Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Who May Operate a Boat and Who
May Operate a PWC
Who May Operate a Boat
Those less than 12 years of age:
- May operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 horsepower
(hp) legally without restrictions.
- May operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6 hp but
no more than 35 hp legally only if they are
directly supervised on board by a person at least 16 years of
age.
- May not operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 35
hp legally under any conditions.
Those 12 to 15 years of age:
- May operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 hp
legally without restrictions.
- May operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6 hp legally only
if they:
- Have passed a boating safety course approved by the Department
of Natural Resources and have on board their boating safety
certificate or ...
- Are accompanied on board by a person at least 16 years
of age.
Those 16 years of age or older may operate any
boat on the waters of Michigan. Note: See Who May Operate
a Personal Watercraft (PWC) below.
Who May Operate a Personal Watercraft
(PWC)
Those less than 12 years of age may NOT operate a PWC legally.
Those 12 and 13 years of age may operate a PWC
legally only if:
- They obtained a boating safety certificate prior to January 1, 1999, or ...
- All of the following conditions are satisfied.
- The operator is accompanied solely by his or her parent
or legal guardian
and ...
- Both the operator and the parent or legal guardian have
obtained a boating safety certificate and ...
- The PWC is equipped with a lanyard-type ignition safety
switch and the parent or legal guardian has the lanyard attached
to his or her person, clothing, or PFD and ...
- The PWC is designed to carry at least two persons.
Those 14 years of age or older:
- And born after December 31, 1978, may operate a PWC legally only if they have obtained a boating safety certificate.
- And born on or before December 31, 1978, may operate a PWC legally without restrictions.
Boating Safety Certificate
A vessel operator who is required to have passed a boating
safety course should carry this certificate on board. |
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