Wyoming State Specific Information

No person under the age of sixteen (16) years must operate or be in actual physical control of a motorized watercraft, required to be numbered, on Wyoming waters unless an adult (18 years of age or older) is also physically in or aboard the motorized watercraft.

Personal Watercraft

A personal watercraft (PWC) is any inboard motorized watercraft less than sixteen (16) feet in length which has a water-jet pump as its primary source of motor propulsion and which is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing or kneeling on the watercraft, rather than the conventional manner of sitting or standing inside the watercraft. PWCs are Class A boats and as such are subject to all rules and regulations pertaining to that class and powerboats in general.

1. No person operating a personal watercraft shall cross or jump the wake of another watercraft when within one hundred (100) feet of the watercraft creating the wake.



2. No person shall operate a personal watercraft unless the watercraft is equipped by the manufacturer with a "kill switch". The kill switch must be attached via a lanyard to the operator of the personal watercraft when it is underway in such a manner that in the event the operator is ejected from the personal watercraft the engine must stop.

Watercraft Safety Equipment Requirements

All watercraft must carry a U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device of a suitable size for each person on board. All U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices must be readily accessible, in good serviceable condition and must not be waterlogged, torn, or have straps broken or missing.

All persons aboard personal watercraft and all persons being towed by a watercraft must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device of a suitable size while engaged in such activity. All persons utilizing water sport toys are exempt from the requirements of carrying a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device unless the water sport toy is being towed by a watercraft.

Operators of motorized watercraft must display a fluorescent orange flag, at least twelve (12) inches x twelve (12) inches in size, above the motorized watercraft anytime persons towed on water-skis, water sport toys, or other contrivances are down in the water to warn other watercraft operators of the situation. The operator of the motorized watercraft must ensure the flag is displayed in such a manner that it is visible three hundred sixty degrees (360°) around the motorized watercraft and the person in the water.

Fire extinguishers

Fire extinguishers must be carried in all watercraft that have one or more of the following conditions:

1. Inboard engines



2. Closed compartments under seats wherein portable fuel tanks may be stored



3. Double bottoms not sealed to the hull or which are not completely filled with flotation materials



4. Closed living spaces



5. Closed stowage compartments in which combustible material is stored

and/or

6. Permanently installed fuel tanks

Fire extinguishers must be U.S. Coast Guard or Underwriters Laboratory (U.L.) approved. Fire extinguishers are classified by letter and Roman numeral according to the type of fire they must be expected to extinguish and the size of the extinguisher. The "letter" indicates the type of fire:

1. "A" must be for fires of ordinary combustible materials;



2. "B" must be for gasoline, oil and grease fires; and,



3. "C" must be for electrical fires.

Dry chemical fire extinguishers utilized on watercraft which do not exhibit gauges or devices indicating the amount of pressure in the extinguisher must be weighed and display a tag which indicates the extinguisher has been weighed within the immediately preceding twelve (12) months. If the gross weight of a carbon dioxide (CO2) fire extinguisher is reduced by more than ten percent (10%) of the net weight, the extinguisher does not meet Wyoming requirements and must be recharged.

Fire extinguishers must be readily accessible aboard the watercraft and in such condition as to be ready for immediate and effective use.

Watercraft less than twenty-six (26) feet in length

When no fixed fire extinguishing system is installed in machinery space(s), at least one (1) B-I type approved hand portable fire extinguisher is required. This requirement must not apply to outboard watercraft less than twenty-six (26) feet in length if the construction of such watercraft must not permit the entrapment of explosives or flammable gases or vapors. When an approved fixed fire extinguisher system is installed in machinery space(s), one (1) less B-I type extinguisher is required;

It must be the responsibility of the operator of the watercraft to ensure that all required safety equipment is aboard the watercraft during operation.

Night Operation

Every watercraft when underway on Wyoming waters from sunset to sunrise must carry and exhibit lights in accordance with the provisions of this section. From sunset to sunrise, no other light which may be mistaken for those listed in this section must be used.

Every motorized watercraft of classes A and B must carry the a bright white light aft to be visible three hundred sixty degrees (360°) all around the horizon and a combined lantern in the front of the motorized watercraft and lower than the white light aft, showing green to starboard and red to port, so fixed as to show the light from directly ahead to twenty-two and five tenths degrees (22.5°) aft the beam on their respective sides.

