SUMMARY OF MAINE BOATING LAWS/RULES
All of the following laws and regulations have either
been passed by the Maine legislature or adopted by the
Commissioner of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. The following
rules/laws are intended to be used only as a guide for
boating, and in some cases, the laws and rules have been
summarized. For more detailed information on any of the
laws/rules contact the Department office In Augusta.
Definitions
Bow (Fore) - "Bow" means the forward half of the
watercraft.
Airmobile - "Airmobile" means any vehicle propelled by
mechanical power that is designed to travel upon a cushion
of air on or within 2 feet of the water or land surface of
the earth.
Federal waters - "Federal waters" means all the waters
not internal and subject to the jurisdiction of the United
States.
Internal Waters - "Internal waters" means waters under
the exclusive jurisdiction of the State of Maine.
Motorboat - "Motorboat means any watercraft, including
airfoils, equipped with propulsion machinery of any type,
whether or not the machinery is the principal source of
propulsion, is permanently or temporarily attached or is
available for propulsion on the watercraft.
Operate - "Operate", in all its moods and tenses' when it
refers to watercraft of any type or description, means to
use that watercraft in any manner on the waters specified,
whether or not the watercraft is under way. The operator"
means the person who is in control or in charge of a
watercraft while it is in use.
Personal watercraft - "Personal watercraft" means any
motorized watercraft that is less than 13 feet in hull
length as manufactured, is capable of exceeding a speed of
20 miles per hour and has the capacity to carry not more
than the operator and one other person while in operation.
The term includes, but is not limited to, a jet ski, wet
bike, surf jet, miniature speedboat and hovercraft. Personal
watercraft also includes motorized watercraft whose
operation is controlled by a water skier.
Point - "Point" means eleven and one-quarter degrees of
arc.
Stern (Aft) - "Stern" means the rear half of the
watercraft, vessel or boat as contrasted to the bow which is
the forward half of the boat.
Watercraft - "Watercraft" means any type of vessel, boat
or craft used or capable of being used as a means of
transportation on water other than a seaplane.
Waters of this State - "Waters of this State" means all
internal waters and all federal waters within the
jurisdiction of this State.
Water safety zone - "Water safety zone" means the area of
water within 200 feet of any shoreline, whether the
shoreline of the mainland or of an island.
WATERCRAFT SPEED REGULATIONS
No person may operate a watercraft at a speed greater
than headway speed while within the water safety zone or
within a marina or an approved anchorage in coastal or
inland waters except while actively fishing. For the
purposes of this section, "headway speed" means the minimum
speed necessary to maintain steerage and control of the
watercraft while the watercraft is moving.
The operator of any watercraft must operate at a
reasonable and prudent speed for existing conditions and
regulate the speed of a watercraft so as to avoid danger,
injury or unnecessary inconvenience in any manner to other
watercraft and their occupants, whether anchored or under
way. The operator must consider the effect of the wash or
wave created by their watercraft to waterfront piers, floats
or other property or shorelines.
BOATING & ALCOHOL
Any person who operates or attempts to operate any
watercraft while under the influence of intoxicating liquor
or drugs or a combination of liquor and drugs; or while
having 0.08% or more by weight of alcohol in that person's
blood is guilty of a criminal violation.
The operator of any watercraft must complete a
blood-alcohol test when requested to do so by a law
enforcement officer who has probable cause to believe that
the person operated or attempted to operate a watercraft
while under the influence of intoxicating liquor; or when
the person was the operator of a watercraft involved in a
watercraft accident which results in the death of any
person.
RECKLESS OPERATION OF A WATERCRAFT
It is illegal to operate any watercraft, water ski,
surfboard or similar device in such away as to recklessly
create a substantial risk of serious bodily injury to
another person.
UNLAWFULLY PERMITTING OPERATION
It is unlawful for the owner of a watercraft to
negligently permit another person to operate the watercraft
in violation of law.
OPERATING TO ENDANGER
A person is guilty of operating a watercraft to endanger
if he operates any watercraft, water ski, surfboard or
similar device so as to endanger any person or property.
SWIMMING AREA
A motorboat cannot be operated in an area marked or
buoyed for swimming.
BOATING ACCIDENTS
As the operator of a watercraft you are required by law
to file a formal, written report of any collision, accident
or other casualty or damage to any watercraft or other
property of more than $300, by the quickest means of
communication, to the nearest available law enforcement
officer:
Within 24 hours of the occurrence if a person dies,
disappears, loses consciousness, receives medical treatment,
or is disabled for more than 24 hours,
Within 5 days of the occurrence if the accident involved
property damage only.
Boating accidents include:
- Capsizing
- Collision
- Disappearance
- Explosion
- Falls Overboard
- Fire
- Flooding
- Grounding
- Sinking
- Struck by Boat/Prop (other than theft)
- Swamping
The operator of a watercraft which is involved in a
collision, accident or other casualty must render all
necessary aid and assistance to all persons involved, so far
as can be done without serious danger to his/her watercraft,
crew and passengers, if any, as well as give their name,
address and watercraft identification to any person injured
and to the owner of any property damaged.
Other Boating Links
