Riding on bow with bow rail

[Descant]

Here's the law:
270-D:7 Riding on Gunwales, Bow and Transom. – No person shall operate a motorboat or ride as a passenger in a motorboat while sitting on either the starboard or port gunwales or the transom, and no person shall straddle the bow while the motorboat is in operation underway.
Source. 1990, 171:1, eff. June 26, 1990.
I guess it's OK on a sailboat. In any event the lay in post #1 appears to be well within the law.

A variety of poses would allow greater exploration of the law, but I'm sure that would be beyond the scope of this forum, and totally inappropriate. The RSA is very clear unless you own some other type of vessel.
Good excuse for posting a fine example of how to interpret the RSA. Thank you.

[Descant]

Reexamining the thread:
We probably need more pix to have a definitive discussion.

[ITD]

Originally Posted by Descant

Here's the law:
270-D:7 Riding on Gunwales, Bow and Transom. – No person shall operate a motorboat or ride as a passenger in a motorboat while sitting on either the starboard or port gunwales or the transom, and no person shall straddle the bow while the motorboat is in operation underway.
Source. 1990, 171:1, eff. June 26, 1990.
I guess it's OK on a sailboat. In any event the lay in post #1 appears to be well within the law.

A variety of poses would allow greater exploration of the law, but I'm sure that would be beyond the scope of this forum, and totally inappropriate. The RSA is very clear unless you own some other type of vessel.
Good excuse for posting a fine example of how to interpret the RSA. Thank you.

Probably not as dangerous on a sailboat. On a power boat, if you fall off while breaking this law, you get turned into minced meat by the prop, almost guaranteed, before the captain can chop the power. Not a smart place to ride.

Riding on the bow, not hanging over the edge, especially with rails, seems fine to me.

[Barney Bear]

If a person falls off the bow of a powerboat, the operator should turn immediately in the direction of the person overboard.

[tis]

If there are railings around you can sit up there as long as your feet aren't dangling over the side.

[Dad sold the C * C]

My thanks button to Barny Bear

It makes sense, not sure I would have though of turning towards to person... I like to think I would have.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by tis

If there are railings around you can sit up there as long as your feet aren't dangling over the side.

That is news to me. What law requires railings to sit on the bow?

[Knomad]

Though the law does not make riding on the bow while underway illegal, is it really safe? It's like riding on the hood of your car driving down a bumpy road.

[kawishiwi]

Originally Posted by Knomad

Though the law does not make riding on the bow while underway illegal, is it really safe? It's like riding on the hood of your car driving down a bumpy road.

I am sure hitting a rock or an unexpected wake would not unleash the physics required to sail such a rider over or under the railing leaving only moderate bruising on the parts that actually contact the rail as the rider accelerates into an unscheduled swim followed closely by the unscheduled "dodge the meat grinder" activity following close behind.

[feb]

Worse is people, or even worse kids, sitting in the front of a pontoon bot dangling their feet in the water rushing under the boat. A few extra inches of water hitting them and they'll be sucked right under the boat.

[tis]

Tilton, I don't know what law it is. I only know what Marine Patrol told us. I am sure you can look it up if you want. Do you not like me? It seems you always question my posts.

[TCC]

Originally Posted by Descant

270-D:7 Riding on Gunwales, Bow and Transom. – No person shall operate a motorboat or ride as a passenger in a motorboat while sitting on either the starboard or port gunwales or the transom, and no person shall straddle the bow while the motorboat is in operation underway.
Source. 1990, 171:1, eff. June 26, 1990.

I guess it's OK on a sailboat. In any event the lay in post #1 appears to be well within the law.

In a nutshell, RSA 270-D:7 specifically refers only to:
- motor boats. It would be probably wise to assume that a sailboat moving under motor power would be covered under this prohibition.
- underway. The prohibition clearly does not apply to craft that is not moving under power.
- sitting. Having one's butt planted on the gunwales or transom (regardless of whether one's legs are inside or outside the boat), or straddling the bow (i.e., legs outside the boat).

Barring other regulations related to this topic, the person in the OP's photo would not be in violation of the law.

For you motor boaters, sailing often involves "hiking", which necessarily requires getting the body onto (and well outside of) the gunwales, making such a rule nonsensical if applied to boats under sail.

IMO, enacting laws in an effort to protect adults from their own poor judgement and immaturity is an abuse of the legislative process and serves no one.