(d) (2) (vii)
During manta ray viewing hours, no person shall: navigate a vessel equipped with one or more inboard or outboard motors, except a thrill craft, without a propeller guard installed; provided that a propeller guard shall not be required if a crew member, other than the person operating the vessel, is designated as a lookout to ensure safety at all times.
Prop Guards have been proven to be useful and effective on low powered outboards and at low speeds. On larger powered outboards and stern drives they are sometimes not feasible nor practical with reduced efficiency at high speeds. Certain manufactures do not recommend installing them on their drives. Most six-pack vessels use outboard motors or inboards with stern drives. These vessels are typically configured with a center helm station to the rear of the boat and passenger seating forward, giving the operator a clear 360 degree view of their boat and surroundings.
Requiring an additional crew member to stand lookout places an additional burden on the small operators as the larger vessels are already required to have a Second Mate on board and hence are not required to have prop guards at no additional expense and without any increased safety measures.
Six-pack vessels should be exempt from this requirement.
Navigate a vessel equipped with one or more inboard or outboard motors, except a thrill craft, without a propeller guard installed; provided that a propeller guard shall not be required if a crew member, other than the person operating the vessel, is designated as a lookout to ensure safety at all times.