Boating Rules


While there are lots of pamphlets on boater safety issued by various govermental agencies, it is very tough to find exact laws about boating in Washington. If one were to go to www.wa.gov, and search the Washington State codes, the only thing you will find is that you must be 14 to be able to drive a Jet Ski.

At the 2004 Annual Meeting, I asked the local Sheriff Deputy in attendance what the rules really were. It seems that the rules are all county regulations (except for the jet ski thing).

For Stevens County, I am informed

In any boat, powered or not, kids under 12 must WEAR a life jacket. (There is an exception for really large boats, but none of them are on our lake.) Of course, in all boats, there must be available life jackets for all people in the boat.