Operating a PWC

In Pennsylvania, these are the operating laws for PWC.

• PWC may be operated during daylight hours only (sunrise to sunset).
• PWC must be operated in a responsible manner. It is illegal to:
  • Weave your PWC through congested waterway traffic.
  • Operate a PWC at greater than “slow, no wake speed” if within 100 feet of:
    • A shoreline, docks, or launch ramps
    • Swimmers, downed skiers, or persons wading in the water
    • Anchored, moored, or drifting vessels or floats
  • Cause a PWC to become airborne while crossing another vessel’s wake when within 100 feet of the vessel creating the wake.
  • Operate at faster than “slow, no wake speed” within 100 feet to the rear of or 50 feet to the side of another vessel that is underway (unless in a narrow channel).
  • Operate within 100 feet of anyone being towed behind another vessel.