R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-27-1: Definitions.

In this chapter, the term:

(1) “Headway speed” in this section means the slowest speed at which a personal watercraft can be operated and maintain steerage way.

(2) “Operator” means a person who operates or who has charge of the navigation or use of a watercraft.

(3) “Personal watercraft” means a vessel which uses an inboard motor powering a water jet pump as its primary source of motive power and which is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel, rather than the conventional method of sitting or standing inside the vessel.