Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Requirements Specific to Personal Watercraft (PWCs)

In addition to adhering to all boating laws, personal watercraft (PWC) operators have requirements specific to their vessel.

• Each person on board a PWC must wear a properly secured U. S. Coast Guard-approved PFD.
• PWCs must either be equipped with an ignition safety switch or have a self-circling feature if the operator falls off. If the PWC is equipped with an ignition safety switch, the lanyard must be attached to the person, clothing, or PFD of the operator.
• PWC operators are subject to the age restrictions and education requirements.
• PWCs must be operated in a reasonable and prudent manner. It is illegal to operate a PWC in a way that endangers the life, limb, or property of others. Specifically, it is against the law to:
  • Weave your PWC through congested waterway traffic at high speed.
  • Follow closely behind and within the wake of a vessel towing a person on water skis or other similar devices.
  • Cut between a vessel and the person(s) being towed by that vessel.
  • Jump the wake of another vessel unnecessarily close to that vessel.
  • Encircle or buzz another vessel or person in the water.
  • Cross the path of another vessel at right angles while close to the stern of the other vessel or when visibility around the other vessel is obstructed.
  • Swerve at the last possible moment to avoid collision.
  • Chase, harass, or disturb wildlife or birds with your PWC.
• It is strongly recommended that PWCs be operated during daylight hours only. If a PWC is operated at night, it must display the required navigation lights.

Remember—As an owner of a PWC, you are legally responsible if you authorize or knowingly permit the PWC to be operated in violation of Alabama law.

Be Part of the Action! Learn more about operating a PWC with this interactive animation. (Most students will already have Flash installed. If not, follow this link to install the Flash Player.)

Towing a Person with a Vessel Legally

Vessel operators towing a person(s) on water skis, aquaplanes, surfboards, inner tubes, or any similar devices must obey these laws also.

• It is illegal for vessels to tow person(s) on water skis, an aquaplane, or a similar device between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.
• Each person being towed behind a vessel on water skis or similar devices must wear a properly secured Type I, II, III, or V U.S. Coast Guard–approved PFD. Ski belts are not U.S. Coast Guard–approved. It is the legal responsibility of the owner of the towing vessel to enforce this requirement.
• Every vessel (except personal watercraft) towing a person(s) on water skis or a similar device must:
  • Have on board a capable observer, other than the operator who is at least 12 years old or ...
  • Be equipped with a wide-angle rearview mirror. The size of the mirror must be at least 500 square centimeters (78 square inches) and have a field of vision of at least 170 degrees.
• Every PWC towing a person(s) on water skis or a similar device must have mirrors mounted on both the right and left sides of the PWC (but not attached to the steering control) and the mirrors must be at least 2.5-inches high x 4-inches wide.
• The vessel operator must maintain reasonable distance from other vessels, people, and property to avoid endangering life or property. It is illegal to tow a person on water skis or a similar devices behind your vessel, or to manipulate the water skis or a similar devices, in a manner that causes the towed person to collide with another person or object.

Boats towing a person(s) on water skis or a similar device must either have an observer on board or be equipped with a wide-angle rearview mirror.