NWT Rules

Can any one tell me how rule number 8. works if your running a tiller boat after running to your fishing spot and you want to troll with the big motor because you don't have a kicker. The way I see the rule you need to wear your life jacket and be hooked up to your kill switch. Can this be true?

8. Safety
Safe boating must be observed at all times.
Each contestant is required to wear a fastened U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation
device anytime the primary combustion engine is in operation from boat check until weigh-in
each day of the tournament.
All boats must be equipped with an emergency ignition-shutoff device that must be securely
attached to the driver’s body whenever the primary combustion engine is in operation. A driver
must be seated behind the steering wheel or at the tiller and in full control of the boat whenever
the primary combustion engine is in operation and in gear. Each boat is required to have a fully
functional marine band radio.

[Juls]

Originally Posted by baw

Can any one tell me how rule number 8. works if your running a tiller boat after running to your fishing spot and you want to troll with the big motor because you don't have a kicker. The way I see the rule you need to wear your life jacket and be hooked up to your kill switch. Can this be true?

8. Safety
Safe boating must be observed at all times.
Each contestant is required to wear a fastened U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation
device anytime the primary combustion engine is in operation from boat check until weigh-in
each day of the tournament.
All boats must be equipped with an emergency ignition-shutoff device that must be securely
attached to the driver’s body whenever the primary combustion engine is in operation. A driver
must be seated behind the steering wheel or at the tiller and in full control of the boat whenever
the primary combustion engine is in operation and in gear. Each boat is required to have a fully
functional marine band radio.

That rule is in the spirit of "above idle speed"....meaning on plane. Call the office and have it clarified directly. They don't answer questions on this message board.

[ozzy49938]

agree with Juls. Has to be on plane. But I would call and be sure to get a complete understanding.

my understanding of the rule was you have to wear life jacket while on plane. must be new

[Kevin23]

Where are you guys getting above idle and on plane from? The way I read it is if the primary engine (not kicker) is in gear you need to have your jacket on, be seated, and have the kill switch engaged.

Sounds exactly like the BASS rules. Worded as "in gear" so you can start your motor to charge battery if needed and not have to sit down and attach kill switch. But if the boat is moving, you need them on.

[Bobby Winds]

Kevin, it's a CYA rule. Have you ever fished a tournament ? ? ?

[Juls]

Originally Posted by Kevin23

Where are you guys getting above idle and on plane from?

I got my information from having fished the FLW for years, and hearing that question asked at a rules meeting... then, explained by the tournament director, Sonny Reynolds, at the time.

[Kevin23]

Originally Posted by Bobby Winds

Kevin, it's a CYA rule. Have you ever fished a tournament ? ? ?

Walleye, no. Bass, yes. Kill switch a jacket had to be on anytime the main motor was in gear. Didn't matter if you were idling or running. If the motor is in neutral you dont need it, because some guys run into battery issues and need to run the motor in neutral to charge the batt.


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[Kevin23]

Originally Posted by Juls

I got my information from having fished the FLW for years, and hearing that question asked at a rules meeting... then, explained by the tournament director, Sonny Reynolds, at the time.

So Sonny Reynolds is the tournament director for NWT now?


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[Bobby Winds]

Originally Posted by Kevin23

Walleye, no. Bass, yes. Kill switch a jacket had to be on anytime the main motor was in gear. Didn't matter if you were idling or running. If the motor is in neutral you dont need it, because some guys run into battery issues and need to run the motor in neutral to charge the batt.


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Ya, in walleye tournaments they know you are going to be Slow trolling most of the time compared to run and gun to cast at the next spot.

So stay in the spirit of the rules, your happy and the tournament directors have CYA in the bank.