The Detroit times., 1910-06-09
POWER BOAT BILL
PASSES CONGRESS
Measure Drafted in Detroit Regu-
lating All Glasses Of Motor Craft
Becomes Operative Soon.

After five months OF effort the Ma
tional Power Boat association, conf
posed OF yacht and power boat clubs
all over the United States has sue
ceeded in having congress and the
senate pass bill regulating the use
Of motor boats. The bill was drafted
at meeting OF the association he'd
in Detroit. Jan. 16, and went through
with only few minor changes. Com
modore Charles w. Kotcher, OF this
city. Is president OF the National asso-
citation.
The bill calls for life preservers.
running lights and various other safe.
~ appliances and separates vessels
used for pleasure and for business.
Steam boats under 40 Feet In length
not used for towing or as tugs are
classified as power boats. They must
be. inspected but 90 not need licensed
officers.
The bill is far-reaching in its effect
and does away with all OF the confu-
sion which has existed heretofore
Before this measure was passed local
inspectors OF steamboats, ruled as they
saw At and a man whose boat was ac-
ceptable To the authorities I'm Detroit
might be violating the rules prescrio-
ed In Chicago. To do away with this
the National association was formed
and took mp the work OF securing q
new measure. Congressman w. II.
Humphrey OF Washington, fatherei
the bill and received active support
from Commodore Kotcher, z. IS. o.
born. president of the Western Power
Boat association, and fro
Boating, magazine owned by John
"A. Penton q former Detroit man.
Boats are divided into three classes:
one, less than 20 feet in length; two,
over 20 and less than 40; three. from
40 to IS feet inclusive. Inspection il
provided for by steamboat inspectors
for all steam vessels more than 40
feet long. But licensed officers are
not required IL the vessel Is used for
pleasure only.
The sections relative to lights FOL-
lows:
Section =. That every motor boat
1 In all weathers from sunset to sun
lights. and during such time no
other lights which may be ms
taken for those prescribed shalt be
(a) Every motor boat of class
one shall carry the following
First A white light aft to show
oil around the horizon.
Second. combined lantern In
the fore part OF the vessel and low
err than the white light aft. show
Ing green to starboard and red To
port. so fixed as 10 throw the light
from right ahead to two points
abaft the beam on their respect
I've sides.
tb) Every motor boat OF class
two and three shall carry the fol-
lowing lights:
First. A bright white light in
the stem pa as o. praeticsbis so e noSr
structed as to show an unbroken
light over an arc OF the horizon
fixed as TO throw the light 10
points on each side OF the vessel.
na,mely from right ahead to s,t two
side. The glass or lens shall be OF
not less than the following dimen-
Glass two Nineteen square
Class three Thirty-one square
second A white light aft to
show all around the horizon.
Third , on the cs s6areoera s 40 to
show an unbroken light over an
arc OF the horizon OF 10 points OF
the compass. so fixed rs to throw
the light from right ahead TO two
points abaft the beam on the star.
board side. on the port side red
urbroken light over an arc OF the
horizon OF 10 points or the com.
pass so fixed as to throw the igm.
points abaft the beam on the port
side The glasses or lenses In the
said side Lights snsii a Pe on hT on
motor boats OF
Class two. sixteen square inon-
Glass three Twenty-Five square
On and after July |. 1911, all
Paragraph OBJ OF section three
shall be fresnal or fiuted The said
| lights shall be fitted with inpoaro
set as to prevent these lights from
= being seen across the bow and shall
! be OF rot less than the followihs
4 dimensions on motor boats OF
class two. Eighteen inches long.
Class three: .Twenty-four inches
as defined in this act. when pro-
PEELED by sail and machinery or
/ under sail alone. shaii carry .ne
\ colored lights suitably screened,
= but not the white lights prescribed
I by this section
All boats under the act must have
whistle OF sound-producing mechanism
capable OF making a blast Of at least
two.seconds' duration. Classes two
and three shall carry fog horn and
bell.
Pleasure boats of whatever length
shall carry life preservers, buoyant
cushions or other device OF like ma
ture sufficient TO sustain every per-
son ON board. All motor boats carry
ing passengers for hire shall have one
life preserver for each person and
must be operated only by licensed OFF,
GERS. All vessels over SIS feet In
length shall carry fire extinguishers.
A fine Of not more than 500 Is provid-
"A For violations of the act