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Old 07-14-2008, 07:02 PM   #13
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Exclamation Ancored or moored is a necessary offense element!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kamper View Post
...At least her interpretation. To legally sleep in a boat on a body of water in the State oh NH, it has to be tied up to a dock or at a legal mooring that you have permission to use. So, yes you can.

If the boat is floating free even with a "watch" that is illegal.

If the boat is underway cruising back and forth all night, and there are people asleep in the cabin, that's illegal.

A boat load of fisherman with one passed out in his seat is illegal (I was really a pest!)...
If your instructor did indeed give out the above information then she was very wrong. While we may quibble about the definition of a houseboat and how it can be applied to any other watercraft regarding this particular statute, one of the fundamental elements of the offense is to be moored or anchored during the overnight period.

As long as a capable, certifed and awake individual is minding the helm while the craft is underway (whether powered or adrift) no offense has occured and there is absolutely no restrictions to others aboard being asleep.

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