Safe Boating Personal Watercraft
Personal Watercraft - Legal Requirements
Equipment
- Required Equipment (Operator's responsibility)
- Life Jacket (required to be worn by all persons)
- Engine Cut-off Lanyard
- Sound Producing Device
- Visual Distress Signal
- Backfire Flame Arrestor
- Fire Extinguisher (on waters under USCG jurisdiction)
- Recommended Equipment
- Footwear
- Eye Wear - goggles or sunglasses
- Wet Suit
- Gloves
Operating Restrictions
- Operator must have completed a boating safety course
- Minimum operator age is 14
- Operation prohibited between sunset and sunrise
- Reckless Operation
- weaving through congested traffic
- jumping the wake of another vessel
- playing chicken
- PWC prohibited within 500 feet of bathing beach/swim area
- Renting a Personal Watercraft
- must be at least 16 yrs old
- must show ID and proof of age
- the rental operator must show correct operating procedures and proper use of safety equipment
- must have a proof of completion of approved boating safety course
Operating Behaviors to Avoid
These behaviors are not illegal, but contribute to a negative image of PWC.
- Operating continuously in one location
- Operating in groups/packs
- Operating too close to shore, docks, marinas
- Operating too close to fisherman
- Operating in and around launching areas
- Starting too early - Sunrise is early in summer
- Operation near environmentally sensitive areas or disturbing wildlife
- Forcing larger craft to maneuver unnecessarily or excessively, especially commercial vessels
