7.1.8 LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Do not underestimate PWCs – they are very powerful for their small size and demand the same respect as any boat. In fact, PWC operation must adhere to the same rules and regulations as any other powerboat – including registration with the state and a B-1 class fire extinguisher aboard. Plus PWCs have some additional requirements:
- Every person onboard and anyone being towed behind a personal watercraft (PWC) must wear a Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III or V personal flotation device (PFD).
- Inflatable PFDs are not intended for use while participating in tow sports or other high impact sports, and do not meet the wear requirements for PWC operation.
- PWCs must come to "no wake" speed when within 50 feet or less of docks, piers, boathouses, boat ramps, or people in the water and vessels other than personal watercraft. This does not prohibit the pulling of a skier with a rope less than 50 feet.
