---
title: O.C.G.A. § 52-7-17. Speed and load restrictions; riding of bow or gunwale of vessel.
collection: code
id: 52-7-17
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 52-7-17 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/52-7-17
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/52-7-17.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/52-7-17/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t52-t53-(v40)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=d23ba203_0#page=158
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: WATERS OF THE STATE, PORTS, AND WATERCRAFT / REGISTRATION, OPERATION, AND SALE OF WATERCRAFT / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 52-7-17. Speed and load restrictions; riding of bow or gunwale of vessel.

(a) The speed of each vessel shall at all times be regulated so as to avoid danger or injury or damage or unnecessary inconvenience, directly or by the effect of the wash or wave raised by the vessel, while in the vicinity of swimming areas, docks, floating boat houses, moored boats, or boats engaged in fishing activities.

(b) No vessel shall be loaded beyond the recommended capacity.

(c) No person operating any vessel shall allow any person or persons to ride the bow or gunwale of any vessel nor shall any person or persons ride on the bow or gunwale of any vessel unless the vessel is equipped with a railing or some other retaining device on the bow or gunwale, so located that any person or persons might hold to such railing or other retaining device to avoid falling or being thrown overboard. For the purposes of this Code section, eyes or cleats shall not be considered retaining devices.

(d) No vessel shall be operated at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions, and such vessel’s operator shall have regard for the actual and potential hazards then existing.

## History

Ga. L. 1968, p. 487, § 10; Ga. L. 1973, p. 1427, § 15; Ga. L. 1998, p. 679, § 5.