Boating Safety
University of Florida – Small Boat Manual
Boating Safety Manual
The provisions of this manual apply whenever personnel are operating a small boat under UF auspices, regardless of ownership of the boat.
Specific examples of boat operations under UF auspices include, but are not limited to:
- .Persons engaged in research.
- Employees acting within the scope of their employment.
- Students engaged in any research/educational operation, including those receiving or providing boat operation instruction or involved in boat checkouts;
- Boat operation conducted in educational and recreational programs sponsored by UF.
Boats used under UF auspices include:
- Boats owned, supported, or administered by UF.
- Privately owned boats used for UF research or educational purposes.
- Any other boats used by UF for research or educational purposes.
All personnel who operate any small boat under UF auspices must be an authorized boat operator. The designated boat operator is responsible for all aspects of boating operations. The responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Safety of the boat and all persons on board.
- Operation of the boat in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
- Safe transport of the boat to and from the launch site, if applicable. Before transportation, the Boat Trailering Check List should be used to ensure the boat is ready for transport (Appendix I).
- The safe operation of all equipment. Before boat operation, the Boat Operating Check List should be used to ensure the boat is ready for operation (Appendix II)
- Ensuring that all required operational and safety equipment is on board and that the crew member(s) know the location and how to operate safety/survival equipment.
- Report all accidents, incidents, citations, safety concerns, and issue to the BSO.
To be an authorized boat operator, the individual must:
- Be over 18 years of age.
- Hold a current valid State of Florida driver’s license.
- Complete an online safe boating course (http://www.boatus.org/florida) and provide a certificate of completion to the unit.
- Participate in a unit-sponsored boat operator training for the specific boat that they will be using.
- Participate in a unit-sponsored trailering training (to include launching and loading of boat) if they will be required to trailer the boat to the launch site.
A list of authorized small boat operators will be maintained by each unit. Only those people on the list are permitted to operate boats under UF auspices
- Complete an online safe boating course (http://www.boatus.org/florida) and provide a certificate of completion to the unit.
- Participate in a unit-sponsored boat operator training for each specific boat that they will be operating.
Training will be specific to each boat, but should include at a minimum, the items found in the Boat Operator Training Recommendations (Appendix III).
Each department shall provide a list of authorized operators to the EHS Boating Safety Officer and shall forward the names of newly authorized operators as they become qualified.
No persons shall engage in UF boating operations unless she/he is authorized, or currently in boat operator training under the guidance of an approved boating instructor.
Authorized trainers shall have a minimum of three years of successful operation of the class of vessel for which they are providing training. Trainers shall be knowledgeable in the local, state and federal boating regulations in the area they and their students will be operating
All boat operators shall obey local, state, federal and international laws while conducting boating and trailering operations under UF auspices. It is highly recommended that all boat operators review the USCG’s “A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats” (https://www.uscgboating.org/images/420.PDF).
All SCUBA diving operations conducted from UF boats shall be in accordance with the UF Diving Science and Safety Program (http://www.ehs.ufl.edu/programs/dive/).
The local emergency medical system should be activated if imminent danger threatening life or property exists and immediate help is required. For most freshwater and some nearshore coastal area calling 911 on a cell phone will connect you with local emergency help. For near and off shore coastal waters, contacting the US Coast Guard on a Marine VHF Radio channel 16 will connect you with the nearest emergency help. If there is a genuine concern for the safety or welfare of any person onboard a vessel that has not returned or check in within a reasonable amount of time, the USCG Boating Emergency Guide should be followed.
In an emergency requiring immediate action, the boat operator may deviate from any rule of this manual to the extent required to meet that emergency.
A pre-departure float plan shall be given to a responsible party on shore. The float plan should include a minimum:
- Names of operator and crew;
- Name and description of boat;
- Planned date, time and place of departure;
- Planned date, estimated time and place of return;
- The site(s) of operation.
The University of Florida is committed to providing a campus environment free of alcohol and other drugs. The unlawful possession or use of a controlled substance or the unlawful possession and use of alcohol are harmful and prohibited in and on property owned and controlled by the university. No employee, student, or authorized operator of a university boat or boat used for university purposes such as research are to operate the vessel while under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol. Violation of this policy by an employee, student, or authorized operator is grounds for disciplinary action up to and including termination, expulsion, or revocation of boat operation privileges. Additionally, a violation may be reason for evaluation and treatment, or referral for prosecution consistent with local, state, and federal criminal law.
Each boat operator shall, before going boating, become familiar with all available information concerning that boating activity. This information should include:
- Marine weather reports and forecasts for the location, fuel and boat oil requirements, and alternative points of landing if the original launch site is unavailable.
- Seaworthiness and equipment operation of all components pertaining to the boating mission.
Appendix I – Boat Trailering Checklist
Appendix II – Boat Operating Checklist
Appendix III – Boat Operator Training Recommendations
Appendix IV – Recommendations for Trailering Training
Issued September 12, 2019
COVID-19 BOATING RESOURCES
UF Boating Guidelines COVID-19 Cleaning: Disinfection for Boat-Equipment