2 Colo. Code Regs. § 405-3-305

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 1, January 10, 2025

Section 2 CCR 405-3-305 - VESSELS AND EQUIPMENT

1. A river outfitter shall provide all vessels and associated equipment required during all regulated trips. When equipment is lost, damaged, or used during a bona fide on-the-river emergency, then the river outfitter shall ensure that every vessel is reequipped as required prior to use of the vessel on any successive trip.

2. All vessels used during a regulated trip shall be marked with the vessel owner's name, current address, and telephone number in a legible, clearly visible and durable fashion.

3. The trip leader shall ensure that every regulated trip carries aboard at least one of the vessels a first-aid kit which shall be immediately available for emergency use. The first-aid kit shall contain, at a minimum, adhesive bandages, sterile pads, flexible gauze bandages, first-aid tape, antiseptic or soap and triangular bandages in quantities sufficient to meet the size and needs of the regulated trip. These supplies shall be maintained in a clean and dry condition in a durable container suitable for river use.

4. The trip leader shall ensure that every regulated trip carries aboard at least one of the vessels a throwbag containing a minimum of fifty feet of rope. The throwbag shall be in a serviceable condition and shall be stored so as to be readily accessible in an emergency.

5. River outfitters shall not provide, use, operate or permit the use or operation of innertubes, air mattresses, or any other single-chambered air-inflated devices during any regulated trip.

6. If an inflatable raft or dory is used during a regulated trip, then each such vessel shall:

a. Display the river outfitter's company name or logo or abbreviation, which shall read from left to right in characters of good proportion, a minimum of four inches in height above waterline, of a color which contrasts with the color of the background, and be maintained so as to be clearly visible and legible from a distance of one hundred and fifty feet.

b. Be equipped with a rope attached to the bow or stern, which shall be a minimum of ten feet long and suitable for tying up and securely holding the vessel to the shore of the waters being traveled. All loose ropes not in use shall be stored and secured so as not to present a danger of entanglement in case of an accident.

c. Be equipped with at least one suitable container of sufficient size for bailing water out of the vessel, except that self-bailing vessels are exempt from this requirement.

d. Be adequately equipped with durable and substantially undamaged oars or paddles and spares, taking into consideration the size of the vessel and river conditions.

(1) For oar-controlled and powered vessels or combination oar and paddle-controlled and powered vessels, there shall be a minimum of two oars and one spare oar aboard each such vessel.

(2) For paddle-controlled and powered vessels, there shall be a minimum of one spare paddle per vessel. The spare paddle(s) may be carried in another vessel on the same trip so long as the spare(s) is/are readily accessible. A spare paddle is one in addition to one paddle per participating adult.

7. If an inflatable raft, inflatable kayak, or other multi-chambered air inflated device is used during a regulated trip, then:

a. Every inflatable raft, inflatable kayak, or other inflated type vessel shall be multi-chambered, containing a minimum of two separate air chambers.

b. Every regulated trip including one or more inflatable rafts, inflatable kayaks, or other inflated vessel type shall have immediately available a minimum of one patch/repair kit and one air pump. Both the kit and the air pump must be adequate to meet the size and needs of the trip and they must be compatible with the vessel(s) in use. The kit shall be maintained in good and serviceable condition and stored in a durable container suitable for river use.

8. If a canoe, whitewater or decked canoe, hard shell kayak, inflatable kayak, or sit-on-top kayak is used during a regulated trip, then a minimum of one spare paddle per every five such vessels shall be readily accessible aboard one of the vessels on the trip. In addition:

a. For canoes, whitewater canoes, and hard shell kayaks, every such vessel shall be equipped with flotation bags securely fixed in the vessel so as to provide enough flotation that when the fully equipped vessel is full of water, it will remain afloat.

b. Every river outfitter, guide, guide in training, guide instructor, trip leader, and commercial passenger aboard a whitewater or decked canoe or hard shell kayak shall wear a securely fastened crash helmet at all times while on the river.

9. If a motorboat, as defined in 33-13-102(1), C.R.S., is used during a regulated trip, all State boating statutes and regulations pertaining to motorboat registration, use, operation and required equipment apply, except that the personal flotation device requirement shall be as stated in regulation # 304. In addition to the equipment otherwise required by law, each motorboat used during a regulated trip shall also:

a. Display the river outfitter's company name, logo, or abbreviation, as specified in # 305-6.a.;

b. Be equipped with one spare motor or adequate alternate means of propulsion and control;

c. Be equipped with a rope, a minimum of ten feet long, attached to the bow and stored when not in use as specified in # 305-6.b.;

d. Be equipped with a bailing device as specified in # 305-6.c., except that self-bailing vessels are exempt from this requirement; and e. Be equipped with one suitable size ladder, capable of accommodating persons boarding from the water and stored so as to be readily accessible.

2 CCR 405-3-305

37 CR 15, August 10, 2014, effective 9/1/2014

37 CR 19, October 10, 2014, effective 11/1/2014

39 CR 07, April 10, 2016, effective 5/1/2016

40 CR 13, July 10, 2017, effective 8/1/2017

43 CR 15, August 10, 2020, effective 9/1/2020

45 CR 23, December 10, 2022, effective 1/1/2023