New York Boating and Personal Watercraft Education Law
New York Boating and Personal Watercraft Education Law: New York has specific requirements for operating boats and personal watercraft, and the boater education law for each is very different. Read below to determine if you are required to take a boating safety course and if you are required to carry proof of education while boating.
Boat Operation (excluding PWCs):
- Children under 10 may not operate.
- Youth 10 to 17 years of age may only operate a vessel under the supervision of an adult who is at least 18 years of age, OR, they may operate alone only if they have successfully completed an approved boating safety course and carry aboard their boating safety education certificate.
- Individuals 18 years of age or older are permitted to operate a vessel without restrictions and have no requirement for taking a boating safety course.
- All personal watercraft operators must take an 8-hour classroom based boating safety course and successfully complete the proctored exam before they can operate a PWC on any waters of New York.
- Programs offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Power Squadrons are acceptable.
- Young boater safety certificates previously issued by New York State satisfy the educational requirements.
- All PWC operators must be a minimum of 14 years old – no one under the age of 14 may operate a PWC.
- No one under the age of 16 may rent a personal watercraft. Those under 18 years of age wishing to rent a personal watercraft must possess a boating safety education certificate.
PWC Operation – Education is Mandatory for All PWC Operators:
