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 riding on or being towed behind a PWC must wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved personal flotation device (life jacket).
• If the PWC is equipped with a lanyard–Short cord used for fastening something or securing rigging; on a PWC and most powerboats, it attaches the ignition safety switch to the operator's wrist or life jacket-type ignition safety switch, the lanyard must be attached to the person, clothing, or PFD of the operator at all times while the PWC is being operated.
• It is illegal to operate a PWC between sunset and sunrise unless the PWC is equipped with the required navigation lights.
• PWCs must be operated in a reasonable and prudent manner at all times. It is illegal to operate in a reckless manner. Examples of illegal operation are:
  • Operating a PWC at greater than “slow, no wake speed–The slowest speed at which it is still possible to maintain steering and which does not produce a wake” or idle speed within 150 feet of:
    • Any boat ramp
    • A dock or pier
    • An anchored or moored vessel
  • Operating a PWC within 50 feet of a moving vessel
  • Weaving your PWC through congested traffic
  • Intentionally waiting until the last moment to swerve and avoid a collision (“playing chicken”)
• It is illegal to chase, harass, or disturb wildlife with your PWC.

Remember—As an owner of a PWC, you may be held responsible if you allow anyone else to operate your PWC in such a way that it violates the laws of Oklahoma.

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

When towing persons behind your vessel, you are still responsible for following all other navigation rules and boating laws.

In addition to adhering to laws as they apply to all vessels, operators towing a person(s) using a parasail or on water skis, a surfboard, or a similar device must obey these laws.

• Each person being towed must wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved personal flotation device.
• It is illegal for a vessel to tow a person(s) on water skis, a surfboard, a parasail, or a similar device unless one of the following conditions is met.
  • A person at least 8 years old, in addition to the vessel operator, is on board observing the towed person(s) or …
  • The vessel is equipped with an approved rearview mirror or mirrors so that the operator of the vessel can observe the progress of the person(s) being towed while facing forward.
    • If the vessel is not a personal watercraft, one wide-angle convex rearview mirror must be installed.
    • If the vessel is a personal watercraft, two wide-angle convex rearview mirrors must be installed.
• Persons being towed are considered passengers of the towing vessel. Vessels towing water-skiers or participating in a similar activity must be able to retrieve all persons being towed safely without exceeding the recommended capacity.
• It is illegal to operate a personal watercraft or similar device capable of being remote-controlled by the skier unless such device is factory-equipped with an ignition safety switch capable of shutting off the engine in the event the skier becomes detached from the personal watercraft device.
• It is illegal for vessels to tow skiers or surfboards, parasails, or any device of this type between sunset and sunrise or when visibility is restricted so as to endanger life or property.
• Vessels towing water-skiers or participating in a similar activity must operate in a careful and prudent manner. A reasonable distance from other vessels, people, and property must be maintained so as not to endanger life or property. It is illegal to cause the person being towed to collide with any object or person.