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.

• Everyone on board a PWC must wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved Type I, II, or III PFD. Inflatable PFDs are not acceptable on PWCs.
• It is illegal to operate a PWC under the age of 16 unless accompanied by a person of age 18 or older who holds a Boater Education Card.
• Persons under age 18 may not rent a PWC.
• An operator of a PWC equipped with a lanyard-type ignition safety switch must attach the lanyard to his or her person, clothing, or PFD.
• PWCs must be muffled effectively and also must display the required navigation lights if operated between sunset and sunrise.
• PWCs have the following speed restrictions.
  • Slow to 10 mph when you are approaching within 100 feet of another powerboat or sailboat underway.
  • Slow to “slow, no wake speed” (maximum 5 mph) when within:
• 100 feet of any anchored vessel or non-motorized craft
• 200 feet of a shoreline of a lake, bay, or reservoir (safe take-offs and landings are excepted)
• 200 feet of a swimmer, a surfer, a shoreline angler, or a diver-down flag
• 200 feet of a dock, launch ramp, marina, mooring area, floating home, boathouse, pier, or swim float
• Do not operate PWCs within 200 feet behind a person being towed on water skis or other similar devices.
• PWCs must be operated in a reasonable and prudent manner. It is illegal to:
  • Weave your PWC through congested waterway traffic.
  • Jump the wake of another vessel unreasonably close to that vessel or when its operator’s vision is obstructed.
• It is illegal to operate a PWC if under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• It is illegal to chase, harass, or disturb wildlife, birds, or marine mammals.
• Personal watercraft may be prohibited or have additional restrictions on some Oregon waterways. Check the Oregon Boater’s Handbook for specific waterways’ regulations on PWCs before you go boating.

Remember—As an owner of a PWC, you are responsible if you allow anyone else to operate your PWC in violation of Oregon law. Make sure the operator has a boater education card before you loan your PWC.

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

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

• It is illegal for vessels to tow persons on water skis or any device of this type between sunset and sunrise.
• Children 12 years old and younger being towed must wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved Type I, II, or III PFD.
• Vessels towing a person(s) on water skis or a similar device must carry on board a red or orange skier-down flag and display it whenever the skier is in the water.
• The operator of the towing vessel and the skier must not operate in a manner that endangers the safety of persons or property. Also, they must not operate while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Every vessel towing a person on water skis or a similar device must have a person, in addition to the operator, continuously observing the towed person.
• If the towing vessel is a PWC, the PWC must be rated for at least three people—the operator, the observer, and the retrieved skier.
• It is illegal to tow a person(s) holding onto any portion of the boat aft of the transom (including a step, ladder, platform, or deck) while underway.

If towing a skier with a personal watercraft, the PWC must be rated for at least three people—the operator, the observer, and the skier.