Boating Handbook 2024Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Boating Handbook fishandboat.com

FishandBoat.com

Boating HandbookBoating Handbook

20242024

PennsylvaniaPennsylvania

fishandboat.com Pennsylvania Boating Handbook

APPLICATION FOR A PENNSYLVANIA

BOATING SAFETY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE

Please check the appropriate box and follow the instructions below.

CURRENT INFORMATION (Please PRINT)

PA Certificate No.

(Leave blank if not known)

NAME

Last: First: Middle Initial:

MAILING ADDRESS

E-mail:

CITY/STATE/ZIP

City: State: Zip Code:

BIRTH DATE

DAYTIME

PHONE ( )

DUPLICATE or REPLACEMENT ($5 for each card ordered)

– To apply for a duplicate or replacement Pennsylvania

Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) certificate, submit this form and payment. This selection is only for persons who

have previously been issued permanent PFBC certificates.

OTHER CERTIFICATIONS ($10)

–

To convert a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadron or other course

approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) to a PFBC Boating Safety

Education Certificate, submit this form, a copy of the certificate and payment. If mailing the original, include a

self-addressed, stamped envelope if you want your current certificate returned.

TEMPORARY to PERMANENT ($10) – To convert a temporary PFBC certificate to a permanent certificate, submit

this form

, a

copy of your temporary certificate

and

payment

HAIR COLOR ✓

Brown Black

Blond Red

Gray

Other

PLEASE CHECK “✓“ THE APPROPRIATE SELECTION IN EACH COLUMN (choose only one each)

EYE COLOR ✓

Brown Gray

Green Other

Blue

GENDER ✓

Male

Female

Number of Certificates Ordered:

Amount Enclosed: $

(Do Not Send Cash)

Check or Money Order # Payable to: Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

Credit Card # - - - Exp. Date (ex. 05/2027)

Name as it appears on card (if different from above)

(Discover/MasterCard/Visa ONLY)

AMERICAN EXPRESS IS NOT ACCEPTED

I hereby certify, under penalty of law, that the foregoing information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information and belief. I understand that

submission of false information in connection with this official application may be subject to criminal penalties under 18 Pa. C.S. Ch. 49 and 30 Pa. C.S. Ch. 9.

Applicant’s Signature or Parent/Guardian Signature if Applicant is Younger than 18 Years of Age

✓

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

Bureau of Boating

PO Box 67000

Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000

Please allow 4 to 6 weeks to receive your permanent certificate.

Mail to:

If card is not received, call 717-705-7851.

Street or P.O. Box No.:

MM/DD/YYYY:

Pennsylvania Boating Handbook fishandboat.com

Boating in Pennsylvania 4

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission/

Pennsylvania’s Boating Opportunities..........4

Pennsylvania Water Trails............................4

Boat Motors and Hull Types.........................4

Boating Terminology....................................4

Legal Requirements 5

Boat Operator Responsibilities....................5

Boat Classification.......................................5

Boat Operation Requirements

.....................

Homeland Security......................................5

Minimum Age of Operation/Mandatory

Boating Education......................................6

Life Jackets...................................................6

Boat Numbering and

egistration

..............7

Launch Permits/Boat Titling....................... 8

Capacity Plates/Hull Identification

Number(HIN).........................

..................9

Night Operation and Lights......

...................9

Sound-producing Devices/

Visual Distress Signals (VDS)

.................10

Minimum Required Equipment/

Recommended Equipment.........................11

Fire Extinguishers/Fire Extinguisher Use

......

Carburetor Backfire Flame Control/Noise

Restrictions and Muffling Devices

..........11

Boat Operation 12

Pre-departure Checklist/Preventative

Boat Maintenance....................................12

Leave a Float Plan/Trailering......................12

Launching and Retrieving/Boarding/

Boat Trim/Boat Handling/Docking.........13

Departing/Boat Navigation Rules................. 14

Contents

Northwest Region

11528 State Highway 98, Meadville, PA 16335

814-337-0444 Fax 814-337-0579

Counties: Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest,

Lawrence, Mercer, Venango, Warren.

Southwest Region

236 Lake Road, Somerset, PA 15501

814-445-8974 Fax 814-445-3497

Counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Cambria,

Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington,

Westmoreland.

Northcentral Region

595 East Rolling Ridge Drive, Bellefonte, PA 16823

814-359-5250 Fax 814-359-5254

Counties: Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton,

Elk, Jefferson, Lycoming, McKean, Montour,

Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Tioga, Union.

Southcentral Region

1704 Pine Road, Newville, PA 17241

717-486-7087 Fax 717-486-8227

Counties: Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cumberland,

Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata,

Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, York.

