2024 ABCs of California Boating

C ONTENTS Preparation

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Boater Education Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Weather.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .2 Safety Communications 2 Fueling 3 BoatCapacity.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .3 Propeller Safety and Engine Cut-Off Switches (ECOS) . . . . . . . . 4 Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 FileaFloatPlan.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..4 Waterway Markings U.S. Aids To Navigation (ATONs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 California Aids to Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Mooring to Buoys 9 AidstoNavigation.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .9 Rules of the Waterways NavigationRules.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .10 Boater Responsibility 10 NavigationSignals.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..10 Meeting or Crossing Situations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 OvertakingSituations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 OtherSituations .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .13 RulesforSailingVessels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 FogSignals.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 14 Operational Law PeaceOfficers.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..15 Trailering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 StolenVessels.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..15 CountyandCityLaws.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .15 Age Restrictions 16 Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Carbon Monoxide 16 Reckless or Negligent Operation of a Vessel . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Hit-and-Run Accidents 17 Operation of a Vessel While Intoxicated 18 DesignatedDriverTheory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Court-Ordered Boating Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Personal Watercraft Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 WaterSkiing.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .20 Diving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

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