Washington boating laws
What you need before you launch in Washington: boater education, age limits, life jackets, safety gear and registration.
Boater education
Anyone born after Jan 1 1955 needs a Boater Education Card to operate 15 hp or more. Official course info
Who can drive a boat
Must be 12 or older to operate 15 hp or more.
Life jackets
Children 12 and younger must wear a life jacket on vessels under 19 ft.
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 must be registered with the Department of Licensing.
Boating under the influence
It is illegal to operate a boat with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher.
Before you launch in Washington
🧼 All boats, including paddlecraft, must stop at open inspection stations, and staff can require decontamination.
Links go to official Washington agency pages.
Summary checked 2026-10-27. Rules change, so confirm with the official Washington source before you go. This is not legal advice.