State Law vs. Federal Law

Titling, Numbering and Registration Requirements:

Titling: Certain boats in Ohio must be titled before registration numbers and decals can be issued. A boat title is proof of ownership and a boat requiring a title may not be registered until a title is issued in the new owner's name. Boat titles are obtained from a title office. Sailboards (aka windsurfers) are not considered a watercraft by definition. Therefore, Ohio registration and titling laws do not apply to these vessels.

The sale or purchase of the following must be accompanied with a certificate of title:

• An outboard motor of 10 horsepower (hp)or greater
• A watercraft 14 feet or greater in length
• A watercraft less than 14 feet in length with a permanently affixed mechanical means of propulsion of 10 hp or greater

The following are exempt from the requirement above:

• Motors less than 10 hp
• Canoes and kayaks
• Watercraft less than 14 feet in length without a permanently affixed mechanical means of propulsion of 10 hp or greater
• Watercraft less than 14 feet in length with a permanently affixed mechanical means of propulsion less than 10 hp
• Boats owned by government agencies
• Boats from other countries
• Ship's lifeboats
• Boats documented by the U.S. Coast Guard

Some watercraft may not have had a title when originally purchased. The owners of the following watercraft will need to apply for title with their county title office prior to sale:

• Watercraft 14 feet or longer or outboards of 10 hp or more purchased on or before October 9, 1963.
• Watercraft less than 14 feet long with a permanently affixed mechanical means of propulsion of 10 hp or greater and purchased on or before January 1, 2000.

Numbering: In general, every watercraft operated on Ohio waters shall be numbered with the designation given by the Ohio Division of Watercraft. The following watercraft are exempt from Ohio numbering:

• Vessels properly documented with the U.S. Coast Guard
• Vessels having a valid registration in another state and not remaining in Ohio waters for more than 60 days
• Ships registered in a foreign country temporarily using Ohio water
• Vessels owned by government agencies
• A ship's life boat used exclusively for life saving purposes
• Vessels participating in a race or special event, if a waiver is issure by the Division of Watercraft

Registration: In addition to numbering a watercraft, it must be registered. A valid registration certificate must be carried aboard the vessel at all times and valid registration tags must be affixed to either side of the boat as indicated below. Watercraft that are exempt from registration are:

• Those exempt from numbering (except documented vessels)
• Those issued a commercial documentation and used exclusively for commercial purposes
• Vessels meeting another state's registration requirements which are not remaining in Ohio waters for more than 60 days

Registration certificates and tags are valid up to 3 years and expire on March 1st of the year indicated. You must display your registration tags and registration numbers (beginning with OH) on the forward half of your vessel. Letters and numbers are to be block characters at least 3" tall and a color that contrasts with the hull. The registration tags must be affixed inline and within 6 inches aft of the OH registration number. There is an aleternative registration option available for hand-powered vessels. Those using this option will display a single rectagular tag.

There may be additional requirements and exemptions for titling, numbering and registration for certain types of watercraft in Ohio. For more information visit the Ohio Division of Watercraft website at www.dnr.state.oh.us/watercraft.

Laws for Required Wearing of PFDs :

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

• No person shall operate or permit to be operated any vessel under 18 feet long with a child less than 10 years of age on board unless the child is wearing a properly sized PFD. PFDs must always be appropriate for wearer's size and weight.
• Every operator and passenger on board a personal watercraft (PWC) and any person waterskiing or being towed behind a vessel (including PWC) must wear an adequate and effective Type I, II, III Coast Guard approved PFD or Type V PFD specifically designed for water-skiing. Inflatable PFDs are not approved for PWC operators or passengers.
• Barefoot skiers shall wear an adequate and effective Type I, II, III Coast Guard approved PFD or Type V PFD specifically designed for water-skiing, or a wetsuit specifically designed for barefoot skiing.

Children less than 10 years of age must wear a PFD on boats under 18 feet while underway!

Additional Equipment Requirements:

In addition to minimum federal equipment requirements, some states may have other requirements, some of which apply only to certain bodies of water. Please check with your state boating agency for a list of the required equipment for where you intend to boat. Here are a few of the additional equipment requirements for certain Ohio boaters:

• Any vessel less than 14 feet in length
• Any canoe or kayak
• Any sailboat less than 21 feet in length

• A vessel of 12 meters (39.4 feet) or more in length shall be provided with a power whistle or power horn and a bell.
• A vessel less than 12 meters in length must at a minimum, have some means of making an efficient sound signal (i.e. handheld air horn, athletic whistle — human voice/sound not acceptable).
• A vessel that is propelled by human muscular effort, a sailing vessel and a power-driven vessel less than 16 feet in length, when using waters other than Lake Erie, the Ohio or Muskingum River, shall not be obliged to carry the sound devices stipulated above or produce the sound signals prescribed in the Ohio Administrative Code.

