Requirements Specific to Personal Water Craft

Personal Water Craft Logo

Each person riding on a PWC must wear a U. S. Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III or V personal flotation device which is properly fitted and fastened. Inflatable Type V PFDs are not approved for PWC.

A PWC must be operated at idle speed if within 100 feet of a non-moving boat, dock or pier, bridge, person in the water, shoreline adjacent to a residence, public park or beach, swimming area, marina, restaurant or other public use area.

PWC must be equipped with fully operational self- circling device or a lanyard type engine cut-off switch. If a cut-off switch is used, the lanyard must be attached to the person, clothing or PFD of the operator.

PWC may not be operated between sunset and sunrise.

A PWC, operating at more than idle speed, cannot run around, ride or jump the wake of, or be within 100 feet of another moving boat or PWC unless it is overtaking the other boat in compliance with the rules for encountering other boats. When a PWC is overtaking another boat, it must not change course in order to ride or jump the wake of the boat being overtaken.

Every PWC towing a person(s) on water skis, tubes, or similar devices must be rated by the manufacturer to carry three or more persons and must have onboard a person, in addition to the PWC operator, capable of observing the towed person(s) at all times. A wide-angle mirror may not be used in place of an observer on PWC.

It is unlawful for an owner of a PWC to allow anyone else to operate their PWC in such a way that it violates the Georgia Boat Safety Act.

It is illegal to rent, lease or let for hire a PWC to a person under the age of 16 years.