Senate Fish, Game & Forestry Committee Amendment
S 33 - Session 125 (2023-2024)
Watercraft

The Committee on Fish, Game and Forestry proposes the following amendment (SFGF-33.BC0005S):

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by deleting SECTIONS 2, 3, and 4.

Amend the bill further, by adding an appropriately numbered SECTION to read:

SECTION X. Section 50-21-10 (20) through (29) of the S.C. Code are amended to read:

(20) "Personal watercraft" means a vessel, usually less than sixteen feet in length, that uses an inboard, internal combustion engine powering a water jet pump as its primary source of propulsion and that is intended to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel, rather than within the confines of the hull. Personal watercraft include a vessel commonly known as a "jet ski".

(21) "Reportable boating accident" means an accident, collision, or other casualty involving a vessel subject to this chapter which results in loss of life, injury which results in loss of consciousness, necessity for medical treatment, necessity to carry a person from the scene, disability which prevents the discharge of normal duties beyond the day of casualty, or actual physical damage to property including vessels in excess of the minimum amount set by the United States Coast Guard for reportable accidents.

(21)(22) "Serial number" means the identifying manufacturer's number affixed to a watercraft before November 2, 1972, and to outboard motors before, on, and after that date. The serial number of watercraft manufactured after November 1, 1972, is part of the hull identification number.

(23) "Specialty propcraft" means a vessel that is similar in appearance and operation to a personal watercraft but is powered by an outboard or propeller-driven motor.

(22)(24) "Temporary certificate of number" is a temporary registration assigned to a vessel to allow operation for a limited purpose.

(23)(25) "Tender" means a small watercraft attendant to a larger vessel that meets United States Coast Guard requirements and is used solely for ferrying supplies or passengers and crew between its parent vessel and shore.

(24)(26) "Use" means operate, navigate, or employ.

(25)(27) "Vessel" means every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane regulated by the federal government, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.

(26)(28) "Water device" means a motorboat, boat, personal watercraft or vessel, water skis, an aquaplane, surfboard, or other similar device.

(27)(29) "Waters of the State" means waters within the territorial limits of the State but not private lakes or ponds.

(28)(30) "Watercraft" means any thing used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water but does not include: a seaplane regulated by the federal government, water skis, aquaplanes, surfboards, windsurfers, tubes, rafts, and similar devices or any thing that does not meet construction or operational requirements of the state or federal government for watercraft.

(29)(31) "Wake surf" means to operate a vessel that is ballasted in the stern so as to create a wake that is, or is intended to be, surfed by another person.