Allow people to ride on the forward deck while underway?

D

Dave S

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TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 3, 2006
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Upstate South Carolina
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This may turn out to be a controversial posting but thought I would ask the question anyway. I am not sure what the law say about this either but I see people doing it all the time. So far I have not allowed it on our boat. I feel it's just too dangerous and the boat's forward deck isn't that big anyway.

What are your thoughts?
 
the only person to ride on the bow is the lady that was part of the boat in jason and the argonauts
 
I don't allow it....too dangerous in my opinion.
 
In CT as long as feet and hands are within the bowrails of the boat it is allowed. No dangling Period.

This is a judgement call. Water would have to be flat and traffic reduced for me to allow it. On the 450 we actually have a built in seat with cushion and ss grab handles on each side of seat, and with the rule seating right there at all times. We are only out there really while motoring the river or local water.
 
According to the text from our USCG Auxiliary boating class, "Bowriding is illegal in most states and in all federal parks and waters". It's also unsafe and I don't allow it.

EDIT: Sorry, I wasn't clear -- I agree with Dave, there are certain boats designed for riding on the foredeck. The USCG text illustration shows people sitting with feet dangling over the side. I believe that's what they consider "bowriding".

Jeff
 
In our area, if the boat's design does not provide a safe riding position, the law enforcement folks don't mess around with bow riding. They don't fool with what is and what is not legal as far a parts of the body outside the boat. Generally, you get an enforced stop for negligent/dangerous operation (a more serious offense than bow-riding), a mandatory inspection and a real expensive ticket The water stop usually costs the boat owner at least an hour as he listens to the lecture and goes thru the safety inspection. Depending upon his attitude and what the inspection turns up, he gets either a warning or a ticket.

Like Dave, our boat has a trunk cabin and a wide walk-way all the way to and around the bow. It is quite safe to ride there if you are seated on the cabin and your feet are on the deck. Since I make the speed decisions, when guests wish to ride on the bow, we run below planing speeds.
 
Wow guys, interesting answers so far. As far as I thought (little reading no real info) As long as people are contained inside of railing, then it is a matter of what is safe operation. Catching another boats wake on plain would be extremely dangerous, but it seems if you are just putting around arriving at the dock or beach this would be considered safe. My main question would be what is the difference between an open bow boat and out boats with railing. I seen people tossed out of open bow boats, yet this is considered proper seating. OK mores question than answers. :huh:
 
Well. . .it depends on the design of the handrails and cushions, no?

I would submit that you would probably be pretty secure in the fore of a bow rider.

But just looking at the bow of most cabin cruisers. . .that hardly seems secure.

Putting people on the bow for anchoring, docking, and harbor manuevuers (the human fenders) is an entirely different matter.
 
I rode on a Trojan with a molded cabin seat for 4, very nice place to ride. On our Sundancer...no
 
While we have plenty of room on the bow, my guests stay in the cockpit when we are underway.
 
The only time anyone is allowed on the bow (while under power) is when "I" get up there to toss an achor and the admiral is at the controls at idle speed. Otherwise no one is allowed up there while underway.
 
As previously stated, in CT it is allowed as long as there are bow rails and no one hangs over the sides. I do allow the kids to sit on top of the sliding door on my 240 DA but only at idle speed and only when the admiral is right there with them. At idle speed, i wouldnt have a problem with an adult sitting on the bow. Anything above an idle speed is a risk i would not be willing to take for anyone however.

Mike
 
No way Jose

Regardless of the design of your vessel.....if you loose someone overboard, you are gona be in deep stuff......They will look at what was happening at the time and probably find you culpable (negligent) because you did not have your guests under control, and failed to keep them safe. So no bow riding and no sitting on the gunwales while underway to be safe.
 
Illegal in my state and even if it wasn't I wouldn't allow it. The consequences of an accident are just too great to justify it. Even if you have bow rails, I suppose it is possible for one to somehow fail so it is like the safety on a gun. Assume it will fail, act accordingly and no one will ever get hurt.
 
When it comes right down to it. A boat can be replaced. The Kids... To precious. One of our dock neighbors said it best, Did your old man let you ride on the hood of your car?.... That shuts them up. I look at it as even if we are on the top of our game in a no wake area. I'm sure we have all seen the guy who has plenty of boat fueled by a mid day buzz and absolutly no clue any one else exists. I feel a whole lot better when I see them getting "Boarded".
 
IMHO: Not on a closed bow, OK on a bow rider. Bow rider was designed for it.
 
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