Personal Watercraft Rules & Safety
Most Common Questions
Do I need a boating license or
boating safety certificate to operate a boat or personal watercraft (PWC)
in Florida?
Anyone under the age of 22 (21 and under) is required to have a boating
safety education ID card along with a photo ID while operating a vessel
with 10 horsepower or greater in Florida waters. This includes a
personal watercraft (PWC). Persons under age
14 may not operate a PWC.
A person is exempt from this requirement
if there is a person on board who is not affected by this law or is at
least 18 years of age and holds a boater education ID card. This
person must be attendant to and take responsibility for the safe
operation of the vessel.
The type of card you need depends on
whether you are a resident of Florida or not. If you are a Florida
resident, you can take the following online boating safety course which
is approved by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Successfully completing this course will allow you to obtain the
official
Florida
Boating Safety Education ID Card.
BoaterExam.com — Get Your Boating License Online!
The boating safety course and exam are free — you only pay when you
pass!
How old do I need to be to rent a PWC?
Companies in Florida are prohibited from
renting a Personal Water Craft (PWC)
to anyone under 18 years of age. Persons 14 years or older may operate a
rented
PWC, as long as someone
18 or older rented it. You must be at least 18 to enter into a rental
contract for a
PWC.
► A person must be at
least 14
years of age
to operate
a personal watercraft in this state.
►
A
person must be at least 18
years of age
to rent
a personal watercraft in Florida.
It is unlawful for a person
to knowingly allow a person under 14 years of age to operate a personal
watercraft (a second-degree misdemeanor).
Are there
places where I am not allowed to operate my jet ski or waverunner?
PWCs, airboats, water skiing or any “towing”
activity is not allowed within three National Refuge Areas of the Lower
Keys: Key Deer National Refuge, Great White Heron National Refuge, and
the Key West Refuge. These areas are regulated by the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFW). Follow the link below, and then
scroll down to pages 20 and 21 to view a map of the restricted areas:
http://www.fws.gov/southeast/pubs/nkdgen.pdf
It is legal to operate PWCs along the
shoreline parallel to U. S. Highway One (“Overseas Highway”), for the
purpose of allowing “transportation” from one point to the next. The
purpose of not allowing PWC, Airboat, and Skiiing activity in the “back
country,” or the islands not connected by U. S. Highway One, is to
prevent disturbing wildlife and bird nesting areas.
For
other information, you can also contact the USFW at the Key Deer
National Refuge in Big Pine Key. Their phone number is 305-872-2239.
Be Aware and Show You Care by Following
These General Rules
- Each person operating, riding on,
or being towed behind a personal watercraft must wear an approved
non-inflatable Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device.
Inflatable personal flotation devices are prohibited.
- The operator of a personal watercraft must
attach the engine cutoff switch lanyard (if equipped by the
manufacturer) to his/her person, clothing, or PFD.
- Personal watercraft may not be operated
from 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise.
- Maneuvering a personal watercraft by
weaving through congested vessel traffic, jumping the wake of
another vessel unreasonably close or when visibility around the
vessel is obstructed, or swerving at the last possible moment to
avoid collision is classified as reckless operation of a vessel (a
first-degree misdemeanor).
- Each person operating or riding on a
personal watercraft must wear an approved Type I, II, III, or V
personal floatation device. Inflatable personal floatation devices
are prohibited. The operator of a personal watercraft must attach
the engine cutoff switch lanyard (if equipped by the manufacturer)
to his/her person, clothing, or PFD.
- Maneuvering a personal watercraft by weaving through congested vessel traffic,
jumping the wake of another vessel unreasonably close, or when
visibility around the vessel is obstructed, or swerving at the last
possible moment to avoid collision is classified as reckless
operation of a vessel (a first-degree misdemeanor).
In addition, if allowing someone to
drive your PWC:
- Let them know that they are
operating a vessel and have the same responsibilities as any other
vessel operator.
- Let beginners take their first
rides in an uncrowded area. While on shore, show them the proper
procedures for deep water starting and reboarding.
-
Be sure to give instruction on how to
steer and control the PWC. Remind them that power is
required for steering control!
