NEW MEXICO STATE SPECIFIC BOATING REGULATIONS

A Personal Watercraft is a Class A motorboat less than 16 feet, designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing or kneeling on the vessel rather than the operator sitting or standing inside the vessel.

EQUIPMENT REQUIRED TO OPERATE A VESSEL:

No person shall operate or give permission to operate a vessel on New Mexico waters which is not equipped as required by the New Mexico Boat Act and the State Park Boat Act Regulations.

For a PWC that includes the life jacket which must be worn, one oar or paddle (many use the collapsible or bungee one to the inside of the engine compartment), the bailing bucket of at least one gallon (the removable one provided by the manufacturer is usually one gallon or more in size), length of stout rope equal to the vessel length, B-1 fire extinguisher, 1/2 mile sounding whistle or horn, flame arrestor on the carburetor in place, ventilation that is not blocked, and engine cut-off switch lanyard in place. No throw cushion is required since every person on board must wear a life jacket.

The Certificate of Number (Registration) must be on board vessel and shall be available for inspection at all times when the motorboat is in operation. Numbers must be in simple block letters and numbers - no script - 3 inches minimum in height, read left to right, be of contrasting color to the hull, have a space or dash between the letters and numbers (e.g. NM-1234-BA) and placed on the forward half of the vessel above the waterline. The Validation Decal is placed on the port side on the vessel only six inches from the registration number.

Every motorboat shall be numbered. No person shall operate or give permission for the operation of any motorboat on the waters of this state unless the motorboat is numbered in accordance with the New Mexico Boat Act...and the identifying number is displayed on each side of the bow of the motorboat.

Skiers and those being pulled on any flotation object shall wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III personal flotation device while being pulled by a vessel. There shall be a space on board the PWC for the operator, an observer and the skier or person being towed by the PWC.

A U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable personal floatation device must be worn by all persons engaged in boating on a river and in all boat races and by persons using ice sailboats, personal watercraft, kayaks, canoes and rubber rafts on any waters of this state.

LIGHTS:

All motorboats operating one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise shall display a combination light on the fore part of the vessel and a white light aft to show 360 degrees around the horizon of the vessel and above the combination light. The combination light shall be green on the starboard (right) side and red on the port (left) and shall throw the lights from dead ahead to two points abaft of the beam on their respective sides. PWCs are prohibited from operating sunset to sunrise.

Vessels underway or anchored in a non-designated mooring area one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise must exhibit a white light or lantern to show 360 degrees around the horizon and a distance of at least one-half mile.

PROHIBITED OPERATIONS:

All vessel operators on New Mexico waters must not engage the vessel in prohibited activities nor allow passengers to engage in activities prohibited by this regulation or the New Mexico Boat Act.

RIDING THE FOREDECK AND GUNWALES OF A VESSELS:
Except when casting off, mooring or when otherwise necessary, no vessel operator shall allow any person to ride or sit on the gunwales or on the bow of a vessel when under way, unless the vessel is equipped with adequate guard rails designed to prevent a person from slipping under or rolling over the rail. No person shall sit on a seat back while the vessel is underway or allow his/her legs to hang overboard at any time.

TROLLING:
Trolling or drift fishing is prohibited within 150 feet of any marina, boat ramp or courtesy dock.

SPEED:
All vessels shall be operated at a speed no greater than is reasonable or proper according to conditions prevailing at the time of operation.

All vessels shall be operated at speeds controlled as necessary to avoid swamping or collision with any watercraft or person.

No-wake speeds shall be observed by all vessels operating within 150 feet of launch ramps, docks, mooring lines, beached or anchored vessels within 150 feet of shore, swimmers, fishermen and areas designated for "no-wake" boating. ("No-Wake" means no white water off the bow or sides of the vessel). The safe distance rule of 150 feet applies to PWCs and other vessels not participating in the same activity such as watersports or fishing. Exception to no-wake operation: under adverse weather conditions, a vessel may maintain the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course.

OVERLOADING:
No vessel operator shall carry more people on board than the number stated on a vessel's capacity plate or as computed by multiplying the vessel's length times its width and dividing by 15. PWCs have a manufacturing rating decal if no plate is visible.

POLLUTION:
No person shall deposit or discharge liquid or solid waste or other refuse into New Mexico waters.

BUOYS, WATER MARKING SYSTEM:
No person shall anchor from, deface or relocate a buoy placed by the New Mexico Parks Division for the purpose of aiding navigation.

OPERATION WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES:
No person shall operate any motorboat or vessel, nor use any water skis, surfboard or similar device, while under the influence of alcohol and/or any controlled substance. A level of .08% or greater blood alcohol level is evidence of intoxication. First conviction is punishable by imprisonment of not more than 90 days or by a fine of not more than $500 and shall be ordered by the court to attend a NASBLA approved boating safety course.

AGE RESTRICTION:
No person under the age of 13 shall operate a motorboat unless under the onboard supervision of an adult.

BOATING ACCIDENTS:

The operator or legal representative of any vessel involved in a collision, accident or other casualty on any New Mexico waters must:

Report the collision, accident or other casualty immediately to the local law enforcement agency; and file a U.S. Coast Guard boating accident report within forty-eight hours with the State Park's Division if the collision, accident or other casualty resulted in a death, injury requiring more than standard first aid or property damage in excess of $100. Forms are available at offices of State Parks with lakes or download an accident report form from this site.
Reports must be sent to and forms are also available at:
State Parks Division
2040 South Pacheco Street
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
(505) 827-7173

No person shall knowingly make false claims or statements when reporting a collision, accident or casualty.

