Colorado boating laws
What you need before you launch in Colorado: boater education, age limits, life jackets, safety gear and registration.
Boater education
Operators 14 to 17 need a CPW boating safety certificate to operate a motorboat or PWC (since June 1 2024). Official course info
Who can drive a boat
No one under 14 may operate a motorboat or PWC. Ages 14 to 17 need a safety certificate.
Life jackets
Children 12 and younger must wear a life jacket on the water except in an enclosed cabin or below deck.
Required safety gear
Federal U.S. Coast Guard minimums apply:
- A wearable life jacket for each person aboard, plus a throwable cushion or ring on boats 16 feet and longer
- A fire extinguisher on most motorboats with an enclosed engine or fuel tank
- A whistle or horn
- Navigation lights if you are out between sunset and sunrise or in poor visibility
- Visual distress signals (flares or a flag) on coastal waters and the Great Lakes
Registration
Motorboats and sailboats must be registered, and an ANS stamp is required.
Boating under the influence
It is illegal to operate a boat with a blood alcohol level of Treated the same as DUI (0.08) or higher.
Before you launch in Colorado
🧼 Trailered or motorized boats last used out of state or on infested water must pass a state inspection before launching.
Links go to official Colorado agency pages.
Summary checked 2026-10-27. Rules change, so confirm with the official Colorado source before you go. This is not legal advice.