-
Point out that it is easy to have so much fun that
you forget to watch where you are going. Tell them to look around
before making a turn.
Important Things to Remember
- Refuel on land to reduce any
chances of spilling oil or gas into the water.
- Slow down when filling the tank,
do not overfill, catch any accidental spills with an absorbent pad,
and dispose of it properly.
- Check and clean your engine well
away from shorelines. Oil can harm the water's delicate
micro-organisms and the animals that feed on them.
- In shallow waters, boats may stir
up the bottom, suspending sediments which limit light penetration
and deplete oxygen. This can affect fish and bird feeding.
- Ride in main channels, and limit
riding in shallow water.
- When it is necessary to ride in
shallow water, keep watercraft at an idle speed. This will help
reduce turbidity (the stirring up of bottom sediments which limits
light penetration and depletes oxygen, affecting fish and bird
feeding).
- In coastal areas be aware of the
low tide. The waters may be substantially more shallow at these
times, exposing valuable fish nurseries such as sea grass beds and
other delicate vegetation.
- Birds feeding in shallow areas or
on the shoreline should not be disturbed.
- If you are riding near coral, do
not use an anchor, and be careful when diving to avoid coming in
contact with these delicate organisms.
- Stay away from kelp forests. Found
close to shore, the kelp canopy covers the surface of the water and
extends down, supporting a lush underwater community of fish,
invertebrates, sea urchins and sea otters.
- Avoid grass marshes found in salt
or fresh water coastal areas or rivers. Hidden in the thickets are
nesting birds, frogs, turtles, snakes and possibly alligators.
- Observe posted no-wake zones near
shore. Excessive boat wakes may contribute to shoreline erosion,
which can affect the habitats of plants and animals.
- Be a courteous boat operator. Be
aware that noise and movements of boats may disturb the local
residents - including waterfront homeowners, birds, marine mammals
and other wildlife.
- Ride at controlled speeds so you
can see any animals ahead of you.
- Avoid areas of high animal
population.
- If you see an animal hit by a
boat, note the location and report it immediately to your local
wildlife commission.
- When docking or beaching, look for
evidence of turtles, birds, alligators and other animals along
shore.
- Avoid docking or beaching where
plants such as reeds, grasses and mangroves are located. These
essential plants control erosion and provide a nursery ground for
many small animals and fish.
- Be aware of the endangered species
that are found in your riding area. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service is responsible for listing the hundreds of species in
decline.
- Wash off your boat after you use
it to prevent the spread of exotic plants to other lakes and rivers.
Exotics have no natural enemies and spread easily, killing off
native species and decreasing important plant and animal diversity.
Harassment
Do not harass wildlife by chasing or
interrupting feeding, nesting or resting. Harassment is defined as
any action that may cause an animal to deviate from its normal
behavior. It is illegal and can unduly stress wildlife. Mammals such
as sea otters, sea lions, manatees and whales can be injured from
direct impact by boats traveling at high speeds. Ride at controlled
speeds so you can see any animals ahead of you. Avoid areas of high
animal population. If you hit an animal, report it to your local
wildlife commission. There may be a chance to save its life.
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Environmental
Considerations
Refuel on land to
reduce any chances of spilling oil or gas into the water. Slow down when
filling the tank, do not overfill, catch any accidental spills with an
absorbent pad, and dispose of it properly. Check and clean your engine
well away from shorelines. Oil can harm the water's delicate
micro-organisms and the animals that feed on them, potentially upsetting
the entire food chain.
Turbidity
In shallow waters, boats may
stir up the bottom, suspending sediments which limit light
penetration and deplete oxygen. This can affect fish and bird
feeding. Ride in main channels, and limit riding in shallow water.
When it is necessary to ride in shallow water, keep watercraft at an
idle speed. This will help reduce turbidity (the stirring up of
bottom sediments which limits light penetration and depletes oxygen,
affecting fish and bird feeding). In coastal areas be aware of the
low tide. The waters may be substantially more shallow at these
times, exposing valuable fish nurseries such as sea grass beds and
other delicate vegetation.
