Riding on bow with bow rail
 

Last weekend I saw multiple boats similar to mine with bow rails and passengers on the bow.

Is this legal in NH at any speed?Attachment 13041

I HOPE SO! :D
Realistically, at slow speeds, why not?
At speed, however, is another story altogether that MAY have something to do with common sense...

Feet hanging over not so much.

Bow
 

You can ride,but no feet over the edge...got spoken to years ago by Marine Patrol because I was doing just that....

MP Visit
 

Officer Studmuffin may come by to check on things. 👮🏻

When I was stopped for this the mp told me it is legal only if there is a built in seat up there. No seat = not legal.

Rsa 270
 

Here's the law:
270-D:7 Riding on Gunwales, Bow and Transom. – No person shall operate a motorboat or ride as a passenger in a motorboat while sitting on either the starboard or port gunwales or the transom, and no person shall straddle the bow while the motorboat is in operation underway.
Source. 1990, 171:1, eff. June 26, 1990.
I guess it's OK on a sailboat. In any event the lay in post #1 appears to be well within the law.

A variety of poses would allow greater exploration of the law, but I'm sure that would be beyond the scope of this forum, and totally inappropriate. The RSA is very clear unless you own some other type of vessel.
Good excuse for posting a fine example of how to interpret the RSA. Thank you.

Reexamining the thread:
We probably need more pix to have a definitive discussion.

Probably not as dangerous on a sailboat. On a power boat, if you fall off while breaking this law, you get turned into minced meat by the prop, almost guaranteed, before the captain can chop the power. Not a smart place to ride.

Riding on the bow, not hanging over the edge, especially with rails, seems fine to me.

Turn! Turn!
 

If a person falls off the bow of a powerboat, the operator should turn immediately in the direction of the person overboard.

If there are railings around you can sit up there as long as your feet aren't dangling over the side.

My thanks button to Barny Bear:)

It makes sense, not sure I would have though of turning towards to person... I like to think I would have.

That is news to me. What law requires railings to sit on the bow?

Though the law does not make riding on the bow while underway illegal, is it really safe? It's like riding on the hood of your car driving down a bumpy road.

Stupid is as stupid does...
 

I am sure hitting a rock or an unexpected wake would not unleash the physics required to sail such a rider over or under the railing leaving only moderate bruising on the parts that actually contact the rail as the rider accelerates into an unscheduled swim followed closely by the unscheduled "dodge the meat grinder" activity following close behind.

Pontoon Boats
 

Worse is people, or even worse kids, sitting in the front of a pontoon bot dangling their feet in the water rushing under the boat. A few extra inches of water hitting them and they'll be sucked right under the boat.

Tilton, I don't know what law it is. I only know what Marine Patrol told us. I am sure you can look it up if you want. Do you not like me? It seems you always question my posts.

In a nutshell, RSA 270-D:7 specifically refers only to:
- motor boats. It would be probably wise to assume that a sailboat moving under motor power would be covered under this prohibition.
- underway. The prohibition clearly does not apply to craft that is not moving under power.
- sitting. Having one's butt planted on the gunwales or transom (regardless of whether one's legs are inside or outside the boat), or straddling the bow (i.e., legs outside the boat).

Barring other regulations related to this topic, the person in the OP's photo would not be in violation of the law.

For you motor boaters, sailing often involves "hiking", which necessarily requires getting the body onto (and well outside of) the gunwales, making such a rule nonsensical if applied to boats under sail.

IMO, enacting laws in an effort to protect adults from their own poor judgement and immaturity is an abuse of the legislative process and serves no one.

A MP officer told us that everyone must remain in the cockpit when underway. No one is allowed on the bow, gunwales, or stern when vehicle is underway. That includes cabin cruisers that have bow rails and or lounge seats on the bow.

This happen when my friend who has a 40' Regal with lounge chaise on the bow section. We were hailed going through the channel with girls on the chaise.

Maybe Officer Studmuffin was jealous?

I have a bowrider, so overall not much to do with this except with those in the bow section, who decide they want to kneel on the cushions while under way, hear a resounding "on your butts!" From the "Captain". Seldom does it have to be repeated. 😆

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Relevant Supreme Court Brief
 

Broadhopper brings up an important point based on his real world experience: we can parse the meaning of particular statutes here on-line, but actual implementation by officers in the field can be quite different than out interpretations.

Below is an interesting Supreme Court decision regarding a fatality resulting from a person bow riding (and an intoxicated operator). Rather lengthy, but of interest is the MP's testimony that if he had observed someone riding on the bow he would have cited the operator. While the "straddling" portion of the RSA is cited, the officer clearly interprets this as "riding" on the bow.

As always it is fun and educational to debate these topics here, but a quick call to MPHQ should resolve just what the actual law enforcement policy is.


https://www.courts.state.nh.us/supre...16025cable.pdf

Friend of mine back in the 80's was on the bow, hit a wave and he went over.
Prop strike severed his leg, he died before they got to the Wolfeboro docks..

Is it worth it?

I was in a fraternity with the Francis brothers when that happened. Super sad story and one I tell my boys when we boat on Winnipesaukee. My hope is they understand and respect how dangerous boating can be.


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That is interesting. I guess it depends on the officer?

Officer's discretion.....
 

Yes....a lot more than many folks think or suspect! An officer's discretion carries most of the weight in encounters like this. :)

Ironic
 

This accident occurred on June 14, 1988. Ironic it was mentioned in this thread on 6/15. I knew most of the guys on the boat. A sad memory.

Yeah there is definitely a lot of gray area with this one. Agree that it's really how the law is enforced.

I was on a center console fishing boat years ago going through a no wake, the only 2 seats were behind the wheel. While going though the channel, we got stopped & MP said I was sitting on the gunwale which was about waist high. I defined it more as leaning against. I would say the way I was sitting (or not ;) ) was safer than the picture above so better not give them a reason to stop you.