Establishes that when mechanically propelled vessels meet swimmers, kayaks, canoes, row boats, paddleboards, crew racing shells or other nonmotorized boats or floatation devices proceeding in such direction as to involve risk of collision, the swimmer, kayak, canoe, row boat, paddleboard, crew-racing shell or other nonmotorized boat or floatation device shall have the right of way.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9829
IN SENATE
April 7, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism,
Parks and Recreation
AN ACT to amend the navigation law, in relation to right of way rules
for mechanically propelled vessels meeting swimmers, kayaks, canoes,
row boats, paddleboards, crew racing shells or other nonmotorized
boats or floatation devices
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Paragraph (f) of subdivision 2 of section 41 of the naviga-
2 tion law is amended to read as follows:
3 (f) When a mechanically propelled vessel shall meet a sailing vessel,
4 swimmer, kayak, canoe, row boat, paddleboard, crew racing shell or other
5 nonmotorized boat or floatation device proceeding in such direction as
6 to involve risk of collision, the sailing vessel, swimmer, kayak, canoe,
7 row boat, paddleboard, crew racing shell or other nonmotorized boat or
8 floatation device shall have the right of way. The operator of the
9 mechanically propelled vessel must maintain a vigilant lookout to see
10 the water in front and on the sides of the vessel. It shall be incumbent
11 on the master of [the] a sailing vessel to keep a vigilant lookout and
12 change [her] the course of such vessel, if necessary, to avoid any
13 danger.
14 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14646-01-6