Northeast Region

5566 Main Road, Sweet Valley, PA 18656

570-477-5717 Fax 570-477-3221

Counties: Bradford, Carbon, Columbia,

Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Sullivan,

Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming.

Southeast Region

P.O. Box 9, Elm, PA 17521

717-626-0228 Fax 717-626-0486

Counties: Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware,

Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton,

Philadelphia, Schuylkill.

For More Information:

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY:

www.cgaux.org/boatinged

UNITED STATES POWER SQUADRONS:

www.americasboatingcourse.com

AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION:

www.asa.com

AMERICAN RED CROSS:

www.redcross.org

AMERICAN CANOE ASSOCIATION:

www.americancanoe.org

PFBC Law Enforcement

Region Offices

NORTHWEST

NORTHCENTRAL

NORTHEAST

SOUTHWEST

SOUTHCENTRAL

SOUTHEAST

Boaters who have a need to communicate with a Pennsylvania Fish

and Boat Commission (PFBC) Waterways Conservation Officer should

contact the appropriate region office. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.,

Monday through Friday.

Rules for Power-driven Boats

Underway...............................................15

Sound Signals.............................................15

Other Important Rules of the Road............16

VHF Radio.................................................16

Anchoring..................................................16

Locks and Dams.........................................17

Boat Theft.

................................................17

Other Water Activities 18

Personal Watercraft (PWC).................

........18

Paddlesports..............................................18

Boat-towed Watersports.............................19

Swimming and Diving.........................

.......

Sailing........................................................19

Hunters and Anglers..................................19

Safety and Rescue 20

Ventilation and Fueling/Carbon

Monoxide................................................20

Running Aground......................................20

Water Hazards............................................20

Dams/Weather............................................20

Capsizing and Falls Overboard...................21

Propeller Strikes.........................................21

Rescue and Survival................................... 21

Cold Water Shock/Hypothermia.................22

Alcohol and Boating...................................22

Courtesy Vessel Safety Checks....................22

Boating Accidents...................................... 22

Resource Protection 23

Law Enforcement.......................................23

PFBC Lakes and Access Areas.................... 23

Permits.......................................................23

Marine Sanitation Devices

(MSD)...............23

Littering and Pollution...............................23

Float Plan...................................................24

Boat and Gear Cleaning Requirements......25

HuntFish.PA.gov

• Publications 717-705-7835

• Boat Registration/Titling 866-262-8734

• Law Enforcement 717-705-7861

• Boating Safety Education 888-PaFish1

(888-723-4741)

PLEASE NOTE: This information was prepared to provide boaters with

information they need to know when operating watercraft on Pennsylvania

waterways. It reviews the Commission’s boating regulations and includes

information and tips to follow while boating. It does not present the actual laws

and regulations. This handbook is the text for the Commission’s Pennsylvania Basic

Boating and Boating and Water Safety Awareness courses.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission receives federal financial assistance

from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the 1964 Civil

Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans

with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and Title IX of the

Education Amendments of 1972, the United States Department of the Interior

prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or

disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program,

activity or facility, or if you need more information, please write to: Office of

Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20240.

Persons with disabilities who wish to participate in a Pennsylvania Fish and Boat

Commission program and who anticipate the need for special accommodations

should telephone 717-705-7833. This publication is available on our website

at fishandboat.com and may also be obtained as a computer file (alternate

accessible format) by contacting the phone number above. People using a TTY

should dial Pennsylvania Relay telephone number 711 to contact us.

10/2023

On the cover

Paddlers enjoying

Letort Spring

Run, Cumberland

County. Photo-PFBC

archives.

Pennsylvania Boating Handbook fishandboat.com

FishandBoat.com

Boating Handbook

2024

Pennsylvania

fishandboat.com Pennsylvania Boating Handbook

BOATING IN PENNSYLVANIA

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat

Commission

The PFBC is responsible for promoting fishing

and boating, and regulating and enforcing fishing

and boating laws and regulations in Pennsylvania.

Established in 1866, the PFBC is primarily funded

by Pennsylvania’s boaters and anglers through boat

registration fees and fishing license revenues.

Pennsylvania's Boating

Opportunities

Pennsylvania provides nearly unlimited opportu-

nities for the recreational boater. The Commonwealth

has over 85,000 miles of rivers and streams ranging

from headwaters to major river systems. It has 76

natural lakes that provide 5,266 acres of flat water.

An additional 2,300 constructed impoundments pro-

vide another 200,000 acres of boatable waters. Lake

Erie has 63 plus miles of shoreline and 735 square

miles of waters within Pennsylvania’s boundaries.

