29.1-700 - Definitions.
§ 29.1-700. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly requires a differentmeaning:
"Motorboat" means any vessel propelled by machinery whether or not themachinery is the principal source of propulsion.
"No wake" means operation of a motorboat at the slowest possible speedrequired to maintain steerage and headway.
"Operate" means to navigate or otherwise control the movement of amotorboat or a vessel.
"Owner" means a person, other than a lien holder, having the property in ortitle to a motorboat. The term includes a person entitled to the use orpossession of a motorboat subject to an interest in another person, reservedor created by agreement and securing payment of performance of an obligation,but the term excludes a lessee under a lease not intended as security.
"Personal watercraft" means a motorboat less than sixteen feet in lengthwhich uses an inboard motor powering a jet pump, as its primary motive powerand which is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, orkneeling on, rather than in the conventional manner of sitting or standinginside, the vessel.
"Vessel" means every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane onthe water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation onwater.
"Waters of the Commonwealth" means any public waters within the territoriallimits of the Commonwealth, the adjacent marginal sea and the high seas whennavigated as a part of a journey or ride to or from the Virginia shore.
(Code 1960, c. 500, § 62-174.2; 1962, c. 626; 1968, c. 659, § 62.1-167; 1972,c. 412; 1987, c. 488; 1998, cc. 84, 443, 512, 514, 515, 533, 537, 563.)