Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Ohio Operating Laws
Boating Course Proficiency Exam Certificate (ORC 1547.05, ORC
1547.051, & ORC 1547.052)
ORC 1547.05 states that no person born on or after January 1,
1982, shall operate a powercraft powered by more than 10 horsepower
unless the operator has received a certificate for successful completion
of either:
- A boating course approved by the National Association of State
Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) or ...
- A proficiency examination approved by the Ohio Division of
Watercraft.
 ORC
1547.051 states that a person who is required to have the certificate
as indicated above and is stopped by a law enforcement officer
while operating a powercraft more than 10 horsepower, that person
shall present to the law enforcement officer the certificate or
proof of holding the certificate within 72 hours of being stopped.
ORC 1547.052 states that no rental business shall lease or rent
a powercraft powered by more than 10 horsepower to a person born
on or after January 1, 1982, unless:
- The person signs a statement that they have completed an approved
boating course or proficiency exam as indicated above or
...
- The person receives educational materials from the rental
business and passes an exam with a score of 90% or better. Achievement
of the passing score will be indicated on or attached to the
rental agreement.
ORC 1547.052 also states that any person born on or after January
1, 1982, who operates or supervises the operation of a leased or
rented powercraft shall meet the requirements in the paragraph
above and shall be named as an operator on the rental agreement.
Child Operators:
Supervising Person (ORC 1547.06)
Except as provided, no person under 16 years of age shall operate
a personal watercraft (PWC). Individuals not less than 12, nor
more than 15 years of age may operate a PWC if a supervising person
18 years of age or older is also on board. In the case of a supervising
person born on or after January 1, 1982, the supervising person
must also hold a certificate meeting the requirements of ORC 1547.05
and in the case of rented powercraft, must meet the requirements
of ORC 1547.052.
Persons under 12 years of age:
- Shall not operate any vessel unless under the direct visual
and audible supervision of a person who is 18 years of age or
older. This section does not apply to personal watercraft (see
above) or other powercraft powered by more than 10 horsepower
(see below).
- May not operate a personal watercraft.
- Shall not operate any other powercraft powered by more than
10 horsepower unless under the direct visual and audible supervision
of a person 18 years of age or older who is aboard the powercraft.
In addition, if the supervising person is born on or after January
1, 1982, the supervising person must hold a certificate meeting
the requirements of ORC 1547.05. Also, in the case of a rented
powercraft, the supervising person must meet the requirements
of ORC 1547.052.
No supervising person shall allow any person they are supervising
to violate any watercraft law.
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Disclaimer: Summarized boating law Information
in this manual does not replace what is the actual law for
boating in Ohio, which is found in the Ohio Revised Code,
the Ohio Administrative Code, and federal laws. |
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