Liability Insurance required for Boats and Personal Watercraft

Salt Lake– Owners of motorboats, including personal watercraft (PWC), are required to carry owner’s or operator’s liability insurance on vessels operating on Utah’s waters. Motorboats equipped with engines less than 50 horsepower are exempt from this requirement.

Proof of insurance must be carried on board their motorboat whenever it is in operation. The minimum insurance requirements are: $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury/death - $15,000 property damage or $65,000 combined minimum per accident.

A motorboat owned by a non-Utah resident and registered in the non-resident’s state must meet its state’s insurance requirements or have 90 days to comply with Utah’s liability insurance requirements.

The following tips may help save money on boat insurance:

- Look for a marine-specific policy

- Get an appraisal of your boat’s value: Today's competitive boat buying market has likely reduced the value of your boat, which could allow you to reduce your premium.

- Check for duplication and understand your coverage: If you have a homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy, it may cover items such as sports equipment.

- Educate yourself: Take a Utah State Parks or U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary boating education course. Completion of the course may reduce your premium.

For more information go www.stateparks.utah.gov//boating or call 801-538-BOAT. Wear it Utah!

Utah State Parks Boating Safety Tip of the Week

Salt Lake City -- As a boat operator, you are responsible for ensuring your passengers understand basic safety practices. Review the following safety tips before heading out on the water:

- Wear a life jacket at all times

- Know where critical safety equipment is located, including life jackets, fire extinguishers, distress signals, bailing devices, first aid kit and anchor

- Know safety procedures if you’re caught in rough weather, someone falls overboard, your boat capsizes, or a fire erupts

- Know how to use the VHF marine band radio, make a MAYDAY call and signal for help

- Know that alcohol and boats do not mix. It is illegal for the boat operator to consume alcohol

- Know never to leave the steering wheel and throttle controls with the engine in gear, even to simply turn around and talk with passengers

For additional safe boating tips visit stateparks.utah.gov/boating or call (801)538-BOAT. Wear it Utah!

Stay alive and avoid Cold Water Dangers

Salt Lake City- Utah State Parks Boating Managers remind everyone that water temperatures remain very cold despite warmer air temperatures, and encourage all boaters, anglers and anyone on or near the water wear life jackets and take other precautions.

“You never know when you might end up in the water. Life jackets not only keep you afloat, but provide an extra layer of warmth,” said Assistant Boating Program Manager Chris Haller. “The combination of additional warmth and flotation might mean the difference between life and death.”

Haller recommends these cold water boating safety tips:

- Have a ladder or a method to re-board your boat
- Carry a signaling device, such as a mirror or flare gun
- Carry a cell phone or marine band radio and make sure your device has service in the area
- Always tell someone your boating plans, including where you are going and what time you will return
- Check local weather conditions before heading out
- Carry proper equipment onboard your boat

For more information and to find current boating conditions, visit http://www.stateparks.utah.gov/ or call (801) 538-BOAT. Wear it Utah!

Utah State Parks Boating Tip of the Week

Salt Lake – All boats, including canoes, kayaks, float and inner tubes, kick boats, rubber rafts and many inflatable toys, used on Utah's waterways must carry basic safety equipment, which should include:

- A properly sized U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person on board. Utah law requires everyone 12 and under, those boating on a river, riding on a personal watercraft and being towed behind a vessel to wear a properly fitted and fastened life jacket.

- Bucket or bilge pump

- Spare paddle, oar or extra motor

- Horn or whistle

- Marine approved, fire extinguisher for motorboats with gasoline or diesel engines

- At least one throwable life preserver on boats 16 feet or longer

- Navigation lights for operation between sunset and sunrise

Many boats are required to carry different equipment depending upon vessel length. For specific boating safety equipment, visit stateparks.utah.gov/boating/checklist or call (801) 538-BOAT. Wear it Utah!

Drivetime Audio Segments Now Available for July 20-24

Download this week’s drivetime programming at our Network Page at http://www.backcountrynetwork.com/Download/Download.htm . Check out the schedule below.


Drivetime Lineup of Topics on Backcountry Utah

July 20, 2009
Monday Morning (Track 1) Celebrate the 75th year Anniversary of Ogden Pioneer Days—Desiree Larsen
Monday Afternoon (Track 2) Rodeo Fun as part of Ogden Pioneer Days—Desiree Larsen

July 21, 2009
Tuesday Morning (Track 3) Meet the Whoopee Girls—Desiree Larsen, Ogden Pioneer Days
Tuesday Afternoon (Track 4) Big Boat Savings in 2009—Casey Robertson, Robertson’s Marine

July 22, 2009
Wednesday Morning (Track 5) Invest in a new Boat—Casey Robertson, Robertson’s Marine
Wednesday Afternoon (Track 6) Discover Boating this Summer — Casey Robertson, Robertson’s Marine

July 23, 2009
Thursday Morning (Track 7) Tanning Beds and Skin Cancer—Dr. Sancy Leachman, Huntsman Cancer Institute
Thursday Afternoon (Track 8 ) Common Sun Safety Myths—Dr. Sancy Leachman, Huntsman Cancer Institute


July 24, 2009
Friday Morning (Track 9) Rafting the Provo River—Neil Jarman, High Country Rafting
Friday Afternoon (Track 10) Summer Fire Safety --Guy Perkins, Camp Chef