Colorado § 33-13-102 - Definitions.

§ 33-13-102. Definitions.

As used in this article 13, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Motorboat" means any vessel propelled by machinery, whether or not such machinery is the principal source of propulsion including "personal watercraft" as defined in subsection (3.3) of this section.

(2) "Operate" means to navigate or otherwise use a vessel.

(3) "Owner" means a person who claims lawful possession of a vessel by virtue of legal title or an equitable interest which entitles him to such possession.

(3.3) "Personal watercraft" means a motorboat that uses an inboard motor powering a water jet pump as its primary source of motive power and is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel, rather than the conventional manner of sitting or standing inside the vessel. "Personal watercraft" includes a motorboat known as a "specialty prop-craft", which is similar in appearance to a personal watercraft but powered by an outboard or motor driven propeller.

(3.7) "Sailboard" means a sail propelled vessel with no freeboard and equipped with a swivel mounted mast, not secured to a hull by guys or stays.

(4) "Sailboat" means any vessel propelled by the effect of wind on a sail, including sailboards. For the purposes of this article, any vessel propelled by both sail and machinery of any sort shall be deemed a motorboat, when being so propelled.

(5) (a) "Vessel" means every type of watercraft, except a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water but does not include fishing aids, air mattresses, beach and water toys, or inner tubes.

(b) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2026.)

(5.3) "Vessel livery" means a person that advertises and offers a vessel for rent or lease to another person in exchange for any kind of payment.

(5.5) "Vessel staging area" means any parking lot, boat ramp, or other location that any vessel is transported to or from by a motor vehicle and where such vessel is placed into operation on or in the water. "Vessel staging area" does not include any location to which a vessel is transported primarily for the purpose of service, maintenance, repair, or sale.

(6) "Whitewater" means natural running water with intermittent rapids.

Source: L. 84: Entire article added, p. 897, § 2, effective January 1, 1985. L. 88: (4) amended, p. 1165, § 1, effective March 16. L. 93: (3.7) added, p. 1836, § 1, effective July 1. L. 97: (1) amended and (3.3) added, p. 1604, § 1, effective June 4. L. 2003: (5.5) added, p. 1945, § 15, effective May 22. L. 2020: IP and (5) amended, (HB 20-1087), ch. 49, p. 171, § 9, effective March 20. L. 2026: (5) amended and (5.3) added, (HB 26-1197), ch. 230, p. 1336, § 3, effective August 12.

Editor's note: (1) This section is similar to former § 33-31-102 as it existed prior to 1984.

(2) Section 7(2) of chapter 230 (HB 26-1197), Session Laws of Colorado 2026, provides that the act changing this section applies to conduct occurring on or after August 12, 2026.

Cross references: For additional definitions applicable to this article 13, see § 33-10-102.