Having a boat is similar to having a car. You can’t just go out and buy a boat and ignore the rules. A boat, like a car, necessitates registration, operating precautions, the legal age to operate, and a license to operate. In this article, we’ll talk about watercraft insurance in the beautiful state of Iowa. Is it necessary to have boat insurance in Iowa? Let’s see what we can find out!
In Iowa, boat insurance is not needed. Boat insurance, on the other hand, is a smart option because it is inexpensive ($300 to $500 per year on average) and provides better peace of mind. Before purchasing insurance, you should obtain your Boater Education Certification.
Continue reading to learn more about the boat insurance regulations in the excellent state of Iowa, as well as other helpful hints.
What is required to operate a boat in Iowa?
Is a boating license required in Iowa? All boat operators between the ages of 12 and 17 must complete a boater safety course and carry a boater education card, according to Iowa law.
What are the boating laws in Iowa?
If driving a boat over 10 horsepower on state waters in Iowa, anyone above the age of 12 but under the age of 18 must have an Iowa Watercraft Safety Certificate. It is against the law for an adult to allow a child under the age of 14 to operate their boat without a valid watercraft safety certificate.
Do motor boats need insurance?
In most cases, your state will not compel you to get boat insurance. Only a few jurisdictions, in fact, compel boaters to carry insurance, and the obligation is frequently restricted to boats with engines rated at least 50 horsepower.
Can you drink on a boat in Iowa?
Q: Is it permissible for me to consume alcoholic beverages aboard the boat? A: Yes, drinking alcohol is permitted on the boat, but keep in mind that the operator must not be inebriated.
Do boats in Iowa have titles?
Scott County is where new and/or transferred vessels are registered. The deadline for boat registrations is April 30th (every three years starting 2007). The cost of a boat is determined by its length. A title is required for any boats above 17 feet in length (excluding canoes and kayaks). All liens on boats must be titled.
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* A receipt, bill of sale, or other satisfactory evidence that the sales or use tax for the vehicle has been paid is required before it can be registered. If purchased in Iowa, sales are subject to a 7% use tax, and a 6% use tax if purchased outside of the state.
How old do you have to be to not wear a lifejacket in Iowa?
Any youngster under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket at all times while on a vessel, which includes canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards, according to Iowa law.
Are life jackets required on boats?
Boaters appreciate the sensation of sun and splash on their skin. So, especially on pleasant days, it’s tempting to go boating without a lifejacket. However, the majority of boating-related drownings occur on pleasant days.
Life jackets come in a wide range of styles, colors, and sizes. Many of them are light and pliable. Some are incorporated directly into fishing vests or hunter coats. Others are as little as a scarf or fanny pack until they come into contact with water, at which point they immediately fill with air.
Things to Know:
- Certain lifejackets are designed to keep your head above water and assist you in maintaining a breathing position.
- Some lifejackets are not designed for non-swimmers or weak swimmers (read the label and be honest).
- A recreational vessel must have a US Coast Guard Approved lifejacket for each person on board to meet US Coast Guard standards.
- Children may not be able to use adult-sized lifejackets. There are lifejackets available for children.
- When worn properly, a foam-filled lifejacket will fit securely around the wearer’s chin and ears, and will not rise over the wearer’s chin or ears.
- At least once a year, foam-filled lifejackets should be checked for wear and buoyancy. Lifejackets that are waterlogged, discolored, or otherwise deteriorated should be discarded.
- Inflatable lifejackets should be cared for according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
- To keep their heads above water, most adults only require 7 to 12 pounds of buoyancy (31 to 53 Newton).
How Do Lifejackets Save Lives?
- When the vessel is underway, a lifejacket should be worn at all times, even if it is not required by law. A lifejacket that can be worn can save your life, but only if you wear it.
- In an emergency, you must be able to put on your lifejacket in a fair length of time (vessel sinking,on fire, etc.).
- Lifejackets should never be stored in plastic bags, locked or closed compartments, or on top of other gear.
- Inflatable lifejackets necessitate that the user pay close attention to the device’s condition.
- The device must have a full cylinder and all status indications on the inflator must be green, else it is not usable and does not meet the requirement to carry lifejackets.
- Children under the age of 13 must wear their lifejackets when a vessel is underway, according to federal law.
- Towable sports such as water skiing and other towed activities (use a lifejacket marked for water skiing).
- When using a personal watercraft (PWC) (use a lifejacket marked for water skiing or PWC use).
Other laws may apply if you are boating in an area under the control of the Army Corps of Engineers, a federal, state, or municipal park authority.
