State | 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 | Yes | See question #27 |
Wisconsin | Yes | Age 12 | Yes | Age 12 |
Wyoming | Yes | under 16 w/adult | Yes | under 16 w/adult |