What is required to have on a boat in PA? (2023)

What is required to be on a boat in PA?

Do you need a Boating License in Pennsylvania? Pennsylvania law requires all PWC operators to have boater education and to carry a boater education card. In addition, those operating a boat over 25 hp are also required by law to pass a boater safety course and to carry a boater education card.

For persons born on or after January 1, 1982, to operate boats powered by motors greater than 25 horsepower. Approved permanent Boating Safety Education Certificates for Pennsylvania residents must be issued by the PA Fish & Boat Commission.

Equipment. Make sure that you have the required number of lifejackets or PFDs, that they are in good condition, and that they are the proper sizes for the persons on board. Encourage everyone to wear a lifejacket or PFD.

Motorboats less than 26 feet in length with gasoline engines are required to carry a fire extinguisher if they have one or more of the following: closed compartments, permanently installed fuel tanks, double bottoms not sealed to the hull or completely filled with flotation materials, closed living spaces, or closed ...

Pennsylvania's boating and alcohol laws require that no person shall operate any boat on Pennsylvania waters while they are under the influence of alcohol, drugs or a combination thereof. Alcohol is prohibited on land and water at all state parks and at most U.S. Army Corps of Engineer projects.

Life Jackets and personal floatation devices – The USCG requires one approved – Type I, II, III, or V, life jacket or life vest per person on board. If the vessel is 16 feet or more in length, one throwable floatation device – Type IV – like a ring is required as well.

If Human-Powered Pleasure Craft is more than 6 m in length: 1 watertight flashlight. 6 pyrotechnic distress signals other than smoke signals (See Note 2)

1. Personal Flotation Device. It is necessary to have one personal flotation device or life jacket for each person, whether they are on the boat or something being towed by the boat, such as those on tubes or water skis.

Alcohol is prohibited in all PA State Parks or on PFBC property while operating a kayak or canoe.

Does a PA boating license expire?

The boating safety education certificate is proof that you have successfully completed a boating safety course. The boating safety education certificate does not expire and does not need to be renewed.

Recreational boats must carry Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Devices, in good and serviceable condition, and of appropriate size for the intended user. Wearable PFDs must be readily accessible, not stowed in bags, locked or closed compartments or have other gear stowed on top of them.

Federal requirements are as follows: For boats under 16' in length: Distress signals are only required when operating between sunset and sunrise. If operating at night, one electric distress light or three combination day/night red flares are required.

May my child operate a boat? A person 11 years of age or younger may NOT operate a personal watercraft or a boat propelled by a motor greater than 25 horsepower. A person 12 through 15 years of age may NOT operate a personal watercraft if there are any passengers onboard 15 years of age or younger.

There is a requirement that all personal watercraft operators must be at least 12 years old.

Which of the following is a requirement for all motorboats in Pennsylvania? They must be registered.