Anyone between the ages of 12 and 17 (inclusive) may operate a motorboat or personal watercraft of 10 horsepower or more if accompanied by a person who is at least 18 years of age and has experience operating the vessel or has successfully completed a boating training course approved by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. In California, boaters over the age of 16 can legally operate any motorboat, including personal watercraft. Most requirements for transporting government equipment are similar to federal legislation. This main list includes supervisors, fire extinguishers, signalling devices, visual distress signals and navigation lights. In Massachusetts, lifeguards must be carried by: (1) youth under the age of 12 (2) boat users (3) water skiers (4) canoeists/kayakers from September 15 to May 15. A vessel owner or operator is responsible for ensuring that passengers on board carry lifeguards as required. In addition, the Crown requires that all powerboats (except personal watercraft) be equipped with an anchor, a manual scoop and a line. A paddle or oar is required on boats less than 16 feet in length. Motorboats that pull skiers must also be equipped with an entrance ladder. Registration and numbering of all boats propelled by machinery is mandatory.
Persons under the age of 14 are not legally permitted to operate personal watercraft (e.g. jet ski, wave runner). Anyone between the ages of 12 and 15 can drive a motor boat up to 10 HP alone*. Anyone between the ages of 12 and 15 may operate a motorboat or personal watercraft of 10 hp or more if accompanied on board a person 18 years of age or older*. People who live on or after the 1. Born in July 1996, a motorized boat of more than 6 HP can only circulate legally if it has received a boating safety certificate and that it is in its possession. Persons under 12 years of age may only operate a motorboat if accompanied on board and directly supervised by a competent person aged 18 or over. All PWC users must be at least 16 years of age to be in service. Personal watercraft are legally considered powerboats and must comply with all boat laws and navigational rules, including the speed and operating regulations above. In addition, PWC users must comply with state regulations specific to boat operation: In Minnesota, no person under the age of 12 is permitted to operate a boat with an engine greater than 25 horsepower, unless there is a competent adult on the boat who is at least 21 years old and within reach of the engine controls. These 14- and 15-year-olds are legally allowed to operate a personal watercraft if they have obtained a boating safety certificate and Alaska does not have a minimum age to legally operate a motorboat or personal watercraft.
Persons born before 1 July 1996 can legally operate a boat without restrictions. Boater training is required for anyone between the ages of 12 and 17 operating a motorized craft in Minnesota waters. Persons under the age of 13 are not permitted to operate personal watercraft. Operators who are currently 13 years of age must be under the direct supervision of a person on board who is at least 21 years of age. Youth between the ages of 12 and 15 must complete an approved basic course in order to operate a motorboat without adult supervision. Upon successful completion of such a course, students receive a “boating safety certificate” from the government, which must be in the possession of the certified operator during the trip. Boat users aged 16 or 17 must also take such a boat course. Young people under the age of 16 are not allowed to drive boats. In Texas, a person may not operate a wind-blown boat more than 14 feet long, a motorboat over 15 horsepower, or a boat unless: For any person between the ages of 14 and 17 who wishes to operate a personal watercraft, they must be either under the direct supervision of a person on board, who is at least 21 years of age; or have obtained a boat`s driver`s licence.
A person between the ages of 12 and 15 who holds and carries their boatmaster`s training card may drive a boat with an engine of 10 HP or less alone. Everyone is allowed to drive a motorboat with a maximum power of 10 HP alone. A supervisor at least 18 years of age must accompany persons under 12 years of age who wish to operate a motor vessel of more than 8.5 hp on board. The supervisor must be able to immediately take control of the vessel if necessary, and if it is released after 1. Born in January 1989, he must hold a boating safety training certificate issued by TWRA. Anyone 13 years of age or older may operate a personal watercraft in North Carolina, provided they have successfully completed a boating safety course and have proof of age and a North Carolina Boating Safety Education Certificate on board, or they will be accompanied by a person who is at least 18 years of age and meets the training requirements. All boaters between the ages of 12 and 15 are permitted to operate boats with engines over 15 horsepower, while being supervised by an adult at least 18 years of age. There is no minimum age to operate a boat, but PWC regulations and boat safety requirements are age-specific and apply. Any person who is required to have completed a boating training course must have their boating training certificate on board and have it prepared for inspection by an enforcement officer while the vessel is in service.
Note: No person under the age of 12 may under any circumstances drive a boat with more than 75 HP. Persons under 16 years of age who do not have a Boating Safety Certificate must be supervised by a person born before July 1, 1972 or by a person at least 18 years of age and holding a valid Boating Safety Certificate if operating a motorized boat 11 feet in length or more. If the vessel is less than 11 feet long, anyone with a valid Boating Safety Certificate may take oversight. A person between the ages of 12 and 15 who holds and holds a boatmaster`s card may operate a vessel with an engine of more than 10 HP or a personal watercraft if accompanied by a supervising adult who is at least 16 years of age and who also has a boat-kayak card. To operate a personal watercraft, the supervisor cardholder must be at least 18 years of age. The operator of a motorboat involved in an accident resulting in bodily injury, death or property damage (over $500) must immediately notify the MA Environmental Police and submit the relevant accident report within the required time frame. (2 days – death; 5 days – all other accidents) The following types of operations are extremely dangerous and prohibited: Operators between the ages of 12 and 17 (inclusive) may operate a boat with less than 25 horsepower without restriction. They may operate a vessel with an engine of more than 25 hp only if they have obtained a boatmaster`s licence; or they are under the direct supervision of a person on board who is at least 21 years of age and within immediate range of the engine controls.
Under Ohio law, children under the age of 12 may operate any other type of motorboat over 10 horsepower, as long as they are under the direct visual and audible supervision of an adult (18 years of age or older). Note: If they have received permission from the boat`s operator, direct supervision is not required, but must be observed at all times by a person who is at least 21 years of age. Persons under the age of 12 are not allowed to operate a motorboat of 15 HP or more. This is just a summary of the boat laws. All boaters must be aware of and comply with all local, state, and federal laws. For more information about boat laws, boat education, or accident report forms, contact the Massachusetts Environmental Police at (508) 564-4961 Any person who does not hold a nautical training card and who is 12 years of age or older may operate a vessel of more than 15 horsepower if accompanied by a person and under the direct supervision of a person 16 years of age, who has a boater training card.