Boating laws and responsibilities

• Those less than 12 years of age:
  • May operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 horsepower (hp) legally without restrictions.
  • May operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 6 hp but no more than 35 hp legally only if  they:
    • Have been issued a boating safety certificate and it on board the boat and...
    • Are directly supervised on board by a person at least 16 years of age.
  • May not operate not operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 35 hp legally under any conditions.
• Those born on or after July 1, 1996, may operate a boat legally only if they have been issued a boating safety certificate and have it on board the boat.
• Those born before July 1, 1996, may operate a boat legally without restrictions.

• Those less than 14 years of age may not legally operate a PWC.
• Those 14 and 15 years of age may operate a PWC legally only if  they have obtained a boating safety certificate and...
  • He or she is accompanied on board by his or her parent or legal guardian or by a person at least 21 years of age who has been designated by the parent or legal guardian or...
  • He or she is operating or riding the PWC, at a distance of not more than 100 feet from his or her parent or legal guardian or from a person at least 21 years of age who has been designated by the parent or legal guardian.
• Those at least 16 years of age and born after December 31, 1978 may operate a PWC legally only if they have obtained a boating safety certificate.
• Those born on or before December 31, 1978 may operate a PWC legally without restrictions.

It's the Law

Michigan regulations that apply when vessel operators are on the water.

Unlawful and Dangerous Operation

Michigan law designates these dangerous operating practices as illegal.

Reckless Operation of a vessel or reckless manipulation of water skis, a surfboard, or similar device is defined as operation which disregards the safety or rights of others or endangers the person or property of others. Some examples are:

• Weaving your vessel through congested waterway traffic or swerving at the last possible moment in order to avoid collision
• Jumping the wake of another vessel unnecessarily close to the other vessel or when visibility around the other vessel is restricted
• Chasing, harassing, or disturbing wildlife with your vessel
• Causing damage from the wake of your vessel

Failure To Regulate Speed is operating a vessel at speeds that may cause danger to life or property of any other person or at speeds that will not permit you to bring your vessel to a safe stop. It is illegal to operate a vessel:

• In excess of 55 mph unless you are at least one mile offshore on the Great Lakes or Lake St. Clair
• At greater than “slow, no wake speed” when a person is in the bow of a vessel without proper seating
• Faster than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions (weather, vessel traffic, etc.)

Improper Distance is not maintaining a proper distance while operating a vessel or towing a person. To maintain a proper distance when you are operating at greater than “slow, no wake speed” (except in channels that are not posted), the vessel or persons being towed must not be within 100 feet of:

• A shoreline (if operating in water less than three feet deep)
• Any moored or anchored vessel
• A dock or raft

It's the Law

PWC operators must obey additional legal requirements that apply specifically to the operation of personal watercraft on Michigan waters.

Requirements Specific to PWCs

• Each person riding on or being towed behind a PWC must wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved wearable Type I, II, or III PFD. Inflatable PFDs may not be used. 
• You may not allow a child under 7 years of age to ride on or be towed behind a PWC unless with a parent or guardian or designee of the parent or guardian.
• The lanyard of a PWC's ignition safety switch must be attached to the person, clothing, or PFD of the operator.

It is illegal to operate a PWC during the period that begins at sunset and ends at 8:00 a.m. “Sunset” means that time determined by the national weather service.

PWCs must be operated in a reasonable and prudent manner at all times. It is illegal to:

• Jump the wake of another vessel unnecessarily close to the other vessel.
• Weave your PWC through congested traffic.
• Swerve at the last possible moment to avoid collision.
• A PWC must be operated at “slow, no wake speed” if crossing within 150 feet behind another vessel unless the other vessel is also a PWC.
• You may not operate a PWC within 200 feet of a Great Lakes shoreline unless traveling at “slow, no wake speed” perpendicular to the shoreline.
• You may not operate a PWC in waters less than two feet deep unless you are operating at “slow, no wake speed” or are docking or launching your PWC.
• It is illegal to harass wildlife or disturb aquatic vegetation with your PWC.

It's the Law

Vessel operators towing a person(s) on water skis or a similar device have additional laws they must follow.

Requirements for Towing Skiers

• Every person being towed behind a vessel on water skis, a surfboard, or similar device must wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved wearable Type I, II, or III PFD. Inflatable PFDs may not be used.
• Every vessel towing a person(s) on water skis, a surfboard, or a similar device must have a person on board, in addition to the vessel operator, observing the towed person(s) at all times.
• It is legal to tow persons on water skis, surfboards, or any device of this type only between:
  • One hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset if towed behind a boat
  • 8:00 a.m. and sunset if towed behind a PWC
• Persons being towed must stay at least 100 feet away from:
  • A shoreline (if operating in water less than three feet deep)
  • Any moored or anchored vessel
  • A dock or raft
  • Any marked swimming area or person(s) in the water

Do You Need a Boating License in MI?

Boaters born after June 30, 1996 and most personal watercraft operators who operate a vessel in Michigan must have a boater education card (boating safety certificate). There are a few different ways to earn your boating safety certificate:

Get your Michigan boating safety certificate online:

• Take a boating safety class at www.boatEd.com.
• Take and pass the final exam.
• Print out your permanent Michigan boating safety certificate once you have successfully completed the course, passed the exam and paid the course fee (pay only when you pass).

For complete details visit DNR's website at www.michigan.gov/recreationalsafety or visit www.boatEd.com

These excerpts provided in this section above were published in The Handbook of Michigan Boating Laws and Responsibilites, 2019 Edition 

Free version

This Michigan Boating handbook is available in free web and PDF versions.  Click on the following link to read the complete Handbook:  https://www.boat-ed.com/michigan/handbook/book.html