Vegetation
Vegetation such as sea
grasses are delicate nursery grounds where many of the fish in our
waters originate. Weeds, grasses and other plant life are not good
for your PWC. Ingestion of these into your craft may cause engine or
pump problems, and reduce performance. Stay away! When possible,
operate well away from shore because, typically, wildlife inhabit
the vegetation along the shore's edge. The least amount of
disturbance is in the marked channels or the deeper areas of a lake
or river. If at all possible, stay in main channels.
No Wake Near Shore
Excessive boat wakes may
contribute to shoreline erosion, especially in narrow streams and
inlets. Erosion is a concern for all shorelines including rivers, lakes
and oceans. The slow destruction of shorelines affects the habitats of
plants and animals. Near the shore avoid high speeds which create wakes
and observe posted no wake zones.
Wash Your Watercraft
Wash your boat off after you use it to
prevent the spread of exotic plants to other lakes and rivers. Exotics
are plants and animals that are non-native to a specific area. Exotics
have no natural enemies and spread easily, taking over an area to the
exclusion of native species, thus decreasing important plant and animal
diversity.
Watch Where You Stop
When docking or beaching, look for
evidence of turtles, birds, alligators and other animals along shore.
Avoid docking or beaching where plants such as reeds, grasses and
mangroves are located. These essential plants control erosion and
provide a nursery ground for many small animals and fish.
Endangered Species
Many species of plants and animals are
threatened with extinction due to habitat loss. The Endangered Species
Act of 1973 was created to protect these animals. It is illegal to
trade, kill, hunt, collect, harass, harm, pursue, shoot, trap, wound or
capture species designated as endangered, or in danger of extinction,
such as threatened, rare, and species of concern. The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service is responsible for listing the hundreds of species in
decline.
Special Habitats
Mangroves are a distinctive type of tree
that have adapted to living in or near saltwater. There are four types
of trees, two of which are threatened with extinction. Many shore birds
such as pelicans and roseate spoonbills nest in mangrove forests and
islands. Mangroves shelter other marine life, control erosion and filter
runoff. They also build up the shoreline and serve as a buffer that
protects the land from storms and winds. Don't operate in unmarked
mangrove channels - you're disturbing mangroves, birds and other animals
who reside in this area. Coral is a living organism which
provides a safe haven for hundreds of marine creatures. This firm, yet
fragile species is vulnerable to the effects of human intrusion. If you
are riding near coral, do not use an anchor, and be careful when diving
to avoid coming in contact with these delicate organisms.
Marine
Plant Life
Kelp forests support a lush
underwater community teeming with fish, invertebrates sea urchins and
sea otters. Found close to shore, the kelp canopy covers the surface of
the water and extends down, sometimes thousands of feet, to the bottom
of the ocean floor. In warm months, this seaweed can grow as much as a
foot a day. Sea grasses are nursery grounds normally found in
protected waters called estuaries where fresh water and salt water meet.
Most of the world's fish have their beginnings in estuaries and their
associated sea grass habitat. Sea grasses are very delicate and their
destruction can lead to degradation of the entire marine cycle. As a
responsible PWC operator, stay away from both of these environmentally
sensitive areas.
Noise
Be aware that the noise and movements
of boats may disturb bird populations. Steer clear of posted bird
nesting areas. Many migratory birds are easily stressed and
especially vulnerable during their migration period. Birds will
typically fly away from disturbing noises and any unnecessary
expenditure of energy can harm a feeding or resting bird. Bird
rookeries are especially vulnerable to noise from boats, including
personal watercraft. Nesting birds may fly from the nesting exposing
unprotected eggs and hatchlings to the sun's heat or predators.
Working Together
We all have a duty to
the next generation to protect our bountiful natural resources.
Take a moment to learn what the environmental concerns are in
your riding area. If you're interested in observing wildlife
while riding, keep an idle speed to reduce wake, noise and
turbidity (stirring up the bottom). Know your riding area for
the safety of the environment, for your own protection, and for
your personal watercraft's protection.
Special thanks to
The Personal Watercraft Industry Association for providing
text for this page. The PWIA is a trade organization dedicated
to promoting safe and responsible riding; this includes
following safe boating rules and operating to protect the
environment from harm due to rider carelessness.
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