"Maximum Weight" plates in all new boats less than 26 feet in length after a certain date.

In this connection, in the case of outboard motorboats, the Committee was unanimous in recommending that the plate should show the recommended horsepower of the outboard motor.

LIFESAVING DEVICES:

In the majority of fatalities which occurred in small craft the victims were not wearing life preservers.

Mr. O'Brien summarized the problem: "The presently-approved jackets are bulky and cumbersome and, as a result, are not worn but are, generally, stored in some portion of the vessel. All too frequently, in times of emergency, the operators or passengers do not have sufficient time to obtain and put on the equipment."

Mr. Chalecki stated: "Concerning lifesaving devices, I feel that research is definitely needed for a less cumbersome type that will look at least halfway attractive on a person.

"We were fortunate to get some newspaper publicity recently on a 'Ladies Only' boating course. When it came to pictures, not one woman wanted to put on a life preserver for a picture because it 'made them look overweight"".

On this particular subject, the Committee was unanimous in its opinion that the Boating Industry and the U. S. Coast Guard should concentrate on developing a device less cumbersome and offering more freedom of action and at a price acceptable to the public.

In this connection Mr. Rittenhouse recommended that consideration be given to developing an "Individual" special-purpose lifesaving device. His thought was that people weighing 130 to 150 pounds should not be required to wear a life preserver or jacket designed to float a person weighing 200 pounds. If something could be developed along this line and the bulkiness reduced, he suggested that the individuals for whom jackets would be acquired should stencil their names on them and, under normal conditions, should be the only persons wearing the jacket.

ACCIDENT REPORTS:

The Committee considered means of better analyzing boating accident reports and concentrated on two particular subjects. It was noted that on the U. S. Coast Guard form and the majority of the various states accident forms the length, beam and year built are shown but the name of the boat manufacturer or builder is not required. The Committee also considered the desirability of closer defining the activity or "intended use" of a vessel involved in an accident.

It was the opinion of the majority of the Committee members that the name of the manufacturer or builder should be shown. In this respect, Mr. O'Brien of New York made the following comment: "This would enable us to carefully analyze and scrutinize accident reports as we are currently doing. When we have reason to believe that boats manufactured by "X" Company are involved in more than their normal share of boating accidents, a closer inspection and examination of these vessels could be made. "

Mr. Rittenhouse noted that one-third of the boats involved in fatality cases in Oregon this year were "home-made."

In considering if the activity or the intended use of a vessel involved in an accident should be better defined, it was the thinking of several of the Committee that this would be another means of promoting safety. For example, a sport fisherman going to or from a fishing grounds involved in an accident is usually shown as "cruising". If the intended use of the boat was also shown, as "sport fishing", "duck hunting", et cetera, better statistics could be obtained.

With the type of activity better pinpointed special interest groups through their organizations, such as fishing clubs, hunting clubs, et cetera, could be better reached with safety programs.

RULES OF THE ROAD DECAL:

The Committee Chairman asked that consideration be given to requiring a visual display of the Rules of the Road in view of the operator and similar to the OBC decal. This was considered by the 1966 Operator Control Committee which strongly recommended distribution and use of the decal but felt that a law requiring the decal was not necessary.

The Committee was evenly divided with Mr. Chalecki, Mr. Tharp and Mr. Rittenhouse in favor of requiring the decal. Mr. Phelps, Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Curtis opposed.

In opposing the proposition, Mr. O'Brien stated: "Here again we would have a dual standard with one thing applying on Federal waters and still another on State waters. I believe we can go too far in what we require a boater to carry aboard his vessel. In this state we issue a copy of the law and the Rules and Regulations, including Rules of the Road, with every boat registration. Having a copy in front of an operator will not cause him to comply with the requirement any more than a motorist who is aware of the speed limit will stay within it!"

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.

2.

3.

Capacity Plates The Committee recommends that the Federal Boating Act be amended to require the builders of boats less than 26 feet in length to affix "Passenger" and "Maximum Weight" plates in all new boats built after a given date. In the case of outboard motorboats, the recommended horsepower of the motor should be shown.

It is recommended that Industry and the U. S. Coast Guard concentrate on developing a lifesaving device less cumbersome and offering more freedom of action and at a price acceptable to the public.

The Committee recommends that the forms for reporting boat-
ing accidents require the name of the builder or manufac-
turer to be shown and that the activity or intended use of
the vessel involved in an accident be better defined than
is now done on the majority of Accident Reports.

MINORITY REPORT

Capacity Plates:

Mr. O'Brien of New York indicated that he would be in favor of the Federal Boating Act being amended to require capacity plates "provided that State Law also be amended at the same time. We must remember that Federal legislation is applicable to only a portion of most state waters. Without similar state legislation, we would again be faced with dual laws in conflict with one another--one set of standards for Federal waters and another for State waters."

Mr. Tharp stated: "Pennsylvania has a capacity-plate bill which is still working its way through the Legislature and I believe it will be enacted. I would first try to educate the various boating administrators and state legislators, rather than making this an additional requirement of the Federal Act. I would recommend a capacity-plate law be included in the Model Act.

Boating Accident Reports:

Mr. Curtis of North Carolina did not concur with other Committee members regarding showing the name of the manufacturer or builder on the Boating Accident Report form.

In regard to the accident report being more specific regarding the activity or intended use of a vessel involved in an accident, Mr. Curtis and Mr. Tharp differed with other members of the Committee.

In this respect, Mr. Tharp stated: "I see the point, however, this is a cruising accident and if a boat is not involved in fishing it is a boating accident. I do not like the idea of charging all fatalities to water skiing or fishing unless these activities are involved. They are all boatmen when operating a boat. Let's don't drive any additional wedges."

Rules of the Road Decal:

Mr. Rittenhouse of Oregon: "A picture is better remembered than a hundred words. There has been, and there will be, continued criticism directed at boaters regarding their lack of knowledge concerning the Rules. I doubt if a more simple or inexpensive method could be found to self-teach the boaters these rules. I, personally, believe we would be performing a great service to the boaters by requiring this now rather than have some undesirable laws forced upon them at a later date."