The Delaware River provides 56 miles of tidal waters

within Pennsylvania and access to the Atlantic Ocean.

The number of recreational boats on Pennsylvania

waters continues to increase. In 1982, fewer than

200,000 boats were registered. The number of reg-

istered boats peaked in 2012 at more than 332,000

and has remained mostly stable. Over half of the reg-

istered boats in the Commonwealth are less than 16

feet in length. Pennsylvania is primarily a small-boat

state. Launch permits (for unpowered boats) con-

tinue to be popular from year to year, with 153,348

active permits in 2022. Pennsylvania has a diversity of

boating opportunities, from whitewater rafting on the

Youghiogheny River to powerboating on the lower

Delaware River.

Pennsylvania Water Trails

Pennsylvania Water Trails are boat routes suitable

for canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and some motor-

ized watercraft. Like conventional trails, water trails

are recreational corridors between specific locations.

Water trails are comprised of access points, boat

launches, day use sites, and, in some cases, overnight

camping areas. From ripples to rapids, paddling

these aquatic highways can be a great adventure.

Boat Motors and Hull Types

MOTORS

There are four primary types of boat motors:

1. Outboard motors vary in size and clamp onto

the transom. The whole motor pivots on its

mounting to aim the wash and steer the boat.

The boat turns in the opposite direction that

the tiller arm is pushed. Electric motors are

outboards.

2. Inboard/outboard (or sterndrive) motors

are bolted inboard, at the stern, with the drive

unit through the transom.

3. Inboard motors are mounted lower in the

boat and farther forward than an inboard/

outboard. A rudder is used to steer.

4. Jet motors use an engine to pump water

through a nozzle at the stern, which pivots to

steer the boat.

Many Pennsylvania lakes have specific motor-type

and horsepower limitations. For more information,

visit the Commission's website.

BOAT HULL TYPES

There are two basic types of boat hulls:

1. Planing hulls are flat-bottomed and skim

across the water.

2. Displacement hulls have round bottoms

and plow through the water. They are more

stable but not as fast as planing hull boats.

Most boats are a compromise between plan-

ing and displacement hulls (deep-V, modified-V,

cathedral, etc.). There are also multiple-hulled

boats such as catamarans and pontoons.

Boating Terminology

Aft- near or at the stern of the boat

Beam- the width of a boat, also the direction

at right angles to the centerline of a boat

Bilge- the lowest point of a boat’s interior hull

Bow- the forward part (toward the front) of

a boat

Draft- the vertical distance from the water-

line to the lowest point of the keel; it is the

minimum depth of water in which a boat

will float

Forward- aboard a boat, the direction to the

front, to the bow

Freeboard- the vertical distance from the

waterline to the gunwale

Gunwale- the upper edge of the side of a boat

Hull- the structural body of the boat; it does

not include superstructure, masts or rigging

Keel- the main structural member of a boat; its

backbone; the lateral area beneath the hull

that helps to provide stability and reduce the

sideways drift of a boat

Life Jacket- also known as a personal flotation

device, vest or preserver

Port- looking toward the bow, the left side of

the boat

Starboard- looking toward the bow, the right

side of the boat

Stern- the aft (back or rear) portion of the boat.

Transom- the transverse part of the stern

(where an outboard motor is attached)

Waterline- the intersection of a boat’s hull and

the water’s surface

USCG- United States Coast Guard

USPS- United States Power Squadrons

HULLS

Flat Bottom Round Bottom Deep -V-Hull Cathedral Hull

HULL

BEAM

PORT

STARBOARD

KEEL

BOW

GUNWALE

TRANSOM

WATERLINE

STERN

OVERALL LENGTH

AFT

FORWARD

FREEBOARDDRAFT

Pennsylvania Boating Handbook fishandboat.com

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

Boat Operator Responsibilities

Boat operators are responsible for:

• Knowing the rules and regulations in the

areas where they boat.

• Knowing the waters where they are boating.

• Having the required safety equipment for

their watercraft.

•

The actions of all persons on board their boats.

RULE OF RESPONSIBILITY

DEFINED

NAVIGATION RULES United States Coast Guard

(USCG), RULE 2, “RESPONSIBILITY”

“2(a) Nothing in these Rules shall exonerate any

boat, or the owner, master or crew thereof,

from the consequences of any neglect to

comply with these Rules or of the neglect of

any precaution, which may be required by

the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the

special circumstances of the case.”

“2(b) In construing and complying with these

Rules due regard shall be had to all dangers

of navigation and collision and to any special

circumstances, including the limitations of

the boats involved, which may make a depar-

ture from these Rules necessary to avoid

immediate danger.”

