Required Equipment

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST	PWC	Boats less than 16 feet	Boat 16 feet but less than 26 feet
Boaters Safety Certificate	Yes 1	Yes 1	Yes 1
Certificate of Number Onboard	Yes	Yes	Yes
Validation Decal Displayed	Yes	Yes	Yes
Life Jackets (PFD's): Type I, II or III	Yes 2	Yes 3	Yes 3
Life Jackets (PFD's): Type IV			Yes
Fire extinguisher, Type B-1	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ignition Safety Switch	Yes
Flame Arrestor	Yes	Yes 4	Yes 4
Ventilation System	Yes	Yes	Yes
Muffler	Yes	Yes	Yes
Horn, Bell or Whistle	Yes 5	Yes 5	Yes
Daytime Visual Distress System			Yes
Night Time Visual Distress System	N/A	Yes 7	Yes 7
Navigation Lights	N/A	Yes 8	Yes 8

1. Applicable if operator is a minor. See Who may operate a boat and/or Who may operate a PWC

2. Those on a PWC must wear a PFD at all times. Those under 12 years of age must wear a Type I or II PFD. Inflatable PFD's are not allowed on PWC.

3. Those under the age of 6 years must wear a PFD when riding on the open deck of any boat.

4. Required on inboard and stern drives only.

5. Required only on the Great Lakes and waters connected to the Great Lakes.

6. When boating on the Great Lakes or waters connected to the Great Lakes between sunrise and sunset.

7. When boating on the Great Lakes or waters connected to the Great Lakes between sunrise and sunset.

8. Manually-driven boats (saliboats under sail, rowboats, etc.) are only required to have on hand a flashlight or lantern.

Note: Some items are not applicable to PWC since they are not allowed to operate between one hour before sunset and 8:00 am.

Who may operate a boat?

Those less than 12 years of age:

	May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 horsepower without restrictions.
	May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more thatn 6 horsepower but no more than 35 horsepower only if they are directly supervised onboard by a person at least 16 years of age.
	May not legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more than 35 horsepower under any conditions.

Those 12 to 15 years of age:

May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of no more than 6 horsepower without restrictions

May legally operate a boat powered by a motor of more that 6 horsepower only if they:

	Have passed a boating safety course approved by the Department of Natural Resources and have onboard their boating safety certificate or....
	Are accompanied onboard by a person at least 16 years of age

Those 16 years of age or older:

May operate any boat on the waters of Michigan. Note: See Who may operate a PWC

Who May Operate a PWC

As of January 1, 1999

No one under the age of 14 years may legally operate a PWC

All persons born after December 31, 1978 must have passed a boating safety course approved by the Department of Natural Resources and have onboard their boating safety certificate in order to legally operate a PWC.