The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 23 : Motor Vehicles

Chapter 029 : Snowmobiles, Vessels, and Water Sports

Subchapter 002 : VESSELS

• § 3306. Lights and equipment

  (a) Every vessel shall carry and show the following lights, in the intensity prescribed under 33 C.F.R. § 83.22, as amended, when underway between sunset and sunrise and during other periods of restricted visibility:

  (1) Unpowered vessels.

  (A) A sailing vessel shall exhibit:

  (i) sidelights; and

  (ii) a sternlight.

  (B) A sailing vessel may, in addition to the lights prescribed in subdivision (A) of this subdivision (1), exhibit at or near the top of the mast, where they can best be seen, two all-round lights in a vertical line, the upper being red and the lower being green.

  (C) Notwithstanding subdivision (A) of this subdivision (1), on a sailing vessel of less than 20 meters in length, the lights prescribed in subdivision (A) of this subdivision (1) may be combined in a single light and exhibited at or near the top of the mast, where it can best be seen, but may not also have exhibited two all-round lights in a vertical line, as permitted in subdivision (B) of this subdivision (1).

  (D) Notwithstanding subdivision (A) of this subdivision (1), a sailing vessel of less than seven meters in length shall, if practicable, exhibit the lights prescribed in subdivision (1) of this subsection (a) but, if not practicable, shall exhibit or have onboard an all-round white light that shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.

  (E) A vessel under oars or one or more paddles may exhibit the lights prescribed in subdivision (1) of this subsection (a), but, if such lights are not exhibited, the vessel shall exhibit or have onboard an all-round white light that shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision.

  (2) Motorboats.

  (A) A motorboat, including one that is also proceeding under sail, shall exhibit:

  (i) a masthead light forward;

  (ii) a second masthead light abaft of and higher than the light required under subdivision (i) of this subdivision (A) if the vessel is 50 meters or more in length;

  (iii) sidelights; and

  (iv) a sternlight.

  (B) A motorboat that is also proceeding under sail shall exhibit forward, where it can best be seen, a conical shape, apex downward.

  (3) Lights approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Any light or combination of lights approved by the U.S. Coast Guard for inland waters shall be considered legal for Vermont waters.

  (b)(1) Personal flotation devices. Each vessel, except sailboards, shall, consistent with federal regulations, carry for each individual aboard at least one wearable U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device that is in good and serviceable condition and capable of being used in accordance with the U.S. Coast Guard approval label.

  (2) Vessels; individuals less than 12 years of age. In addition to the provisions of this subsection, an individual under 12 years of age aboard a vessel, while under way and the individual is on an open deck, shall wear a properly secured wearable U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device as intended by the manufacturer.

  (3) Sailboards; individuals less than 16 years of age. An individual under 16 years of age aboard a sailboard shall wear a properly secured wearable U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device as intended by the manufacturer.

  (4) Inspected commercial vessels. U.S. Coast Guard-inspected commercial vessels shall be exempt from the provisions of this subsection.

  (c) U.S. Coast Guard-approved hand portable fire extinguishers that are unexpired, fully charged, and in both good and serviceable condition shall be carried on board every motorboat as follows:

  (1) motorboats with no fixed fire extinguisher system in the machinery space and that are:

  (A) less than 26 feet in length, not fewer than one extinguisher;

  (B) 26 feet or longer, but less than 40 feet, not fewer than two extinguishers; and

  (C) 40 feet or longer, not fewer than three extinguishers; and

  (2) motorboats with a fixed fire extinguisher system in the machinery space and that are:

  (A) less than 26 feet in length, no extinguishers required;

  (B) 26 feet or longer but less than 40 feet, not fewer than one extinguisher; and

  (C) 40 feet or longer, not fewer than two extinguishers.

  (d) Notwithstanding subsection (c) of this section, motorboats less than 26 feet in length, propelled by outboard motors, and not carrying passengers for hire need not carry portable fire extinguishers if the construction of the boats will not permit the entrapment of explosive or flammable gases or vapors.

  (e)(1) The extinguishers referred to by this section are class B-I or 5-B extinguishers, but one class B-II or 20-B extinguisher may be substituted for two class B-I or 5-B extinguishers, in compliance with 46 C.F.R. Subpart 25.30, as amended.

  (2) Notwithstanding subdivision (1) of this subsection, motorboats with a model year between 1953 and 2017 with previously approved fire extinguishers that are not in compliance with the types identified in subdivision (1) of this subsection need not be replaced until such time as they are no longer in good and serviceable condition.

  (f) Every marine toilet on board any vessel operated on the waters of the State shall also incorporate or be equipped with a holding tank. Any holding tank or marine toilet designed so as to provide for an optional means of discharge to the waters on which the vessel is operating shall have the discharge openings sealed shut and any discharge lines, pipes, or hoses shall be disconnected and stored while the vessel is in the waters of this State.

  (g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the discharge of adequately treated wastes from any vessel operating under the provisions of a valid discharge permit issued by the Department of Environmental Conservation.

  (h) Motorboats operated on waters that the U.S. Coast Guard has determined to be navigable waters of the United States and therefore subject to the jurisdiction of the United States must have lights and other safety equipment as required by U.S. Coast Guard rules and regulations. (Added 1983, No. 212 (Adj. Sess.), § 2; amended 1985, No. 90, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1986; 1987, No. 76, § 18; 1989, No. 65, § 5; 1989, No. 159 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2017, No. 71, § 28, eff. June 8, 2017; 2019, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 237; 2021, No. 76, § 13; 2023, No. 165 (Adj. Sess.), § 31, eff. July 1, 2024.)