Quick background: In Florida last week I was pulled over in my boat on St. Joseph Bay with my wife and mother in law in the boat. I was taking them for a little sight seeing boat ride to the state park. Life jackets were in order but I had left my boat registration in my wallet back at the rental house. Officer asked if I was fishing. I responded no but had fished that morning. Asked for fishing license and once again I had to tell him it was in my wallet with the registration back at the house. They asked if I had a whistle or some noise device on board and I told them no and I wasn't aware I was supposed to. Well the entire encounter was pleasant with the two officers and they let me off with a warning on everything as I guess they could tell I wasn't really a hardened criminal.
So I got to wondering, do we have to have a noisemaking device on our boats in Tennessee. I looked up the regs on the tn.gov website and must say I am confused. I have a 16 foot boat and can't tell if I need one or not. I will get a whistle or something either way because I think it's a good idea.
Can someone please explain? Here is what the regs say:
Vessels less than 39 feet 4 inches (12 meters) are not specifically required to carry a whistle, horn or bell but they must have some means of making an "efficient sound signal."Vessels over 39 feet 4 inches (12 meters) are required to carry a bell and a powered whistle or horn.
It reads to me like you don't need it but you need it if you are under 39 feet 4 inches.
So I got to wondering, do we have to have a noisemaking device on our boats in Tennessee. I looked up the regs on the tn.gov website and must say I am confused. I have a 16 foot boat and can't tell if I need one or not. I will get a whistle or something either way because I think it's a good idea.
Can someone please explain? Here is what the regs say:
Vessels less than 39 feet 4 inches (12 meters) are not specifically required to carry a whistle, horn or bell but they must have some means of making an "efficient sound signal."Vessels over 39 feet 4 inches (12 meters) are required to carry a bell and a powered whistle or horn.
It reads to me like you don't need it but you need it if you are under 39 feet 4 inches.
