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Editor: Rod Sullivan
Profession: Maritime Attorney

Category: Boating Accidents

A discussion has been going on for a while about what constitutes "bowriding." Some have said that riding anywhere on the bow where there is not a seat is "bowriding" while others, including a federal court judge, have said that some part of the body must be extending over the side of the boat in order for it to be considered "bowriding."

The Florida Boater's Guide (page 29) says this: Bowriding is "allowing passengers to rider on the bow, gunwale, transom, seat backs, seats on raised decks, of any other place with high likelihood of falling overboard"

That seems to answer the question. If you are on a large boat, people can ride on the bow as long as there is not a "high likelihood of falling overboard."