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 personal flotation device (life jacket).
• 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 may only be operated during the hours between one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
• You must be at least 16 years of age to operate a PWC.

Remember ... As an owner of a PWC, you may be held responsible if you knowingly allow anyone else to operate your PWC in violation of Vermont 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, kite skis, surfboards, inner tubes, or any similar devices must obey these laws also.

• All persons being towed behind a vessel on water skis or any other device must wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved Type I, II, or III personal flotation device (life jacket). Ski belts are not approved personal flotation devices.
• Every vessel towing a person(s) on water skis or any other device must have a person who is at least 12 years old on board, in addition to the vessel operator, in a position to observe the towed person(s).
• A reasonable distance from other vessels, people, and property must be maintained so as not to endanger life or property. Unless necessary for landing or leaving shore, it is illegal to cause the towed device or the person being towed to approach within 100 feet of:
  • A person swimming.
  • A canoe, rowboat, or other small vessel with a person on board.
• Some areas less than 200 feet from the shoreline of a waterbody may be designated for water-skiing. These areas may have special rules governing their use.

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