Boat Classification

Boats are classified according to length, which

is the horizontal distance from bow (front) to stern

(back) along the centerline. It excludes any projec-

tions that are not part of the boat’s hull, such as an

outboard motor or swim platform.

Classification determines the minimum required

equipment. See page 11.

Boat Operation Requirements

In Pennsylvania, it

is illegal to...

• Operate a water-

craft in a reckless,

negligent or dan-

gerous manner.

Boats must be

operated at a rate

of speed that does

not endanger the

life or property of any person.

• Operate a boat at greater than slow, no-wake

speed within 100 feet of the shoreline, docks,

launch ramps, swimmers, or downed ski-

ers, persons wading in the water, anchored,

moored, or drifting boats, and floats. Slow,

no-wake speed is the slowest possible speed

of a motorboat required to maintain maneu-

verability, so the wake or wash created by the

motorboat on the surface is minimal. The

slow, no-wake zone for wake surfing activity

is 200 feet. See page 19.

• Operate a motorboat less than 20 feet in

length at greater than slow no-wake while a

person is standing on or in the boat.

• Operate a motorboat at greater than slow, no-

wake speed with a person riding outside of

the passenger carrying area or while a person

Less than 16 feet

16 feet to less

than 26 feet

26 feet to less

than 40 feet

40 feet to

not more than

65 feet

Less than 16 feet (Class A)

Includes jonboats, small runabouts and

personal watercraft.

16 feet to less than 26 feet (Class 1)

Boats used for skiing, fishing and day trips.

26 feet to less than 40 feet (Class 2)

Large boats that usually include enclosed cabins.

40 feet to not more than 65 feet (Class 3)

Large boats with advanced features.

is riding on the bow decking, gunwales, tran-

som or motor covers.

• Operate a pontoon boat at any speed while

a person is riding outside the passenger-

carrying area.

• Cause a boat to become airborne or to leave

the water completely while crossing another

boat’s wake when within 100 feet of the boat

creating the wake.

• Weave through congested traffic.

• Operate faster than slow, no-wake when

within 100 feet to the rear or 50 feet to the

side of another boat that is underway, unless

in a narrow channel.

• Operate within 100 feet of anyone towed

behind another boat.

• Operate a motorboat with anyone sitting, rid-

ing, or hanging on a swim platform or swim

ladder attached to the boat.

Homeland Security

Strict regulations have been issued relating

to waterways for national security. Boaters must

follow these regulations or be exposed to serious

penalties. Our mutual security, in part, depends

on your diligence in reporting suspicious activities

that you may encounter on the water.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL

WATERCRAFT:

• Stay at least 100 yards from all military, cruise

line or commercial shipping boats. Violating

the Naval Vessel Protection Zone is a felony

offense, punishable by up to 6 years impris-

onment and/or up to $250,000 in fines.

• You must operate at slow, no-wake speed

within 500 yards of United States naval boats.

• Check with local authorities and refer to cur-

rent charts to identify and stay away from

security zones and port operation areas.

• Generally, stay at least 100 yards from

military areas, cruise lines and petroleum

facilities. Also, stay away from dams and

power plants.

At the request of the Captain of the Port

or District Commander, an area may also be

designated a Security Zone. This zone may be

highlighted in magenta (pink-red coloration) on

charts to better stand out and warn the public

OPERATE AT MINIMUM SPEED

001

Yards

DO NOT ENTER

005

sdraY

Many waterways in Pennsylvania have special

regulations such as electric motors only or horse-

power restric

tions. For more information, visit

the Commission's website.

fishandboat.com Pennsylvania Boating Handbook

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

to stay clear. Unauthorized boats, without spe-

cific permission to enter, must stay out of these

marked areas. Armed military, harbor police or

civilian authorities securing these areas will con-

front violators.

GUIDELINES:

• Do not stop or anchor beneath bridges or in

a channel. If you do stop, be prepared to be

boarded by patrolling authorities.

• Be observant and report any suspicious activ-

ity to USCG or local authorities.

• Always secure and lock your boat when not

on board.

Minimum Age of Operation

The following age restrictions and boating

education requirements apply to the operation

of motorboats.

