How Old Do You Have to Be to Drive a Boat in Ohio?

Minimum Age to Operate a Boat in Ohio

General Boating Age Requirements

Ohio law sets specific limits for “child operators” and then layers education rules on top of those limits. Key points include:

• Under 12 years old
  • May not operate a personal watercraft (PWC) at all.
  • May not operate a powercraft over 10 hp unless under the direct visual and audible supervision of a person who is at least 18 years old and is on board the vessel.
  • May operate smaller or non-motorized vessels only when directly supervised by an adult 18+ who can take over immediately if needed.
• Ages 12–15
  • May operate a powerboat with more than 10 hp only if they comply with Ohio’s mandatory boater education law (see below).
  • Personal watercraft (PWCs) are treated separately: 12–15-year-olds may only operate a PWC when an adult 18+ is also on board (details in the PWC section below).
• Ages 16 and older
  • May operate recreational motorboats and PWCs, but if they were born on or after January 1, 1982 and the vessel is powered by more than 10 hp, they must hold an approved boater education certificate.
• Non-motorized vessels
  • Ohio does not set a specific minimum age for canoes, kayaks, SUPs, or other unpowered craft, though parents and guardians remain responsible for safe supervision.

Supervision and Adult-Onboard Requirements

Ohio’s “child operator” law defines supervision rules for young boaters.

• Direct visual and audible supervision
  • No person under 12 may operate any vessel unless they are under the direct visual and audible supervision of someone who is 18 years or older.
  • For powercraft over 10 hp, the supervising adult must be on board and close enough to take immediate control.
• Definition of “adult”
  • For boating supervision, Ohio uses 18 years old as the threshold for an “adult” supervisor.
  • If that supervising adult was born on or after January 1, 1982 and the vessel is over 10 hp, the adult must also meet Ohio’s boater education requirement.
• Responsibility of the supervising person
  • Child-operator restrictions specifically state that the supervising person may not allow the child they are supervising to violate any watercraft law.
  • In other words, both the minor and the adult can be held responsible for unsafe or illegal operation.

Minimum Age to Operate a PWC (Jet Ski)

Ohio sets special rules for personal watercraft such as Jet Skis, WaveRunners, and similar vessels. These crafts are considered powercraft and typically exceed 10 hp, so both the age and education rules apply.

Read: Do You Need a License to Drive a Jet Ski?

Age Requirements

• Under 12 years old
  • May not operate a PWC on Ohio waters under any circumstances.
• Ages 12–15
  • As a general rule, no person under 16 may operate a PWC.
  • However, state law allows a limited exception: a person who is at least 12 but under 16 may operate a PWC if:
    • A supervising person who is at least 18 years old is also on board the PWC, and
    • If that supervising person was born on or after January 1, 1982, they must hold the required boater education certificate.
  • Because PWCs exceed 10 hp, any 12–15-year-old acting as the operator must also meet Ohio’s boater education requirement.
• Ages 16 and older
  • May operate a PWC without an adult on board, but if they were born on or after January 1, 1982, they must carry proof of having passed an approved boating safety course or exam.

Penalties for Violating Age Laws

Operating a boat or PWC in violation of Ohio’s age or education rules can result in criminal and administrative penalties.

• Boating education violations
  • Violating the mandatory education requirement (for example, operating a powercraft over 10 hp without the required certificate) can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor of the fourth degree if the violation is not connected to a collision, injury, or property damage.
  • At minimum, offenders can expect fines and may be required to demonstrate proof of course completion.
• Child-operator violations
  • Violations of the “child operator” provisions (such as allowing someone under 16 to operate a PWC contrary to the law) are typically treated as minor misdemeanors, though more serious outcomes are possible if injuries or damage occur.
• Additional enforcement
  • Boating under the influence, reckless operation, or failure to carry required safety equipment can result in additional charges, higher fines, and potential loss of boating privileges.

Boating Safety Tips for Young Operators

Meeting the minimum age and education rules is just the beginning. For young boaters, especially, these safety tips are essential on Ohio waters.

• Always wear a life jacket
  • In Ohio, children under 10 years old on vessels under 18 feet must wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jacket while underway, and all PWC operators and passengers must wear one at all times.
  • Teens and adults should also keep life jackets on, especially in small boats and cold water.
• Never operate without appropriate adult involvement
  • Young operators should have an experienced adult close by—on board or in another boat—until they have substantial real-world experience.
  • For PWCs, anyone 12–15 must have an adult 18+ on board; even at 16 and older, it’s wise to operate with adult supervision at first.
• Learn and review navigation rules
  • Before letting a teen take the helm, review:
    • Who has the right-of-way in crossing, meeting, and overtaking situations.
    • How to read buoys and regulatory markers.
    • How to obey no-wake and restricted-area signs.
  • Revisit these basics at the start of every boating season.
• Take your boating safety course early
  • Because Ohio has no minimum age for certification (as long as the student can pass the test), many families have interested kids take the course around the early teen years.
  • Completing the course early helps young operators think like responsible captains rather than just “drivers.”
• Match boat, speed, and conditions to experience
  • New operators should start on smaller boats, at modest speeds, and on calm, uncrowded waters.
  • Gradually introduce more speed, bigger boats, and busier waterways as skills and judgment improve.