Insurance; Accident Reporting; Discharge Of Oil; Disposal Of Plastics & Other Garbage - Four winns 248 Vista Owner's Manual

Figure A2: HIN

A - 13 INSURANCE

In most states, the boat owner is legally responsible for
damages or injuries he or she causes, even if someone
else is operating the boat at the time of the accident.
Common sense dictates that you carry adequate per-
sonal liability and property damage insurance on your
boat, just as you would on an automobile. You should
also protect your investment by insuring your boat against
physical damage or theft.
A - 14 ACCIDENT REPORTING
The operator of the boat is responsible for filing a report
with the appropriate authorities. In general, reports are
necessary for accidents involving loss of life, injury, or
damage over $500. In the case of accidents with report-
able injuries or death, a formal report is required within
48 hours. If only property damage is involved, a report
must be made within ten days. The 1971 Boating Safety
Act may impose a $1,000 civil fine for people who fail to
submit a boating accident report. Ask your insurance
agent for more information.
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If you see a distress signal, you must assume it is a real
emergency and render assistance immediately. The
master or person in charge of a boat is obligated by law
to provide assistance to any individual in danger at sea.
However, you should not put your boat or crew in a dan-
gerous situation which exceeds your capabilities or those
of your boat. The 1971 Boating Safety Act grants pro-
tection to a Good Samaritan boater offering good faith
assistance, and absolves a boater from any civil liability
arising from assistance given.
A - 15 DISCHARGE OF OIL
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act prohibits the
discharge of oil waste into or upon the navigable waters
of the United States or the waters of the contiguous zone
if such discharge causes a film or sheen upon or a dis-
coloration of the surface of the water or causes a sludge
or emulsion beneath the surface of the water. Violators
are subject to a penalty of $5,000.
A - 16 DISPOSAL OF PLASTICS & OTHER GAR-
BAGE
Plastic refuse dumped in the water can kill fish and ma-
rine wildlife and can foul boat propellers and cooling wa-
ter intakes. Other forms of waterborne garbage can litter
our beaches and make people sick. U.S. Coast Guard
and most state regulations prohibit the dumping of plas-
tic refuse or other garbage mixed with plastic into the
water anywhere, and restrict the dumping of other forms
of garbage within specified distances from shore.
A - 17 MARPOL TREATY
Boats 26 feet or longer must display a sign stating the
disposal regulations of the Federal Water Pollution Con-
trol Act. The U.S. Coast Guard has issued these regula-
tions to implement Annex V of the International Conven-
tion for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, com-
monly known as Annex V of the MARPOL (Marine Pol-
lution) Treaty 73/78. They apply to all U.S. boats wher-
ever they operate (except waters under the exclusive
jurisdiction of a State) and foreign boats operating in U.S.
waters out to and including the Exclusive Economic Zone
(200 miles). It is important to know these regulations and
adhere to them.
Section A
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