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

Minimum Age to Operate a Boat in Oregon

General Boating Age Requirements

Oregon’s rules for operating motorboats are based on the operator’s age and the size (horsepower) of the engine:

• Ages 11 and under
  • Not allowed to operate any motorboat, regardless of engine size.
• Ages 12–15
  • Must hold an Oregon Boating Safety Education Card to operate any motorboat.
  • May operate a motorboat of 10 hp or less without an adult on board.
  • May operate a motorboat of more than 10 hp only if:
    • They have their own Boating Safety Education Card, and
    • A supervising person who is at least 16 years old (or 18+ for PWCs) and also holds a Boating Safety Education Card is on board and able to take immediate control.
• Ages 16 and older
  • May operate motorboats of any horsepower.
  • Must carry a Boating Safety Education Card when operating any powerboat (including PWCs) with an engine of more than 10 hp.

Supervision and Adult-Onboard Requirements

Oregon law explains exactly when an adult must be present while a youth operates a vessel:

• For motorboats (other than PWCs)
  • Youths 12–15 operating a motorboat over 10 hp must:
    • Hold their own Boating Safety Education Card, and
    • Be accompanied on board by a person at least 16 years old who also carries a Boating Safety Education Card.
• For personal watercraft (PWCs)
  • Youths 12–15 may operate a PWC only if:
    • They have a Boating Safety Education Card, and
    • An adult 18 or older with a Boating Safety Education Card is also on board the PWC.
  • It is unlawful for anyone under 16 to operate a PWC without being accompanied on the watercraft by someone 18 or older with a Boating Safety Education Card.
• Definition of “adult”
  • For supervising youth on most motorboats, Oregon uses 16 years old as the minimum age for the supervising operator with a card.
  • For PWCs, the supervising person must be at least 18 years old and must also hold a Boating Safety Education Card.

Boating License or Education Requirements

Does Oregon Require a Boating Safety Course?

Yes. Oregon has a mandatory boating safety education requirement for most powerboat operators. Instead of a traditional “boating license,” the state issues a Boating Safety Education Card (sometimes called a boater education card), which must be carried on board.

• Who must have a card?
  • Anyone operating a motorboat with more than 10 hp, regardless of age.
  • Youths 12–15 operating any motorboat (including those with 10 hp or less).
• Who cannot get a card?
  • You must be at least 12 years old to obtain a Boating Safety Education Card. Youth 11 and under cannot be certified and are not allowed to operate motorboats.
• Where to find a course
  • Approved education options are listed by the Oregon State Marine Board, including classroom, virtual, and online courses, and equivalency exams administered by local law enforcement or certified instructors.
  • Any course must be NASBLA-approved and recognized by the Oregon State Marine Board.

Age Exceptions and Grandfather Clauses

Oregon’s boating education rules are designed to apply broadly, and the state does not exempt operators simply because they are older.

• No age-based exemption for adults
  • There is no upper age limit that automatically exempts an adult from the education requirement. Adults of any age who operate motorboats over 10 hp must hold a Boating Safety Education Card.
• Recognized experience or credentials
  • Certain operators, such as those holding a current U.S. Coast Guard boat operator’s license or a commercial fishing license, may be exempt from carrying the Oregon card when operating specific types of vessels, provided they carry the qualifying credential instead.
• Supervised non-certified adults
  • A non-certified adult may operate a motorboat if they are under the direct supervision of a person 16 or older who holds a Boating Safety Education Card (18 or older for PWCs). The supervising card-holder is responsible for the boat’s safe and lawful operation.
• Boat renters
  • Boat renters are generally exempt from the course requirement, but they must complete a watercraft rental safety checklist before departure, provided by the rental company.
• Out-of-state boaters
  • Visitors may use a boater education card from another state, as long as it is based on a NASBLA-approved course recognized by Oregon.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Drive a Jet Ski (PWC) in Oregon?

Minimum Age to Operate a PWC

In Oregon, personal watercraft (PWCs) such as Jet Skis and WaveRunners are treated as motorboats, but with extra age and supervision rules because of their speed and handling.

• Ages 11 and under
  • May not operate a PWC under any circumstances.
• Ages 12–15
  • May operate a PWC only if:
    • They hold a Boating Safety Education Card, and
    • An adult 18 or older with a Boating Safety Education Card is on board the PWC.
  • Anyone under 16 is prohibited from operating a PWC unless accompanied on the watercraft by a card-holding adult 18 or older.
• Ages 16 and older
  • May operate a PWC on their own, but must carry a Boating Safety Education Card whenever the PWC’s engine is over 10 hp (which is effectively all PWCs).
• Renting PWCs
  • It is illegal for a livery or rental business to rent a PWC to anyone under 18 years of age.

