USBoatLaw.com  - The Boating Laws and Safety Guides

Pennsylvania BOAT LAWS

- Greater then 25 mph

• Persons 11 years of age or younger may NOT operate.

• Persons born on or after January 1, 1982, may not operate unless they have obtained and have in possession a Boating Safety Education Certificate

Under 25 mph  - no age restrictions (Special conditions apply)

 Personal watercraft are boats. They must follow the same laws and regulations as other boaters. Pennsylvania regulations require that PWC operators must:

• Wear life jackets at all times. All passengers must also wear life jackets. Inflatable life jackets are not acceptable.

• Carry a fully charged fire extinguisher on board.

• Carry a sound-producing device on board.

• Attach the kill switch safety lanyard to clothing, body or life jacket.

Furthermore, it is illegal:

• For anyone to operate a PWC without having in one’s possession a Boating Safety Education Certificate.

• To rent a PWC to anyone 15 years of age or younger. No one less than 16 years of age may operate a rented PWC.

• To operate a PWC from sunset to sunrise.

• To tow a water skier behind a PWC with a capacity of two people or fewer, and to tow more than one skier.

• For anyone 11 years of age or younger to operate a PWC.

• For anyone 12 through 15 years of age to operate a PWC with any passengers on board 15 years of age or younger.

You must have an Pennsylvania Registration Certificate and registration decals to operate a vessel on Pennsylvania’s public waters legally. Exceptions to registration are:

• Inflatable vessels that are 7 feet or less in length

• Canoes and kayaks that are 13 feet or less in length and have no motor and sail

It is illegal for the owner or person in control of a motorboat to allow someone who does not meet the age or boating education requirements to operate the vessel.   

 Vessels properly registered in another state using Pennsylvania waters for 60 or fewer days within one calendar year do not have to be registered.