Also, the Ohio Division of Watercraft recommends consideration of the following additional safety items:

• Compass and charts
• Marine VHF radio or cell phone
• Dock lines and fenders
• Bailing device, extra line or throw bag
• Spare parts, fuses, bulbs & tools
• Extra starting battery and fuel can
• Oars or paddles
• Flashlight, first aid kit and sunscreen
• Food, water and extra clothing

Mufflers and Noise Levels:

An effective muffling system in good working order is required for the exhaust of each boat engine. This system must be effectively installed to prevent excessive or unusual noise.

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

Specifically, no boat shall be operated if it exceeds the following noise levels:

• 90 decibels on the "A" scale in a stationary SAE J2005 sound level test. This test is conducted when measured at a distance of one meter with the engine at idle speed when at a dock or tied to another boat.
• 75 decibels on the "A" scale measured as specified by SAEJ1970 sound test. This test is measured from the shoreline with the boat in any level of operation, not less than 200 meters away.

Any attempt to remove, alter or otherwise bypass this system so that it exceeds the noise levels described above is against the law. 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 you from hearing other boats' sound signals and warnings, and approaching law or rescue personnel.

Requirements for Waste Discharge:

• On Lake Erie, the Muskingum and the Ohio River, 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 recreational vessels with an installed toilet must have an operable MSD. Vessels with a Type I or II MSD must have an appropriate holding tank with the "Y" valve in proper position. Type III MSDs will have a built-in method for capturing waste which must be discharged on shore into a pump-out facility.
• On all Ohio waters except on Lake Erie, the Muskingum River and Ohio River: no person shall operate a boat with a toilet, sink, or drain capable of discharging toilet contents, kitchen wastes, laundry waste, slop sink drainage, or other household wastes into the waters of Ohio. All sinks, toilets or sanitary systems capable of over board discharge must be removed, sealed or have a reservoir capable of being emptied at an approved facility.

Your boat's marine sanitation device (MSD) may be inspected for proper operation!

• Discharge of fuel, oil or any oil product, including contaminated bilge water, is strictly prohibited. All boats 26 feet or longer must properly display an Oily Waste Discharge placard.
• All boats 26 feet or longer, when operating in waters under federal jurisdiction, must display an informational placard noting the federal prohibition on oil discharges to the marine envirnment. The placard must be of a required size and placed in a location where crew and passengers can read it.
• All boats 40 feet or longer and equipped with a galley and berthing, must also carry a Waste Management Plan. This plan must outline procedures for management of garbage, sewage, trash and hazardous substances, and designate a person in charge of carrying out this plan.

Mandatory Education, Age and Horsepower Requirements:

Ohio requires persons born on or after January 1, 1982 operating a powercraft greater than 10 hp to take a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved boating course or pass a proficiency exam approved by the Division of Watercraft. Boaters who are required to possess a boating education certificate shall present to the law enforcement officer the certificate or proof of holding the certificate within 72 hours of being stopped.

No rental business shall lease or rent a powercraft greater than 10 hp to a person born on or after January 1, 1982 unless they sign a statement that they have completed an approved Division of Watercraft course or proficiency exam. As an alternative, the rental business may provide education materials and administer an exam which the boater must pass with a score of 90% or better. Boaters choosing this option must take the exam offered by the rental agency each time they rent a boat.

Child Operators:

• Except as provided, no person under 16 shall operate at PWC. Individuals not less than 12, nor more than 15 years of age may operate a PWC only if an adult supervisor of at least 18 years of age and in possession of an approved boating education certificate if born on or after January 1, 1982, is aboard the craft.
• Persons under 12 years of age:
  • May not operate a personal watercraft
  • Shall not operate any vessel unless under the direct visual and audible supervision of a person who is 18 years of age or older. This section does not apply to personal watercraft or other powercraft greater than 10 hp.
  • Shall not operate any other powercraft greater than 10 hp unless under the direct visual and audible supervision of a person who is 18 years of age or older who is aboard the powercraft. If the supervising person was born after January 1, 1982, they must possess an approved boating education certificate as defined above.

