State Law vs. Federal Law

Registration and Titling Requirements:

To operate a vessel on the waters of Kentucky it must be properly registered and display current registration decals. You must submit a proper application, title and registration fee to the office of the county clerk in the county in which you reside or the county where you use your vessel. The following types of water craft are exempt:

• Non-motorized vessels like canoes, kayaks and rafts.
• Vessels properly registered in another state and not remaining in Kentucky waters for more than 60 consecutive days.
• Vessels properly documented with the United States Coast Guard.

Once in receipt of the application and fee, you will be issued a Kentucky Certificate of Registration. The registration must be kept aboard the boat at all times and be readily available for inspection by law enforcement officers. You will also be issued a set of Registration Decals. The boat registration and validation decals are valid for a period of one year.

Your boat registration and decals are valid for one year!

You must display your registration numbers and decals (beginning with KY) on the forward half of your vessel well above the waterline where it can be easily read by law enforcement officials. Letters and numbers are to be block style of at least 3" tall and must be black or another color that contrasts with the hull. They are to read from left to right and have a space or hyphen to separate letter and numbers. The validation decals must be affixed within six inches, inline and behind (toward the stern) of the registration numbers.

Laws for Required Wearing of PFDs :

In addition to the federal PFD carriage requirements, Kentucky has the following requirements for wearing a PFD:

Children under 12 must wear a PFD underway in an open vessel
or on an open deck of a vessel!

Additional Equipment Requirements:

Beyond minimum federal equipment requirements, some states may have other requirements for certain bodies of water. At this time, Kentucky does not require any specific additional safety equipment, but the following are some recommended items:

Recommended Additional Safety Equipment!

• Compass and charts
• Marine VHF radio
• Anchoring equipment
• Bailing device
• Spare parts & tools
• Extra starting battery
• Oars or paddles
• Flashlight

Mufflers and Noise Levels:

Any boat operated on the waters of Kentucky must have an effective muffling system to reduce noise. It is illegal to modify the muffling system if the result is a louder exhaust.

In general, do not modify your factory exhaust if the result makes it louder!

Loud boat noise not only bothers other operators and users of the waterways, it can also disrupt peace ashore because of sound's ability to travel great distances over water. Excessive noise can also prevent a boat operator from hearing other boats' sound signals and warnings and can prevent you from hearing approaching law or rescue personnel.

Requirements for Waste, Oil and Garbage Disposal:

• Federal regulations and equipment standards established jointly by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard govern the uses of marine sanitation devices (MSDs).
• All boats with onboard toilet facilities must have a method to collect and contain all waste products, preventing it from entering surrounding waters. Specifically, it is illegal to discharge untreated sewage, or any waste derived from sewage, into any federally controlled or Kentucky state waters. Some bodies of water may allow for discharge of treated waste - check with your local waterways authority for clarification.

All installed MSDs must be US Coast Guard certified
and have a “Y” valve in proper positioning!

• Type I and II MSDs must have a “Y” valve secured to allow for waste to enter a proper on board holding tank for future drainage at a pump-out station. Type III MSDs will typically have a built-in holding tank with no external plumbing and cannot be pumped overboard. Type III MSDs must be pumped ashore at a proper facility.

It is illegal to dump raw sewage, oil or garbage into
any Kentucky state waters!

• Discharge of fuel, oil or any oil product, including contaminated bilge water, is strictly prohibited. All boats 26 feet or longer must properly display a 5x8 inch Oily Waste Discharge placard near the bilge pump switch.
• All boats 26 feet or longer, when operating in waters under federal jurisdiction, must display an informational placard on the subject of federal marine pollution prevention laws. The placard must be 4x9 inches and placed in a location where crew and passengers can read it.

• All boats 40 feet or longer operating more than 3 miles from shore that are equipped with a galley and berthing, must also carry a Waste Management Plan. This plan must outline procedures for proper marine pollution regulations for garbage management and designate a person in charge for carrying out this plan.

Mandatory Education and Age Requirements:

Kentucky has the following requirements for the operation of motorized vessels:

• Boaters less than 12 years of age may not legally operate any motorized vessel or personal watercraft over 10 horsepower (hp).
• Boaters aged 12 to 17 may operate motorized vessels, including personal watercraft, provided they have completed a safety course approved by the KDFWR and carry with them their certificate of successful completion, -OR- they are accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older or another boater who possesses a boater education card.
• There are no vessel education requirements for boaters 18 years of age or older.

Reckless & Negligent Operation:

The failure to exercise the degree of care necessary to prevent endangering persons, property or wildlife may be considered careless or negligent operation. Therefore, no person shall operate any vessel or manipulate water skis, wakeboard, tube or similar device in manner that can bring harm to themselves, their passengers, or other boaters or the environment.

Some activities considered negligent or reckless operation in Kentucky:

• Speeding in no-wake zones or boating in areas marked as restricted.
• Weaving through congested waterways and other boat traffic or failure to follow the navigation rules.
• Exceeding the weight or number of persons on board or overpowering the craft with an engine larger than designated on the capacity plate.
• Allowing a passenger to ride on the gunwale, bow, transom or in any other position that is obviously dangerous or where a chance of falling overboard exists.
• Crossing the path of another vessel when visibility is restricted or jumping the wake of another vessel in a way that it a way that it endangers another's life, safety or property.
• Chasing, harassing or disturbing wildlife with your vessel.

