BRISTOL, R.I. (WPRI) — As boating season begins, safety remains a top priority as thousands of people are expected to take to Rhode Island’s waters this summer.
12 News went on the water with Bristol Harbormaster Gregg Marselli, who shared what every boater, new or experienced, should know if you plan to be on a boat.
“Everybody’s required to have, depending on the size of their boat, different safety equipment,” Marselli explained. “Everybody should have a life jacket for each person on board that fits them, fire extinguishers, a throwable device, a sound-producing device, and flares.”
Patrols will also increase leading up to the Fourth of July festivities in Bristol.
“We’ll have thousands of visitors throughout the summer and many boats. We have 12 square miles of water, we have about 900 moorings, and we have about 250 people at just our docks,” explained Marselli.
ALSO READ: RI lawmakers consider imposing new tax on boats
Throughout the summer, their priority isn’t punishment, it’s helping boaters navigate with awareness and understand the waters they’re in.
“We like to go out and educate daily on our patrol,” Marselli said. “You know, we see somebody doing something wrong or something’s wrong with their boat and we’ll have a conversation with them and have them corrected.”
In Rhode Island, boaters born after January 1, 1986, need to pass a state-approved safety course to operate a motorized boat. Starting in 2026, a new law in Massachusetts will require all boaters to have a safety certificate before heading out on the water.
The Rhode Island DEM also encourages boaters to stay up to date on the latest boating regulations in the state.
Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts.
Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app.
Follow us on social media:
Thanks for signing up!
Watch for us in your inbox.
Ocean, Bay & Beach Report
SIGN UP NOW
if ( window.checkSizeClasses && window.checkSizeClasses instanceof Function) {
window.checkSizeClasses();
}
