Tennessee Requirements For Personal Watercraft and Recreational Boats

REGULATIONS

Age -
You must be 12 years of age, or older to operate a boat of 8½ horse power or greater.

Boating Safety Education Certificate -
Any Tennessee resident born after 1/1/1989 must have onboard the TWRA-issued wallet sized Boating Safety Education Certificate if operating alone. To get this Certificate, the student must pass a monitored exam administered by an approved representative of the TWRA. Once a student has studied the material and is prepared, he/she must first purchase for $10, the Type 600 Boat Safety Exam Permit from any business that sells hunting and fishing licenses (retail stores, marinas, bait stores, etc). The receipt from this transaction is the student’s "ticket" to take the exam. When he/she passes the monitored exam, this "ticket" is validated and a wallet card is sent to the student within a few weeks. The one time $10 fee is good for as many times as it takes to pass the exam. Exam locations, dates, and times are posted on the boating section of www.tnwildlife.org and, available by phone @ 615-837-6013.

Noise -
Boats must have a muffler, water alone is not a sufficient muffling device; noise cannot exceed 86 decibels at 50 feet.

No-Wake Areas -
Areas within 300 feet of a commercial dock, and other areas as posted.

Owner Responsibility -
Owner is responsible for damage caused by his vessel used with his consent even if he is not present.

Reckless Operation -
$2,500 and one year in jail for any act that endangers life, limb, or property. (Examples: operating in swimming areas; riding on seat backs, gunnels or bows; high speed in a congested area).

Lighting -
All boats operating between sunset and sunrise must have the proper lighting. Generally, powered vessels must have bow lights (red on port, green on starboard) and an all-around white stern light. Non-powered boats and sail boats less than 22' 10" must be able to show a white light if they do not show the lights described above. Boats must have an all-above white light when anchored.

Boating Accident Reports -
Operators must immediately notify Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) of any boating accident involving death, disappearance, or serious injury and an accident report must be filed within 48 hours. If a person injured in a boat accident requires medical treatment beyond first aid a formal report must be made within 10 days. All accidents involving property damage in excess of $2000, including the loss of the vessel, must be reported within 10 days.

Skiing -
All skiers must wear an adequate flotation device. Boats towing skiers must be equipped with a wide angle mirror or have an observer of at least 12 years of age. If a Coast Guard approved life jacket is not worn by the skier then one must be on board the towing vessel.

Boating Below Dams -
Life jackets must be worn in the marked hazardous areas below dams.

Boating Under the Influence -
Vessel operators may not be under the influence of alcohol (0.08% or greater) or drugs. Penalties range from a $2,500 fine for the first or second offense to $5,000 and 3 years jail time for third and subsequent offenses. A jail sentence of 11 months and 29 days may also be imposed for any conviction, probation is mandatory for any offense, and operating privileges may be suspended from one to ten years. Additional federal penalties may also be charged.

REGISTRATION

Registration is required for sailboats and all mechanically powered vessels (also documented vessels except they are exempt from displaying numbers). Numbers must be permanently attached or painted on the bow and read left to right. Example: TN-4166-AH. Numbers may be no less than 3 inches in height. Expiration decals must be placed on both sides immediately preceding or following the number.

MINIMUM REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

Life Jackets - (Must be Coast Guard approved)
Wearable PFDs are designated as Type I, II, III, or V. Throwable PFDs (cushion or ring buoy) are designated as Type IV. Inflatable PFDs are not approved for personal watercraft, water skiing or similar water sports. Most are not approved for anyone less than 16 years of age. Check the Coast Guard label for specifics of inflatable PFDs.

All boats, regardless of size, must have a wearable device for each person on board. Boats 16 feet and over must also have at least one throwable (type IV) device (canoes and kayaks are exempt from the throwable device). Persons under 13 years of age must wear an approved life jacket while the boat is underway when in open boats or on outer decks of any boat. All boaters must wear a life jacket in the marked hazardous areas below dams.

ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT REQUIRED

In addition to the life jackets, boats must also have the following equipment on board:

Less than 26 feet in length -
backfire flame arrester (except outboard motors); ventilation (engine and fuel tank compartments); fire extinguisher (approved for marine use, one Type B required for inboard engines and outboard if gas fumes from tanks may be entrapped).

26 feet to less than 40 feet in length -
Same as above except 2 Type B-I or 1 Type B-II fire extinguishers are required on all vessels 39' 4" or longer. They also must have a bell and a powered whistle.

40 feet to less than 65 feet in length -
Same as above except 2 Type B-I or 1 Type B-I and 1 Type B-II fire extinguishers are required.

Marine Sanitation Devices -
All boats with installed heads must have either a holding tank constructed, so that waste cannot be pumped directly overboard, or a Coast Guard approved Type I or II sanitation device. Types I and II may not be used on waters designated "no discharge".

Personal Watercraft -
These vessels must be registered and numbered as described on the previous page and they must have a Type B-I fire extinguisher. They may not be driven between sunset and sunrise. Drivers must be at least 12 years of age. The operator and all passengers must wear a Coast Guard approved PFD. The driver must be attached to the kill switch lanyard of the machine. Jumping the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of that vessel is prohibited. Vessel must be equipped with mirrors (2½" x 4") on both sides of hull if persons are being towed.