Mandatory Boating Education

Boating safety education is important for both

new and experienced boaters. Knowledgeable

boaters are safer boaters. Boating courses are fun

for the entire family. Online courses allow you to

work at your own pace in the comfort of your own

home. Classroom courses may be available at loca-

tions throughout the state. Boating safety educa-

tion provides the foundation for safe recreational

boating and should be considered as an introduc-

tion to safe boating practices. Boating regulations

and conditions can be expected to change, there-

fore, the PFBC encourages boaters

to take addi-

tional boating and water safety courses through

organizations such as the United States Coast

Guard Auxiliary, United States Power Squadrons,

American Sailing Association, United States

Sailing Association, American Red Cross and

American Canoe Association.

BOATING COURSES AND SAFETY

CERTIFICATES

Boaters who successfully complete a PFBC-

approved boating course are issued a Pennsylvania

Boating Safety Education Certificate, valid for a

lifetime of boating safety.

Boating Safety Education Certificates are required:

• To operate a personal watercraft

• For persons born on or after January 1, 1982,

to operate boats powered by motors greater

than 25 horsepower.

Approved permanent Boating Safety Education

Certificates for Pennsylvania residents must be

issued by the PFBC. Out of state boaters must

have a certificate issued for a course approved

by NASBLA.

If you already have your Pennsylvania Boating

Safety Education Certificate from the PFBC and

you are applying for a duplicate or replacement

certificate, you can get a new one for $5 each. To

obtain one (or more) certificates, locate the appli-

cation on page 2 of this booklet or download an

application from our website.

If you do NOT have a Pennsylvania Boating

Safety Education Certificate, but you have earned

a certificate from the

United States

Coast Guard

Auxiliary,

United States

Power Squadrons or

another approved course, you must mail the

original certificate issued to you for successfully

completing that course along with the application

on page 2 of this booklet to the PFBC or down-

load the application from our website. The cost for

your new, permanent Pennsylvania Boating Safety

Education Certificate is $10.

CLASSROOM AND

INTERNET COURSES

Approved classroom boating courses are available

from the PFBC, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary,

United States Power Squadrons and several other

approved course providers. In addition, the PFBC

has several approved online courses. Information on

these providers and their courses is available on the

PFBC’s website. In some cases, there are fees for the

courses in addition to the permanent Boating Safety

Education Certificate fee of $10.

Life Jackets

Personal flotation devices

(PFDs, life jackets, life preserv-

ers, life vests and throwable

devices) are the most important

piece of equipment on a boat;

life jackets are the best defense

against drowning. Each person in the boat must

have a wearable, USCG-approved life jacket!

The Commission urges all boaters to wear life

jackets at all times.

Since boating conditions can change quickly

and without warning (increasing your chance of

unexpectedly falling into the water), boating with-

out wearing a properly fitted life jacket is danger-

ous. Trying to put on a life jacket while in the water

is difficult and nearly impossible in moving water.

LIFE JACKET REQUIREMENTS:

• All boats must have a USCG-approved wear-

able life jacket on board for each person.

• In addition to wearable life jackets, boats 16

feet and over must have a USCG-approved

throwable device (ring buoy, life ring or

buoyant seat cushion) on board. Canoes,

kayaks and paddleboards, regardless of

length, are not required to carry a throw-

able device.

• Life jackets must be used in accordance with

any requirements on the approval label.

• All life jackets must be in good and service-

able condition and legibly marked showing

the USCG approval number. This means

the life jacket must be fully functional,

free of tears or defects in the material.

All buckles, straps, zippers and other clo-

sures must be operable.

• Wearable life jackets must be “readily

accessible,” which means that they are out

in the open ready to wear or that they are

stowed where they can be easily reached.

Throwables devices must be “immediately

available,” which means that the device shall

be within arm’s reach of the operator or pas-

senger while the boat is operated and can-

not be in a protective covering. A life jacket

that is sealed in its original packaging is not

readily accessible or immediately available.

• Life jackets must be the appropriate size for

the person intended and adjusted to wear.

• A throwable device may not be used as a

substitute for a wearable device.

National Safe Boating Council

All PWC (personal

watercraft) operators,

regardless of age, must

have a Boating Safety

Education Certificate.

Persons 11 years of age or

younger may NOT operate.

Persons 12 through 15

years of age may NOT

operate with any

passengers on board 15

years of age or younger or

rent a PWC.

None

Persons 11 years of age or

younger may NOT operate.

Persons born on or after

January 1, 1982, may not

operate unless they have

obtained and have in pos-

session a Boating Safety

Education Certicate.

0-25hp

Greater

than 25hp

PWC

HP OF MOTOR

RESTRICTIONS OF USE

Pennsylvania Boating Handbook fishandboat.com

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

WEARABLE LIFE JACKETS

• Life jackets should be inspected regularly

for tears and damage. If damage is present,

do not repair the life jacket. Throw it away.

Repairs to a life jacket may be the weak spot

that causes a drowning.

