Jones Act and Winni

birchhaven · 08-29-2020, 06:00 PM

Originally the post was specific to something I actually was able to answer myself. But after going down the rabbit hole came up with more questions. First I know we all have our reason why Winni is unique but I love learning new things like this that really do make Winnipesaukee unique, in this case literally legally unique in the USA.

This first one that pops into my head is if I "charter" a pontoon boat that has more the 12 people is the operator technically violating the Jones Act? I can't imagine anyone cares, but still. There is no way the consumer purchased toons are stamped by the coast guard.

I would assume just over the years the "mount" got a stamp at some point.

Kamper · 08-31-2020, 07:20 AM

USCG was on the lake, briefly, during the Reagan administration. For once, they had more funding than they really needed.

The Jones act was modified a few years ago to redefine "Navigable waters" and other details. USCG now only has authority over waters that can be navigated in both directions to international bodies of water, and interstate bodies of water. That leaves most of our rivers and lakes to local and state supervision.

Several of our rivers are technically included in federal jurisdiction because they form part of our borders or reach the sea.

The law does not prohibit USCG or other Federal Agencies from any public waterway. This is the same as any individual or group driving on a highway or walking in a park. The state does have letters if reciprocity with the USCG allowing mutual authority to act in various matters and areas. To the best of my knowledge, no such agreement applies to our lakes - just the seacoast.

That's all I think I know about that.

08-29-2020, 06:00 PM	#1
birchhaven Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 132 Thanks: 14 Thanked 54 Times in 30 Posts	Originally the post was specific to something I actually was able to answer myself. But after going down the rabbit hole came up with more questions. First I know we all have our reason why Winni is unique but I love learning new things like this that really do make Winnipesaukee unique, in this case literally legally unique in the USA. This first one that pops into my head is if I "charter" a pontoon boat that has more the 12 people is the operator technically violating the Jones Act? I can't imagine anyone cares, but still. There is no way the consumer purchased toons are stamped by the coast guard. I would assume just over the years the "mount" got a stamp at some point.

08-31-2020, 07:20 AM	#2
Kamper Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Thornton's Ferry Posts: 1,309 Thanks: 67 Thanked 172 Times in 128 Posts	USCG was on the lake, briefly, during the Reagan administration. For once, they had more funding than they really needed. The Jones act was modified a few years ago to redefine "Navigable waters" and other details. USCG now only has authority over waters that can be navigated in both directions to international bodies of water, and interstate bodies of water. That leaves most of our rivers and lakes to local and state supervision. Several of our rivers are technically included in federal jurisdiction because they form part of our borders or reach the sea. The law does not prohibit USCG or other Federal Agencies from any public waterway. This is the same as any individual or group driving on a highway or walking in a park. The state does have letters if reciprocity with the USCG allowing mutual authority to act in various matters and areas. To the best of my knowledge, no such agreement applies to our lakes - just the seacoast. That's all I think I know about that.

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