Penalties for Violating Age Laws

Boaters who ignore Oregon’s age and education requirements can face significant penalties. Consequences may include:

• Citations and fines
  • Operating without the required Boating Safety Education Card when one is required can result in a citation and a monetary fine. Local law-enforcement agencies note that fines for failing to carry a card when operating an over-10-hp motorboat commonly exceed $100, and can be higher depending on the circumstances.
• Reckless or unsafe operation penalties
  • Reckless or unsafe operation of any motorboat or PWC can lead to fines of up to $6,250 and/or up to one year in jail, especially when actions endanger people or property.
• Additional sanctions
  • Serious violations (such as boating under the influence) can also result in suspension of boating privileges, suspension of boat registrations in the operator’s name, and mandatory completion of a boating safety course.

How to Get Certified to Drive a Boat in Oregon

Steps to Getting Your Boating License

In Oregon, most people refer to the Boating Safety Education Card as their “boating license.” Here’s how to get certified:

• 1. Confirm that you need a card.
  • You will need a card if:
    • You plan to operate any motorboat over 10 hp, or
    • You are 12–15 and will operate any motorboat.
• 2. Choose an approved course.
  • Visit the Oregon State Marine Board website to see a list of approved:
    • Online courses,
    • Virtual “Boat Oregon” classroom sessions,
    • In-person classes, and
    • Equivalency exams offered by county sheriff’s offices or certified instructors.
  • Make sure the course is NASBLA-approved and specifically recognized by Oregon.
• 3. Complete all course modules.
  • You will study topics such as:
    • Required safety equipment and life jacket rules,
    • Navigation rules and right-of-way,
    • Oregon’s statewide and local boating regulations, and
    • Safe speeds, no-wake zones, and emergency procedures.
• 4. Pass the final exam.
  • After completing the course, you must pass a state-approved exam. Many courses include a 60-question final test administered online or in a proctored setting.
• 5. Apply for your card.
  • Once you pass, you can apply to the Oregon State Marine Board for your Boating Safety Education Card, typically paying a one-time processing fee.
  • You may receive a temporary proof of completion while you wait for your official wallet-sized card to arrive.
• 6. Carry proof on the water.
  • Whenever you operate a covered vessel, you must carry your Boating Safety Education Card on board and present it to law enforcement on request.

Boating Safety Tips for Young Operators

• Always wear a life jacket.
  • Everyone on board should wear a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jacket. On PWCs, Oregon requires all riders to wear an inherently buoyant (non-inflatable) life jacket.
• Never operate without required supervision.
  • If you are under 16, make sure the law-required supervising adult is on board (for motorboats) or on board with you (for PWCs), and that both of you have valid Boating Safety Education Cards where required.
• Learn navigation rules early.
  • Before taking the helm, learn basic “rules of the road” such as:
    • Who has the right-of-way in head-on, crossing, and overtaking situations,
    • What buoys and markers mean, and
    • Where no-wake and restricted areas are on your local waterways.
• Take your boating safety course as soon as you can.
  • You can qualify for a card starting at age 12. Completing the course early helps new boaters build good habits before they operate on their own at 16.
• Match speed and conditions to your experience.
  • Start on calm water and operate at moderate speeds. As your skills and judgment improve, gradually take on more complex conditions and busier waterways.
• Stay sober and alert.
  • Alcohol or drugs dramatically increase the risk of accidents on the water. Operators and supervising adults should stay sober and focused while boating.

Summary

• In Oregon, you must be at least 12 years old to operate a motorboat, and youth ages 11 and under may not operate motorboats at all.
• Youths 12–15 can operate motorboats and, under specific conditions, PWCs, but they must hold a Boating Safety Education Card and follow strict adult-supervision rules based on vessel type and horsepower.
• Anyone 16 or older operating a powerboat (including PWCs) over 10 hp must carry a Boating Safety Education Card, and adults are not exempt from this requirement based on age alone.
• Youths under 16 may only operate PWCs when directly accompanied on board by an adult 18 or older who also holds a Boating Safety Education Card, and PWC rentals to persons under 18 are prohibited.

For the safest and most straightforward path to legal boating in Oregon, young boaters and their families should complete an official boating safety course through a provider like Recademics, earn their Boating Safety Education Card, and carry it every time they head out on Oregon’s rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.