As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires: “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection; “vessel” means every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane on water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, exclusive of any such watercraft used primarily for purposes of transporting commercial cargo; “motorboat” means any watercraft fitted with propulsion machinery, whether or not such machinery is the principal source of propulsion; “horsepower” means the rated brake horsepower of an engine at maximum operating revolutions per minute; “operate” means to navigate or otherwise use a vessel; “person” means any individual, partnership, firm, association, limited liability company, corporation or other entity; “owner” means a person, other than a lien holder, having property in or title to a vessel. The term includes a person entitled to use or possession of a vessel subject to an interest in another person reserved or created by agreement and securing payment or performance of an obligation, but the term excludes a lessee under a lease not intended as security; “marine dealer” means a person engaged in the business of manufacturing, selling or repairing new or used vessels; “marine engine manufacturer” means a person engaged in the business of manufacturing, selling or repairing marine engines; “marine engine” means an engine manufactured for use or used in vessels; “marine surveyor” means a person who is certified by the National Association of Marine Surveyors or accredited by the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors and who is engaged in the business of inspection, survey or examination of vessels or associated equipment to assess, monitor and report on the condition of the vessel or associated equipment; “yacht broker” means a marine dealer, as defined in this section, who, for compensation or an expectation of compensation, sells or negotiates to sell or offers to sell, buys or offers to buy, solicits or obtains listings of or negotiates the purchase, sale or exchange of vessels, but who is not an owner of such vessels; “federal Boat Safety Act of 1971” means an Act of Congress approved August 10, 1971, Public Law 92-75; and “boat livery” means a business that is engaged in the commercial rental of vessels, including, but not limited to, personal watercraft.

(1961, P.A. 506, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 384; P.A. 73-257, S. 7, 27; P.A. 74-302, S. 1, 3; P.A. 81-423, S. 2, 25; P.A. 82-472, S. 47, 183; P.A. 94-188, S. 27; P.A. 95-79, S. 46, 189; P.A. 08-26, S. 7; P.A. 09-105, S. 1; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)

History: 1971 act replaced definition of “commission” with definition of “commissioner”; P.A. 73-257 defined “Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971”; P.A. 74-302 redefined “marine dealer” to include repairers of boats; P.A. 81-423 added definition of “vessel” and substituted “vessel” for “motorboat” wherever appropriate; P.A. 82-472 made technical corrections; P.A. 94-188 added definitions of “marine engine manufacturer” and “marine engine”; P.A. 95-79 redefined “person” to include a limited liability company, effective May 31, 1995; P.A. 08-26 added definition of “boat livery”; P.A. 09-105 redefined “marine dealer” and “marine engine manufacturer” and defined “yacht broker”, effective July 1, 2009; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011.