Norwich bulletin., 1909-04-09
HOW MOTOR BOATS
MUST BE EQUIPPED.
Circular of Interest to Many Launch
Owners in This Vicinity.

Acting Secretary Herbert Knox
Smith OF the department of commerce
and labor has forwarded ! to custom
houses a circular concerning the
! equipment of motor boats. The cireu-
lar follows the announcement that q
boat for patrolling will be assigned by
the department to the custom house
during the motor boat season. This
| circular tells what equipment is neces :
sary under the law and should be of
more than ordinary interest to motor
boat owners.
In the inspection district OF New
| London, which includes Norwich, there
are approximately 1000 motor boats.
The circular says:
The department has received in :
| quiries as to the equipment required
by the act of June Z, 1897, and sec
| ton 4,426, revised statutes, to be car
| ried on small motor vessels. In order
/ to insure uniformity in the enforce
ment Of this law, you are informed
! that small motor vessels, navigated in
your district, should be equipped as
| follows:
/ size or use, must be provided with
an efficient whistle, an efficient fog
/ horn, and an efficient bell. No size or
| style whistle, foghorn or bell is pre-
I scribed, provided 1t Is available and
| sufficient for the use for which 1t Is
/ intended. The word efficient must
/ be taken in it's ordinary sense, consid =
cred with reference to the object in
| tended by the provisions in which the
word appears, namely, the production
| of certain signals. The power to OPP
crate the whistle Is not prescribed, but
/ it must be of such a character as to
produce a prolonged blast, which is
! - H. a.
duration.
When navigated between sunset and
sunrise they must carry regulation
/ lights namely: A bright white light
at the bow or head of the vessel. A
/ green light on the starboard side and
\ a red light on the port side provided
with proper screens. The siie lights
may be so affiSed to the coaming or
! to the sides Of the deckhouse as TO be
properly screened provided the lantern
i be backed with metal. Whenever the
| green and red side lights cannot be
| fixed. they must be kept lighted and
| ready for use as provided by article 6
| Of the act of June Z, 1897. The law
] does not appear to permit the use of a
| three color combination light. A white
| light aft, showing all around the hori-
zon, to range with the headlight
Such vessels are also required to
have on board two printed copies of
| the rules, which must be observed by
/ them, which rules will be furnished by
| the local inspectors Of steam vessels
on request.
l. All such vessels of fifteen gross tons
! or less engaged in carrying passengers
/ for hire. in addition to the equipment
| above stated, are required TO carry one
! life preserved for each passenger car
| ried and shall be operated only in
| charge OF a person duly licensed by the
| local inspectors of steam vessels. Such
vessels when used only as private
pleasure boats and not at any time en-
gagged in the carriage Of passengers for
| hire are not obliged 10 comply with the
provisions Of the law in regard to life
| pres ervers and licensed operators.
While the law does not require 1t,
the department recommends, in the
| Interest of safety to life, that a life
preserver for each person on board be
carried on all motor boats. regardless
of size or occupation. All motor boats
| Of over five net tons engaged in the
| carriage of freight or passengers for
| hire must be documented: that is TO
| saw, licensed by the collectors OF Gus
| tors, (Vessels under five net tons are
| not documented IN any case.) The IL
| cense OF the vessel obtained from the
| collector of customs designated doc
| rrnentl is additional to ana must not
be confounded with the license required
| for the operator of a motor boat of
| fifteen grcss tons or less, CARRYING pas
| sengers FOR hire.
| D0cunnsn intel vessels must have ra2se
i and home port on stern and name on
each bow. O6aeaal measurement h