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Any special equipment need for Melbourne run?

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Is there any special equipment need for the Melbourne run? Do we need flags or lights or anything? If so where can we get them?

Thanks,

I am looking foward to the 27th
 
I was told in the Chat Tuesday night that you need a flag. There was some discussion on the height requirement though. I'm not sure how that turned out. Maybe somebody can give us an answer.

I bought a bike flag at Wal-Mart for $5. I guess that will work. It's blaze orange so you can see it ok.

Adam
 
The link below is a wealth of genreal boating info. I found this online boating safety course from the FWC site. Use the pull-down menus on the right to access tons of info. Rick - you may want to add this to the links page when you find time.

http://www.boat-ed.com/fl/course/p4-18_ ... m#airboats

from the above link - in regards to flags:
Airboats fall under the same guidelines as a vessel in regards to safety equipment to be carried. Some areas of the state have special administrative rules and ordinances to enhance safety, while operating airboats. For example, in the Everglades Management areas outside the canals of the South Florida Water Management area, an orange flag measuring 10" x 12" must be displayed at a height of 10 feet. This distance is measured from the top deck of the airboat to the tip of the orange flag.
Click to expand...

But I went and downloaded an 800 page long code book of the laws that FWC enforces. The law here says the 10' measures from the BOTTOM of the boat. I used the search phrase "Orange Flag" and found only 3 areas in the state where a flag is necessary:

68A-15.064

(2) Holey Land Wildlife Management Area.
20. No person shall operate any vessel outside of Water Management District canals unless it is equipped with an orange flag at least 10 inches wide and 12 inches long and displayed at a minimum height of 10 feet above the bottom of the vessel.

(3) Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area.
16. No person shall operate any vessel outside of Water Management District canals unless it is equipped with an orange flag at least 10 inches wide and 12 inches long and displayed at a minimum height of 10 feet above the bottom of the vessel.

(5) Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area.
15. No person shall use an airboat to take wildlife, frogs or fish or for other recreational uses on the area unless such airboat is equipped with an orange flag at least 10 inches wide and 12 inches long displayed at a minimum height of 10 feet above the bottom of the vessel.
Click to expand...

Looks like you don't have to have a flag on the upper St. Johns area, but I'm leaving my little bike flag on my boat anyway. It is smaller than regulation but does make for better visibility.

Git yer own code book here: http://myfwc.com/codebook/2003/Codebook.pdf or watch the grass grow. It is HARD reading!!! Even though the link says 2003, it is the 2004 code book. I could not find a 2005 book. Maybe the laws are "secret". :roll:

Hope this helps.

matt.
 
D'oh! I found the 2005 code book right next to the 2004 book... it was listed as an update & changes for 2005.

The only change I found regarding orange flags on airboats is they seem to have added Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area. I'm not sure where that one is.

matt.
 
This flag requirement is listed in the "Upper St. Johns River Marsh" wildlife management brochure and I'm pretty sure they enforce it:

42. No person shall use an airboat on the area unless such airboat is equipped with an orange flag at least 10 inches wide and 12 inches long displayed at a minimum height of 10 feet above the bottom of the vessel.

Here's the link: http://myfwc.com/hunting/wma/NE_Region/UpperStJohn River-web.pdf
 
blackpowderscout... not really much bookworm type research... My pdf reader called "Preview" on the mac has a incredible search feature on it. That did all the work for me! I'm actually rebuilding a big pile of Makita angle grinders. I just pop in and see what the search feature sorted out when I need an a/c break.

Rick - I searched the codebook and the update for the phrase "Upper St. Johns", and actually found one place where it says airboats are prohibited from the Upper St. Johns WMA. I dunno. I'm sure I'm wrong about that. It is just so hard to read what lawyers write!

I'm going to err on the side of having a legal flag. And heck, I'll just keep it up there all the time, who cares anyway? Then there is nothing they can say about it. It does not say SQUARE flag. My flag is a triangle, and it is 10 inches tall and 12 inches long. So I guess it does fit the requirement.

Thanks for the info.

matt.
 
yes you need a flag here most of us use the 5 dollar bike flags from walmart and have not had any problem with them. the only time you need lights is for night running so if we stay out and frog then you will need them you need a life jacket for everyone on the boat a throw able,a whisle,a fire ext, float on your keys,ancor,paddle and was just told a flaregun


((((DON'T FORGET YOUR REGISTRATION))))
 
I can't find any boating LAW that says a paddle is required. Although it is common sense. But a flare gun is required by law?!?! Can some bottle rockets be used in leu of that? :) Or maybe I can find some tracer rounds for my .45

And did I read that right - life VESTS & a THROWABLE? BOTH?!?!

I think my train horn will count as a whistle. But when I got my 5 year fishin' license a few years back, they sent me a real nice whistle that says FWC on the side of it. That's my "back-up".

After reading that list of required stuff cc, I expect next year they'll make you bring a towel, coozie, sunglasses, hat and sunscreen - or else you get a ticket. :)

Is there any law you know of that describes what sort of lights are required for night running? All I can find are the nav light requirements. I have that, but do not have anything more than a self contained battery powered spotlight. Granted, it's a 1 trillion candlepower or something that you can also weld with at close range, but it's not the sort of KC lights I see mounted on some boats. Are permanantly installed "headlights" required for night running?

Thanks for the registration reminder! I had forgotten it last time out!!! I just now put it in my wallet.

One more question: This is just to satisfy my curiousity, not because I actually want to do this, but I notice when reading the code book that in several places it says firearms are prohibited. Does that mean I cannot carry a pistol in a case in the hold of the boat? I have a concealed weapon permit, and at the class for that, they said the permit does not allow to carry in an airport, bar, school, or courthouse (of course). But I wonder if that includes a W.M.A. not during hunting season. I do plan on leaving the gun at home this next time, as I did the last time. I'm just curious for when I'm out by myself or something.

I tell ya what, after reading the law book, I'm more confused than ever!!!

matt.
 
here is what kind of flags we run here
flag.jpg
 
OK guys here is a stupid question. Do we need a Florida fishing license to do some frogging?
 
KJ C - there is no such thing as a stupid question! Questions are the key to knowledge.

I don't know. that's my answer to your question. For all I know you need a hunting license with a frog stamp. :)

matt.
 
KJ, NO you do not need a fishing license to frog. If you intend to sell the frogs you need some sort of commercial license but just to gig some for yourself it is not needed. I'm looking at the book right now.

Adam
 
Hunting license with frog stamp---now that's funny---I don't care who you are. :lol: :lol: :lol:
 
Hey Mood,
The regs don't require a fixed mount spot light for night navigation, just the bow and stearn lights. It's up to you to decide what sort of spot light you use at night.

The law does not prohibit firearms on board, but they may be illegal in National Parks.

If you get caught with a gun, and a light in the woods at night, you can plan on going to jail. All your vehicles and gear as well.


If you frog, make sure you leave the sidearm at home.

Hope this helps. See ya
 
I don't believe the frog stamp is required this season maybe next year LOL it wouldn't surprise me if they did it soon though.
 
i beleave your fishin license lets ya frog it in manuel :wink: no air breather down here goin to cost you 65 bucks got me few weeks ago
 
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