AI-assisted research summary: People under 16 may not operate certain vessels, and teens operating commercial vessels face age, certificate, size, and use limits.
I. No person under 16 years of age shall operate a motorized vessel having power in excess of 25 horsepower on the public waters of this state unless the person is accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older who has a valid safe boater education certificate, and such person shall be liable for personal injury or property damage which may result from such operation. II. No person under 16 years of age shall operate a commercial vessel on any of the public waters of the state. III. No person 16 years of age or older but under 18 years of age shall operate a commercial vessel on any of the public waters of the state unless such person has a valid certificate to act as operator of a commercial vessel. Such operation shall be subject to the following limitations: (a) Such vessel must be 16 feet in length or less. (b) Such vessel may be operated only for the safety support of other boaters, swimmers, or other persons in or on the water, and for incidental transportation of passengers, towing of other vessels, refueling, or servicing. (c) No such vessel shall tow a water skier, aquaplane, or similar device. III-a. A person 14 years of age or older, but under 18 years of age may operate a commercial vessel on any of the public waters of the state without a valid certificate to act as operator of a commercial vessel if all of the following conditions are met: (a) The vessel shall be 16 feet in length or less. (b) The vessel may be operated only for the selling of pre-packaged food and/or non-alcoholic beverages. (c) The vessel shall not be operated for the safety support of other boaters, swimmers, or other persons in or on the water, or for incidental transportation of passengers, towing of other vessels, refueling, or servicing. (d) The vessel shall not tow any water skiers, aquaplane, or similar devices. IV. Whoever violates this section shall be guilty of a violation. Source: Source. 1963, 138:1. 1985, 347:3. 1988, 56:1. 2000, 52:1. 2002, 272:1, eff. May 18, 2002. 2010, 148:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2011. 2024, 225:1, eff. Sept. 17, 2024.