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 |
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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 |
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British Columbia |
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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 |
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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 |
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Illinois |
No |
| No |
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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) |
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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 |
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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) |
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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) |
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Rhode Island |
No |
| No |
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South Carolina |
No |
| No |
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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 |
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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 |