Supplement to America’s Boating Course

Come for the boating education … Stay for the friends

Section 8 - TENNESSEE

TENNESSEESupplement to America’s Boating Course

BOATING LAWS, RULESAND

REGULATIONS

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Tennessee RegulationsTWRA – Tennessee Wildlife Resources

Agency

Region 1 – West TennesseeRegion 2 – Middle TennesseeRegion 3 – Cumberland PlateauRegion 4 – East Tennessee

http://www.tn.gov/twra/topic/regulations-and-safety-concerns 2


Tennessee RegulationsFederal Law sets Rules to avoid

collisions and establishes minimum safety equipment requirements. State Laws set:

Operator qualificationsLicense requirementsLife Jacket wearAdditional required equipmentSpeed and Time of day restrictions

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Life Jacket Requirements

One for each personCorrect size - fitServiceableReadily availableChildren must wear

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USCG Approved PFD Required(Personal Flotation Device = Life Jacket)

Must Be Legible!

Children Must Wear Life Jackets: While underway on a recreational vessel on any Tennessee waters, a child under 13 years old must wear a USCG–approved life jacket unless the child is below deck or in an enclosed cabin.


Life Jackets

Tennessee law requires a life jacket for each person on board.

Also one throwable flotation aid on vessels 16 feet or longer except canoes or kayaks.

Life jackets must be USCG approved, worn or readily available, correct size, serviceable, and appropriate for the boating activity.

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A USCG-approved life jacket must be worn by each person on board vessels being operated within specifically marked areas below dams.


Inflatable Life Jackets

Inflatable PFDs• ZERO buoyancy unless inflated• Inflated manually or automatically• Requires regular maintenance

Not to be used for:• Weak or non-swimmers • Children under 16 or under 80 lbs • Water Impact Sports; under clothing

Tennessee law: Inflatables may not be used for –• Persons on Personal Water Craft (PWC)• Persons towed behind a vessel • Persons 16 years of age or younger 6


Sound Producers

Bell

The USCG no longer requires a vessel between 39.4 ft. (12 meters) and 65.6 ft. (20 meters) to carry a bell. States may have additional rules.

Tennessee law –39.4 feet long or longer

Whistle and Bell (still required by Tennessee regulations)

If less than 39.4 feet some means to make an efficient sound signal 7


Navigation Light Patterns“Tug Towing”

Tug with tow less than 650 ft. long

DANGERTowline may not be

visible – day or night

Learn about Towboats on Western Rivers. They are different and are

not covered in this course.8


Registering Your VesselRegistration Certificate must be on

board

Validation decals properly displayed

Exceptions to Tennessee registration are:

• Vessels propelled only by paddles or oars

• Vessels registered in other states and using Tennessee waters for 60 days or less.

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Boat RegistrationAll vessels:

• Registered with Tennessee must have:

Registration numbers on the vessel and

Required paperwork onboardU.S. Coast Guard Documented Vessels must be registered in Tennessee and carry the required paperwork on board.

They are not required to display the registration number.

Tennessee registration can be for one, two, or three years at the owner’s discretion

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USCG Standards

Capacity label by manufacturerRequired under 20 feetCombined persons, motor & gear – enforced as federal requirement 11


Pollutant Disposal LawsSewage: illegal to discharge raw

sewage; black water in inland waters. If equipped with installed head (marine sanitation device) discharge ONLY into approved pump-out stations

Beware of no discharge zones for treated waste

The discharge and no discharge reservoirs are listed on the TWRA website

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Pollutant Disposal Laws

Trash: prescribed by International Marine Pollution Regulations. None in Tennessee waters.

Oil Products: Prevention of spilling or otherwise discharge of oil and gasoline products is required. Oil waste must be taken ashore to proper disposal sites.

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International Regulation

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Applies to all inland water – no garbage, sewage or oil products!


Who May Operate -- TennesseePersons who are required to have successfully completed the examination administered by TWRA are those born after January 1, 1989.

They must carry their TWRA Boater Safety Education Certificate on board and

They must make it available upon request by an enforcement officer.

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Note: There is no Tennessee requirement to renew boater education certificates. They do not expire.


Who May Operate -- TennesseeOperate a motorized vessel 8.5 horsepower or

less and sailboatsTennessee residents are not required to possess the

Boating Safety Education Certificate. Operate a motorized Vessel over 8.5

horsepowerThose less than 12 must be accompanied by an adult

at least 18 years old and if the adult was born after 1/1/89, then he/she must have a Boating Safety Education Certificate education (same for persons 12 or older)

Those 12 or older operating alone must have a Boating Safety Education Certificate issued by TWRA. 16


Tennessee Law Enforcement

TWRA enforces Tennessee’s boating laws. (A U.S. Coast Guard presence may be seen on navigable waterways)

May stop and inspect a vessel operated, moored or being launched

May board a vessel in the course of an inspection

You must bring your vessel to a stop after being signaled to do so

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Tennessee Speed & Distance LawsIt is illegal in Tennessee to --

Operate at an excessive rate of speed in crowded or dangerous areas or during periods of restricted visibility.

Operate within 300 feet of a commercial vessel dock at greater than “idle speed”

Operate at greater than “slow, no wake speed” in any areas marked as “No Wake”.

Jump the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of that vessel. 18


Additional Equipment

Beyond Federally required equipment –Mooring lines Anchor and rode

Fathometer GPSFirst Aid Kit Manual back-up bailerSpare fuses / light bulbs Whistle and light on each life jacketMarine VHF radio Charts and magnetic compassFenders Alternate propulsion (oar / paddle)Search and flash lights BinocularsSpare, fully charged battery Jumper cables

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Alcohol & Drugs

Tennessee law prohibits anyone from boating ---

Under the influence of alcohol or other drug or a combination of such substances or… With a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more

or… With any amount of a controlled substance 20


Implied Consent

By operating a vessel on Tennessee waters, you have given “implied consent” to alcohol testing (“sobriety” testing).

Refusal to be tested is a separate offense and may result in loss of operating privileges for up to six months.

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PWC’s in Tennessee

Each person must wear a USCG Approved PFD. Inflatable PFDs are not approved for use on PWCs. PWCs may not be operated between sunset and sunrise. A lanyard-type ignition safety switch must be attached to the wrist or life jacket of the operator whenever the PWC is running and in use.You must be 16 years of age or older to rent a PWC.

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Towing Skiers In TennesseeMust have observer at least 12 years old in

addition to operator, or the required number of wide-angle rearview mirrors.

Persons being towed must wear PFD (not inflatable)

Boats and PWCs may tow skiers between sunrise and sunset.

Vessel must have capacity to bring skier on board

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Boating Accidents and Casualties

Anyone involved in a boating accident must stop the vessel immediately at the scene of the accident and …

Assist anyone injured or in danger from the accident, unless doing so would seriously endanger own vessel or passengers .Every vessel operator involved in a reportable accident must notify TWRA immediately

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Tennessee Accident ReportingMust file a written accident report :• Within 48 hours if a

person dies or disappears or if someone is injured requiring medical treatment beyond first aid

• Within 10 days if damage exceeds $2,000.

Failure to report a boating accident is a criminal offense and may result in prosecution by the TWRA.

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Charts & MapsBoth show scaled representations of earth

• Maps cover terrestrial areas• Charts cover water areas

Charts show• Underwater features• Features for boaters

Charts of local waters are required for safety

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Documents

Supplement to America’s Boating Course