WATER SKIING:

Water skiing is permitted on New Mexico waters; however, in the interest of public safety, certain areas may be designated as closed to such activity and entry into these areas for the purpose of water skiing is prohibited.

PROHIBITED SKIING ACTIVITIES:

Water skiing is prohibited within 150 feet of any public dock (other than a ski dock), mooring line, launching ramp, boat, fisherman, swimmer or any person not also engaged in water skiing.

No person shall intentionally obstruct or interfere with water skiers engaged in waterskiing.

The use of personal watercraft to tow water skiers, surfboards, tubes or similar devices is prohibited unless they meet the requirements provided below.

No person shall operate a vessel on any New Mexico waters, towing a person on water skis, surfboard or similar device, nor shall any person engage in water skiing surfboarding or similar activity, at any time between the hours form one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise.

SKIING SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

An international fluorescent orange or a red warning flag must be raised by a person in the towing vessel whenever a person on water skies or other water device has fallen, is dropped off or is starting, in order to warn other vessels away from the area. The flag shall be a minimum of 12 inches by 12 inches and displayed high enough to be visible 360 degrees around the vessel without obstruction.

No person shall pull a water skier with a personal watercraft unless:

• All water skiing laws and regulations are complied with;



• The personal watercraft pulling the skier has manufacturer recommended seating for at least three people;



• There is a vacant seat on the pulling vessel for the skier; and



• The personal watercraft has an observer on board in addition to the operator.

SPECIAL REGULATIONS

WEATHER:
If at any time the Superintendent of Parks determines that the weather or the condition of a lake is dangerous for boats, he/she may prohibit the launching or use of boats for an indefinite period of time upon the posting of appropriate notice.

Boaters shall observe small craft weather warnings and seek shelter ashore when flags or lights have been activated to indicate adverse weather conditions.

All vessels when not in use shall be firmly anchored, moored or otherwise secured so as to prohibit drifting or otherwise damaging the property of others. No vessel shall be moored or anchored within 150 feet of any marina, boat ramp or courtesy dock.

Private docks, buoys and the mooring of houseboats are prohibited unless authorized by the Director of Parks. Overnight anchoring of vessels is authorized provided it does not impede or present a hazard to navigation. Overnight anchoring of vessels within a state park is subject to overnight camping permits and fees, except for vessels moored at concession operated facilities such as marinas or buoy lines. Anchored vessels may not be left vacant for more than 24 hours without special permission from the Superintendent unless moored at an authorized marina or buoy line.

Courtesy docks are provided for the purpose of loading and unloading vessels. No vessel shall be left unattended at a courtesy dock for longer than 10 minutes.

LAUNCHING:
Boaters utilizing launching areas or launching ramps on any New Mexico waters must be prepared to launch or load their vessels promptly without undue delay to others. After the vessel is launched, the towing vehicle must be immediately driven well away from the launching area and parked in a designated location if such is provided.

RESTRICTED OPERATION ON STATE WATERS:

Limits to the size, type and operation of vessels on waters within New Mexico are provided below. All officials of the Division and other state and federal agencies authorized by the Director or by law and who are on official duty are exempt from the restrictions while operating in an emergency condition.**

• BOTTOMLESS LAKES:
  Operation of motorboats powered by more than three horsepower is prohibited.

• HERON LAKE:
  Motorized boating activity is limited to no-wake operation only.

• COCHITI LAKE:
  Motorized boating activity is limited to no-wake operation only.

• MURPHY LAKE:
  Only vessels powered with oars or electric motors are permitted.

• FENTON LAKE:
  Vessels with motors or sails are prohibited.

• SAN JUAN RIVER:
  Motorized vessels are prohibited on the San Juan River, within Navajo Lake State Park. The use of vessels on the San Juan River within Navajo Lake State Park is authorized from the San Juan Day Use Area downstream and is limited to the purpose of fishing unless otherwise authorized by the Director.

• SANTA CRUZ:
  Motorized boating activity is limited to no-wake operation only.

• SAGARITE CANYON:
  Gas powered boats are prohibited on Lake Maloya; all boating is prohibited on Lake Alice.

(** Other lakes operated by Game and Fish or Federal or Indian Reservations and Pueblos may have similar restrictions. Contact the appropriate agency before you go.)

REGISTRATION:

CERTIFICATE OF NUMBER:
In accordance with the New Mexico Boat Act, all boats operating on New Mexico waters shall be numbered and the certificate of number shall be available for inspection at all times when the motorboat is in operation. Every certificate of number except those issued to dealers and manufacturers expires on December 31 of the third calendar year of registration. Registration shall be renewed triennially. Refunds shall not be made for any unused period of a certificate of number due to non-use of a vessel or change in ownership. No person shall transfer or authorize the transfer of a registration validation decal from one vessel to another.

REGISTRATION NUMBER:
A motorboat's registration number must be painted on or permanently affixed to each side of the forward half of the motorboat, and no other number may be displayed on that part of the motorboat. Numbers shall: read from left to right; be in plain vertical block characters; be of a color contrasting with the background; be distinctly visible and legible; be not less than three inches in height; and have spaces or hyphens that are equal to the width of a letter between the letter and number groupings. Example: NM 0000 AA or NM--0000--AA.

VESSEL INSPECTIONS:

All vessels operating on New Mexico waters are subject to random inspections to verify registration, titling and that the proper safety equipment is on board.