Sailboats, when propelled by sail alone, must exhibit the following lights: On the starboard side a green light and on the port side a red light to show an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon from directly ahead to twenty-two and five tenths degrees (22.5°) aft the beam. Sailboats must also carry at the stern a white light to show the light sixty-seven and five tenths (67.5°) from aft on each side of the watercraft. In a small sailboat if it is not possible on account of bad weather or other sufficient causes for the light to be fixed, sailboats must carry ready at hand a lantern or flashlight to show a white light which must be exhibited in sufficient time to avoid collision. Sailboats less than forty (40) feet in length may carry a combined light in lieu of separate side lights.

All hand propelled watercraft operated between sunset and sunrise must have ready at hand a lantern or flashlight to show a white light which must be exhibited in sufficient time to avoid collision.

All watercraft at anchor between sunset and sunrise, unless anchored at a designated site such as a marina, shoreline, etc., must display in the front of the watercraft or where it can best be seen a white light to show all around the horizon and visible for one (1) mile.

Motorized watercraft must be provided with an efficient sound producing device.

Wyoming Waterway Marking System

The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission may restrict and guide watercraft use on waters by placement of such buoys, markers and/or regulatory signs as it deems necessary. All users of watercraft are required to obey the buoys, markers and/or regulatory signs. The buoys, markers and/or regulatory signs signify restricted areas, danger areas and information pertaining to watercraft operation in specific areas. Standard markers used are as follow:

1. A diamond shape of international orange with white center indicates danger. The nature of the danger may be indicated by words or well known abbreviations in black letters inside the diamond shape, or above and/or below it on white background;



2. A diamond shape of international orange with a cross of international orange against a white center without qualifying explanation must indicate a zone from which all watercraft are excluded;



3. A circle of international orange with white center indicates a control or restriction. The nature of the control or restriction must be indicated by words, numerals and/or well known abbreviations in black letters inside the circle. Additional explanations may be given above and/or below in black letters;



4. A rectangular shape of international orange with white center indicates information, other than a danger, control or restriction which may contribute to health, safety or well being. The message must be presented within the rectangle in black letters;



5. Letters or numerals used with regulatory markers must be black in block characters of good proportion and spaced in a manner which must provide maximum legibility and visibility; and,



6. No buoys, markers, and/or regulatory signs shall be placed on Wyoming waters without prior approval of the Commission, except diver's down flag(s).



7. Two (2) flags are used to indicate the presence of a person engaged in diving in the immediate area. The official flag, Alpha, which is blue and white is internationally recognized for all diving operations. The second flag is the red flag with a white diagonal stripe. No person can operate or permit the operation of any motorized watercraft at a speed greater than a "no wake" speed within one-hundred (100) feet of a "diver down" flag(s) that has been displayed to indicate the presence of a person diving. "No wake" means the speed of a watercraft which is underway that does not cause water action which disturbs another watercraft at rest, a dock, or swimmers; and, in no case must the speed of the watercraft which is underway be in excess of five (5) miles per hour

The diver's down flag(s) must be displayed only when diving is in progress and must be displayed so as not to impede normal watercraft traffic.

8. No person may alter, damage, deface, destroy, remove or otherwise modify any Commission approved buoy, marker or regulatory sign.

Waters Restricted to the Operation of Watercraft

1. Operation of a motorized watercraft at a speed which causes a wake within one-hundred (100) feet of a drifting, trolling or anchored watercraft or person(s) in the water is prohibited. "Wake" means the water action left by a watercraft which is underway that does cause water action which disturbs another watercraft at rest, a dock, or swimmers; and, the speed of the watercraft exceeds five (5) miles per hour.



2. The use of personal watercraft is prohibited on the following waters throughout the calendar year:

All waters in Grand Teton Park National Park in Teton County;
Crystal Reservoir in Laramie County;
Green River Lakes in Sublette County;
New Fork Lakes in Sublette County; and,
Soda Lake in Sublette County on Soda Lake Wildlife Habitat Management Area.

3. The use of motorized watercraft is prohibited on the following waters throughout the calendar year except as otherwise provided. Emergency, search and rescue, enforcement and Game and Fish Commission administrative watercraft are exempt.

