Guns on your boat

tsquared1965

New Member
Jun 7, 2010
76
New Jersey
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1988 400db 3116 cats
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3116 cats
Looking for info. Live in NJ what are the laws for having a hand gun on your boat. Local LEOs couldn't answer
 
Good luck getting a straight answer pertaining to guns from any LEO or Agency. Try asking the USCG.

Are you asking about hand guns, long guns or both?

I know that you can carry on your boat if you have a permit in any open water, just don't have a gun on you if you plan on tying to any mooring buoy, pier or dock in Canada.

If you get boarded by any law enforcement agency or the USCG, they will always ask if you have any weapons on board. If you answer yes, they will ask where the gun/s is and they will locate it, unload it, stow the gun separate from the ammunition and then tell you where they put it before the depart, assuming there wasn't an issue elsewhere.
 
+1 as long as you are licensed to carry in your home port, you can have firearms on board, just dont have them on your person if you change states, i'm licensed to carry in CT.
But once into cross an area that is "not CT waters" (ie. crossing over to Long Island) i should not have it on me, just stowed away.. can be anywhere on the boat..

I believe that is part of an old maritime law to protect your vessel against Pirates..




Good luck getting a straight answer pertaining to guns from any LEO or Agency. Try asking the USCG.

Are you asking about hand guns, long guns or both?

I know that you can carry on your boat if you have a permit in any open water, just don't have a gun on you if you plan on tying to any mooring buoy, pier or dock in Canada.

If you get boarded by any law enforcement agency or the USCG, they will always ask if you have any weapons on board. If you answer yes, they will ask where the gun/s is and they will locate it, unload it, stow the gun separate from the ammunition and then tell you where they put it before the depart, assuming there wasn't an issue elsewhere.
 
Unless you have a NJ CCW don't get caught underway with a loaded gun on your boat. While in home port and tied up, larger boats are considered homes and as such, you can have a gun on board, however, the minute you untie and move the boat it is no longer a home but rather a boat and with out a CCW you are subject to all the same laws that apply to having a gun in your car. If its unloaded and properly secured no problem (except in New York), but the Coast Guard and NJ Marine Police can make your life a living hell if they want. Unless you really think you will need it, leave it home.
 
Unless you really think you will need it, leave it home.


How do you know ahead of time that you'll need it?

I personally feel that when you don't have it, is when you'll really need it.

Do you think you'll need a life jacket, flares, VHF radio and charts everytime we cast off? Probably not, but we take them anyway.

Always be prepared for anything.

That's just my $0.02.

Cheers
 
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In VA. You MUST have a CWP for the weapon on your boat. It is concealed, it's still a weapon. Follow all the same laws you would have on the land as you would on the boat. HAVE you PERMIT ready to show! Tell them where the gun is! Advise them is it is loaded!

All the papers the USGC ask to see are all in the same location, I always invite them and tell them of what's there.

Treat them as You would want to be treated, show respect! Be Nice!
 
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In New York State, civilians need to have a New York State permit. Out of State permits are not honored.
Active qualified LEO's from anywhere in the country are OK, as are retired LEO's qualified under HR 218.
In NYC it gets even tougher. You must have a NYC permit, or be an active qualified LEO, or be a retired qualified retired Police Officer from an agency in New York State, or be a qualified retired LEO under HR 218.
Permits from outside NYC (even from other places in New York State) are not good, and retired LEO's from outside NYS who are not qualified under HR 218 are not good to go either.
Additionally, there are restrictions on the capacity of magazines throughout the State. No more than 10 rounds for other than qualified active LEO's and qualified retired LEO's under certain circumstances.
 
+1 as long as you are licensed to carry in your home port, you can have firearms on board, just dont have them on your person if you change states, i'm licensed to carry in CT.
But once into cross an area that is "not CT waters" (ie. crossing over to Long Island) i should not have it on me, just stowed away.. can be anywhere on the boat..

I believe that is part of an old maritime law to protect your vessel against Pirates..

Word of advice, take it for what it's worth:
If you think you may cross in to New York Waters, do not have it on the boat at all. Not even stowed.
Loaded is a felony, and unloaded is a misdemeanor here. I don't know anything about any kind of "old maritime law", and although it may exist, and might make for an argument for your attorney to make on your behalf at arraignment or trial, you'll have to spend a little time in a urine soaked cell and develop an appreciation for baloney on stale white bread before you find out whether or not a Judge will buy it.
Not to mention that they'll impound that beautiful 390.
All things considered, it may be better to just avoid the whole mess.
 