• Inflatable life jackets must be checked fre-

quently and maintained according to the

manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure

correct operation.

• Life jackets must be used in accordance with

any requirements on the approval label.

• Life jackets with old type identification (e.g.

Type I, Type II, Type III and Type V) are still

usable as long as life jackets are in good and

serviceable condition.

WHO MUST WEAR A LIFE JACKET?

• Children 12 years old and younger on

Commonwealth waters when underway on

any boat 20 feet or less in length and in all

canoes, kayaks and paddleboards are required

to wear a life jacket.

• On Pittsburgh District United States Army Corps

of Engineers lakes (only), everyone in boats less

than 16 feet in length and in all canoes, kayaks and

paddleboards are required to wear a life jacket.

• All water skiers and anyone towed behind boats,

personal watercraft operators and passengers,

and sailboarders (windsurfers) are required to

wear a life jacket. Inflatable life jackets are not

acceptable for these activities.

• Boaters are required, by law, to wear life jackets

on boats less than 16 feet in length or any canoe,

kayak or paddleboard during the coldwater

months from November 1 through April 30.

LIFE JACKET WEAR REQUIRED FROM: NOV.1 TO APRIL 30

Boaters must wear a life jacket on boats less than 16 feet in length or any canoe,

kayak or paddleboard. Recreational boating fatalities that occur in Pennsylvania from

November through April are primarily due to the effects of cold water immersion. When

water temperatures are less than 70 degrees F, cold water shock is a major factor in boating

fatalities. Victims who wear a life jacket when

exposed to cold water have potentially life-

saving advantages such as insulation from the cold, buoyancy for victims who are unable

to tread water and reduced risk of aspiration of water. In an effort to reduce the number

of fatalities related to cold water immersion, the Commission has amended regulations

to require life jackets be worn while on small and unstable boats during the period most

noted for cold water temperatures.

THROWABLE DEVICES

Throwable device–

minimum 16.5 pounds of

buoyancy, designed to be

grasped, not worn.

SPACING–HYPHEN OR EQUIVALENT SPACE

BETWEEN 3 PARTS OF YOUR NUMBER

WITHIN 6

INCHES

PLACEMENT ON BOAT:

PAINTED OR ATTACHED TO

EACH FORWARD HALF OF BOAT

DISPLAY REQUIREMENTS

The letters and numbers must:

• Read from left to right.

• Be painted or permanently attached to each side on the forward half of the boat,

where no other number may be displayed.

• Be of bold, block letters in good proportion.

• Be of a contrasting color to the background.

• Be at least 3 inches high.

• Be nearly as vertical as possible and easily observed.

• Be separated by a hyphen or space equal to the width of any letter or number

except “I” or “1.”

• Have a current registration decal within 6 inches on the same level (before or

following number).

MAKE SURE THE LIFE JACKET

FITSTHE “TOUCHDOWN” TEST

For a life jacket to work properly, not only does

it need to be on your body, it should fit properly

as well. A properly fitting life jacket is more com-

fortable (meaning you are more likely to wear it),

but more important, it functions better. Life jack-

ets that are too large can ride up or even come off

when you are in the water.

It’s easy to check a conventional life jacket for

proper fit—just put it on. The life jacket should fit

you snugly with all zippers, straps, ties and snaps

correctly secured. With a partner behind you, raise

your arms like you are signaling a touchdown in a

football game. Have the partner lift the jacket by

the shoulders. The jacket should come no higher

than your chin. If the jacket covers your face or

comes off—that’s what would happen in the water.

In this case, tighten the straps or use a smaller size.

Boat Numbering and

Registration

Boats propelled by machinery and electric motors

must be numbered, regardless of length and type

of motor. Boats excluded from numbering include

unpowered kayaks, sculls and sailboards, docu-

mented vessels, and boats with a valid temporary

certificate. Documented vessels used for recreation-

al purposes must be registered. In Pennsylvania,

large pleasure boats, usually called yachts, are docu-

mented with the USCG. These documented vessels

must be registered but need only display a valid

registration decal.

fishandboat.com Pennsylvania Boating Handbook

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

Note:

All powered and titled boats used for

pleasure are taxable. Proof of payment of sales

tax is required at the time of registration.

Launch Permits

Unpowered boats (canoes, kayaks, rowboats,

stand-up paddleboards, etc.) can be launched

at Commission lakes and access areas or

Pennsylvania State Parks and Forests if they

display a boat registration, Commission launch

permit or Pennsylvania State Parks launch

permit. Pennsylvania State Parks recognize boat

registrations and Commission launch permits.

