Hartford - A bill that would extend the slow-no-wake zones on the Mystic River and simplify their enforcement passed the state House Wednesday on a unanimous, bipartisan vote.

Vessels operating within the zones could not exceed 6 mph, with some exceptions for bad weather. The zones would be delineated with new buoys.

Co-sponsor Elissa Wright, D-Groton, said the bill updates boating regulations that were last updated in the 1960s.

"There has been a significant increase in the volume and intensity of summer boat traffic and the size and power of modern day motor yachts," Wright told House colleagues. "This is a common sense measure that addresses an important public safety issue for all people who enjoy a variety of types of boating use and other activities on the Mystic River."

The bill now goes to the Senate.

Eleanor Mariani, director of the boating division of the state Department of Environmental Protection, said harbor management in Mystic and Stonington requested more slow-no-wake zones in response to complaints about speeding boats.

The measure that passed differs from an earlier proposal that called for making the entire Mystic River a slow-no-wake zone. Parts of the river would now remain open to faster boat traffic.

j.reindl@theday.com