Bearpaw Lake in Teton County;
Beck Lake Recreation Area including Beck Lake, New Cody Reservoir `and Markham
Reservoir in Park County;
Bradley Lake in Teton County;
Emma Matilda Lake in Teton County;
Kemmerer City Reservoir in Lincoln County;
Leigh Lake in Teton County;
North Crow Reservoir in Laramie and Albany Counties;
North Platte River upstream from the Saratoga Inn bridge in the town of Saratoga to the Colorado State line in Carbon County (The owners of agricultural lessees of property immediately adjacent to the North Platte River or their agents may utilize motorized watercraft to carry out agricultural practices.);
Sibley Lake in Sheridan County;
String Lake in Teton County;
Taggart Lake in Teton County;
Two Ocean Lake in Teton County; and,
West Ten Sleep Lake in Big Horn County.

4. The use of internal combustion engines in motorized watercraft is prohibited on the following waters throughout the calendar year except as otherwise provided. Emergency, search and rescue, enforcement and Game and Fish Commission administrative watercraft are exempt.

A&M Reservoir in Sweetwater County;
Absaraka Lake in Laramie County;
Black Hills Power and Light Osage Pond in Weston County;
Bryan Stock Trail Pond in Natrona County;
Burlington Reservoir in Natroma County;
Edness Kimball Wilkins State Park including all ponds within the Park in Natrona County;
Festo Lake in Platte County;
Fiddlers Lake in Fremont County;
Fish Lake in Fremont County;
Gillette Fishing Lake in Campbell County;
Johnson Creek Reservoir in Albany County;
Lake Alice in Lincoln County;
Leazenby Lake in Albany County;
Lake of the Woods in Fremont County;
Little Soda Lake in Sublette County;
Medicine Bow National Forest including all lakes within the boundaries of Medicine Bow
National Forest, except Sand Lake, Turpin Reservoir, Lake Owen, Rob Roy Reservoir and Hog
Park Reservoir, in Carbon and Albany Counties;
Middle Piney Lake in Sublette County;
Murphy Lake in Lincoln County;
Naughton Plant Pond in Lincoln County;
North Piney Lake in Sublette County;
Pelham Lake in Fremont County;
Rawlins City Reservoir in Carbon County;
Rock Creek Reservoir in Fremont County;
Sand Mesa Reservoirs No. 1 and 2 in Fremont County;
Snake River from West Table boat ramp to Sheep Gulch boat ramp in Lincoln County;
Soda Lake, on Soda Lake Wildlife Habitat Management Area, in Sublette County must be closed from May 10 through May 31 to the use of internal combustion motorized watercraft;
South Springer Reservoir in Goshen County;
Swamp Lake in Park County;
Tie Hack Reservoir in Johnson County;
Upper and Lower Jade Lakes in Fremont County;
Walker Jenkins Lake in Carbon Count;
Western Nuclear Pond in Fremont County; and
Wind River Lake in Fremont County.

5. The use of any type watercraft is prohibited on the following waters throughout the calendar year, except as otherwise provided. Emergency, search and rescue, enforcement and Game and Fish Commission administrative watercraft are exempt form this subsection.

Grayrocks Reservoir to include only that area between the regulatory buoys and the spillway in Platte County;
Healy Reservoir in Johnson County;
Jim Bridger Pond to include only that area inside the pumphouse booms in Sweetwater County;
North Platte River to include only that area between Glendo Dam and Glendo
Powerplant in Platte County;
Ranchester City Reservoir in Sheridan County; and,
Wheatland Reservoir No. 3 Canal from the headgate in Reservoir No. 2 to the mouth in Reservoir No. 3 in Albany County.

6. The use of motorized watercraft powered by a motor in excess of fifteen (15) horsepower is prohibited on the following waters throughout the calendar year, except as otherwise provided. Emergency, search and rescue, enforcement and Game and Fish Commission administrative watercraft are exempt.

Deaver Reservoir in Park County;
Jim Bridger Pond in Sweetwater County;
Muddy Guard Reservoirs in Johnson County;
Newton Lakes Recreational Area including East and West Newton Lakes in Park County;
Park Reservoir in Johnson and Sheridan Counties;
Renner Reservoir in Washakie County;
Sloans Lake in Laramie County;
Turpin Reservoir in Carbon County; and,
Harrington Reservoir in Big Horn County.