An unpowered boat may have a registration OR

launch permit, but it is not required to have both.

The Commission does

NOT recognize launch

permits from other states.

A Commission launch

permit can be purchased

on the PFBC’s website.

Boat Titling

A certificate of title is a legal document that

proves ownership. Boat titling is different from

boat registration, because a certificate of regis-

tration does not prove ownership. A certificate

of title requires all owners of a boat to sign off

on their interests when selling and provides

the purchaser with proper documentation for

titling and registering a boat. Application forms

are the same ones used for boat registration and

are available at county treasurers, certain boat

dealerships, on the PFBC website, at PFBC’s

headquarters in Harrisburg and at the PFBC

regional law enforcement offices.

Boat titling is required for all inboard motor-

boats (regardless of length) and personal water-

craft with a model year of 1997 or newer AND

all outboard motorboats 14 feet or more in

length with a model year of 1997 or newer. At

the request of the owner, the Commission will

issue a title to any boat, regardless of the length,

power source or year the boat was manufac-

tured. However, once a title is issued, that boat

must remain titled by future owners. Also,

anyone with a boat currently titled in another

state must obtain a Pennsylvania title when

Pennsylvania becomes the state of principle use,

regardless of the age, size or length of the boat.

For titling fees, go to fishandboat.com.

Boat titling assures the buyer of a boat that

the seller has clear ownership of a boat offered

for sale. Some lenders won’t finance a boat with-

out a title, so securing a loan to purchase a boat

may be easier if the boat is titled. Boaters who

In the event of boat theft, such boats are easier

to identify (see page 17).

BOAT REGISTRATION

EXPIRATION DATE CHANGE

As a customer service enhancement, the

Pennsylvania State Legislature passed a law in

2022 to align the boat registration period with the

calendar year. The boat registration expiration date is

included on your renewal notice and will be included

on your registration card and validation decals.

STATE OF PRINCIPAL OPERATION

Boats must be registered in the state in which

the boat is primarily operated. If the boat is water-

borne (including time at a marina slip or mooring)

on Pennsylvania waters more than on waters of

another state, it must be registered in Pennsylvania,

regardless of where the owner lives. Reciprocal

privileges are granted to boats with valid registra-

tion in other states for up to 60 days.

Note: A Pennsylvania Use Tax is charged for any

boat owned by a Pennsylvania resident if that boat

is at any time brought into the Commonwealth,

regardless of where it is registered. There is an

exception for casual sales of unpowered boats.

Credit is given for tax paid to other states.

BOAT REGISTRATION FORMS

A Boat Registration Renewal Application is

mailed to boat owners prior to the expiration

date. If one has not received the form, boat own-

ers should write to the Division of Licensing and

Registration or go to:

A Duplicate/Replacement Certificate of Regis-

tration can be obtained for $3 through the Division

of Licensing and Registration. Go to the Comm-

ission’s website to download the form (PFBC-732).

A Change of Address form (PFBC-732) must be

filed within 15 days at the Division of Licensing

and Registration. This office must also be notified

within 15 days if a boat is lost, stolen, destroyed,

abandoned or sold.

To transfer boat ownership, form REV-336

must be completed and signed by the appli-

cant and registered owner(s). If the registered

owner(s) is/are not available, a bill of sale,

signed by the registered owner(s), may be

substituted. Sales tax payment must still be col-

lected if applicable. It is unlawful for a person

purchasing or acquiring a previously registered

boat to operate that boat in Pennsylvania until

the registration is transferred to the new owner.

A receipt is issued by authorized agents when

the boat is registered, so the boat can be used

immediately. It is valid for 60 days.

BOAT REGISTRATION

All motorboats and boats powered

by electric motors must be registered.

Unpowered boats (canoes, kayaks,

rowboats, stand-up paddleboards,

etc.) can be launched at Commission

lakes and access areas or Pennsylvania

State Parks and Forests if they display a

boat registration, Commission launch

permit or Pennsylvania State Parks launch permit.

Pennsylvania State Parks recognize boat registrations

and Commission launch permits. An unpowered

boat may have a registration OR

launch permit, but

it is not required to have both. The Commission

does NOT recognize launch permits from other

states. A Commission launch permit can be

purchased online.

Registrations are renewed on a 2-year cycle

and expire on December 31 of the second year.

Registrations are valid when issued by the

Commission and online messengers. Application

forms are available at county treasurers, certain

boat dealerships, on the PFBC website, at the

PFBC’s headquarters in Harrisburg and at the

PFBC regional law enforcement offices.