Additional laws that apply to personal watercraft (PWC):

• PWCs must not be operated in a manner that requiresthe operator or another boater to swerve at the last possible moment to avoid a collision.
• PWCs must not be operated so that it jumps the wake of another vessel or crosses the path of another vessel such that visibility is restricted.
• PWCs may only be operated during daylight hours (between sunrise and sunset).
• All PWCs must be equipped with an engine cut-off lanyard that is attached to the operator, or have self-circling ability to retrieve a downed operator.

Boat Speed Limits:

Boat speed limits are regulated by law for certain areas and conditions. When no speed limit is posted, operate your boat so that it will not endanger others. Always keep a proper lookout and never load a boat with passengers or cargo beyond its safe carrying capacity. You are responsible for your wake!

• White buoys with red or orange markings and black letters will indicate speed limits and no-wake zones.
• When operating your boat in a no-wake zone you must proceed at the lowest speed at which it is still possible to maintain steering and the vessel does not produce a wake.
• In times of restricted visibility such as in fog or stormy conditions, you must be able to stop your vessel within half the distance of forward visibility. At all times, operators must be prepared to avoid a collision and have engines ready for immediate maneuvering.

Special Activities Restrictions and Considerations:

Many states regulate certain water sports activities such as waterskiing, diving and hunting from a vessel. For your safety, and for those who may be in the water, you should learn and abide by these special laws.

Special Activities, Restrictions & Requirements:

• Boaters (and PWC operators) engaged in towing a water skier or similar device must have another person aboard at least 12 years of age observing the towed person/s, or have the vessel equipped with a wide-angle rear view mirror with at least a 160 degree field of vision to observe the skier.
• All boats or PWCs used for skiing or towing operations must have adequate seating capacity to accommodate the operator, retrieved skier and observer if required.
• When towing a person on water skis or similar device, the participant must wear a properly fitting U.S. Coast Guard approved Type I, II, or III PFD.
• Towing activities and PWC operation must only take place during daylight hours (sunrise to sunset).
• It is illegal to ski or tow a similar device within 100 feet of a commercial dock, moorage area or swimming area, or within 2,000 feet of a dam.
• When towing airborne devices (parasails, kites, etc), you must have an observer of at least 12 years of age. Additionally, you may not have more than two riders at once, limit the tow line to 150 feet in length and stay at least 500 feet away from commercial docks and ramps.
• Vessels engaged in scuba diving and snorkeling must display a red and white diver down flag. Divers must only surface within 50 feet of the flag and other vessel operators must not operate within 100 feet of this flag.
• Vessels engaged in diving activity and restricted in their ability to maneuver, must hoist a blue and white alfa flag when conducting operations in federal and international waters. This does not replace the diver's flag.

Operating Under the Influence

It is illegal to operate a motorboat or vessel while under the influence or drugs or alcohol. State Operating under the Influence (OUI) laws are becoming more stringent. As on the roadways, on-water enforcement officers may administer sobriety tests and conduct a chemical test to determine level of sobriety.

In Kentucky:

• It is illegal to operate a vessel, or manipulate water skis or similar device while under the influence of anything that impairs safe operation. This includes intoxication by either alcohol or drugs, or combination thereof.
• Boaters that have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or greater are considered boating while intoxicated (BWI).
• It is also illegal to drink alcoholic beverages in public places - this includes the waterways of Kentucky.
• By operating your boat in the state of Kentucky, you have consented to and must submit to evidentiary testing for drug and alcohol use if requested by law enforcement personnel.
• Kentucky law prescribes fines and possible jail times for those who violate state operating under the influence laws.

Officer Authority, Compliance & Assistance

Officers of the Kentucky Department of Fish& Wildlife Resources have the authority to stop and/or inspect vessels to enforce Kentucky and federal boating laws. Additionally, the United States Coast Guard has enforcement authority on federally controlled waters.

Officers of the Kentucky Fish & Wildlife Resources have the authority to stop and/or inspect vessels!

Boat operators must immediately yield and reduce speed when being overtaken, approached or directed by a law enforcement official. When operating in an area of law enforcement activity, you must reduce speed and give a wide berth until beyond the area of operation of the law enforcement vessel.

Accident Reporting Requirements

• Officers of the Kentucky Fish & Wildlife Resources have the authority to stop and/or inspect vessels!
• You should always be prepared to exchange information like name, address, phone numbers and boat registration numbers with other parties involved and/or law enforcement personnel.
• Any boating accident that involves death or the disappearance of a person, or involves personal injury that requires medical attention or causes a person to be disabled for more than 24 hours must file a written report within 48 hours after the occurrence with the KDFWR.
• If the accident results in property damage in excess of $500, you must report it within 5 days to the KDFWR. However, if a person dies or disappears in the accident, a report must be filed within 48 hours (see above).
• If the operator is incapacitated and unable to complete a report and is not the owner of the vessel, the owner must file a report.
• Accident report forms are available from the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources.

Other State Boating Laws

Often times counties, cities and districts within a state will have different, more restrictive laws. Boating laws are subject to change and it is your responsibility to be informed of the law as it applies to you and your on-water activities. To be absolutely certain about specific boating laws in your state it is wise to contact your state boating agency.

It is Your Responsibility – Be Informed!

We provide this information as a service and strive to keep this website up to date. Please let us know of any inconsistencies by bringing them to our attention at once at onlinecourse@boatus.com. Resources for these pages include state statutes, state web pages and state approved boating guides. BoatU.S. is not responsible for any misinterpretation of the law or any change in the law that is not adequately reflected in these pages. Damages as a result of failing to abide by stated law shall not be the responsibility of BoatU.S., BoatU.S. Foundation or its employees.

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