Inherent, Inflatable, Hybrid, and Special Purpose are the four primary design kinds.
- Those that support the user in the water face up, regardless of their physical condition (lifejackets).
- Those that necessitate swimming and other postural motions in order to place the user with his or her face out of the water (buoyancy aid).
The minimal buoyancy of the device is indicated by the number in performance Level Devices (Level 70). Level device buoyancy is measured in Newtons (N). The buoyancy of 70 Newtons is 15.74 pounds.
- Type I -has the most required intrinsic buoyancy and transforms most unconscious people in the water from a face down position to an upright and slightly backward position, considerably boosting their chances of life.
- Type II – designed to move some unconscious people from a face down posture in the water to a position where their breathing is not obstructed.
- Type III floats are designed to keep a conscious person upright in the water.
- This type of gadget isn’t necessary to transfer an unconscious person in the water from a face-down position to a position where the wearer’s breathing isn’t obstructed.
- Type V – is approved for certain usage or activities, such as commercial white water rafting or boardsailing.
- Other boating activities may not be acceptable for these gadgets.
- The label specifies whether a specific Type V design can be used in a specific application, as well as any constraints or limitations that may apply, as well as the performance type.
- Level 50 – Intended for use by competent swimmers who are close to a bank or shore, or who have assistance and a method of rescue nearby.
- Level 70 – for individuals who have access to help or a means of rescue, or who are close to a bank or shore.
- These gadgets are small and light, but they cannot be expected to keep the swimmer safe in turbulent water for an extended amount of time.
- Level 100 -intended for those who may need to wait for rescue but will be in sheltered water.
- In choppy water, the device should not be utilized.
- Level 150 – designed for use with bad weather garments or as a general application.
- It will place an unconscious individual in a safe posture and require no further action from the user to keep them there.
Do kayaks need to be registered in Iowa?
Is a kayak required to be registered in Iowa? In Iowa, you do not need to register a kayak or canoe if it is less than 13 feet long and does not have an engine or sail. These vessels are not required to be registered.
NOTE: It appears that Iowa is an intriguing state with more stringent rules and restrictions regarding kayak and canoe registration. Because, as we all know, there are numerous recreational and unpowered kayaks and canoes that are well over 13 feet long. So, whether or not they have a motor vehicle, they must be registered in Iowa.
Is a kayak with a trolling motor required to be registered in Iowa? All motorized vessels operating, using, or storing on Iowa’s “waters of the state” are required to be titled. As a result, any kayak or canoe equipped with an electric or gas trolling engine must be titled and registered.
Can you boat on the Iowa River?
The trail begins at Sturgis Ferry Park (1700 S Riverside Dr) in Iowa City, which features a boat launch for easy access to the river. From there, it’s a 9.25-mile float down to Hills Access, a 40-acre park in Iowa City (4210 520th St SE), not Hills, as its name suggests.
Canoeists who are brave and motivated can follow the water trail all the way to Ferry Landing in Louisa County, where the Iowa River meets the Mississippi River. Between Sturgis Ferry Park and Ferry Landing, the journey is about 73 miles long, with six river access locations.
The Great Iowa River Race, which will take place on June 8, will go from Sturgis Ferry Park to Hills Access. The race is divided into two categories: one for those who just want to have a good time on the river, and another for those who want a serious race. (The event’s registration deadline is June 4.)
Of course, canoeing and dirty water aren’t either/or when it comes to the Iowa River; they’re both/and. The Iowa River is listed as “impaired or threatened” in the most recent Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) assessment of “impaired waters” due to bacterial contamination (rated “slight”), fish kills due to natural causes (also “slight”), and potential biological impairments due to unknown causes (rated “moderate”). Between the Burlington Street Dam in Iowa City and the Coralville Reservoir Dam, river water samples were taken.
It’s not surprising that the river has issues. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, more than half of the state’s rivers, streams, and lakes are polluted. Agriculture is the most significant contribution to the state’s water quality issues.
Iowa has a total landmass of 36 million acres, 25 million of which are planted with just two crops: corn and soybeans. Both crops require nitrogen and phosphate fertilizer, and fertilizer run-off from the fields is a significant source of water contamination. In addition, the state’s industrial-scale hog farms feature sewage lagoons that overflow or seep into rivers on a regular basis.
Agriculture pollution will require effective state action, which is unlikely to occur while Republicans control both the legislature and the governorship. Republicans in Iowa advocate a voluntary approach to pollution regulation.