Boating, Paddling & Water Safety

Jet skis (PWC) — a motor vessel with a few extra rules

The plain answer: a jet ski — a personal watercraft, or PWC — is a registered motor vessel under Missouri law. It follows the same boating rules as any motorboat, plus a handful of its own about distance, life jackets, and the engine cutoff lanyard.

Title and register it

You must title and register all motorized vessels (including jet skis) and sailboats longer than 12 feet, plus all outboard motors except trolling/electric ones.

What a PWC needs to carry: A worn PFD for everyone aboard, the engine cutoff lanyard, a marine extinguisher, and your registration.

Carry the boater card

If you were born after Jan. 1, 1984

A Boating Safety Identification Card is required for anyone born after January 1, 1984 who operates a motorized vessel on the lakes of the state (RSMo 306.127).

It applies to jet skis (PWC) and to out-of-state boaters (who can show a NASBLA card from their home state).

Everyone wears a life jacket — plus the engine-safety gear

One wearable, USCG-approved life jacket per person — the right size, in good condition, and accessible. Children under 7 must WEAR one at all times aboard, with the only exception being inside a totally enclosed cabin. Everyone on a PWC and anyone being towed must wear one. Boats 16 feet and longer also need a Type IV throwable cushion or ring.

Clip the engine cutoff lanyard to your wrist or vest before you start up, so the motor kills if you come off. Gasoline engines also need a backfire flame arrestor, proper ventilation, and a muffler — and you keep your registration and boater card aboard.

Who can operate

A person under 14 may not operate a motorboat or PWC unless someone 16 or older is aboard supervising.

The PWC 50-foot rule

A PWC may not operate above Slow–No-Wake within 50 feet of another vessel or a person in the water, and may not wake-jump in a way that blocks visibility (RSMo 306.142).

The 100-foot lake no-wake rule

The 100-foot Slow–No-Wake rule is a LAKE rule (RSMo 306.125): on Missouri lakes, go Slow–No-Wake within 100 feet of a dock, pier, occupied anchored boat, or buoyed restricted area. On rivers and managed areas, follow posted no-wake zones and the managing agency's rules.

Carry a marine fire extinguisher

Boats with permanently installed fuel tanks, or enclosed spaces where fuel vapors can collect, need a USCG-approved marine fire extinguisher (newer 5-B/20-B ratings; older B-I/B-II may still count if serviceable and unexpired). A small open outboard under 26 feet with a portable tank and no vapor-trapping compartments may be exempt. PWC need a marine-approved extinguisher. Check the current USCG chart for your boat.

Renting one for the day?

Renters need the card or a temporary rental permit plus a safety briefing.

One last thing the law expects of every rider: no reckless riding and no wake-jumping that blocks your view of the water. A PWC turns fast and stops only with throttle, so keep a clear sightline, keep your distance, and never jump a wake when you can't see what's on the other side.

Before you launch

Missouri Porch explains; the Highway Patrol, the DOR, and the agency that runs your water decide.

Last checked: 2026-06-18. Boating law, fees, and local lake and river rules change — and the water itself changes with the weather and the season. Confirm before you launch, and wear your life jacket.

This is a plain-English summary, not the law or a substitute for a boating course. Boating rules and fees change — confirm with the Highway Patrol, the Department of Revenue, and the agency that runs your water. In an emergency, call 911.

Heads up: A PWC is a motor vessel: boating-while-intoxicated law (Chapter 577) and the night-speed limit apply to you just as they do to any boat. Wear your life jacket and clip the cutoff lanyard before you start the engine.

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