Minimum Age to Operate a Boat in New York
General Boating Age Requirements
New York’s general rules for operating a motorized boat (other than a PWC) are:
- Under 10 years old: Children under 10 may not operate a motorized vessel on New York waters.
- 10 years and older (motorboats): You must be at least 10 years old to operate a motorized vessel in New York. As of 2025, every operator, regardless of age, must also hold a New York boating safety certificate when operating a motorboat.
- Non-motorized boats (canoes, kayaks, most sailboats): New York does not set a specific minimum age for non-motorized vessels like canoes or kayaks, but parents and guardians are expected to ensure that young paddlers are capable of handling the conditions safely.
For most families, this means that a child must be at least 10 and have a boating safety certificate to be the legal operator of a motorboat on their own.
Supervision and Adult-Onboard Requirements
Because Brianna’s Law now requires all motorboat operators to hold a boating safety certificate, “supervised” operation is more limited than in some other states:
- Children under 10: They cannot legally act as the operator of a motor vessel. An adult (or older certified operator) must be the one actually in control of the boat. Children can assist and learn at the helm, but the certified adult remains the legal operator.
- Operators 10–17 years old: A 10–17-year-old may operate a motorboat only if they have successfully completed an approved boating safety course and hold a New York boating safety certificate. Even when teens are certified, many families choose to keep an adult on board until the young operator has more experience, especially on busy or unfamiliar waters.
- Who counts as an “adult”? New York boating materials and Navigation Law generally treat age 18 or older as the relevant threshold for “adult” supervision and responsibility on board.
The bottom line: the person physically operating the controls must meet both the minimum age and the education requirement, even if an older adult is on board.
Boating License or Education Requirements
Does New York Require a Boating Safety Course?
New York does not issue a traditional “boating license,” but it does require a boating safety certificate for motorized boating:
- A boating safety certificate is proof that you have completed the New York Safe Boating Course or another course approved by New York State Parks, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S. Power Squadrons, or an approved online provider.
- Under Brianna’s Law, the requirement has now fully phased in. As of January 1, 2025, all operators of motorized vessels—no matter when they were born—must carry a boating safety certificate while operating.
- You must be at least 10 years old to take an approved boating safety course in New York.
Boaters can find classroom and online courses through the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and through approved providers like Recademics.
Age Exceptions and Grandfather Clauses
New York phased in Brianna’s Law based on birth year between 2020 and 2025. That phase-in schedule matters mainly for history; going forward, the rule is simple:
- Today, there is no age-based exemption: all recreational operators of motorized vessels need a boating safety certificate, regardless of the year they were born.
- Existing certificates remain valid for life as long as they were issued by New York State Parks or another NASBLA-approved provider recognized by New York.
- Certain groups are exempt from having to complete the standard course, such as:
- U.S. Coast Guard–licensed captains
- Some police, fire, and lifeguard personnel acting in the line of duty
- Some other professional operators listed in New York regulations
Most recreational boaters—including residents and visiting boaters—should assume that they need a recognized boating safety certificate to operate a motorized vessel in New York.
How Old Do You Have to Be to Drive a Jet Ski (PWC) in New York
Minimum Age to Operate a PWC
New York has specific age and education rules for personal watercraft (PWCs) such as Jet Skis, WaveRunners, and similar vessels:
- You must be at least 14 years old to operate a PWC in New York.
- All PWC operators must successfully complete an approved boating safety course and hold a boating safety certificate—no matter their age above 14.
- No one under 14 may operate a PWC on New York waters.
New York’s rules do not add extra horsepower thresholds for PWCs. If it is legally a PWC in New York, the key requirements are age 14+ and successful completion of a boating safety course.
Penalties for Violating Age Laws
Operating a boat or PWC without meeting New York’s age and education requirements is a violation of state Navigation Law and related regulations. Consequences can include:
- Fines for operating without a required boating safety certificate, with higher penalties possible for related safety offenses.
- Possible suspension of boating privileges for serious or repeated violations, especially when combined with offenses like boating while intoxicated or reckless operation.
- For rental operations (liveries), failing to follow state rules on safety instruction and certificate checks can also lead to fines for the business.
While first-time penalties for paperwork violations are typically treated as infractions, they can escalate quickly when combined with accidents, injuries, or alcohol-related offenses.
How to Get Certified to Drive a Boat in New York
Steps to Getting Your Boating License
In New York, your “boating license” is your boating safety certificate. Here’s how to get it:
- 1. Verify that you’re eligible
- You must be at least 10 years old to enroll in the New York Safe Boating Course or an equivalent approved course.
- 2. Enroll in an approved boating safety course
- Choose from classroom courses taught by certified New York Safe Boating instructors, courses offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons, or approved online courses, including those offered by providers like Recademics.
- Courses are typically at least 8 hours and follow a standard state curriculum covering navigation rules, equipment, emergency procedures, and New York Navigation Law.
- 3. Complete the course and pass the exam
- At the end of the course, you’ll take a state-approved exam. After you pass, you’ll receive a temporary certificate you can use immediately while your permanent card is processed.
- 4. Receive and carry your permanent boating safety certificate
- Your permanent New York boating safety certificate is valid for life.
- You must carry proof of your certificate whenever you operate a motorized vessel.
- Many New Yorkers choose to have an “Adventure License” anchor icon added to their driver’s license so it doubles as proof of boating education.
- 5. Keep your documentation accessible
- Store your card (or ID with anchor endorsement) in a waterproof pouch on board. If you lose your card, you can request a replacement or verify your status through the issuing provider or the state.
Boating Safety Tips for Young Operators
For families with new boaters—especially teens—it’s important to go beyond the legal minimums:
- Always wear a life jacket
- Everyone on board should wear a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jacket. Children under 12 must wear one on vessels under 65 feet, except when inside a fully enclosed cabin.
- Never operate without required adult involvement
- Even when a young operator is old enough and certified, having an experienced adult nearby—especially on busy waterways or in bad weather—is a smart safety practice.
- Learn navigation rules and right-of-way basics
- Right-of-way rules, buoys and markers, and speed/no-wake zones are a central part of the New York Safe Boating Course. Young operators should review them before every season.
- Take your boating safety course early
- Many boaters take the course at 10–14 years old so they are ready to operate legally and confidently as soon as they meet the age requirements.
- Respect local conditions
- Lakes, rivers, and coastal waters in New York can vary widely. Young boaters should practice first on calm, familiar water before handling busy channels, strong currents, or large wakes.
Summary
- You must be at least 10 years old to operate a motorized boat, and children under 10 may not operate a motor vessel at all.
- You must be at least 14 years old and have completed an approved boating safety course to operate a Jet Ski or other PWC.
- As of January 1, 2025, all operators of motorized vessels, regardless of age, must carry a New York boating safety certificate, subject to narrow professional exemptions.
If you (or your teen) plan to operate a boat or PWC in New York, the safest and most reliable path is to complete your official boating education with an approved provider such as Recademics, earn your boating safety certificate, and keep it with you every time you get on the water.
