Boating in Idaho FAQs . First, make sure your boat is properly titled, registered, and the bow numbers are displayed correctly. Sailboats and motor boats are required to be registered whenever on the water and all registrations expire December 3. The minimum safety equipment for both powered and non- powered boats includes life jackets (one readily accessible, properly fitting US Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person on board) and a sound producing device such as a whistle. All boats 1. 6’ and greater must carry a Type IV personal floatation device such as a square cushion or ring. Additional items such as visual distress signals, an oar and bucket are required on federal waters such as Lake Coeur d'Alene, Lake Pend Oreille, Dworshak Reservoir and Bear Lake. Boats with gas- powered motors require fire extinguishers if there are any closed compartments (even a live well) and fire extinguishers need to say . Inboard motors need to have a backfire flame arrester. Boats with a cabin or berth usually call for a special toilet called a marine sanitation device. If equipped with a marine sanitation device, it must be Coast Guard approved. A good way to be sure you have what you need is to contact the local county sheriff's office or the Coast Guard Auxiliary for a free inspection. Above all, make sure the motor, electrical, and fuel systems have been checked out by a mechanic, and any fuel spills in the bilge are cleaned up before you go. Out- of- state boaters should be aware of Idaho’s life jacket law for kids: Children fourteen and under must wear an approved life jacket when they are aboard a boat 1. This applies to manually propelled boats such as canoes and rafts in addition to powerboats, sailboats, personal watercraft (jet skis) and fishing float tubes. For more information regarding the legality of these activities contact your local County Marine Deputy.
Click here to find your county sheriff's phone number. Yes, vessels powered by electric trolling motors need to be registered in Idaho. This includes electric trolling motors. Vessels over 1. 2 feet are $2. These fees cover one calendar year and all boat registrations expire December 3. In addition, boats registered in Idaho are required to pay an additional $1. Idaho Invasive Species Sticker. For convenience this $1. Idaho Invasive Species Sticker is included in the annual boat registration renewal fees and a separate sticker is not required for boats registered in Idaho. Due to the inherent risks associated with boating and taking into consideration the many factors that can lead to a boat accident, boat owners are advised to consult with their insurance agent to discuss options. Information for Idaho's citizens and the general public on all State legislative matters. Map and Directions to DEQ's Boise Regional Office; DEQ's Boise Region encompasses the 10 southwestern counties of Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley and Washington, covering 27% of. Don't forget, many insurance carriers offer a discount on your premium if you pass an approved boat safety course. To learn more about FREE boat safety courses click here. Once you fill the form out, take it with you to the local sheriff's office. Often referred to as . Additionally, for a life jacket to be considered . All riders and persons being towed must wear their life jackets at all times while the PWC is under way. There are no additional rules addressing PWCs, except when renting them. Idaho law requires those who rent PWCs to deliver education. Afterwards, each rider must carry the state's verification of education card whenever operating (driving) a rented PWC. If one person out of a large group pays for the rental, he or she is legally responsible to make sure everyone else who rides also views the educational video and carries their own wallet card when they drive. Contact the IDPR Boating Program if you are a PWC rental business needing information. Idaho counties have the authority to enact restrictions for personal watercraft that are more strict than state law. Examples of counties that have stricter laws than the state regarding PWC operation include Bonner and Kootenai Counties. It is your responsibility to know the rules for the county in which you plan to recreate. PWC manufacturers recommend that all drivers be at least 1. Special concerns for PWC Operators. There is a statewide no- wake zone. Slow to 5 mph within 1. A safe distance is 1. The driver must have a passenger serve as the spotter and operate the skier- down flag. The PWC must have three- person seating for the operator, observer, and skier. Often, local agencies such as Benewah County, Kootenai County or Mc. Call City pass additional speed restrictions from the shoreline, between boats and at specific sites. It is a good idea to contact local organizations where you plan to ride. County- specific ordinances dealing with speed limits are posted below. Please contact your local county sheriff's office for more information on county ordinances/laws pertaining to boating). State law allows for exemptions when pulling a water skier. Unless otherwise marked, it is ok to travel over a no- wake zone within 1. County- Specific Boating Laws and Ordinances I. If you would like to read the entire ordinance for the counties, just click on the county's name. Adams: 3. 5 m. p. This includes the Snake River from Hells Canyon Park south to Oxbow Dam, and on Oxbow Reservoir from Eagle Island to Brownlee Dam. Benewah: 5. 0 m. p. Maries Plywood Mill. Kootenai: 5. 0 m. On the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene Rivers, and Lower Twin Lakes the speed limits are 3. Citations could be issued for not having the wake surfer wear a life jacket or for allowing passengers to hang off the side of the boat or sit in areas of the boat not meant for seating (i. Citations could also be issued for wake surfing behind an inboard/outboard or outboard boat which exposes the surfer to the propeller. County sheriff departments will likely issue a negligent operation citation for teak surfing due to the potential exposure to propellers or poisoning from carbon monoxide. For more information, contact your local county marine deputy. Click here to find your county sheriff's phone number. The wake from the boat mimics the look and feel of an actual ocean wave. Teak surfing or platform dragging is when a person holds on to the swim platform of a boat as it drives forward and then the person is dragged through the water. County sheriff departments will likely issue a negligent operation citation to operators that allow passengers to ride on the bow of a boat. Any time that a boat is in motion passengers should only be seated in those areas/locations specifically designed by the manufacturer for seating. Riding on the bow, gunwale/side, transom, engine cover, or any other part of the boat, not specifically designed for seating, greatly increases the risk of passenger injury or death. Bow riding, in particular, places passengers at high risk for falling overboard and being struck by the boat and propeller. Additionally, passengers seated on the bow greatly restrict the operator’s visibility and ability to react to potential hazards. For more information contact your local County Marine Deputy. Click here to find your county sheriff's phone number. This applies to manually propelled boats such as canoes and rafts in addition to powerboats, sailboats, personal watercraft (jet skis) and fishing float tubes. Also, the right kind of personal floatation device must be on board the motorboat or paddle craft and within quick reach for adults. That is, they must say . Stored under the seat or in a dry bag is not considered within quick reach. Of course, just like a seat belt during an auto accident, a life jacket won't do you much good if you don't have it on BEFORE you fall overboard. If you have a boat sixteen feet or longer you also need a Type IV floatation aid which is designed to be thrown, not worn (like a ring buoy). Non- powered canoes and kayaks do not have to carry the Type IV ring buoy or personal floatation aid, by federal exemption. You can also visit the Bureau of Land Management's Boater Guides here. Information on Idaho Power boating facilities can be found here. To obtain information about a specific location, contact the county parks and recreation manager, or the county waterways chairperson. Most county commissioners appoint a waterways committee to advise on matters relating to waterways docks, construction, maintenance, local laws and user fees. In some cases the site may be managed by a federal agency, a private marina, a power company or a city. They are exempt from registration. You need not carry a life jacket when on lakes smaller than 2. This permitting system is run by the U. S. Forest Service and you can find information on this permitting program here. Coast Guard has determined that paddleboards are vessels when used outside a marked swimming, surfing or bathing area. Before venturing out on the water with your stand- up paddleboard please remember you must have a life jacket, whistle, and an invasive species sticker. Boating Safety Links: Boating Organizations: Click here to find a County Sheriff's Office in Idaho.
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