as its primary source of motive power and which is
designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling
on the vessel, rather than in the conventional manner of sitting or
standing inside the vessel.
RECKLESS OPERATION - A person is
guilty of reckless operation of a vessel who operates any vessel,
or manipulates any water skis, aquaplane, or similar device, in
willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property
at a speed or in a manner as to endanger, or likely to endanger,
life or limb, or damage the property of, or injure any person.
REGISTRATION - A state operating
license on a vessel which is issued with an identifying number, an
annual certificate of registration, and a decal designating the
year for which a registration fee was paid.
REPORTABLE BOATING ACCIDENT - A
boating accident that results in personal injury requiring medical
treatment beyond immediate first aid, death, disappearance of any
person from on board under circumstances which indicate the
possibility of death or injury, or damage to any vessel or other
property in an apparent aggregate amount of at least $500.
RESIDENT - A citizen of the United
States who has established residency in this state and has
continuously resided in this state for 1 year and in one county for
the 6 months immediately preceding the initiation of a vessel
titling or registration action.
RULES OF THE ROAD -The Inland and
International Navigation Rules for the prevention of collision at
sea.
SAILBOAT OR AUXILIARY SAILBOAT -
(1) Any vessel whose sole source of propulsion is the natural
element (i.e., wind). (2) Craft intended to be propelled primarily
by sail, regardless of size or type.
SINKING - Losing enough buoyancy
to settle below the surface of the water.
SPEEDING - Operating at a speed,
possibly below the posted speed limit, above that which a
reasonable and prudent person would operate under the
circumstances.
STEEL HULL - Hulls of sheet steel
or steel alloy, not those of steel ribs and wood, canvas, or
plastic hull coverings.
STRUCK BY BOAT OR PROPELLER -
Striking of a victim who is outside of the boat, but not
necessarily a swimmer.
SWAMPING - Filling with water,
particularly over the side, but retaining sufficient buoyancy to
remain on the surface.
TOWING - Engaged in towing any
vessel, fishing gear, or object other than a person.
WOOD HULL - Hulls of plywood,
molded plywood, wood planking, or any other wood fiber in its
natural consistency, including those of wooden construction that
have been "sheathed" with fiberglass or sheet metal.
VESSEL - Is synonymous with boat as referenced
in s.1(b), Article VII of the State Constitution and includes every
description of watercraft, barge, and air boat, other than a
seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as means of
transportation on water.
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