For boat registration fees, go to the Commission's

website or use the QR code under "Boat Registration

Forms" on this pag

Note: Boats with unpowered boat registrations

may NOT be equipped with gasoline or electric

motors or any other mechanical propulsion and

be operated on Pennsylvania waterways.

Upon the completion of the application and

the payment of the fee, a registration card and

two validation decals will be issued. The certifi-

cate of boat registration is your registration card

and must be on board the boat during operation.

The certificate also shows the boat registration

number that must be displayed on the boat.

The Pennsylvania registration number, issued

with the original certificate of boat registration,

stays with the boat as long as it is registered in

Pennsylvania. It is the boat owner’s responsibil-

ity to purchase the numbers and letters to display

the registration number on the boat.

Display the number and validation decal

on the bow of the boat as shown on page 7. No

other number may be displayed on either side of

the bow. These numbers may not be removed,

altered, tampered with or defaced, except by the

owner or representative. Documented vessels as

well as kayaks, sculls, sailboards and other low-

volume boats of similar design are exempt from

the display of numbers, but they must display the

validation decal. Inflatable boats may carry their

numbers and validation decal on boards lashed

to each side of the bow. Canoes are not exempt

and must display the numbers and the decal.

fishandboat.com

Pennsylvania Boating Handbook fishandboat.com

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

Capacity Plates

A boat's capacity plate provides important

information about the boat including maximum

weight capacity, maximum horsepower, maxi-

mum person capacity by number and maxi-

mum persons capacity by weight. Individuals

being towed behind a boat (e.g. waterskiers,

tubers, kneeboarders, wake surfers, parasailers,

etc.) are considered to be passengers and must

be counted in regard to the boat’s maximum

passenger capacity.

Hull Identification

Number (HIN)

This number is federally required and is

located on or near the boat transom’s upper star-

board (right) side. Also, the HIN is hidden by the

manufacturer on the boat for recovery purposes.

HINs are 12 characters in length and may be 17

characters on newer boats.

Night Operation and Lights

All boats must show required running lights

between the hours of sunset and sunrise and

during periods of restricted visibility, such as

fog and heavy rain. During such times, no other

lights may be displayed, except those that can-

not be mistaken for the required

lights or do not

impair their visibility or distinctive character, or

interfere with keeping a proper lookout. A sail-

boat operating under power and sail must dis-

play the proper running lights for a powerboat.

Navigation lights are restricted to the colors red,

green and white. Navigation lights are designed

to identify the type of boat and its situation

(underway, direction of travel, at anchor, etc.) on

the water. Boats underway include drifting boats.

Night boaters should carry spare bulbs, fuses,

batteries and a flashlight.

The navigation lights required for boats are

determined by the boat’s length and whether it

is powered by machinery, sail, paddles or oars.

ACBF0930A686

Key to Month

of Production

A=January

B=February

C=March

D=April

E=May

F=June

G=July

H=August

I=September

J=October

K=November

L=December

ACB

Manufacturer's

ID Code

Model

Year

Month, Year

of Production

F0930

Production

or Serial #

Type of Boat Length Figure

Powerboat < 12 meters 1, 2 or 3

Powerboat 12 - 20 meters 1 or 2

Sailboat (sail only) < 20 meters 4, 5 or 6

Sailboat (sail only) Any 4, 5 or 6

Sailboat (sail only) < 7 meters 7B

This is a white light either hand-held or installed

ready to be displayed in time to avoid a collision.

Manually powered Any 7A

This is a white light either hand-held or installed

ready to be displayed in time to avoid a collision.

Anchored Any 7C

This is an all-round white light visible for at least

2 miles and displayed where it can best be seen.

An anchor light is not required but highly recommended

when anchored in a special anchorage area.

The charts on this page show which lights are required.

Conversions: 7 meters = 23', 12 meters = 39’4", 20 meters = 65’6" < = less than

DOCKING LIGHTS: It is illegal to use docking lights while underway, except when

docking and the boat is traveling at slow, no-wake speed and is within 100 feet of

approaching a dock, a mooring buoy or the shoreline.A docking light is a flood or

spotlight type of light permanently installed or permanently mounted on a motor-

boat that is used to illuminate a boat’s forward course of travel.

No boat shall be

loaded beyond its

safe carrying capacity.

Observe and under-

stand the capacity plate.

fishandboat.com Pennsylvania Boating Handbook

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

77TH MERIDIAN TIME: SUNRISE AND SUNSET AT HARRISBURG

EASTERN STANDARD TIME and EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME when in eect.

DatesRise Rise Rise

Jan 1-57:30 4:54 May 4-10 5:59 8:09

Sept 14-206:51