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| Age Requirement for Operating Watercraft: | |
| A person under the age of 12 must be under the immediate supervision of a person located in the boat who is at least 16 years of age while operating a motorboat propelled by machinery greater than 10 horsepower. | |
| No person may not operate personal watercraft (including jet-skis) before attaining the age of 12. | |
| Operating Within the Water Safety Zone: | |
| No person may operate a watercraft at greater than headway speed while within the water safety zone, except to pick up or drop off one or more persons on water-skis, or while actively fishing. The water safety zone is the area of water within 200 feet of any shoreline, whether the shoreline of the mainland or of an island. Headway speed is the minimum speed necessary to maintain steerage and control of the watercraft while the watercraft is moving. | |
| Waterskiing: | |
| No person shall operate any watercraft towing a person or persons on water-skis, surfboards or other similar devices unless there is a person at least 12 years of age in the watercraft, in addition to the operator, who is in a position to continually observe the person or persons being towed. | |
| Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs): | |
| Recreational (pleasure, rental, lease or charter for commercial uses) boats less than 16 feet in length and all canoes and kayaks regardless of length are required to have either a Type I, II, III or IV PFD for each person aboard. Boats 16 feet or longer have to have the same PLUS one Type IV device immediately available in the boat. (See previous charts for a description of the required PFDs). PFDs must be worn when operating personal watercraft (jet-skis, etc.). | |
| Home | FAQ | Association | Boating Laws | Community | Contests | Current Events | Discussions | Fishing |
| Links | Living | Local Laws | Maps | Marine Safety | Past Events | Photos | State of Maine | Water Education |