Hello boater! Effective July 17, 2009, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources changed their guidelines for distance learning. Students are now required to spend a minimum amount of time on each course page before proceeding to the certification exam.

Click here to go to the latest version of the Boat Illinois online course—the official boating safety course of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Operating a Personal Watercraft

Although a personal watercraft (PWC) is considered an inboard vessel and operators must follow the same rules and requirements that apply to other vessels, there are additional, specific considerations for the PWC operator. For instance, when steering or stopping a PWC, remember that on a PWC you must always have power in order to maintain control. If you allow the engine to return to idle or shut off during operation, you lose all steering control.

PWC operators should follow rules of courtesy on the water such as avoid jumping the wake of a passing boat or ride too closely to another PWC or boat. Spraying others with a wake and excessive noise can also make PWCs unwelcome with other vessel operators.

Environmental considerations include making sure that the water you operate in is at least 30 inches deep. Riding in shallow water can cause bottom sediments or aquatic vegetation to be sucked into the pump, damaging your PWC and the environment.

When riding keep in mind that PWCs are designed to turn over and that's part of what makes them fun, but it's also why it is very important that the ignition safety switch is attached to the operator. After a fall, a PWC could be overturned completely. You should know how to right a PWC and how to reboard from the rear of the craft.