Nevada Personal Water Craft Laws

1. Persons less than 14 years of age shall not operate a Personal Watercraft.

2. Each person on a Personal Watercraft (PWC) must wear a Coast Guard approved PFD.

3. PWC operators must carry a USCG-approved fire extinguisher and a sound-producing device onboard.

4. It is illegal to operate a PWC from sunset to sunrise, unless it is equipped with the required navigation lights.

5. Do not operate while under the influence of drugs or alcohol (.08 BAC).

6. Vessels nearing each other must operate at no-wake speed (5 miles per hour) when within 5 lengths of the longest vessel. This eliminates wake jumping.

7. Operators must wear the engine cutoff lanyard (if so equipped) when traveling at speeds faster than no wake speed (5 miles per hour).

Nevada Boating Information and Regulations

1. Boating laws are enforced primarily by Game Wardens employed by the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

2. There must be at least one wearable lifejacket (PFD) for each person onboard.

3. No vessel shall be operated within Nevada in a reckless or negligent manner.

4. Every vessel operating in the State of Nevada shall carry and use safety equipment in accordance with U. S. Coast Guard requirements as specified in the Code of Federal Regulations.

5. Each person engaged in water skiing (or anyone towed through or on the water behind a boat) must wear a U. S. Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III or V PFD

6. Any accident involving death, disappearance or personal injury, or damage greater than $500 must be reported.

7. All children under the age of 13 must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejacket while underway, unless they are in an enclosed cabin.

8. The operator of any PWC or vessel, that is equipped with a engine cutoff lanyard, is required to wear the lanyard when the PWC or vessel is moving faster that a no wake speed (5 miles per hour).

Water Skiing

Boat operators towing a person or persons on water skis, wakeboard, surfboard inner tube, or any other device have additional laws.

1. The operator of a vessel engaged in towing an inner tube, wakeboard, water skis, or similar device behind or along side their vessel, must comply with the following laws:

• Be 14 years of age or older or...

• Be at least 12 years old and have a person at least 21 years of age or older on board that is responsible to supervise and be responsible for the actions of the operator.

2. All persons being towed behind a vessel on an inner tube, water skis, wakeboard, surfboard or other device must wear a Coast Guard Approved lifejacket of the proper size.

3. Every vessel towing a person(s) on water skis, inner tube, wakeboard, surfboard or other device must have an observer onboard, in addition to the vessel operator:

• The observer must be at least 12 years of age or...

• The observer may be 10 years of age if another passenger who is at least 21 years of age is on board.

• The observer must display, over their head, so as to be visible from every direction, an international orange flag of at least 12 inches in height by 12 inches in width known as a “skier down” flag, whenever the towed person(s) is in the water preparing to be towed, or has fallen and is awaiting pick up be the towing vessel.

4. A person shall not operate a vessel on any waters of this state towing a person on water skis, surfboard or similar device, or engage in waterskiing, surfboarding or similar activity from sunset to sunrise.
   
   
5. The PWC or vessel towing a skier must be rated for at least 3 persons.

Boating Education Requirement

Boaters who were born on or after Jan. 1, 1983 are required to complete a boater education course before operating a boat on Nevada's interstate waters. This requirement applies only to operators using a motorboat with a motor 15 horsepower or more. Nevada's interstate waters include Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, the Colorado River from Davis Dam south to the California state line, Lake Tahoe and Topaz Lake.

Unlawful Operation

The following are examples of Unlawful Operation:

1. Negligent or Reckless Operation of a vessel is defined as the operation of a vessel in a manner that causes danger to the life, limb, or property of any person. Examples are:

• Using a vessel to chase, harass, injure, disturb, or interfere with wildlife

• Towing a water skier, wake boarder, or similar device in such a manner that causes the skier to travel between another vessel and its tow or causes the water ski tow rope to pass over another skier

• Failure to follow navigation rules

• Operating a vessel at more than a no wake speed while any person is sitting on the bow, transom, swim step or gunwale of the vessel.

2. Operating in Exclusion Area is defined as operating a vessel within any swimming area or any other area designated by official signs or buoys designating “no boats allowed”.

3. Overloading is simply carrying persons or gear onboard a vessel, the weight of which exceeds the capacity shown on the capacity plate installed by the vessel manufacturer.

4. Improper Speed or Distance is not maintaining a proper speed or distance while operating a vessel. Specifically, it is illegal to:

1. Operate or allow others to operate a vessel at greater than no wake speed within:

• 100 feet of a person swimming or floating in the water

• 100 feet of a person water skiing, wake boarding or being towed by another vessel

• 200 feet of a swimming beach, float, diving platform or landing float with a vessel(s) moored or tied to it or is being used to load or off load passengers
  

2. Operate a vessel in excess of “no wake speed” on bodies of water regulated as such by the Nevada Department of Wildlife. This includes all harbors, or within any other officially designated zones.
   

The term "No Wake Speed" means... a vessel speed at which the vessel does not produce a wake. This speed should not exceed 5 miles per hour

5. Unsafe Condition is operating a vessel or craft that is in such a condition that it places the operator, passengers, or other persons or vessels in the area in danger. Peace officers may terminate the travel of the vessel and require the operator to take corrective action before proceeding. An example of these conditions may include:
   
   
• A vessel that is overloaded beyond the maximum capacity
  
  
• Any vessel lacking the required number and size of U.S. Coast Guard approved PFDs, discharged or insufficient number of fire extinguishers, required backfire flame arrestors, defective ventilation or non-functional navigation lights
  
  
• Any vessel that is leaking fuel either into the water or bilges
  
  
• Any vessel being operated in extremely adverse weather or water conditions that exceed its capabilities
  
  Operators of all vessels must follow the inland navigational rules as adopted by the State of Nevada.
  

Registering, Titling and Contacting the Nevada Division of Wildlife

Boaters must have a current valid Nevada Certificate of Number (registration) and validation decals on board to legally operate a vessel on Nevada's waters. The only exceptions include the following:

• Vessels registered in the state of principal use which are using Nevada waters for fewer than 90 consecutive days

• Ship's lifeboats
  
  
• Non-motorized vessels , which include canoes, kayaks, sailboats and other similar craft that don’t carry an auxiliary motor

Federally documented Vessels and Ship's Lifeboats
Documented vessels must now be registered.

The Certificate of Number (registration card) must be carried onboard at all times, and will be made available for inspection by any Nevada enforcement officer whenever the vessel is operated or on the water.

The Certificate of Number, registration and title can be obtained by submitting the proper application and fee to:

Nevada Division of Wildlife
1100 Valley Road
Reno, NV 89512
Phone: 1-775-688-1500
Fax: 1-775-688-1595

Application forms are obtained by writing to the address above, calling 1-775-688-1500 or visiting one of the Department of Wildlife offices in Reno, Fallon, Elko, Ely, Las Vegas or Henderson.