§ 168-15. Rental and operation of rowboats, kayaks, canoes and other manually propelled vessels.

A. 

No person shall engage in the business of renting boats propelled by oars or paddles nor shall any person operate such a rented vessel unless such vessel shall carry a life preserver of the type approved by the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard for each person on board.

B. 

No person shall engage in the business of renting boats propelled by oars or paddles for use by, nor shall any person operate such a rented boat vessel which is used or is to be used by more than the following number of persons:

(1) 

Any vessel less than 10 feet in length: two persons.

(2) 

Any vessel 10 feet in length and less than 12 feet: three persons.

C. 

No person engaged in the business of renting vessels propelled by oars or paddles shall rent any such boats during the period of time when the United States Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau, shall have issued a small craft warning or such small craft storm warning advisories are issued by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

D. 

Display of limitation of capacity of rental vessels.

(1) 

Every boat propelled by oars or paddles shall have its length and its capacity of persons, as set forth in Subsection B above, painted on or attached to each side as near to midship as is practicable so that the same reads from left to right and shall not interfere with the New York State registration numbers attached to the bow of the vessel.

(2) 

The wording and numbers shall be in block characters of good proportion, not less than three inches in height and parallel with the waterline. The number shall be located as high above the waterline as may be practicable.

(3) 

The numbers shall be of a color which will contrast with the color of the hull so as to be distinctly visible and legible; i.e., if the hull is light, the color of the numbers shall be dark, or if the hull is dark, the color of the numbers shall be light.

E. 

No person engaged in the business of renting vessels propelled by oars or paddles shall rent such a vessel to any person under the age of 16 years.