Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Kentucky Required Equipment Checklist

indicates the equipment is required by state law.

Required Equipment	Personal Watercraft	Boats Less than 16'	Boats 16' to Less than 26'
Boater Education Certificate on Board
Required for those 12 to 17 years of age to legally operate a motorized vessel over 10 horsepower (including personal watercraft), unless they are accompanied on board by a person 18 years old or older or by a person who possesses a boater education certificate.
Certificate of Registration on Board
Registration Decal Displayed
PFDs: Type I, II, or III (one per person)
Every person on board a PWC must wear a PFD (life jacket) at all times. Children under 12 years of age must wear a PFD (life jacket) at all times.
PFD: Type IV	n/a	n/a
Type B-1 Fire Extinguisher
Backfire Flame Arrestor		Required on inboard and stern drives only.	Required on inboard and stern drives only.
Ventilation System
Muffler
Horn, Whistle, or Bell	n/a	n/a
Daytime Visual Distress Signals	n/a	n/a	Required only if operating on federally controlled waters.
Nighttime Visual Distress Signals	Some items are not applicable to PWCs since they are not allowed to operate between sunset and sunrise.	Required only if operating on federally controlled waters.	Required only if operating on federally controlled waters.
Navigation Lights	Some items are not applicable to PWCs since they are not allowed to operate between sunset and sunrise.