Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Who May Operate a Vessel

Current requirements are as follows and will remain in effect.

• You must be at least 14 years of age to operate a personal watercraft legally.
• It is illegal to lease, hire, or rent a personal watercraft to anyone under 16 years of age.

Future requirements have been set by a Washington boating safety education law that was passed in 2005. This new law will be phased in so that all boaters, unless exempted, must obtain a Washington boater education card by January 1, 2014. The new law also requires the following.

No one may operate or permit the operation of a power-driven vessel with an engine that is 15 horsepower or more, including a personal watercraft, unless the operator:

• Is at least 12 years of age if the vessel is not a personal watercraft or is at least 14 years of age if the vessel is a personal watercraft and ...
• Has in his or her possession a boater education card (if required) or is accompanied by and is under the direct supervision of a person at least 16 years of age who has a boater education card or who is not yet required to have the card.

The phase-in schedule by age group for completing the mandatory boater safety education to obtain a card is shown below.

Washington Boater Education Card Persons required to have a Boater Education Card must carry it on board whenever operating.

Persons exempted from the phased-in mandatory boater safety education requirement include:

• Any person born before January 1, 1955
• Any person who is renting, chartering, or leasing a power-driven vessel with an engine that is 15 horsepower or more (other than a personal watercraft) and who completes an approved motor vessel safety operating and equipment checklist
• Any person at least 16 years of age who is renting, chartering, or leasing a personal watercraft and who completes an approved motor vessel safety operating and equipment checklist
• Any person who is a non-resident and who operates on Washington waters for 60 consecutive days or less
• Any person who is a non-resident and holds a current, approved out-of-state or out-of-country boater safety education certificate or card
• Any person who has purchased the vessel within the last 60 days and has a bill of sale in his or her possession
• Operators of commercial, law enforcement, or government vessels and persons with a USCG captain’s license
• Operators involved in practicing for or participating in a permitted marine event