7. The use of motorized watercraft powered by a motor in excess of ten (10) horsepower is prohibited on the following waters throughout the calendar year, except as otherwise provided. Emergency, search and rescue, enforcement, Game and Fish Commission administrative watercraft and other watercraft authorized by Grand Teton National Park are exempt from this subsection.

Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park in Teton County.

Enforcement

1. The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission has authorized any peace officer of the State or any of its political subdivisions to enforce Wyoming boating laws.

Violation of Commission Regulations: Failure to abide by the provisions of this regulation is punishable as provided by Wyoming statutes for violation of Commission regulations.

Motorized Watercraft Registration and Numbers

All numbers assigned to motorized watercraft in the State must consist of three (3) parts. The first part, the prefix, must consist of the letters "WY" signifying the State of registration; the second part must consist of not more than four (4) Arabic numerals; the third part, the suffix, must consist of not more than two (2) capital letters, but "I", "O" and "Q" must not be used because of their similarity to Arabic numerals. Numbers assigned to motorized watercraft dealers must have the letters "DL" as the suffix.

All numbers must be displayed on each side of the bow of the motorized watercraft in such a manner that the numbers must be clearly readable when the motorized watercraft is underway.

1. Numbers must be affixed to the bow of motorized watercraft to read from left to right. The number must be:



1. In plain, block vertical, not slanted, letters and numerals of good proportions;



2. A minimum of three (3) inches high excluding shading and bordering; and,



3. A color which must contrast with the color of the background, i.e., dark numbers on a light background and/or light numbers on a dark background.


2. A hyphen or a space, equal in width to the letter "W" in the prefix, must separate the three (3) parts of the numbers. For example: "WY-1234-A" or "WY 1234A".



3. All numbers assigned to motorized watercraft, except those assigned to motorized watercraft dealers, must be painted on or securely attached to the bow of the motorized watercraft. Motorized watercraft dealers may affix the number for motorized watercraft which are for sale to a removable board(s) to permit transfer of the assigned number upon sale.



4. A motorized watercraft dealer is eligible to receive more than one (1) registration certificate and one (1) motorized watercraft registration number. A motorized watercraft dealer registration number is not assigned to a specific motorized watercraft. Motorized watercraft dealer registration number must not be transferred to another motorized watercraft dealer or motorized watercraft owner.

Upon payment of the motorized watercraft registration fee, each applicant for a motorized watercraft number is issued a registration certificate and two (2) decals upon which must appear a designation of the year(s) for which the registration fee was paid and the abbreviation WYO. One (1) decal must be displayed on each side of the motorized watercraft to which the number is assigned aft and directly in line with the assigned number of the motorized watercraft. No other type decal must be displayed on the front half of the hull. Only the decal which is valid for the current year must be displayed.

Proof of ownership for first time registration of a motorized watercraft is required and must consist of a copy of a notarized bill of sale or a bill of sale from a motorized watercraft dealer, or any other documentation that meets approval of the Commission. It must also consist of a sales tax receipt from the County Treasurer, or indication of Wyoming Sales/Use Tax payment on the invoice from a Wyoming motorized watercraft dealer.

Proof of transfer of a motorized watercraft must consist of a copy of notarized bill of sale from the previous owner of the motorized watercraft, a copy of a bill of sale from a motorized watercraft dealer, or any other documentation that meets the approval of the Commission. It must also consist of a sales tax receipt from the County Treasurer, or indication of Wyoming Sales/Use Tax payment on the invoice from a Wyoming motorized watercraft dealer.

Proof of ownership for homemade motorized watercraft must consist of a copy of a notarized affidavit by the builder of the motorized watercraft which indicates the description of the motorized watercraft and the date construction was completed, or any other documentation tat meets the approval of the Commission. It must also consist of a sales tax receipt for all products and materials utilized in the construction of the homemade watercraft, including the motor attached to the watercraft; or, any other documentation that meets approval of the Commission.

The Commission does not charge a fee for issuance of a duplicate certificate of number when the loss or destruction of the certificate was the fault of the Commission. The Commission does charge a fee of five dollars ($5.00) for issuance of a duplicate certificate of number when the loss or destruction of the original certificate of number was not the fault of the Commission.