MN DNR Boat and Water Safety Main Page
Did you know?
Can you operate a boat while drinking in Minnesota? Boating and enjoying an adult beverage seem to go hand in hand, and while it is not illegal to drink on a boat, it is illegal to operate the boat under the influence of alcohol or another controlled substance.
What is the minimum age to operate a personal watercraft in Minnesota? Except in the case of an emergency, a person under the age of 13 years may not operate or be permitted to operate a personal watercraft, regardless of horsepower.
Can I drive a boat in MN without a license? Anyone 18 years of age or older may operate a motorized vessel or PWC without any restrictions. A person 12-17 years of age may operate a motorized boat of 25 horsepower or less and can operate a boat over 25 horsepower if they have either a Watercraft Operator’s Permit, or they have someone at least 21 years of age on board with them who may take direct control.
Do I need a license to drive a jet ski? For all those between the ages of 14 and 17 years wishing to operate a PWC, they must either be under the direct supervision of a person onboard who is at least 21 years of age; or have obtained a Watercraft Operator’s Permit.
Do you need a spotter on a jet ski? It is a requirement to have another person on board to keep watch while towing someone on skis. Wide angled rear view mirrors are allowed to substitute for the person on watch. The person operating the PWC must have a lanyard attached to the ignition switch and to their person, life jacket, or clothes.
How late can you water ski? Operate only from 9:30 a.m. to one hour before sunset.
Do you have to wear a life jacket on a jet ski? Everyone on board a personal watercraft (popularly known as “jet skis”) and anyone being towed behind a vessel must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket. A Coast Guard-approved life jacket must be carried for each person on board.
Life Jacket Requirements
Life Jacket Requirements PDF
Child Life Jacket Law
Selecting a Life Jacket For Your Child
Engine Cutoff PSA
Minnesota Boating & Personal Watercraft Guide
2024 Minnesota Boating Guide PDF
Minnesota Personal Watercraft Laws PDF
2023 Minnesota Statutes on Navigation
Jet Ski’s
In Minnesota, jet ski riders must adhere to specific laws and courtesies to ensure safety and respect for others. Here’s a summary:
Required Practices
- Life Jacket: Wear a USCG-approved life jacket (Type I, II, III, or V).
- Slow-No Wake Speed: Travel at 5 mph or less within 150 feet of shore, docks, swim rafts, swimmers, or any anchored or moored boats. Exception: When launching or landing skiers directly to or from open water.
- Operating Hours: Only operate from 9:30 a.m. to one hour before sunset.
- Fire Extinguisher: Carry a USCG-approved fire extinguisher.
- Cutoff Lanyard: Properly use and attach the cutoff lanyard to yourself, your life jacket, or your clothing.
- Observer: When towing someone on water skis or similar devices, have an additional person on board as an observer, or use a factory-installed wide-angle rearview mirror.
- Visibility: The rules decal must be visible to the operator.
Prohibited Practices
- Wildlife: Do not chase or harass wildlife.
- Safety and Behavior: Do not operate in a way that endangers life or property, face backward while operating, or tamper with the throttle mechanism.
- Traffic and Wake: Avoid weaving through congested traffic or jumping the wake of another boat within 150 feet.
- Vegetation: Do not travel through emergent or floating vegetation at more than a slow-no wake speed.
Age Restrictions
- Operator Age/Permit: Adhere to age restrictions and permit requirements for operators under 18. Contact the MN DNR for home-study materials for a youth watercraft operator’s permit.
For more details or inquiries, you can contact the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).