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We boat in Washington, BC and Alaska. We have never had the need of a gun. All you people that carry guns have you ever had to use it? If yes what was the reason?
 
A question for those that know more, do all the rules quoted apply only to hand guns or do they also apply to shot guns or other long guns? I know of a few guys that carry Mossberg stainless 'marine' 12 ga shotguns on board while offshore fishing, ostensibly for dispatching large dangerous game fish at the boat ie. large thresher sharks that are being boated.
 
We boat in Washington, BC and Alaska. We have never had the need of a gun. All you people that carry guns have you ever had to use it? If yes what was the reason?


This is obviously a very hot topic. By virtue of the nature of my employment I carry gun and fortunately have never needed it while on the boat. Given my employment I have felt much more comfortable once in port though.
 
northern, to answer your question--yes, I have had an occasion when I wished I had one on board.

We were anchored overnight in a fairly secluded area off the main channel of the Columbia River. Mid summer, nice evening, all the windows open and a gentle breeze drifting through the boat. I awoke in the middle of the night to the sound of a small outboard motor very close to the boat. I got up and peeked up over the boat's helm and could see a small, aluminum boat with two guys in it, but I did not see any fishing gear. They were idling around my boat about 10 yards away. They made a couple of circles around the boat then idled off about 30-40 yards away.

I could hear their voices but couldn't tell what they were saying. About that time I realized that I had no way to defend myself if they were intent on boarding us and robbing us. They sat there talking for several minutes then fired up the motor and idled away.

Since then I usually have a handgun hidden on board.
 
We boat in Washington, BC and Alaska. We have never had the need of a gun. All you people that carry guns have you ever had to use it? If yes what was the reason?

If you're a Canadian and you have your firearms license it's perfectly legal for you to carry non restricted firearms on your vessel when in Canadian waters, and if you fill out a 6N1A form with the ATF you can get a 1 year permit to bring you firearms with you to the USA. When you're in the US each state's specific laws apply.

Just note that it's more complex when dealing with restricted firearms (as the Canadian government classifies them) and also even more complex as many firearms deemed "non restricted" in Canada are prohibited in the USA, and vice versa.

Do you homework, have your paperwork in order and ensure that you declare if you cross any international boundaries and you should have no issues.

And why? Do you think that help is just a 2 minute 911 response away when you're underway and miles from nowhere?
 
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As stated above laws vary by state and when you are underway federal law applies. If you are docked on a cruiser the same laws that apply to your home apply to your floating home. The USCG always asks if there are weapons aboard when doing an inspection. I show them my spyderco and they usually laugh.
 
For those that don't want to carry or worry if the State your in will allow you to carry onboard. Remember a flare gun is legal in all states and all waters. I have and still use a old metal flare gun from my grandfathers boat. It uses a 10 gauge shell and will chase most away.
 
In VA. You MUST have a CWP for the weapon on your boat. It is concealed, it's still a weapon. Follow all the same laws you would have on the land as you would on the boat. HAVE you PERMIT ready to show! Tell them where the gun is! Advise them is it is loaded!

All the papers the USGC ask to see are all in the same location, I always invite them and tell them of what's there.

Treat them as You would want to be treated, show respect! Be Nice!

Can you cite the laws pertaining to this? As I understand it Code of Virginia 18.2-308 allows for unloaded secure storage of a firearm in a vehicle without a permit. You may also carry it on your person as long as it is open. The question I have is when you are living aboard your boat why can't the rules apply as they do to your home? Keep in Mind I Am Not A Lawyer.
 
I asked the USCGAux and they told me as long as you are permitted in the state and if you travel past your states waters you are ok to keep it on board as long as it's stowed properly. But I'm sure that is up to interpretation to local LEO
 
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I asked the USCGAux and they told me as long as you are permitted in the state and if you travel past your states waters you are ok to keep it on board as long as it's stowed properly. But I'm sure that is up to interpretation to local LEO


PLEASE, I BEG OF YOU.... Do not take the interpretation of the Coast Guard Auxiliary as ANY form of legal advice. For the most part they are a good group of volunteers to assist in boater safety education but they ARE NOT in any way, shape of form a part of law enforcement.


A boat (vessel) is a conveyance and Federal law allows for the transportation of guns in a conveyance provided that they are unloaded, inoperable and encased. Remember this is Federal Law only. A caveat to this is possession of a gun on Federal property.

State laws still apply. The fact that you have a bedroom on your boat does not make it a house for the purpose of search and seizure and your 4th amendment rights.

I will be happy to share additional information anyone if requested.
 

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