Does your state set a minimum age requirement to operate a motor powered vessel other than a PWC?
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the required age and any other details such as horsepower rating.
Does your state set any minimum age requirements to operate a PWC?
If you answered "Yes" to the previous question, please list the requirements.
Alabama
Yes
12 years old or older to operate any type vessel. 12 and 13 years olds must have someone 21 years old or older, who is a licensed operator, on board and within reach of the controls. 14 years old or older to operate alone.
Yes
12 years old or older to operate any type vessel. 12 and 13 years olds must have someone 21 years old or older, who is a licensed operator, on board and within reach of the controls. 14 years old or older to operate alone.
Alaska
No
No
American Samoa
N/A
Yes
18
Arizona
Yes
It is illegal for a person under the age of 12 to operate a vessel with a motor greater than 8 horsepower (which includes personal watercraft) unless: An emergency exists or … Another person at least 18 years of age is on board.
Yes
Arizona law states that it is illegal for a person under the age of 12 to operate a vessel with a motor greater than 8 horsepower (which includes personal watercraft) unless: An emergency exists or … Another person at least 18 years of age is on board.
Arkansas
No
To operate a motorboat powered by 10hp or more: A person under 12 must have BE and be under direct visible and audible supervision of a parent, guardian or person over 17 years.
Yes
14yrs to operate by themselves as long as they are BE certified. Persons 12 or 13 years must have BE and have a person at least 18yrs on board. Under 12 must have BE and have a person at least 21yrs on board and in a position to take immediate control of the PWC.
Australia
British Columbia
California
Yes
Must be 16 or older to operate a motorboat of 15 HP or greater if unsupervised. Those 12-15 years of age may operate under supervision of a person 18 or older who is on board.
Yes
Must be 16 or older to operate a motorboat of 15 HP or greater if unsupervised. Those 12-15 years of age may operate under supervision of a person 18 or older who is on board.
Colorado
yes
A person 14 YOA or older, who is less than 16 YOA, may operate a motorboat only if he or she completes a boating safety course
yes
A person 14 YOA or older, who is less than 16 YOA, may operate a motorboat only if he or she completes a boating safety course
Connecticut
Yes
under 12 years old can operate up to 10hp alone
Yes
16
Delaware
No
Yes
14 to 16 with adult on board with boating class, 16 with a boating class
District of Columbia
No
No
Florida
No
Yes
Operators of personal watercraft must be at least 14 years of age.
Georgia
Yes
Yes
12 years of age
Guam
No
Yes
Under 16 must have visual supervision
Hawaii
No
Yes
15
Idaho
No
No
Illinois
No
No
Indiana
Yes
Operator must be 15 yrs old and meet ID and education requirements or 16 yrs old or older with a valid motor vehicle drivers license to operate a motorboat with a motor greater than 10 hsp.
Yes
Same as #27
Iowa
Yes
Minimum age 12 to operate vessel over 10 h.p.
Yes
Those under age 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Kansas
Yes
12 years of age for any vessel
Yes
12 years of age
Kentucky
Yes
Must bet 12 years or old to operate 10 horse power or greater.
Yes
Must be 12 years or older
Louisiana
No
Yes
16 with a boating certification
Maine
Yes
when operating a motorboat with more than 10 hp, a person under age 12 must be under immediate supervison of person in boat who is at least 16.
Yes
A person under age 16 may not operate a PWC. A person between 16 & 18 years of age may operate a PWC if they have successfully completed an approved education course, or if they are accompanied by a person 18 years or older.
Manitoba (Canada)
Maryland
Yes
When operating a towing vessel (water skiing, etc.), the operator and observer must be at least 12 years of age.
Yes
16
Massachusetts
Michigan
No
Yes
Age 14 and older
Minnesota
Yes
Must be at least 12 (except for PWC - that age is 13) and to operate motors over 25 HP - person must be certifed.