Reckless & Negligent Operations:

Operating a recreational boat requires a certain degree of care necessary to prevent endangering life, limb, or property. Failure to do so may be considered reckless or negligent and may result in a fine or a ticket. The following are some of the activities considered reckless or negligent operation when boating in Ohio. It is illegal:

• To speed in confined, congested or restricted areas (no-wake zones).
• To operate a boat carelessly or heedlessly and without due caution.
• To cause the boat to become airborne while crossing another boat's wake when within 100 feet or unsafe distance of the boat creating the wake.
• To operate a boat at a speed or proximity to a vessel or person being towed so as to require either vessel to swerve or avoid a collision.
• To operate within 200 feet behind a water skier.

A personal watercraft is considered a Class "A" motorboat and must follow the same laws and regulations as other boaters. In addition to age, education requirements and reckless and negligent operation laws (see sections above) there are additional laws that apply to personal watercraft (PWC). Specifically, it is illegal:

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.

In Ohio, a SLOW NO WAKE SPEED is the slowest possible speed of a motorboat required to maintain maneuverability. The following are some of the Ohio laws regarding boat speed:

• No person shall operate at a rate of speed or in any manner so as to endanger any person vessel, or property.
• No person shall operate a vessel at greater than idle speed or create a wake within 300 feet of a marina, a boat docking or boat refueling facility, a launch ramp, recreational boat harbor or harbor entrance.
• No person shall operate a boat at a speed such that it becomes airborne while crossing a vessel's wake within 100 feet of the vessel creating the wake.

Special Activities Restrictions:

Many states regulate other on-water activities. State Parks and other bodies of water may have additional and/or more restrictive requirements. Please consult the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website for more information. For your safety, and for those who may be in the water, you should always abide by these special laws.

Special Activities, Restrictions & Requirements:

• No person shall operate a vessel within 300 of an official diver's flag unless directly involved with the operations.
• Waterskiing or tow sport activities should be confined to a designated ski zone or open zone.
• When engaged in waterskiing or tow sports, an observer of at least 10 years of age shall be aboard to observe the person being towed.
• If towing a person with a PWC, it should be rated for at least three people — the operator, the observer, and the person being towed.
• All tow sport operations shall be conducted only between sunrise and sunset, except upon special permit.
• No occupant of a vessel shall sit, stand, or walk on any area not designed for that movement except as necessary for safe and reasonable operation or navigation of the craft.
• Except for persons legally engaged in hunting, no person shall discharge a firearm while in or on a vessel.

Operating Under the Influence

Operating a boat or manipulating any water skis or similar device while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal and violators are subject to stiff fines. State Boating Under the Influence (BUI) laws are very stringent. As on the roadways, on-water enforcement officers may administer sobriety and/or chemical tests to determine the influence of alcohol on the operator.

In Ohio:

• No person 21 years of age or older with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or greater may operate a boat.
• A person under 21 years of age with a blood alcohol content (BAC) that exceeds 0.02% is considered to be under the influence and may not operate a boat.
• If a person under arrest refuses to submit to a chemical test, the person is prohibited from operating a vessel or water skis or from registering a vessel for a one year period.
• Persons convicted of operating a motorboat under the influence of alcohol could face fines, jail time, and/or loss of boating privileges.

Officer Authority, Compliance & Assistance

In Ohio, the Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft is charged with policing boating laws and regulations. In certain areas, these responsibilities are conducted by other peace officers, park rangers and by the U.S. Coast Guard. These officers have the authority to stop vessels to enforce local boating laws.

Ohio DNR Officers have the authority to stop and/or inspect vessels!

A law enforcement officer may direct a boat operator to return the vessel to shore if they determine an unsafe condition exists that cannot be corrected on the spot. Refusal by an operator to terminate a voyage after being ordered to do so is a violation.

Boat operators must immediately yield and reduce speed when being overtaken, approached or directed by a law enforcement official operating a siren and/or displaying an illuminated blue light. 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

The operator of a vessel involved in a collision or accident, to the extent possible without risking serious danger to their own vessel, crew, and passengers, shall render assistance as may be practical and necessary.

The operator having knowledge of the accident or collision shall immediately stop and remain at the scene to the extent it is safe and practical, and exchange personal and boat information with authorities and other involved parties.

If a boating accident results in loss of life, injury requiring medical treatment beyond first aid, or damage to property in excess of $500, the operator shall file a full report. Boating Accident Reports can be found at http://www.dnr.ohio.gov/watercraft/pdfs/oobar.pdf. Completed reports must be sent to Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Watercraft.

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 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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