Final answer:
Operating a vessel on state waters implies consent to abide by both federal and state laws, with federal laws taking precedence in case of conflict, as confirmed by historical legal precedents.
Step-by-step explanation:
By operating a vessel on state waters, you have consented to comply with both federal and state laws. This consent falls under the principle that federal laws have supremacy over state laws in areas where the federal government has the constitutional authority to act. For example, the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Gibbons v. Ogden established that Congress has the power to regulate navigation via the commerce clause, thereby implying that federal navigation laws preempt conflicting state laws. Additionally, state laws may establish more specific regulations in areas not covered by federal laws, as long as they do not conflict with federal statutes or constitutional rights.