Yes
13
Mississippi
Yes
at least 12 and completed an approved boating safety course
Yes
at least 12 and completed an approved boating safety course
Missouri
No
Yes
14 unless under the direct, onboard supervision of a parent, guardian, or other person 16 years of age or older.
Montana
Yes
For motorboats over 10 hp: 0-12 must be accompanied by and adult, 13-14 must have certificate or be accompanied by adult, 15+ no requirements.
Yes
For PWC over 10 hp: 0-12 must be accompanied by and adult, 13-14 must have certificate or be accompanied by adult, 15+ no requirements.
Nebraska
Yes
14
Yes
14
Nevada
No
Yes
14 years old
New Hampshire
No
Yes
if ski craft a minimum of 16 years of age, if pwc must be accompanied by an adult until 16 years of age
New Jersey
Yes
13-15 YOA vessel powered by elec motor, or if vessel is 12'or greater with engine/engines of less than 10 total HP
Yes
16 YOA + possess a boating safety certificate
New Mexico
Yes
13
Yes
13
New York
Yes
10 to 18 must have a boating safety certificate to operate alone
Yes
14 yrs and older only if they have a boating safety certificate
North Carolina
No
Yes
No one under 14 years of age may operate a PWC. Persons 14 years old up to 16 years of age may operate if they are accompanied by an adult 18 or older or have a certificate of competency from a NASBLA approved boating education course and some form of ID.
North Dakota
Yes
Minor 12-15 years must be state certified to operate over a ten horsepower boat without an adult on board.
Yes
Minor 12-15 years must be state certified to operate over a ten horsepower boat without an adult on board.
Northern Mariana Islands
Yes
16, All motorized
Yes
16 as with an operators license
Ohio
No
Yes
Must be at least 12 years old.
Oklahoma
Yes
No person less than 12 YOA may operate any vessel powered by a motor or combination of motors in excess of 10 HP or sail-powered vessel 16 feet or greater in length. A person from 12 to less than 16 YOA may operate such vessels only after successfully completing a NASBLA approved boating education course and if operating a motorboat or sail-powered vessel, must have a competent adult, 18 years of age or older, on board in a position to take control of the vessel if necessary.
Yes
No person less than 12 YOA may operate any PWC. A person from 12 to less than 16 YOA may operate a PWC only after successfully completing a NASBLA approved boating education course and must be visually supervised within 500 yards by a competent adult 18 years of age or older.
Ontario (Canada)
Oregon
Yes
See#20
Yes
16 years of age to operate alone
Pennsylvania
Yes
You must be at least 12 years of age to operate a motorboat greater than 25 horsepower.
Yes
12
Puerto Rico
Yes
12 years
Yes
from 12 to 14 any certify minor can operate a PWC accompany by an adult
Quebec (Canada)
Rhode Island
No
No
South Carolina
No
No
South Dakota
Yes
Children under the age of 12 cannot operate a motorboat of more than 6 horsepower unless accompanied by a person at least 18 years of age.
Yes
Minimum age to operate a pwc is 14 unless accompanied by a person at least 18 years of age.
Tennessee
Yes
No one under 12 unless operating a boat powered by an 8.5 HP or less, person at least 10 but less than 12 and the boat is at least 14 ft and the boat has a motor less than 15 HP
Yes
No one under the age of 12
Texas
Yes
Minimum Age = 16 Vessels = Motorized with greater than 15 horsepower
Yes
16
Utah
Yes
16
Yes
18 unless completed PWC education course
Vermont
Yes
Any person under the age of 12 can not operate a motor boat of more than 6 horse power.
Yes
Must be 16 years of age or older and have a boating safety certificate.
Virgin Islands
Virginia
No
Yes
ages 14 and 15 must pass a NASBLA approved course to operate a PWC
Washington
Yes
must be 12 years of age, applies to motorboats with 15 or more horsepower
Yes
14 years of age, when rental PWC operator must be 16 years of age
West Virginia
Yes
No one under 12 may operate a motorboat over 10 HP. 12-15 may operate with an adult on board. Includes PWCs